2011 Buick Enclave Reliability
The 2011 Buick Enclave has 213 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and powertrain / transmission. Compared with other Enclave model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Enclave's typical year, while the 2013 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
213
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
14
Complaints citing a crash
3
Complaints citing a fire
2011 Buick Enclave complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 41 | 19% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 38 | 18% |
| Air bags | 38 | 18% |
| Engine | 35 | 16% |
| Body structure | 25 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 21 | 10% |
| Speed control / throttle | 14 | 7% |
| Stability control | 11 | 5% |
2011 Buick Enclave recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2011 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12V151000 | Apr 9, 2012 | Visibility / wipers — windshield wiper/washer / linkages | General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 chevrolet traverse, Buick Enclave, and gmc acadia vehicles currently registered in alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan,… |
| 14V118000 | Mar 17, 2014 | Air bags — side/window | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side… |
| 14V266000 | May 20, 2014 | Seat belts | General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008,… |
| 15V415000 | Jun 30, 2015 | Body structure — body / hatchback/liftgate | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles… |
| 21V246000 | Apr 8, 2021 | Air bags — critical fasteners | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached. |
| 21V782000 | Oct 7, 2021 | Air bags — frontal | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect. |
How the 2011 compares with nearby Enclave years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Enclave analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 220 | 8 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2010 | 275 | 6 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2011 (this page) | 213 | 6 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2012 | 133 | 6 | Engine | Caution |
| 2013 | 70 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2011 Buick Enclave on the used market
- 30 of 234 2011 Buick Enclave listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2011 Buick Enclave
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2011 Buick Enclave can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2011 Buick Enclave reliability FAQ
Is the 2011 Buick Enclave reliable?
The 2011 Buick Enclave has 213 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and powertrain / transmission. Compared with other Enclave model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Enclave's typical year, while the 2013 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2011 Buick Enclave problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Buick Enclave are steering (41), powertrain / transmission (38), air bags (38), engine (35). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2011 Buick Enclave have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2011 Buick Enclave, including 12V151000 (visibility / wipers — windshield wiper/washer / linkages) and 14V118000 (air bags — side/window). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2011 Buick Enclave compare with the 2010 and 2012 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2010 has 275 complaints and 6 recalls (avoid); the 2012 has 133 complaints and 6 recalls (caution). The 2011 has 213 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2011 Buick Enclave?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Buick Enclave research
Other Buick Enclave model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2011 Enclave, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.