2014 Buick Enclave Problems And Complaints

2014 Buick Enclave User Complaints and Problems

Mechanical problems:

• Some owners have reported that the car can reduce speed and come to a stop while driving. This is often accompanied by the vehicle jerking and the check engine light coming on. The instrument panel can also indicate that the engine power is reduced, and systems like traction control, Stabilitrak, and so on need to be serviced as well.
• Although very rare, some cars have had complete transmission failures that resulted in expensive repairs. Several cars have reported that the transmission slips and fails to shift or that it shifts very hard.
• The Buick 3.6 L V6 engine is known to be a reliable one but many cars have had rattling issues, timing chain, and valve phasers not synchronizing and catastrophic causing damage, and some other issues.
• The steering system of this car might reduce power assistance while driving. In this case, the driver finds it very hard to use the steering wheel for anything. It is also known to pull the vehicle suddenly to one side and cause an accident.
• A very small number of cars had catalytic converter failures which are very expensive to repair.
• Some cars have reported accelerating even when the driver was using brakes and the engine revving high while still in Park. In another case, the vehicle crashed into a garage door when it was shifted into Park by reversing itself into it. It is a common Buick Enclave transmission problem.
• In many cases, the brake booster had to be replaced and there are multiple problems with the brake system including incessant squeal. The brake pedal travel is also known to be inconsistent. The issue can also be due to the vacuum pump.

Electrical system problems:

• The Buick Enclave air conditioning system has failed in many cars and could be classified as a common problem area.
• The radio, instrument cluster, door locks, headlights, and so on may malfunction and deprive owners of several much-needed features.
• There are a few complaints about the backup camera not being sufficiently visible while reversing the car.
• The fuel gauge indicating wrong ratings is also widely reported complaint but like we have mentioned below, the manufacturer has addressed this problem through a recall.
• Many cars also had the issue of the battery draining prematurely and also affecting several systems in a bad way.
• The headlights of this car are prone to failure because the ballast can warp due to heat and this can cause an emergency safety situation at night.
• The electronically operated tailgate fails to remain open in several cars.

Interior problems:

• In one car, smoke came from inside the vent for the air conditioner and started burning down the vent. Some other cars have reported that the switchgear in the center console also gets heated up.
• The head restraints are known to be in a position that is not ergonomic. It protrudes towards the front and can also be unsafe during an accident.
• The seat trim panels are known to break.
• Several users of the car have reported that the sunroof exploded while the car was being driven. This causes a loud sound at the time of the explosion and can also send glass shards inside and threaten safety.

Safety problems:

• A few owners have reported that the Buick seatbelt can cause multiple problems. The seatbelt can jam, twist or choke passengers. It can also have problems with the retractor. However, this was rectified through a recall by the dealership.
• Many owners have faced problems with the service airbag warning light being on in the car. It is one of the most common problems associated with this car. The occupant detection system is also known to cause errors.
• Advanced safety systems such as blind-spot monitoring are known to malfunction.

Miscellaneous problems:

• Multiple owners have said that although the manufacturer has issued a good number of recalls, they have not made the parts available on time.

2014 Buick Enclave Recalls

S. No.	Date	NHTSA Campaign Number	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1	October 7, 2021	21V782000	Driver side airbag inflator may explode	The airbag inflator may explode and send metal fragments into the cabin	Dealers will replace the driver’s airbag module
2	April 8, 2021	21V246000	Side curtain airbag can be unsecured	The airbag may not be properly attached and cannot deploy correctly	Dealers will inspect realign or replace the weld nuts
3	October 1, 2014	14V614000	Contamination of chassis electronic module	This chassis electronic module may be contaminated and can result in an internal short	Dealers will replace the chassis electronic module
4	May 20, 2014	14V266000	Flexible steel cable for the seatbelts may fail	Flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fail due to fatigue	Dealers will inspect and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge
5	April 30, 2014	14V223000	Inaccurate fuel gauge reading	The electronic control module software might cause the fuel reading to be inaccurate	Dealers will reprogram the ECM to correct the fuel gauge reading
6	February 21, 2014	14V092000	Broken transmission cable adjuster	The transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the shift lever	Dealers will inspect and replace affected transmission shift cable adjusters

Should you buy the 2014 Buick Enclave?

The Buick Enclave has a few advantages including undercutting the price of some of its luxury rivals. It has several problems that are catastrophic including transmission, steering, and electrical issues. However, the brand has tried to address as many problems as possible through the recalls and we can see that most cars have been repaired in one way or the other. In this scenario, it would be unfair to call the car an unreliable one, and therefore, we cannot see how this vehicle is more problematic than anything else that is sold in the class. It is one we can recommend to our readers as the number of problems it has after all the different recalls are not beyond what is generally considered acceptable.