repaired · 2023 Q4
Air bags: frontal
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
2009 Buick EnclaveProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 220 owner complaints about the 2009 Buick Enclave, most often about the steering. It is covered by 8 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-782 the manufacturer reports only 65% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 15, 2025. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 Buick Enclave has problems
220 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
108Steering2 crash/fire/injury
35Engine3 crash/fire/injury
33Power train
22Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
11Vehicle speed control
9Electronic stability control (ESC)
9Air bags
8Engine and engine cooling
8Structure
3412 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 108 | 2 |
| Engine | 35 | 3 |
| Power train | 33 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 22 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 9 | 0 |
| Air bags | 9 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 0 |
| Structure | 8 | 2 |
| 12 other systems | 34 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
8 recalls
2009 Buick Enclave recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Body: hatchback/liftgate
Risk. If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Seat belts
Risk. If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Air bags: side/window
Risk. Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.
Show 4 more recalls
no report yet
Seat belts
Risk. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
no report yet
Electrical system
Risk. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
no report yet
Lever and linkage: column shift
Risk. THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH…
no report yet
Rear/other: buckle assembly
Risk. IN A VEHICLE CRASH, IF THE RIVET IS MISSING, THE BUCKLE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE MOUNTING STRAP, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE PASSENGER.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Buick.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
70kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 101 steering complaints. 84% were reported before 100,000 miles.
3under 30k miles85under 100k miles16100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
9 owners mentioned a cost$1,968median
Middle half: $1,754 – $2,186
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2009 vs. every other Enclave year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Enclave median. How we score
'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2009 Buick Enclave safety ratings
2009 Buick Enclave 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.5% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2009 Buick Enclave, and the recalls they led to.
- Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion AuditNo recall
- Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable FailureLed to recall 21V-245
- Seat Belt Anchor Cable FailureNo recall
In owners' words
What Enclave owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Every time I turn right my car turns off. I am able to restart after. I’ve taken it to several mechanic's and no one seems to know the issue. I’ve had my battery change circuits change a tune up and my gas filter changed and the car still doesn’t work.
The contact owns a 2009 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while reversing at 5 MPH, the steering wheel seized and was inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive to his destination. The contact stated that the failure had…
While driving 65 mph on the hwy, in rush hour traffic my entire steering column came completely out and I lost control of my vehicle causing a 3 car wreck. The only indicator that something was wrong was that just prior to this happening the tilt on my steering wheel came undone 2 times and by the…
Own a 2009 Enclave?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.