2016 Buick EnclaveProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 142 owner complaints about the 2016 Buick Enclave, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-334 the manufacturer reports only 47% of affected cars repaired.

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 1, 2026. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2016 Buick Enclave has problems

142 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags1102
Power train110
Engine100
Electrical system90
Seat belts32
Steering30
Structure31
Fuel/propulsion system20
Wheels10
2 other systems20

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2016 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.

47%repaired · 2026 Q3

Driver side: inflator module

Recall 23V-334 · May 10, 2023 · 995,085 vehicles · 466,495 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

65%repaired · 2023 Q4

Air bags: frontal

Recall 21V-782 · Oct 7, 2021 · 555 vehicles · 361 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

99%repaired · 2017 Q2

Seats

Recall 15V-833 · Dec 11, 2015 · 2,633 vehicles · 2,606 repaired

Risk. If the seat frame is not welded in the correct places, the seat may not perform as intended, and in the event of a crash, the seat occupant could be at an…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

99%repaired · 2017 Q1

Windshield wiper/washer: motor

Recall 15V-609 · Sep 29, 2015 · 29,295 vehicles · 29,047 repaired

Risk. A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

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.

Best & worst years

2016 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

2016 Buick Enclave safety ratings

2016 Buick Enclave SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
  • Rollover: 4 stars (15.5% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Optional
  • Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words

What Enclave owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The contact owns a 2016 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not…
Complaint 11682235 · Aug 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was…
Complaint 11680318 · Aug 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact called several dealers and was informed that the part was on backorder. The contact stated that the…
Complaint 11673316 · Jul 14, 2025

Own a 2016 Enclave?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.