2016 Buick Enclave Problems: Airbags (141 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2016 Buick Enclave is Airbags (76% of 141 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 141 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 2016 Buick Enclave?

107 of 141 filings named Airbags (76% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (9 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2015 has 170 reports on file; this year has 141. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2016 Buick Enclave

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Airbags. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Airbags 107 complaints · 75.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 2
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 5
  • Deaths 0
All Buick Enclave years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Airbags (AIR BAGS) appears in 107 of 141 owner complaints (75.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. Airbags (AIR BAGS): 107 complaints, 75.9% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 crash reports 107 · 75.9% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 9 complaints, 6.4% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 9 · 6.4% Engine (ENGINE): 4 complaints, 2.8% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 4 · 2.8% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 3 complaints, 2.1% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 3 · 2.1% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 3 complaints, 2.1% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 1 crash reports 3 · 2.1% Steering (STEERING): 3 complaints, 2.1% of reports Steering (STEERING) 3 · 2.1% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 3 complaints, 2.1% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 3 · 2.1% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 1 complaints, 0.7% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 1 · 0.7% Wheels (WHEELS): 1 complaints, 0.7% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 1 · 0.7% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 11 complaints, 7.8% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 11 · 7.8% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 107 75.9% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 9 6.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 4 2.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 3 2.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 3 2.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 3 2.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 3 2.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 1 0.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 1 0.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 11 7.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2016; the first recall shown was reported in Sep 2015. 2016-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2023-Q4: 18 owner reports 18 2024-Q1: 27 owner reports 27 2024-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2024-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2024-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2025-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2025-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2025-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Sep 2015 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 15V609000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V609000 Recall campaign 15V833000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V833000 Recall campaign 21V782000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V782000 Recall campaign 23V334000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V334000
  • Campaign 21V782000 was reported 1,167 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V334000 was reported 1,747 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2016-Q1 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 2
2016-Q3 Owner reports 2
2016-Q4 Owner reports 1
2017-Q4 Owner reports 2
2018-Q1 Owner reports 2
2018-Q2 Owner reports 1
2018-Q3 Owner reports 2
2018-Q4 Owner reports 1
2019-Q1 Owner reports 1
2019-Q2 Owner reports 1
2019-Q3 Owner reports 2
2019-Q4 Owner reports 2
2020-Q2 Owner reports 2
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q3 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 2
2022-Q3 Owner reports 1
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 13
2023-Q4 Owner reports 18
2024-Q1 Owner reports 27
2024-Q2 Owner reports 19
2024-Q3 Owner reports 16
2024-Q4 Owner reports 5
2025-Q1 Owner reports 4
2025-Q2 Owner reports 1
2025-Q3 Owner reports 4
2025-Q4 Owner reports 1
2026-Q1 Owner reports 1
2026-Q3 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 15V609000
Recall campaign 1 15V833000
Recall campaign 1 21V782000
Recall campaign 1 23V334000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras and Airbags.

  1. Recall campaign 15V609000

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor cover assembly, free of charge. Owners are advised not to use their front windshield wipers until the wiper cover has been replaced. If weather conditions prevent operation of the vehicle without using the windshield wipers, GM will make arrangements to pick up the vehicle for servicing. The recall began on September 30, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15780.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 15V833000

    Safety recall 15V833000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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 increased risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row left side lower seat frame, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 21930.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 21V782000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 23V334000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232404980.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 9 of 141 complaints · page 1 of 6
2026-08-31Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11760960
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I purchased this used 2016 Buick Enclave in July 2026. Shortly after purchase, the vehicle began repeatedly jerking and hesitating while driving. During occurrences, Traction Control/StabiliTrak warnings appeared and the vehicle experienced loss of power and difficulty accelerating normally. I reported the jerking/drivability problem to the selling dealer. On July 27, 2026, the selling dealer attempted a repair after I reported the jerking/drivability problem. Within approximately five minutes of leaving the dealership, the vehicle began jerking again. I then took the vehicle to an auto-parts store, where an OBD-II scan produced multiple diagnostic trouble codes, including P0300 engine misfire and several MAP-sensor-related codes. I have photographs documenting the scan results. The vehicle became disabled shortly thereafter and required towing. It was subsequently evaluated by an independent repair facility, where the MAP sensor was replaced. The vehicle later again experienced the jerking/loss-of-power condition and StabiliTrak/Traction Control warnings. On August 10, the vehicle became disabled again. These incidents have occurred while driving in traffic. When the condition occurs, I cannot reliably accelerate or maintain normal vehicle operation, creating a safety concern because I may be unable to move safely with surrounding traffic. The specific cause is UNKNOWN. The vehicle has been evaluated by the selling dealer and an independent repair facility and is being taken to an authorized Buick dealership for further diagnosis. The vehicle is available for inspection.
2026-07-08Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11749129
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Traction stabilization light comes on very frequently and vehicle loses power, step on gas and it sputters can’t get out of any one’s way, they throw parts at it and never fixes. From feedback off internet a big problem 2008-2017 enclaves
2026-02-26Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11720753
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I am seeing that these have been repaired, when in fact it has not been repaired.
2025-12-01Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11702282
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Buick Enclave on November 25, 2025 from an independent dealer. It was later discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. At the time of purchase, the Odometer reading was 102,068. After contacting Endurance Warranty Company, the contact was informed that the Odometer mileage was 193,000. No other agency was contacted regarding the mileage discrepancy.
2025-08-22Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11682503
CrashFireInjuryDeath
We have had spark plugs fixed twice in the past 4 months and they keep faltering. Both mechanics changed them
2025-08-21Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11682235
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
2025-08-13Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11680318
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
2025-07-14Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11673316
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
2025-04-07Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11653162
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2016 Buick Enclave?

Owners named Airbags most often — 107 of 141 reports (76%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2016 Buick Enclave?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2016 Buick Enclave?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources