2008 Buick Enclave: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2008 Buick Enclave: 6 recalls, 536 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #08V410000 · 2008 · 88,809 vehicles
What's wrong: If a buildup of snow or ice on the windshield or on the wipers restricts the movement of the wiper arm, the windshield wiper linkage May become detached from the motor shaft and the wipers May become inoperative.
Why it matters: If this were to occur, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Dealers will install a new wiper crank arm, driver's side link, and a crank arm nut. The recall began o October 13, 2008.
Electrical Vehicle recall #08V441000 · 2008 · 857,735 vehicles
What's wrong: A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater May overheat the control-circuit ground wire.
Why it matters: This May cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2008.
Electrical Vehicle recall #10V240000 · 2010 · 1,365,070 vehicles
What's wrong: A recall was implemented in 2008 to add a fuse to the control circuit harness to address the potential consequences of a printed circuit board (pcb) electrical short. However, there have been new reports of thermal incidents on hwfs modules after this improvement was installed. These incidents resulted from a new failure mode attributed to the device's thermal protection feature. The significance varies from minor…
Why it matters: It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire May occur.
The fix: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently disabled and removed from the vehicle. The safety recall began on June 11, 2010.
Airbags Vehicle recall #14V118000 · 2014 · 1,176,407 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (siab) wiring harnesses May result in the siab and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick
Body & structure Vehicle recall #15V415000 · 2015 · 691,144 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts May prematurely wear and the open liftgate May suddenly fall.
Why it matters: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it May strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016.
Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #21V782000 · 2021 · 555 vehicles
What's wrong: The driver's air bag inflator May explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 10 mention a fire, 41 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (139): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (52), warning light on (31), stalls / loses power (27).
- Airbags (113): the most common themes are warning light on (42).
- Steering (99): the most common themes are steering problems (88), noise or vibration (23).
- Body & structure (77): the most common themes are leaks (30), door / lock issues (12).
The 2008 Buick Enclave has 536 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 19 Enclave model years for complaints (4.1× the average Enclave year). Complaints peaked in 2014 (106 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 80,850 miles. Neighboring years: 2009 (220 complaints, 8 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 24 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2008 Buick Enclave.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2008 Buick Enclave have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2008 Buick Enclave. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2008 Buick Enclave problems?
Owners have filed 536 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (139), airbags (113), steering (99).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Buick Enclave get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (3.6 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2008 Buick Enclave repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.