Used 2009 Buick Enclave CXL 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A) Consumer Reviews
Used Enclave for sale
Beware! Unreliable!
hchambley, Columbus, GA, 12/10/2014
updated 06/12/2016
Buick Enclave CXL 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
101 of 103 people found this review helpful
I purchased my used 2009 Enclave approx. 2 years ago. Carfax report looked good and a friend of mine had one and loved it. I have loved and sang praises of my new car! I traded my 2009 Yukon XL for this car to save on gas and loved the downsize and savings. Since I purchased my Yukon brand new and never had issues, I opted out of the extended warranty on this car thinking I wouldn't have issues either. Boy was I wrong! Within a month one of the coil packs went out but it was replaced at no charge under dealership 30 day warranty. Six months later I started having transmission problems and my transmission needed to be replaced. Within two weeks of it being replaced started having other trouble and had to replace the throttle body. Since then I have had to replace every coil pack, the timing chain and everytime I get it fixed months later there are more problems.
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No Longer Own Ours... Buyer Beware!!!
sfreid1, Fall City, WA, 03/15/2014
Buick Enclave CXL 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
29 of 29 people found this review helpful
When the Enclave is working properly, it is an excellent car. Quiet, comfortable, and fairly powerful for an SUV. However, there was rarely a time where everything was in proper working order. Our first major issue was the entire throttle body going out, which also caused the entire electrical system to crash, leaving us stranded on the side of a busy road, partially blocking traffic. This experience also gave us a chance to try out Onstar, which was worthless. The hazards also drained the battery after one hour, so they didn't work. After that, buttons snapped off, brakes needed replacement, transmission, and power steering prob. We just bought a fully loaded 2014 Infiniti QX60 and love it!
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Engine failure with less than 50,000 miles
David Romer, Salt Lake City, UT, 11/09/2016
Buick Enclave CXL 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
38 of 39 people found this review helpful
I became aware of a transmission issue with this make/model of vehicle after purchasing the vehicle from my Wife's grandmother (first owner). The transmission felt like it was slipping and the service engine light came on so I attempted to drive the vehicle into the dealership, but ended up requiring a tow when the vehicle broke down on the freeway. The dealership found a broken rocker arm, opened the engine and determined that the engine required complete replacement (vehicle under 50,000 miles). I was told by the dealership that they could not identify the cause of the issue. GM offered to cover less than half of the cost to replace the engine (My bill will be $5,500). Once the engine is replaced the dealership will have to inspect the transmission and possibly replace the wave plate. My plan is to repair the vehicle, sale it, and never again drive a GM vehicle.
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WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED
Lindsey, Knoxville, TN, 09/16/2015
Buick Enclave CXL 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
50 of 53 people found this review helpful
I bought my car in Feb. 2014 with 28k miles on it... A month later the steering wheel started making a whining noise. I took it to the dealership and they said "that is common with those SUV's" and this was when the recall on the power steering came out. So I said ok, what if I'm driving down the road and my power steering goes out? They said "then we will fix it." That's safe! Fix the problem AFTER something bad happens... And shortly after this I had to replace the water pump (@ $385- which was the 2nd time it had been replaced and my car still had less than 40k miles!) Then, on my way to work one day a few months later my car made a terrible noise so I pulled over... The timing chains broke (that's great for the transmission)... So I had those replaced under special policy. A few months after that... my car was running TERRIBLY. The transmission was slipping. I took it to another dealership and they fixed the 3-5-R plate under special policy but then I needed my A/C fixed as well as a coil and spark plug replaced. I ended up paying over $475 this time. A month or so later... 2 more coils and spark plugs needed replaced as well as the front engine mount. I was quoted over $1100 and my car has 62k miles on it currently!! I got the car back after the repairs and the 2nd time I drove it it is saying "LOW OIL PRESSURE. STOP ENGINE!" So I give up. I am trading it. I don't feel comfortable selling it to someone individually! I am SICK that I have to trade because I was planning on driving this for a very long time! I have 2 children and they LOVE the DVD player. I love the back up camera and we couldn't ask for anything prettier or better on the inside! When you have a car that you're going to lose over $10k on it really makes you disgusted with the company! I have contacted GM and they say "I will note your issues" .... It's like oh thanks. I'm glad you're taking the time to do that.. how about reimbursing me for all the money I've spent in repairs, tows, missed time from work because my car wouldn't start, etc. etc.??? I will NEVER buy another GM car! Worst company ever.
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The class a ride
Rollie Lewis, Solway, MN, 01/10/2017
Buick Enclave CXL 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
The car has never let me down. I'm a veteran and go to Fargo VA hospital it's a good ride , smooth and quiet comfortable. It's dependable and I need car with less miles.
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Have to do your homework before you buy one.
John Smith, Winona, MN, 10/02/2018
Buick Enclave CXL 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
33 of 37 people found this review helpful
2009 AWD CXL Make sure this vehicle has had the timing chain RE-program recall done before you buy or your engine will jump or stop, make sure it has had the water pump replaced. Shock go bad about 80k miles, make sure it has had a transmission fluid flush by 65k miles or you will be replacing that (be nice to your transmission, it is not durable). Do regular oil changes (a must with this engine), Steering wheel has a squeek on most of them, will possibly require coils/plugs at 65k miles, but most GM's do. LCD controls are not easy to navigate, LCD is not very clear with back up camera. Headlights/fog lights rock! Bluetooth works very well, but not easy to connect the first time compared to Ford sync. Gas mileage under normal city driving, maybe 13-15 at best. Highway maybe18-22 at best. When taken care of properly, this is a great suv to drive.
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Tranny issues
Brent Copple, Des Moines, IA, 09/07/2018
Buick Enclave CXL 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
2009 Buick Enclave cxl. I bought this car in May 2017 with 130,000 miles. I have had no complaints until a couple weeks ago. Enclave shakes when accelerating up hills or from a dead stop. Loses power and runs up RPMs. Took it to dealership where it was purchased and was told the transmission needs to be replaced. So I decide to do some research about this particular vehicle and all I can find is nothing but people complaining about the transmission going out on their vehicles. My Enclave now has a hundred and seventy-one thousand miles and is worth approximately $8,000 with a good transmission. If I put a new transmission in it will cost me approximately $3,600. It's just not right when you pay for a vehicle and you can only enjoy it for a year-and-a-half because of transmission issues. I think GM has a lot of growing to take place if they're going to ever try to compete with quality of Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot. From what I read on reviews people claim they have had to replace fuel pump, power steering pump, etc. I know for sure I will not buy another GM product based on my experience and reading what other people have gone through. A $40,000 vehicle should not have transmission issues.
Worst vehicle. STAY AWAY
Jeremy, Murfreesboro, TN, 01/23/2018
Buick Enclave CXL 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
13 of 14 people found this review helpful
Terrible reliability. Car was being repaired more than it could be driven. Normal maintenance guidelines were followed but the quality of this vehicle is horrendous. I will never buy a GM product again. No customer service support. Basically told they can’t help because it’s out of warranty. Shocks/struts, wheel bearing, steering pump failed at 60,000. Transmission began leaking right after. Coolant leak and heater failure at 80,000. That’s just some of the problems.
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Beautiful, but unreliable
mlerlie, Rockville, MD, 02/07/2012
Buick Enclave CXL 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
Have owned luxury German cars for well over three decades but the beauty of the Enclave won us over while living in hilly Maryland. Big mistake. Expensive mistake. As other reviewers say, there are too many things going wrong for such a young vehicle. Plastic outside between the windows bubble/ripple, car rolls back while in drive on a hill as if it were in reverse, car rolls at least 6 inches after putting it in park on flat land, knocking noise when turning steering wheel either way, absolutely abysmal gas mileage - bottom end of mpg range, very sluggish on hills, but the deal breaker was the slipping transmission on a 3 year old car with less than 50k miles. Went back to BMW after 10 mo.
Never though I would drive a Buick
mark, 05/24/2009
Buick Enclave CXL 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
We narrowed our choice down to the Audi Q7, Acura MDX and finally bought an 2009 Enclave CXL AWD (Carbon Black). We truly love the car. Very roomy. Great design. Super quiet. Handling very good for an SUV. The third row comfortable for three. We are a family of four. GM did a good job on this car. This is an excellent SUV Crossover that should be striving to be the best in every category, it has that kind of potential. There is need for some tweaking, such as real wood, better MPG and throttle response/shift adjustment. I would highly suggest the Enclave to anyone looking for a solid, well designed SUV.