Used 2013 Buick Enclave Consumer Reviews

As Advertised, Except for the NAV

My wife and I purchased this vehicle for our expanding family. We went from a 2009 Rav4 to the 2013 Buick Enclave. Lots of space, comfy ride (we've made a few trips up and down the coast with no complaints), and runs smoothly. It is a bit hard to see out the back, but the camera more than makes up for it. Definitely our favorite feature. Two issues with the Enclave: the first is the head rest. For whatever reason, my neck is never comfortable regardless on how I position it. Also, it does not lock into place so whenever someone climbs in the back and grabs it, the headrest gets knocked out of position. The second is the NAV system. Definitely a complete waste of money.

Sorry, Buick... one and done!

Like the aesthetics and functionality of our 2012 Buick Enclave very much, however cannot recommend due to drivetrain major failures. Water pump failed at 75k miles. Engine and transmission failures at only 90k miles. 4 months ago (Jan. '17), had a fuel injector failure... GM service tech strongly suggested that all 6 by replaced at same time ($2400). OK,..happens. However, just diagnosed with a failing transmission (torque converter & transmission) in April '17. Cost to install a new transmission by GM... $5200. That's it,.. at only 90k miles on a 5 year old, well maintained vehicle...I'm out. No confidence in the Enclave reliability....shame.

Great...but very frustrating navigation system.

This car was primarily for my wife. She had been driving a Chevy Suburban. It was doing a fine job hauling our family around (three children and two large dogs) on vacation or around town. However, when it came time to replace the Suburban after 150+K miles, we switched to the Enclave. It's one of the finest SUV for the money. I highly recommend the Enclave, but the buyer should evaluate the touch screen and especially the Navigation system before they decide which vehicle to buy. My wife has no confidence in the Navigation system and often resorts to using her smart phone Maps App to find her way around.

Oh, how we loved you, until you let us down

We were so happy to get our Buick Enclave 2 years ago. It rides very nice. It is quiet. The seats are comfortable. It is easy to drive. While on a trip out west, we noticed the engine feels underpowered with 4 people and luggage traveling through the Rocky Mountains. It struggled going up some hills. All was well though until we hit 68000 miles. It started with the engine shutting off while driving. The power steering went out when this happened making it very difficult to try and steer to get off the road. After this happened 3 times in 2 days, we took it to the dealership. The power steering pump needed replaced, the timing chain needed replaced, and a cam shaft was bad. This came to around $12000. Thank God we purchased an extended warranty when we bought it. It was all covered except for the deductible. After going through that, the vehicle then started making a strange noise whenever we would turn the wheel. The brake booster is also going out. At this point, we decided to trade it in on a new GMC Acadia. I strongly recommend if you buy a used one to purchase an extended warranty. They are known for having timing chain issues (which I did not know when I bought it).

My first BUICK ENCLAVE

IF you decide to buy one then make sure that you have it checked out completely before. you buy . Original owners almost never keep maintenance records . I bought one with 95000 miles on it and it needed a lot of work done because the first owner neglected to take care of the mechanical issues . The Lexus dealer in cool springs was supposed to do a 141 inspection on it according to their list sheet . I found too many things they overlooked and did not mention on the sheet. Tire where bald, front brakes down to the metal, rear brakes almost the same, brake, antifreeze, power steering, and transmission fluids never had been changed .... Front motor mount was leaking oil , engine missing at low speeds and needed plugs . Battery was 6 years old and not holding a charge very good .. After spending around 4000.00 to bring it up to speed I an now be safe to travel in it .. Gas mileage is about 18-20 in town and almost 24 on highway . I liked the vehicle because it's very comfortable . But the Lexus dealer of cool springs did not prepare it like their inspection said when they did it ... i would never buy from them again because of their dishonesty about the vehicle .. they do not care about their customers safety with any used car they sell.. Well it's been a few years now and the SUV is still going strong with the right man behind the maintenance . I take trips in it all the time . Gas mileage is about the same as before. Still rides like a new one but it finally lost that new car smell . No one rides in the back most of the time because mostly now it's just me and the dog and she rides in the front seat . She sleeps most of the time when traveling . All the gages still work properly and the radio as well but the Navigation has went out .. the dealership wants almost 3,000.00 to change it out now .. It's a real shame for this nice car to be with out one but I have my cell phone I use most to the time and it does good. If your planning on buying one then go for it .. Mine now has 122,800 miles on it and runs really great . The dealership has been hounding me to death about buying it back as they are really low on used cars but they don't want to give you much for it . I keep her to the wheels fall off I guess and change them out for some new ones . In closing I might say that most of these older ones can get as much as 300 to 400 thousand miles out of the before anything really major has to be done . Just do the regular maintenance and keep track of it and you won't be sorry . "The car was a good investment for me . Update ; The car is now 10 years old .. The Enclave is still running good .. Just got back from a long trip to Orlando for vacation and went to put it away for the day and then the check engine light came on .. After a few weeks I got an appointment to have it looked at and they found a Fuel Rail Sensor had went bad .. the bad thing was where it was located and that was under the manifold . cost to fix was almost 780.00 dollars .. It was the high pressure sensor that was failing .. Now it also has a low pressure sensor but according to my mechanic that one tested out just fine like a few things that they had tested . All in all it's been a very good car .. A good friend of man named Stan who works for a Honda Dealership said he had one and the transmission went out on him around 150,000 miles .. I hope that is not the case with mine . I love the ride and the fuel mileage is about 24 miles to the gallon on a trip using cruise control set at about 70 to 75 MPH .. I will say that since replacing the fuel rail sensor it sure made a difference in the get up and go power that the car has now .. I am hoping I can get another 150,000 out of it before it has any more problems . I tried to trade it in the other day for a newer model car but the NADA book value on it was very poor . It still looks very good . the seats still heat and cool like they should and everything works like it should except the navigation .. that's ok though I got my cell phone and use it if I need to see where I'm going ..

Cheap Plastic

Traded my 2011 Cadillac SRX Performance model Seats were to hard and harsh ride. Found seats and ride in Buick put Cadillac to shame. Much more solid on road. Handling is excellent. But for $53,000 list price. The cheap plastic decor inside this car makes it really look cheap and poor quality I am not sure I would purchase it again.

Made us Buy American

This is truly a wonderful car and our first American car in many years. We have three children under 10 and this is by far the most roomy and classy ride that money can buy. It is a quient and very nicely appointed interior. Having the captains chairs was a must for us and this is the nicest car with that option. One complaint is the hazard button is way too sensitive. i hit that all the time when using the radio. Otherwise, love this car!

Great Lease Deal

Took delivery of a 2012 Buick Enclave Convenience FWD in Cyber Grey/Ebony Cloth interior in Oct. 2012. The lease deal was way to good to pass up. Paying $333/mo for a $39,200 SUV with free Onstar, free maint, free XM radio for the whole 24mo lease! The Enclave is BIG, it drives BIG, goes down the road BIG. Power is ample for a heavy SUV and the 6sp automatic shifts very well to get you moving. Its got style, function, and looks. Very QUIET and chews up miles with ease. The MPG could be better (I am getting 17 city and only 20-21 HWY) but its only got 5,000 miles on it. Driver and passenger comfort are great, love the middle captains chairs, and 3rd row is fine for 2 adults or 3 kids.

Nice Ride

We have been pleased with this car. My friend has an older one, and I am happy to have gotten the redesigned version shortly after it was introduced. The transmission has been re-tuned to shift at higher RPM's, producing brisk and smoother acceleration. I was only disappointed that the navigation system's font size is too small and cannot be adjusted. This could be a safety hazard, since the small font makes it hard to read.

I Would Purchase another Enclave

I absolutely LOVE this vehicle!!! It runs soooooooo quietly. She purrs like a kitten. The comfort of the ride and the cabin make it perfect for ling and short trips. And the quality of the leather seats and wood grain appointments on the dash, console and steering wheel give you the feeling of being in a very fine home. Last, but certainly not least, the heated AND cooled seats are gifts from God for the cold winters or backaches and insanely hot summers. I will buy this one again and again and again!!

2013 Enclave V-6 Engine Failure

At 84,445 miles, the engine quit with absolutely no warning. The mechanic said the crankshaft had seized for no apparent reason. He also said this engine was also in the Chevrolet Traverse and Cadillac models with the V-6 engine. We replaced the engine at a cost of over $9,000 and a month later, the replacement motor caught fire totaling the Enclave. Beautiful car which cost almost $48,000 now has a burned out engine compartment.

Questionable

I bought the 2012 leather sport model, 81,000 miles, AWD at the beginning of 2019 and I'm the second owner. First week the power steering went out on the highway at 70 mph which almost caused us to crash, it was very unstable on the highway due to rear shocks, replaced them, then all the lights came on saying malfunction of the stabilink system, motor misfiring, no power from the engine, transmission shifting so hard I thought it was going to drop the trannie, dash lit up like a Christmas tree with every light on saying something is wrong including the brakes. Found spark plugs were fowled out and caused the engine to go into limp mode which then causes every system to go hay wire. Reset the computer after replacing the plugs and everything came online no problem and truck was perfect. Then a month later we go on vacation and suddenly on the highway dash lights up again all crazy and display says stabilink malfunction and shut down which we were in the rain at 70 and it caused the truck to start fish tailing when we were driving straight and all the other issues started back in. Luckily we were almost back from the trip and I'm a mechanic. Hooked my scanner up and found #3 cylinder coil pack had failed and the motor went back into limp mode. If you are thinking of purchasing one make sure you have deep pockets or can repair it yourself if not dont buy one because it's one of the most expensive vehicles to fix that are one the road. If i couldn't fix all these things myself I would have thousands and thousands of dollars in repairs.

Purchased a 2012 in 2017 with $85,000 miles on it

We purchased this vehicle to replace a 2004 Navigator which was not needed to tow a boat we had sold. We have never owned a Buick product before so we thought we would give it a go. We fortunately had some factory warranty left on the vehicle when we purchased it and thankfully bought a 1 year extended warranty that covered major components. A few weeks after purchase we noticed a flutter in the engine, a hesitation. We took it in and found out that it needed an expensive part for the transmission and new struts...Our factory warranty covered the transmission part, and our extended warranty covered the struts. A few months after that we noticed that the RPM needed was jumping around when traveling at 45-50 mph...Took it to dealer and they said it is a known issue that happens when the temperatures are high (we live in AZ) but does effect the engine...so we would just have to deal with that. Then 8 months in, the AC went out and needed a manifold hose..our factory warranty had run out so our extended warranty covered it. We are VERY nervous about this vehicle once the extended warranty has expired because we really don't feel like we can trust it not to cost us a lot in repairs. I will probably trade out of it once the warranty is up.

I Do love my Buick!

This is my 2nd Enclave. My first was a 2009 and I noticed some reduced minor modifications even though the MSRP has increased. Overall, still very happy with the vehicle. Love the ride, the interior and the power. The limited version is loaded and you can't find any other vehicle with all of the options for this price.

Buick Hits a Homerun

Have had our Enclave for 1 week and absolutely love everything about it. The interior is much more plush than the 2012 model. The quiet cabin is as advertised. The ride is so comfortable it is hard to describe. The led rope lighting on the doors and dash are classy. First time we got the articulating headlamps and this actually helps enlarge the area of lighting when turning. The rear entertainment system will be well used by grandkids. The Intellilink is user freindly and awesome. The spaciousness for all 7 seats is impressive.

Great until 100,000 miles...

Loved this car for the first couple years we had it. Once we hit 100,000 miles (95,000 actually), our transmission went out. Cost $5500 to replace. 5,000 miles later and the water pump goes out. Another $700. 3,000 miles after that and alternator goes bad. That was $500. I’ve lost all confidence in Buick and will be purchasing another Japanese car in the next few weeks before something else breaks. I’ve always been told not to buy American and I wish I had listened.

Problems

I have had my Enclave for 4 years and it has approximately 35,000 miles on the odometer. The car is beginning to encounter problems like a/c quit blowing cold air, the blower in the rear quit working, the rear tailgate got stuck open when we were on vacation and the bluetooth/radio/navigation gets confused when I use hand's free calling and the radio turns off at inappropriate times. Also, sometimes when I turn right, the car makes a sound like a creeking gate. Took it to dealership a month before the original warranty expired and they could not find the problem. It is still making the noise and will eventually break, for which I will have to pay big bucks to repair. The car still drives and handles like it did when it was new.

Enjoying the car, but the milage is horrible

We purchased our Enclave in July 2012. After 5 seat cars, we are really enjoying the space and can now carpool with others and bring the dog on trips. I wanted captains chair in 2nd row and 3 spaces in 3rd, and most SUV's can't do that. It could always use another USB port but we juggle just fine. My only major complaint so far is the milage. This winter it has been averaging 16.4 miles per gallon. This thing chews through gas like you wouldn't believe. Over the summer, it was slightly better, but we were doing more highway traveling. With nothing but metro driving, it is sobering how much we are spending on fuel. Clearance is ok, but check measurements - this is lower than hoped.

Americans can build a great SUV!

The Enclave has great road feel and handling. It also has loads of cargo space. And in six years, I've had zero problems with it.

Love My New Car

I purchased this car after 4 years of research on crossovers and SUVs. It was worth all the time and energy. This vehicle is easy to drive, loaded with extras, very comfortable and doesn't drive like an SUV at all. With the rear camera and parking assist, there are no worries backing out of my driveway or parking spots. The A/C cools rapidly in our very hot summers with very high humidity. It has a very tight turning radius and when this is combined with the variable speed steering - she is a breeze to manuever. I have received so many compliments when people see my new vehicle that I have lost count. I have fully enjoyed the first 6 weeks and look forward to many years of enjoyment.

New Intellink Review

I just leased a 2013 Buick Enclave with Intellink. I had a 2010 Enclave and loved it. The Intellink is all touch buttons including the Emergency Flashers located just under the radio. When changing the radio I inadvertently touch the flasher button and turn them on . This happens daily. Fog lights are no longer available. I used them all the time. You better check with Buick to see which Smart Phones will work with Intellink. It cost me $600 to purchase a new phone when after several days and phones call I found out my HTC Rezound would not pair up. The Iphone 5 will not either. Surprise! Now that I bought a new phone Pandora still won't load.

Disappointed with the 2013 Enclave

Back in 2008 the Buick Enclave was a work of art, a revolution in cross-over SUV vehicles. Unfortunately, I do not feel the same about the 2013 Enclave. Buick did add some features, but they also removed or downgraded some important things. The big selling point of this vehicle was supposed to be the Intellilink system with enhanced navigation, but then they made the touchscreen smaller than before? Other things like Pandora, Stitcher, Photoviewer simply do not work. Are they really selling a $50,000 vehicle that isn't even compatible with an iPhone? Are you kidding me? There is also an occastional low rumbling noise in the engine manifold when the vehicle is idling at a stoplight.

Second best car I ever owned

Update 04/03/2020.. still no issues and still love the car. I owned a 1992 Buick LaSabre which I sold in 2000 with 190,000 miles on it and never had a major repair . So far this Enclave almost exceeds that vehicle. If it were only easier to get in and out of the second and third row seats. They should have installed a grip handle in the second row.

2012 Buick Enclave. Epic American Car Failure

This Truck should not even get a 1 star. I warned my wife not to get this vehicle. Based on price and past experience with these types of vehicles. Enclave only has 76K miles and has a stretched timing belt issue. Replaced Cams shaft position and crankshaft sensors. It does run better but code P00019 related to the Timing belt is still on. Not covered by warranty. I will never buy another one. Back to foreign cars. Had my Montero Sport for 15 years and never had an issue other than regular maintenance. Shameful! It's a beautiful piece of crap.

Classy, sophisticated ride!

Great running automobile. Quiet. Peppy when needed. Comfortable on long as well as short trips. All of the instrumentation takes time to get accustomed to, and can be somewhat intimidating to those of us who are electronically challenged. The manual must be consulted frequently. Gasoline mileage is adequate for the size of the car, but not outstanding. One should not purchase this SUV with the idea of saving money at the gas pump.

I loved my Enclave, but....

I fell in love with my 2012 Enclave when we bought it in 2014. Unfortunately it has been one big problem after another...A/C, drive train, transmission, etc. Thank goodness we bought the extended warranty. Even so, I loved this car bc it was roomy and stylish. Now it just died at 120K due to a broken fuel pump that killed the whole engine. I will miss my car--I loved the way it looked and how smoothly it drove. However, I won't be getting another one. :(

Stay away

Found out after the fact, of course, from the repair shop that the enclave are notorious for transmission going, power steering pump, timing chain, and numerous other issues. My repair cost was 5000 for a vehicle I paid 8000 for a month earlier.

One of the best ever owned

Great car, just traded with 130,000 miles. Never a major issue. Great for family trips even when pulling a small trailer for luggage. Served me so well that just purchased a 2018 replacement. 2018 now has 87000 miles and no issue. Waiting for 2025 redesign to purchase another.

First time owner of buickq

It is direct injection motor. Do your research. Comes with known issues. Properly taken care of by a reputable dealership, it is not a problem

Loved it... till it failed us

2012 Enclave is having transmission issues... slipping and shuddering. We also owned an Acadia before that (2010) which had to get it's transmission repaired at 80k miles. I am done buying these vehicles. Too bad, their design was perfect for our family, but a transmission should be reliable way past 100k miles! We took it on long distance family vacation trips, but since it has become so unreliable, no way we can go far from home. Time for us to look for a new manufacturer for our vacationing SUV needs. Getting difficult to buy US made vehicles.

Constantly in for repair

We purchased a 2013 Enclave in 2016 with ~49K miles. We've consistently been spending money to repair this vehicle. Twice, the dashboard lights start flickering, the dashboard goes black, and the vehicle dies. Both instances of this didn't not register any computer codes, mechanics at the dealership had to guess at the problems, and it took 3 tries to get it fixed. Additionally, the AC requires recharging every summer, twice. These issues represent only some of the times we've taken this vehicle in for repairs over 3 years with costs now exceeding $5000. Forums suggest we are not the only Enclave owners struggling with this.

Climate change

They have air conditioning problems around 60,000 miles. Other than a thousand for that I am very happy with it

Continues to be the best car we have owned.

Good to see Buick being relevant!

My wife and I were in search of a 7-passenger vehicle and searched high and low. In the end, the refreshed Enclave offered everything we were looking for.

Nice but horrible City/Hwy combo gas mileage

The car rides great, interiors really nice, I like the overall features. Have had the car since July(now Oct) and I am getting horrible gas mileage. With a City/Hwy combo every day to/from work I average 12 miles to the gallon. It is so sad to watch....and fill up the tank. The dealer advised to give it to 5K before engine is broken in, but I am not too optimistic - and may be looking to trade it in for that alone. Update 4/10/16. Still nice car but gas mileage horrible in a real city, not suburb city where car manf measures gas mileage.

Sunroof leaks

V6 lacks power, especially on hilly terrain. Sunroof has leaked entire first year of ownership. Apparently Buick unwilling or unable to correct. And the dealer, Carl Black, did ZERO to accommodate. Traded the piece of crap in for a Ford after one year.

Loved the Enclave

great car - felt safe, rides great, low noise, handles exceptionally, loved it

Transmission failed at 120k

After 120k this vehicle has cost more then it's worth. Transmission needed replaced, squeaks everywhere. Terrible choice for a vehicle if you're looking for long term usage.

No cell phones in Front Seat

Updated review: I will never buy a GM Product again based on my experience with customer service and incompetent technology. How would a buyer know if you could have a cell phone or a large drink (in the cup holder) in the front seat? The service notices are not easily available to buyer. I now drive a Lexus. And behold the phone and the iPad and the laptop do not interfere with the seatbelt or air bag deployment. The seat belt alarm keeps going off in my 2012 Enclave. The dealer gave me a service notice ID 3120743/ 08-09-41-0071. This states that any electronic device in the front seat or audio cords or large drinks will cause the seat belt alarm to ping. This is NOT TO BE REPAIRED. If you want a cell phone, iPad or audio cord in the front you have to click the seat belt. GM can not give me any assurance that with said interference the air bags will deploy. GM Customer Service stated "The Vehicle is designed to do that" REALLY? I don't think so. They inadequately shielded the module and now don't want to fix it.

Run from this - $1000 headlamp replacements

BIG FYI: a single headlight bulb costs nearly $500 to replace! Wow! I bought our family's 2013 Enclave new and had a couple of smaller light bulbs burn out while still in warranty. The kicker came when a headlight bulb only lasted 3 years. Just know that that little bulb will cost you nearly $1000.00 when they both burn out! Buick should be ashamed of this. And unfortunately, this means we have no choice but to head back to non-American cars when we get a new car this spring. Good bye Buick, I'm not in the business of these kinds of surprises.

Enclave Built to fail

The Enclave and maybe most cars are built to fail overtime versus over use or mileage. Those little white parts become brittle and break. My Enclave with 49,000 miles needed new tires, struts, shocks, motor mounts!! ,break booster and more. The transmission is slipping

2012 enclave

After 100 000 miles my Buick fell apart . every thing stoping working...JUNK....

Good buick

It has been a reliable vehicle --water pump replaced 110k plugs 120k serviced 120k needs brake pads run great interior space very good.

Never thought I’d own a Buick... but

Okay so I never thought I would own a Buick. But we were searching for a family vehicle that was large enough and wasn’t a giant suv, or a mini van. Voila, we found a 2012 Buick Enclave with 3rd row. Who knew? It seats 8! The rear and 3rd seats are adjustable and folding. Big plus! The rear cargo space is very nice when 3rd row is folded... can still fit suitcases and luggage when using the third row... but we ended up getting a roof rack cargo box for trips. The seats are relatively easily lifted up to clean under them, which is great when you have kids. The next plus was that it is AWD. We love in WI and this was a must for us. And after a nasty winter here, I can say I admire the awd of my Buick. I’m used to driving a Subaru and this stood up pretty good! I didn’t slip, I had continual traction, and it seemed eager to plow through the snow. The next big thing for us was the fact it can actually tow! We made sure it had a tow package, and it can easily handle a pop up camper. It has a fancy little switch on the dash for towing. We still had a smooth ride despite towing a big gawky camper behind us! We did not get one that has any extra gadgets on the inside (no dvds, or naviahtion) but I would rate 9/10 for it.

Love My Enclave!!

My family has owned several Buicks over many years. We have always known that they were dependable vehicles. I had been admiring the Buick Enclave for awhile, and when I saw this one, I fell in love! She's beautiful inside and out. Putting the beauty aside, this automobile has been amazing. Tight, starts every single time, no rattles, no squeaks, drives like a dream. Heat and AC work great. Seats included! I have had her 3 years and proud to call her mine!

recommend to any one

I adore this vehicle!!

I traded in my 2004 Rainier and purchased my 2012 White Diamond AWD Premium Enclave a few days ago. It was very hard trying to decide between the Enclave, the Acadia Denali and the Cadillac SRX. After driving all three, the Enclave was the hands down winner. It is roomy, elegant, smooth, quiet, and very luxurious. It was a bit pricey - even more expensive than my 2003 Yukon Denali XL - but it is worth it. This vehicle is loaded with every amenity you can think of!

Buick has come a long way!!!!!

Really enjoy driving my new Buick SUV....... it is quick an nimble, very stylish and filled with great bells and whistles.

Constant repairs

If you’re not a confident DIY mechanic, this vehicle might sink you. I bought our 2012 Enclave from an older couple who babied it and did all the scheduled maintenance through their dealership. That didn’t matter. As soon as I took possession the problems started. Now imagine the following needing to be replaced at about 4 month intervals: power steering pump, alternator, water pump, ignition coil packs, purge valve, rear wheel bearing, transmission torque converter, other rear wheel bearing, pvc valve, accelerator module (gas pedal), purge valve, front struts, and transmission control module. It also burns oil and/or has oil blow by to the tune of three qts of oil every 5000 miles. I now add a qt of oil every 1000 miles and change oil every 3000 to 4000 miles. While the cabin is quiet and comfortable, and the ride is superbly smooth… the drive train is complete garbage. The only saving grace is that I did all the repairs myself, other than the torque converter. Otherwise it would likely have been close to $10,000 in parts and labor at some other mechanic. I don’t know how GM gets away with this kind of quality. I know I for one will never be buying another GM product.

Very Reliable and comfortable

Great car for reliability and all around comfort. Al lot of room. Minimal maintenance to keep top notch performance. Had the vehicle for 12 years and was a charm. Just decided to trade the vehicle in for an other.