Last updated on October 4th, 2023 at 11:06 am

The Buick Enclave is a mid-size 3 row SUV, introduced in 2008, has space for up to 7 passengers.

It sits at the very top of Buick’s SUV series and is characterized by its stylish design, lively engine, and wide range of features.

If you plan to purchase an Enclave, you might have some questions about Buick Enclave Reliability and its average lifespan.

How Long Do Buick Enclaves Last?

The Buick Enclave is a reliable SUV that can last between 200,000 to 250,000 miles with conservative driving habits and proper maintenance.

If you drive the vehicle an average of 15,000 miles per year, then the vehicle can provide service of up to 13 to 17 years before needing expensive repairs.

The more stress a car’s engine puts, the quicker components wear and tear.

Thoughts on a High-Mileage Buick Enclave

An Enclave with 100,000 or over miles on the clock is considered high mileage and sometimes a risky investment.

Buying a Buick Enclave with over 100,000 miles does not necessarily mean it would have a bad outcome.

Before purchasing a pre-owned car, check the vehicle’s maintenance history and the number of previous owners.

If you plan to operate the car for a long time, evaluate whether the short-term savings overcome spending more on something better.

Related Post – Range Rover Sport Reliability | How Long Do Range Rovers Last? 

Buick Enclave Reliability: Is the Buick Enclave Reliable?

The older models of Enclave do not have the best reputation for reliability. However, recent models have received many respectable reliability scores from motor journalists and consumers.

RepairPal ranks Enclave at 24th out of 26 for reliability among other mid-size SUVs and scored the Enclave 3 out of 5 for overall reliability rating.

Kelly Blue Book rated the 2020 Buick Enclave an excellent score of 4.7 out of 5 for reliability.

J.D. Power scored the 2020 Enclave 79 out of 100 in terms of Quality and Reliability.

Reliability Ratings Compared to Other SUVs

SUV Models

Reliability Ratings

Mazda CX5

4.5/5
Mitsubishi Endeavour

4/5

Dodge Journey

4/5
Toyota 4Runner

3.5/5

Ford Edge

3.5/5
Honda Pilot

3.5/5

Mazda CX-7

3.5/5
Buick Enclave

3/5

More to explore – How Long Do Volkswagen Jettas Last?- Solved & Explained

How Long Does the Buick Enclave Last Compared to Similar Car Models?

This section will compare the Buick Enclave with some of its competitors for reliability and longevity.

Buick Enclave vs. GMC Acadia

The GMC Acadia is a crossover SUV introduced in 2006 by General Motors.

Miles expected from the GMC Acadia is 200,000 to 250,000 miles, much like the Buick Enclave.

The average maintenance cost for the Acadia is $734 per year and for the Enclave is $720.

RepairPal rates the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave the same reliability rating 3 out of 5.

J.D. Power’s Quality and Reliability rates for both vehicles are roughly similar, with the Enclave getting 79 out of 100 and Acadia getting 81 out of 100.

Even though the vehicles are similar, the Enclave is more spacious and luxurious.

Buick Enclave vs. Chevrolet Traverse

The Chevrolet or Chevy Traverse is a mid-size crossover SUV in production since 2008 by General Motors.

The average expected miles from Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse are the same, 200,000 to 250,000 miles, and can even cross that with proper maintenance.

The annual maintenance cost for the Traverse is a bit cheaper, $656, and for Enclave, the cost is $720 annually.

RepairPal rates both Enclave and Traverse 3 out of 5 in terms of reliability.

According to J.D. Power’s Quality and Reliability score, the Traverse gets 85 out of 100, which is slightly higher than the Buick Enclave score, 79 out of 100.

The Enclave is preferred over the Traverse for a much quieter and softer ride.

Buick Enclave vs. Toyota Highlander

The Highlander is a mid-size crossover SUV in production since 2000 by Toyota.

The Highlander has an expected mileage of 250,000 to 300,000 miles higher than the miles expected from a Buick Enclave.

Annual maintenance and service cost for the Highlander is $489 and for the Enclave is $720 on average.

RepairPal rates the Highlander 4 out of 5, and Enclave gets 3 out of 5 for reliability.

According to J.D. Power, for Quality and Reliability, the Toyota Highlander scores 85 out of 100, and Buick Enclave gets 79 out of 100. 

Comparison Chart

 Car Models

Buick EnclaveGMC AcadiaChevrolet Traverse

Toyota Highlander

Expected Mileage

200,000 to 250,000 miles200,000 to 250,000 miles200,000 to 250,000 miles

250,000 to 300,000 miles

Annual Maintenance Cost$720$734$656

$489

RepairPal Ratings

3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 54 out of 5
J.D. Power Scores79 out of 10081 out of 10085 out of 100

85 out of 100

Price Range

Starts from $41,195Starts from $34,800Starts from $34,895

Starts from $35,205

You might also like – Cadillac Cts Reliability: How Long Do Cadillac Cts Last?

Best and Worst Years for the Buick Enclave

The Buick Enclave has its fair share of good and bad years, and in this part, we will take a look at those.

Best Years

The 2020 Enclave model offered a standard 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system and received a 5 out of 5 reliability rating from Consumer Reports.

For the first generation of Buick Enclaves, models from 2015 to 2017 received fewer reported issues and are much safer to buy.

Models from 2019 onwards have had minimal reported issues and received impressive reliability scores.

Worst Years

2008 model of the Buick Enclave is the worst model year because of many reported transmission failures and received significantly more complaints than any other year.

The early first-generation Enclaves are known to have significant issues starting at around 60,000 to 80,000 miles, with repairs costing almost $3,500.

The 2018 Buick Enclave model was the first year of the second-generation cars and has had many reported transmission issues.

Buick Enclave Model Years and Reliability Ratings

Model Years

Reliability Score
2021 Buick Enclave Reliability

8/10

2020 Buick Enclave Reliability

8/10
2019 Buick Enclave Reliability

7.9/10

2018 Buick Enclave Reliability

8/10
2017 Buick Enclave Reliability

8.2/10

2016 Buick Enclave Reliability

8.4/10
2015 Buick Enclave Reliability

8.5/10

2014 Buick Enclave Reliability

8.5/10
2013 Buick Enclave Reliability

9/10

2012 Buick Enclave Reliability

8.6/10

Is the Buick Enclave Expensive to Maintain?

The Buick Enclave for the first ten years is roughly $8,660, with an average annual maintenance cost of $720.

Newer Enclave models should have lower maintenance costs as they have strong reliability, which keeps the ownership costs down.

Here is a list of average annual maintenance costs of other cars and the Buick Enclave.

Models

Average Maintenance Cost
Mazda CX-5

$447

Hyundai Santa Fe

$515
Toyota Highlander

$489

Dodge Nitro

$582
Subaru Outback

$607

Jeep Liberty

$674
Mazda CX-7

$470

Buick Enclave

$720

Read this to learn – GMC Sierra Reliability: How Long Does the GMC Sierra Last?

How Long Does the Buick Enclave Tires Last?

Buick Enclave stock tires are expected to last for about 50,000 to 60,000 miles or 3 to 5 years.

The life expectancy of your car tires depends on various factors such as climate, road conditions, and driving habits.

Check the tire pressure and wheel alignment every few weeks to ensure they are in their correct states.

How Long Does the Buick Enclave Brakes Last?

The brake pads of a Buick Enclave usually last between 30,000 to 60,000 miles, but this depends mainly on driving conditions.

It is impractical to state the exact number. However, the 40,000-mile range is the general mileage to remember while planning vehicle maintenance.

Brake pads can cost anywhere between $150 to $300 per axle, including parts and labor.

How Long Does the Buick Enclave Batteries Last?

The Enclave’s battery usually lasts between 3 to 5 years, but this also depends on some factors such as driving habits, climate, and battery type.

Clean the terminals of the battery to keep them free of build-up and limit short rides to expand the life of your car battery.

Tips to Increase the Lifespan of Your Buick Enclave

  • Adopt smooth driving styles.
  • Use good quality parts and fluids.
  • Check the car’s engine oil, brake, coolant, and transmission fluid levels and fill them up when needed.
  • Store your vehicle under a shade to protect it from the weather’s elements.
  • Keep updated with factory-recommended maintenance.
  • Rotate the tires of your vehicle every 5,000 miles to ensure even wear and tear.
  • Wash your car every now and then to get rid of dirt and grime to protect the paint from developing rust.
  • Avoid overloading your vehicle and towing within the 1500 lb limit.

We hope this article has guided you with any questions about a Buick Enclave.

Read this next – Mercedes C Class Reliability: How Long Do Mercedes Last?