2016 Buick Enclave Safety Report
2016 Buick Enclave Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Buick Enclave
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Buick Enclave. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (4) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (139) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 2 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Air Bags | Compare air bags issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Buick Enclave with 19 complaints and 2 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2017 | Check the 2017 Buick Enclave before buying across this generation. |
Buick Enclave Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Buick Enclave years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Buick Enclave | 177 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Buick Enclave | 170 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Buick Enclave | 56 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Buick Enclave | 37 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Buick Enclave | 41 | 6 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Buick Enclave | 19 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Buick Enclave Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Buick Enclave, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Air Bags
107 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Buick onlyPower Train
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Buick onlyUnknown Or Other
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Buick onlyEngine
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Buick onlyStructure
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Structure issues Buick onlySteering
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Buick onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Buick Enclave
Reliability Score
The 2016 Buick Enclave receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Buick Enclave
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Buick Enclave
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Buick Enclave:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags, Seat Belts Recalled for potential issues with the air bag inflator module and seat belts. Ensure the vehicle has been properly repaired. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Power Train Recalled for power train issues. Check for any outstanding recalls. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Structure No specific issues reported, but structure recalls are common. Check for any outstanding recalls. |
Low | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System No specific issues reported, but electrical system recalls are common. Check for any outstanding recalls. |
Low | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Buick Enclave:
Recalled for potential issues with the air bag inflator module and seat belts.
Recalled for power train issues.
No specific issues reported, but structure recalls are common.
No specific issues reported, but electrical system recalls are common.
Recall Details for the 2016 Buick Enclave
The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Buick Enclave by NHTSA:
Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
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.
Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
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.
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured November 6, 2015, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a the third row left lower seat frame that may have welds that are not in the correction location.
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.
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured August 18, 2015 to September 24, 2015. Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield wiper motor may overheat when used.
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...
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Buick Enclave
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Buick Enclave with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
I am seeing that these have been repaired, when in fact it has not been repaired.
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 discrepanc...
We have had spark plugs fixed twice in the past 4 months and they keep faltering. Both mechanics changed them
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 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 is...
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 ...
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 experie...
During a rainstorm water is entering the fuse box under the glove box and the carpet and padding underneath is soaking wet on the right front floor.When the fuse case was opened water started to drip out.The engine continues to run with the key off and the only way to stop it is to pull the ignition fuse under the hood. Unfortunately the battery died by morning and I could not get it charged for a...
My airbags were recalled May 10, 2023 and I have been trying to get them replaced under recall # 23V334 for over a year now and am continously told that the part is on backorder.
I am writing to bring to your attention a serious concern regarding General Motors (GM) and the incomplete recall of certain vehicles that pose significant safety risks to consumers. Specifically, I am referring to the recall announced on May 10, 2023, under Manufacturer Recall Number N232404980 and NHTSA Recall Number 23V334, affecting the 2014-2017 model year Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, a...
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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconn...
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Everytime I call the dealership they say there is no fix to this recall that could potentially injure or kill me while driving.
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 experie...
This recall has been open for over a year with no indication of when the repair will be made. For something like an airbag, this extended time seems unreasonable. Please "encourage" GM to make the repair parts available to its dealerships ASAP.
See attached document for complaint.
See attached document for complaint.
See attached document for complaint.
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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced ...
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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts no...
Showing 20 of 139 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Buick Enclave
Has the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE has 4 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE have?
The 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE has 139 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 2 involved crashes. 5 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE?
The 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE involve air bags (107 complaints), power train (5 complaints), unknown or other (4 complaints). Other affected components include engine, structure, steering.
How many crash reports does the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE have?
There are 2 crash reports associated with the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE out of 139 total complaints (1.4% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE have?
There are no fire reports for the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE?
5 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE is acceptable with caveats. It has 139 complaints, 4 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE are: 1. AIR BAGS (107 complaints), 2. POWER TRAIN (5 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (4 complaints), 4. ENGINE (3 complaints), 5. STRUCTURE (3 complaints). AIR BAGS is the single most-reported problem area with 107 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE?
Ensure all recalls have been properly addressed, especially those related to air bags and seat belts. The 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE has 139 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE?
The 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 139 owner complaints, 4 recalls, and 2 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Air bags, seat belts and Power train.
What are the known issues with the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE?
Known issues with the 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE include: Air bags, seat belts, Power train, Structure, Electrical system. These are based on patterns found across 139 NHTSA complaints. 4 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the air bags and seat belts?
Yes, there have been recalls for potential issues with the air bag inflator module and seat belts. Ensure the vehicle has been properly repaired.
What are the common issues with the power train?
There have been recalls related to the power train, though the specific issues are not detailed. Check for any outstanding recalls.
What should I do if I receive a recall notification?
Contact the dealership to schedule the necessary repairs as soon as possible.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Ensure all recalls have been properly addressed, especially those related to air bags and seat belts.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Buick Enclave
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Buick Enclave. The data includes 139 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 4 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 2 reported crashes, 5 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Buick Enclave an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-13