2008 Buick Enclave complaints

FROM THE DAY OF PURCHASE MY BUICK ENCLAVE HAS FAILED TO ACHIEVE THE RATED THE FUEL EFFICIENCY (12 MPG INITIALLY UPTO 14MPG 18MOS AND NUMEROUS TRIPS BACK TO DEALERSHIPS. BASICALLY COMPUTER CHECKS AND ADJUSTMENTS WERE DONE. FINALLY, LAST MONTH A VALVE JOB WAS DONE, AS WELL AS SOME TRANSMISSION WORK AND NOW MY FUEL EFFICIENCY IS IMPROVING. I HAVE DRIVEN 400 MILES SINCE THIS MECHANIC WORK AND THE MPG IS APPROACHING 17MPG. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR INCONSISTENTLY REGISTERS OFF WHEN MY WIFE OR OTHERS SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF OUR 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES AND THEY SAY IT IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. GM IS IGNORING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS PROTECTION SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE FOR WHICH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR ONLY DETECTS A LOW WEIGHT (110 LB) ADULTS ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. THE OTHER 50% OF THE TIME IT TURNS THE AIRBAG OFF EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN ADULT IN THE SEAT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. SEE OTHER CASES AT HTTP://WWW.ENCLAVEFORUM.NET/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=449.0. WHY ISN'T A RECALL ISSUED OVER SUCH A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE? *TR

AFTER NOT DRIVING MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE FOR 3 DAYS, WHEN I TRIED TO START IT THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND I COULDN'T GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAD TO HAVE IT JUMP STARTED, AFTER JUST 9,000 MILES ON IT. APPARENTLY, AFTER DOING SOME QUICK INTERNET SEARCHES, THIS IS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE BUICK ENCLAVES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHENEVER AN OCCUPANT WAS POSITIONED IN THE SEAT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A FAULTY SEAT SENSOR. THE SEAT SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 5\26\09 *CN THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF AT RANDOM TIMES, WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. UPDATED 05/28/09.*JB

MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE CONSISTENTLY HAS WATER LEAKS AFTER IT RAINS. THERE IS A LOT OF CONDENSATION BUILD UP IN THE VEHICLE AND WATER IN THE CARGO AREA. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT IT HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED AFTER 3 UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS (EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED). *TR

I OWN A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE AND TWICE NOW IN LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS MY AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT HAS COME ON. BOTH TIMES I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERS AND BOTH TIMES THEY HAVE CLEARED THE CODE AND HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THEY SEEM TO LACK THE TECHNICAL KNOW HOW OR WILLINGNESS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I AM SURPRISED THAT GM IS NOT TAKING THIS SAFETY PROBLEM SERIOUSLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE EASY EXIT SEAT FUNCTION. WHEN THE KEY IS PLACED IN THE IGNITION, BOTH THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL ARE SUPPOSED TO MOVE TO PRE-DETERMINED POSITIONS, AND THEN MOVE BACK WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL DID NOT MOVE BACK WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED. FOR MONTHS, HE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE DEALER REPAIR THE VEHICLE, BUT HIS APPOINTMENTS KEPT GETTING PUSHED BACK. RECENTLY, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED WITH THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 500. UPDATED 04-17-09 THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD MOVE BACK WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM IGNITION. THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD ALSO MOVE UP AND FORWARD. UPDATED 04/20/09.*JB

RECURRING DEAD BATTERY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON RANDALL ROAD TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH. I SLOWED TO ENTER A RIGHT TURN LANE AND THE STEERING BEGAN TO SHUDDER WHEN I MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL. I BRAKED AGGRESSIVELY AND WAS ABLE AFTER MUCH EFFORT TO MANEUVER THE ENCLAVE INTO A PARKING SPACE. I PHONED MY HUSBAND AND UPON ARRIVAL FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. HE PHONED THE DEALER AND BUICK ASSISTANCE. AFTER 3 HOURS THE CAR WAS LOADED ON A TRUCK AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE PERSON STATED THAT THE COOLER LINE HAD DEVELOPED A PIN HOLE LEAK AND LOST FLUID TO THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. I AM STILL WAITING SINCE THE STEERING PUMP WAS ALSO DAMAGED. NO MENTION OF REPLACING THE RACK AND PINION (MY HUSBANDS HELP WITH THAT TERM). I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING A CAR THAT THE STEERING LOCKS UP IF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL OUTCOME UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. THIS IS THE THIRD SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS DELIVERED DECEMBER 31, 2007. THE DRIVER WINDSHIELD WIPER CAME LOOSE (HUSBAND FIXED) AND THE RIGHT REAR STRUT WELD FAILED LEAKING OIL ALL OVER THE GARAGE FLOOR AND MAKING THE CAR FEEL LOOSE DRIVING IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. WE HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT SIGN DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. I DO NOT TRUST THIS CAR. THE ONLY BRIGHT SPOT IS THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE. *TR

WHEN REPLACING WINDSHIELD NOTICED THAT PAINT WAS COMING OFF PINCHWELD WITH OLD URETHANE ADHESIVE. *TR

NOTHING UNUSUAL, ALL POWER TURNED OFF; FIRST TWO TIMES, BATTERY NEAR-DEAD WHEN STARTED, THEN COMPLETELY DEAD AFTER TURNING KEY IN IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES. THIRD TIME, KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT UNTIL BATTERY WAS RECHARGED. *TR

WE OWN A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE THAT HAS FAILED TO START THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 4 DAYS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID NO PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR WITH OUR TWO YOUR CHILDREN AND WE CAN'T AFFORD FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO BE STRANDED. DEALER SAID THEY FIXED ISSUE WITH SOFTWARE UPDATE. APPARENTLY NOT AS IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN TONIGHT. *TR

I DROVE MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE LIKE NORMAL TO GET KIDS FROM SCHOOL. TURNED THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR THEM. WENT TO START IT BACK UP AND NOTHING DEAD WOULD NOT EVEN TURN OVER. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES EVEN GIVING IT A BREAK IN BETWEEN AND STILL NOTHING. CALLED A TOW COMPANY TO TOW TO THE DEALER I USE FOR SERVICING (PLUMMER PONTIAC GMC AND CADILLAC IN LODI, CA.) AND AWAITING A CALL BACK TO SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE ABOUT 28K ON IT. I DID KNOW OTHERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK GOD I WASN'T IN A DARK AREA OR STRANDED IN A BAD AREA. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE BEING STRANDED IN A NEWER CAR IS NOT WHAT THE CONSUMER PAYS FOR WITH THIS VEHICLE COSTING WELL OVER 40K YOU WOULD THINK YOU WERE PURCHASING RELIABILITY. NOT SO MUCH. *TR

2008 BOUGHT NEW IN JULY 2008 HAS HAD TWO DEAD BATTERIES. DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE GM ACADIA WHICH IS A "SISTER" CAR TO MY ENCLAVE, HAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY OWNERS ON THE ENCLAVE FORUM THAT SEEM TO BE HAVING THIS DEAD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM. *TR

HAVE HAD THE BATTERY DIE 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR ON THE CAR WITH EVERYTHING SHUT OFF ETC. ALSO ONCE YOU PUT THE KEY IN THE CAR TO START IT AND IT DOESN'T START, THE KEY WON'T COME OUT. *TR

NEW 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE, THE BATTERY WENT DEAD AFTER NOT BEING DRIVEN FOR 6 DAYS. BUICK TOLD ME I NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR AT LEST EVERY 3 DAYS TO PREVENT THIS. BATTERY WAS JUMPED AND CAR STARTED FINE. I CAN'T LIVE WITH A CAR THAT NEEDS TO BE DRIVEN EVERY 3 DAYS. *TR

APPROX. 380 MILES, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL & SERVICE STABILITY TRACK LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO A BUICK DEALER IN MY TOWN & THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. PERIODICALLY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING & EACH TIME THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I WAS GIVEN A DEVICE THAT WAS PLUGGED INTO THE COMPUTER& SET IN THE CUP HOLDER. IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO PUSH THE BUTTON TO RECORD THE CODE, WHICH I DID. IT HAS BEEN 3 WEEKS SINCE I GAVE THE DEVICE BACK & STILL NO CALL TO BRING MY CAR IN. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS NOT GRIPPING THE ROAD & WE FELT A JOLT WHEN STOPPING OR GOING FORWARD FROM A STOP. I AM AFRAID IT WILL CAUSE MORE DAMAGE IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE 13,000 MILES NOW & I BOUGHT MY 2008 ENCLAVE IN JULY 2007. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE EACH TIME IT HAPPENS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT BUICK DEALERS TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR HANDLES A LITTLE DIFFERENT WHILE IT IS GOING ON. I AM AFRAID IT COULD CAUSE ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

2008 BUICK ENCLAVE - 8 MONTHS OLD - 3200 MILES. FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE. TRIPLE A CAME AND JUMPED THE CAR - DEALER SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH BATTERY OR ALTERNATOR. HOWEVER, EDMONDS.COM THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF OWNERS EXPRESSING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE OWNED CARS FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. *TR

LTR RE PROBLEMS HE IS HAVING WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN HIS 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED THE FIRST TIME, BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE DEALER WAS JUST CLEARING THE CODES AND NOT TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS. *JB

CAMPAIGN 08V41000 ISSUED 8.6.08 INDICATES THAT REMEDY IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN CERTAIN, MOSTLY NORTHERN STATES. SINCE I LIVE IN ONE OF THE OTHER STATES IT MUST BE UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY TO TRAVEL TO ONE OF THE LISTED STATES. I REALIZE THE GM IS TRYING TO KEEP THE COST DOWN, BUT THIS RECALL AS LISTED,DOES NOT MAKE SENSE SINCE I TRAVEL IN THE WINTER TO THE COVERED STATES. *TR

SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE ON 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHEN CLOSING, IT DOES NOT REVERSE AT MY SHOULDER HEIGHT. A FEW DAYS AGO, IT PUSHED ME DOWN TO ABOUT TO HALFWAY POINT BEFORE IT STOPPED (OUCH!!!) LATER TRIED THIS A FEW TIMES... IN THE FIRST 6-12" OF CLOSING, THE GATE DOES NOT REVERSE, EVEN WITH VERY FIRM HAND PRESSURE. FURTHER TESTS SHOWED THAT IT FAILS TO REVERSE AT EVEN MORE THAT THE 12" MARK (I DIDN'T MEASURE). AT ABOUT MIDWAY TO CLOSED, IT REVERSES WITH JUST A LIGHT TOUCH. ACCORDING TO OWNERS MANUAL: * "IF THE LIFTGATE ENCOUNTERS AN OBSTACLE DURING A POWER OPEN OR CLOSE CYCLE, A WARNING CHIME WILL SOUND AND THE LIFTGATE WILL AUTOMATICALLY REVERSE DIRECTION TO THE FULL CLOSED OR OPEN POSITION." *TR

2008 BUICK ENCLAVE CXL AWD THE SEATBELT CASEMENT ON BOTH FRONT SEATS IN THIS SUV ARE BEING DAMAGED (CUT INTO) BY THE BELT MOVING OUT AND BACK OVER THE HOUSING, CAUSING THE BELT TO OCCASIONALLY CATCH AND NOT RETRACT INTO THE B-PILLAR. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE LOCAL DEALER, AS WELL AS GM CORPORATE OFFICES, AND NEITHER WILL REPLACE THE WORN OUT AND CATCHING PARTS, CLAIMING THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE COVERED BY WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE FUTURE AND IN THE MEANTIME DEALERS ARE BEING TOLD NOT TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. SAFETY CONCERNS LIE IN THE FACT THAT THE SEATBELT FAILS TO RETRACT OCCASIONALLY AND DOES NOT SIT TIGHT AGAINST THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS CHEST. *TR

PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. 132 LBS, 5'8" FEMALE SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT GETS INTERMITTENT "ON" STATUS FOR THE AIRBAG WHEN CAR RUNNING. TENDS TO BE IN THE "OFF" MODE ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME WITH THIS SAME PERSON SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE FIRST TIME THIS WAS ADDRESSED WAS IN SEPT OF 2007 DURING THE TEST DRIVE PRIOR TO PURCHASE. AT THAT TIME WE CONTACTED ON-STAR WHILE THE SAME PASSENGER DESCRIBED ABOVE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND THE SALES REP WAS PRESENT. ON-STAR REP COULD FIND NO PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED RESTARTING THE CAR. WE DID AND THE AIRBAG WENT TO THE "ON" POSITION. ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER (AFTER PURCHASE) THE PASSENGER AIRBAG BEGAN TO REGISTER IN THE "OFF" POSITION MOST OF THE TIME. RESTARTING THE CAR DID NOT ALWAYS SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WITHIN THE PAST MONTH WE HAVE ONLY SEEN THE "ON" LIGHT THREE TIMES WHILE THE SAME PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES AND THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND THAT THE PASSENGER MUST BE TOO LIGHT AND THEREFORE IT IS UNSAFE FOR THE AIRBAG TO BE IN THE "ON" POSITION. IT IS OUR CONTENTION THAT THERE IS IN FACT SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE SYSTEM WOULD IN FACT BE "ON" SOMETIMES. HOWEVER GM WAS UNWILLING TO PROVIDE PASSENGER WEIGHT PARAMETERS SO WE COULD FURTHER INVESTIGATE IF THE SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. IN CHECKING WITH NHTSA FOR NATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS WE FOUND IT USES A 108 LBS 5'2' DUMMY TO ENSURE DEPLOYMENT. AS NOTED ABOVE WE ARE TALKING A

PASSENGER SEATBELT INDICATOR TURNS OFF EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *TR

I SLOWED FOR A CURVE IN A TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD. AFTER THE CURVE I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO RESUME SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR ENGINE RACED LOUDLY, THE RPM GAUGE SHOT WAY UP, AND THE CAR DECELERATED RATHER THAN ACCELERATE. I AGAIN PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO SPEED UP AND THE ENGINE AGAIN RACED BUT THE CAR KEPT SLOWING. I BECAME AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO ACCELERATE AND ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION AND TAKE OFF ON ME. I LOOKED AT THE GEARSHIFT TO BE SURE I WAS IN "D" MODE, AND I WAS. I DOWNSHIFTED INTO LOW GEAR AND LIMPED HOME ABOUT 20 MI LES PER HOUR, BUT COULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN THAT WITHOUT THE ENGINE RACING. IT SCARED ME TO THE POINT THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, NOR WILL I LET ANY ONE ELSE DRIVE IT UNTIL I KNOW THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN COMPLETELY RESOLVED, AND I HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT CAUSED IT. I AM SO THANKFUL I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM TO EXPECT THE CAR TO BE TOWED TO THEIR SERVICE DEPT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. *TR

MY AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS ON ORDER. AFTER NOT HEARING ANYTHING FOR 10 DAYS I CALLED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR 5-6 WEEKS. I HAVE A NEW VEHICLE WITHOUT A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING AIRBAG AND THE ONLY THING GM COULD DO WAS GIVE ME A RENTAL CAR. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH ONLY MY ENCLAVE BUT ALSO WITH OTHERS. I ALSO FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN THE ACADIA AND THERE WAS A RECALL BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY GM REGARDING THE ENCLAVE. WHEN I TRIED TO CONTACT THE GM EXECUTIVE OFFICE I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO AND I COULD EITHER DRIVE A RENTAL CAR OR DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT THE AIRBAG. *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM ON MY '08 BUICK ENCLAVE CXL DOES NOT ACTIVATE 100% OF THE TIME WHEN THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TWICE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD AT LEAST THREE OTHER ENCLAVES IN THE SHOP AT THE SAME TIME AS MINE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THAT NATIONWIDE, OTHER ENCLAVES OWNERS WERE MAKING THE SAME COMPLAINT. THEY TOLD ME THAT IF THE PASSENGER DOES NOT SIT IN A CERTAIN EXACT POSITION, WITH THEIR LEGS IN A CERTAIN POSITION, THE SYSTEM WILL NOT ACTIVATE. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY VARIABLES, SUCH AS HEIGHT, WEIGHT AND BODY SHAPE. I FIND THIS TO BE A TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND QUITE DANGEROUS INHERENT DESIGN FLAW ON A NEW MODEL OF CAR. *TR

2008 BUICK ENCLAVE THAT HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR 8 MONTHS (NEW CAR WAS PICKED UP IN AUGUST OF 2007). AFTER SEVERAL SERVICE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, IT STILL DOESN'T PERFORM LIKE IT SHOULD. TODAY WHEN DRIVING THE CAR THE ENGINE WAS RACING TO OVER 4,000 RPM WHILE DRIVING DOWN A 35 MPH ROAD -- THOUGHT THE THING WAS GOING TO BLOW UP BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. ALSO HAD WATER (FROM RAIN) ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AFTER IT RAINED DUE TO FAULTY RAIL CONNECTORS (NOT SEALED) ON TOP OF CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN, THE CONTACT SHUT BOTH FRONT WINDOWS AND LEFT THE BACK WINDOWS DOWN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THE SUNROOF BEGAN SHAKING AS WELL. THE CONTACT SHUT THE REAR WINDOWS AND THE SHAKING AND VIBRATING STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT ALL NEW VEHICLES PERFORM IN THAT MANNER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,897. UPDATED 3/25/08 *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN AN ADULT SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500 MILES.

ON AUG 20 THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME WITH A HITCH STOPPED; SO DID I. THE CAR BEHIND ME AND THE CAR BEHIND HIM DIDN'T STOP. I TOOK THE CAR TO SPRINGMALL AUTO BODY IN SPRINGFIELD - $5500 WORTH OF DAMAGE. ONE WEEK AFTER I PICKED IT UP, I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I GOT ON ONSTAR AND THEY SAID THE TRACTION AND ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED. I TOOK IT BACK TO SPRINGMALL. BECAUSE IT'S SO NEW, THEY DROVE THE CAR TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT - RTE 1 PONTIAC, GM AND BUICK, WOODRIDGE VA. UPON RECEIPT OF THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC NEVER ASKED FOR PAPERWORK FROM THE AUTOBODY SHOP WHO DELIVERED IT - THEY HAD NO IDEA THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. THE MECHANIC SAID HE NEEDED TO DRIVE IT HOME TO SEE IF IT WOULD DO IT AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY, THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT AND TOLD ME TO PICK IT UP. ONE WEEK LATER AFTER A 2 HR RIDE TO RICHMOND - IT PETERED OUT AGAIN AND I HAD TO DIVE FOR THE BREAKDOWN LANE. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO RTE 1 BUICK AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO KEEP MY CAR (WHICH I AM LEASING) AND APPARENTLY IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE WRONG. I ASKED THEM TO IMMEDIATELY CALL SPRINGMALL AND GET A FAX OF THE ACCIDNET AND EXTENT OF DAMAGES - THEY WERE SHOCKED. I SAID I DIDN'T MIND LEAVING IT, BUT I WANTED MY MILES REFUNDED. THEY SAID NO. THE WHOLE SCENE TURNED UGLY AND THEY TOLD ME TO LEAVE THE SHOP. I HAVE A PREGNANT DAUGHTER AND A GRANDDAUGHTER WHO RIDE IN THAT CAR A LOT - WHY DID THEY TELL ME IT WAS FINE TO DRIVE IF IT WASN'T? THE CAR JUST STOPS!! THE HEAD MECHANIC SAID THE ONLY THING HE COULD DO WAS PUT

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A BUICK ENCLAVE 2008. WHILE DRIVING I ROLLED DOWN THE BACK WINDOWS TO LET SOME AIR IN THE NEXT THING I HEARD WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE AND IT HURT MY EARS, THE FASTER I DROVE THE WORSE THE NOISE BECAME. I TOOK THE ENCLAVE BACK TO THE BUICK DEALER AND AFTER THEY DROVE IT THEY ALSO HEARD THE NOISE. FROM WHAT THEY TOLD ME IT IS BECAUSE THE ENCLAVE HAS A LOT OF AIR SPACE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSE THE NOISE BUT, WHY DOES IT NOT MAKE THE NOISE WHEN, I OPEN THE DRIVER WINDOW ALL THE WAY DOWN?? THEY COULD NOT ANSWER THAT QUESTION. HOWEVER I DID FIND OUT THAT ALL OF THE BUICKS AND GMC'S ARE BUILT THE SAME AND MAKE THE SAME NOISE. I ENJOY THE ENCLAVE BUT I DO NOT LIKE BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE REAR WINDOWS OF MY ENCLAVE. CAN YOU HELP ME OR TELL ME WHAT I CAN TO TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM? MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH IN OUR MID 60S AND WE WANTED TO ENJOY A GOOD VEHICLE. THANKS JAMES BOOT *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT FREQUENTLY INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF WHEN MY 110 POUND WIFE IS IN THE SEAT. I HAVE NOTED THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM OTHER ENCLAVE OWNERS ON AN ENCLAVE WEB SITE (HTTP://WWW.ENCLAVEFORUM.NET/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=449.0 ). *JB

PURCHASED NEW 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE ON MAY 24, 2007. WE IMMEDIATELY NOTED THE "ON/OFF" FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS INCONSISTENT WHEN MY 5' 7" 118 LB. WIFE SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ABOUT 40% OF THE TIME THE LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG IS OFF, BUT SPORADICALLY IT SHOWS THAT THE SYSTEM IS ON. JUNE 1ST, ON MY FIRST DEALER VISIT WITH THIS VEHICLE, I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS WAS POSSIBLE AND WE SHOULD VIEW A SEAT SENSING VIDEO. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS AND VISITS TO MY DEALER, ROYAL BUICK OF TUCSON (WHO HAVE BEEN MORE THAN HELPFUL AND CONCERNED) THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED BUICK AND WAS TOLD THAT WE WERE THE ONLY ONE IN THE US HAVING THAT PROBLEM AND THE BUICK DISTRICT MANAGER SAID THE SYSTEM CHECKED OUT OKAY BUT MY WIFE'S BUILD WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR THAT CAR. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE SYSTEM WAS OPERATING WITHIN THE "PARAMETERS" SET BY THE MANUFACTURERS FOR PEOPLE OF MY WIFE'S SIZE. ALSO, THEY SAID, THESE "PARAMETERS" WERE ESTABLISHED BY FEDERAL LAW. FAST FORWARD TO 9-25-07, THE SENSOR MANUFACTURER SENT AN ENGINEER TO TUCSON AND SPENT 2 HOURS HAVING MY WIFE GET IN AND OUT OF THE FRONT SEAT TO ESTABLISH A MORE REALISTIC DATABASE OR ALGORITHM FOR PEOPLE HER SIZE. BUICK OR THE SEAT MANUFACTURER SENT ANOTHER SEAT RIGHT FROM THE ASSEMBLY LINE TO REPLACE OUR SEAT FOR THEIR ANALYSIS. AS OF TODAY 9-27-07 THIS NEW SEAT HAS A FAILURE MODE OF 60% IN THE LAST THREE DAYS (15 SEAT ENTRIES AND 9 TIMES THE AIRBAG FAILED TO ARM) WE PAID $40,000 FOR A C

PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE ON MAY 10, 2007. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE NOTED THAT THE "ON/OFF" FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS INCONSISTENT WHEN MY 5' 4", 115 LB. WIFE SET IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THE LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG IS OFF, BUT OCCASIONALLY IT SHOWS THAT THE SYSTEM IS ON. WE FIRST TALKED WITH THE SALESMAN AND HE SAID THIS DIDN'T SOUND RIGHT AND I SHOULD BRING THE CAR IN WHEN IT WAS SHOWING THE SYSTEM WAS OFF WHILE MY WIFE WAS RIDING AS A PASSENGER. IN AUGUST, WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, BILL KOBACH, IN TOPEKA, KANSAS WITH MY WIFE SETTING IN THE SEAT AND THE LIGHT WAS INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS "OFF." THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY WERE HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE "ON/OFF INDICATOR LIGHT," BUT I SHOULD LEAVE THE CAR WITH THEM SO THAT THEY COULD CHECK THE SYSTEM. LATER, THEY CALLED AND SAID THE SYSTEM CHECKED OUT OKAY AND THEY HAD CALLED DETROIT ABOUT IT. THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE SYSTEM WAS OPERATING WITHIN THE "PARAMETERS" SET BY THE MANUFACTURERS FOR PEOPLE OF MY WIFE'S SIZE. ALSO, THEY SAID, THESE "PARAMETERS" WERE ESTABLISHED BY FEDERAL LAW. WE FIND IT INCONCEIVABLE THAT WE WE PAID $45,000 FOR A CAR WITH AN AIR-BAG SAFETY SYSTEM THAT WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT BOTH FRONT AND REAR PASSENGERS, BUT YET IT WOULD NOT PROTECT AN ADULT OF MY WIFE'S SIZE WHEN RIDING AS A FRONT-SEAT PASSENGER. HAD WE KNOWN THIS FACT, WE WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT ANY PRICE. SAFETY IS OUR BIGGEST CONCERN WHEN BUYING A NEW V