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2011 Buick Enclave problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
45% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 Buick Enclave are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 56% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 40 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 36%).
Does the 2011 Buick Enclave have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 77 of 172 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Buick Enclave concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%), and the largest group is filed under power train (38). For comparison, the 2010 scores 38% and the 2012 scores 33%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2011 compares with other Buick Enclave years
Of the 12 Buick Enclave years with enough complaints to score, the 2011 is the 6th-best on engine and transmission share (45%). The worst is the 2019 (68%), the best the 2021 (22%). By volume, the 2011 drew 212 complaints (77 drivetrain), against 275 for the 2010 and 132 for the 2012.
Buick Enclave years to avoid and best years →
2010 Enclave problems · 2011 · 2012 Enclave problems · 2013 Enclave problems · 2014 Enclave problems · 2015 Enclave problems · 2016 Enclave problems · 2017 Enclave problems · 2018 Enclave problems · 2019 Enclave problems · 2020 Enclave problems · 2021 Enclave problems
The rest of the picture on the 2011 Buick Enclave
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2011 Buick Enclave said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 77 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2011 Buick Enclave engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2011 Buick Enclave, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
6 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2011 Buick Enclave? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2011 Buick Enclave have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 77 of 172 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Buick Enclave concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Buick Enclave?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2011 Buick Enclave is steering: 41 of 212 complaints (19%) name it, followed by power train (38) and air bags (38). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 45% of the relevant total.
Is the 2011 Buick Enclave reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 45% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 56% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 12 Buick Enclave years we score, it ranks 6th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Buick Enclave?
No. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2011 Buick Enclave, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Buick Enclave years are better?
Among the Buick Enclave years we track, the 2021 (22%), the 2015 (28%) and the 2017 (31%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2011 (45%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/buick-enclave
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.