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2017 Buick Enclave Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2017 Buick Enclave carries 3 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering frontal and critical fasteners. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Transmission shudder and jerking during acceleration.” Buick uses the GM Oil Life System: an algorithm tracks engine revolutions and temperature, then lights the change-oil message — typically every 7,500 miles in mixed driving, capped at 12 months, using dexos-approved oil. Current Encore GX and Envista run 1.2/1.3L turbo three-cylinders where oil quality matters more than volume drivers expect (the sump is small and turbo-heated). Front-drive models pair to a CVT with a published fluid interval — it is not a lifetime part.

3 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Campaign #21V782000 · Jul 10, 2021

Issue: 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.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: 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.

AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Campaign #21V246000 · Aug 4, 2021

Issue: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.

Risk: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Campaign #23V334000 · Oct 5, 2023

Issue: 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.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: 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.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2017 Buick Enclave.

Reported to NHTSA

Transmission shudder and jerking during acceleration

POWER TRAIN

5 NHTSA complaints · 2018-12 → 2026-02

“When driving the vehicle and going from 2rd to 3rd gear (approximately 20-30mph and 2000 rpm) the vehicle will shudder and shake. The problem is consistent. When driving the vehicle, the shakiness of the vehicle slows down acceleration and causes the car to swerve a little”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11520273
“WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND DECELERATED AND THE SERVICE STABILITY TRACK INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11162678
“The engine light has come on and a diagnostic check has been made and I was told it needed the transmission replaced. This car has only 112,000 miles on it and has been maintained”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11490283

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sunroof glass shattering without impact

STRUCTURE

2 NHTSA complaints · 2017-12 → 2026-03

“No warning or cracks in the sun roof were observed. I was driving on the Highway at 60 mph and the front sun roof window just shattered and sprayed me with glass”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11723536
“AT SLOW SPEED JUST STARTING AWAY FROM TRAFFIC LIGHT IN BROWNSVILLE TX, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. GM SAYS NOT WARRANTY ISSUE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11054456

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag inflator recall repair parts unavailable

AIR BAGS

141 NHTSA complaints · 2023-05 → 2026-05

“The contact stated that several local dealers were contacted regarding the recall repair and was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11673611
“There is a current recall on my 2017 Buick Enclave. The front-driver airbag inflator may contain a supplier manufacturing defect that may result in inflator rupture during deployment”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11585419
“We have been waiting almost 1 year and the dealerships still can't get a replacement airbag from the manufacturer 's to do said replacement”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11738188

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bags not deploying in a crash

AIR BAGS

6 NHTSA complaints · 2017-03 → 2023-06

“I was rear ended on the highway going 65 mph. The rear driver side was completely crushed. The air bags didn't go off. Seat belts didn't lock up and the driver's seat broke”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11527101
“The contact stated that all the air bags failed to deploy and that the passenger side hit a tree and the driver side of the vehicle was partially in the pond. No warning lights had illuminated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11487346
“THE CAR WAS REAR ENDED WHILE PARKED. THE CAR IS TOTALED. THE CAR MOVED UP SEVERAL FEET UPON IMPACT IN PARK AND HIT THE TRAILER THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF IT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SCREEN SHOWED AN ERROR MESSAGE FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT THAT SAID "SERVICE AIRBAGS"”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11322594

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Seat belt failing to lock or detaching from seat

SEAT BELTS

4 NHTSA complaints · 2017-03 → 2024-12

“Seat belt became detached from the seat on the drivers side where it attaches to the left hand side of the seat”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11630074
“2 OF THE PEOPLE (THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BEHIND THE DRIVER) DID NOT HAVE THE SHOULDER SEAT BELT HOLD. THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE PASSENGER HIT THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11279595
“THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10958293

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stalling and misfire while driving

ENGINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2019-11 → 2024-09

“The contact stated while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle was vibrating, with the electronic stability warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11614459
“The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11531531
“WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11279739

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Loss of power steering assist while driving

STEERING

3 NHTSA complaints · 2020-11 → 2026-02

“POWER STEERING STOPS FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, RESULTING IN A LIKELY CAR ACCIDENT. DRIVING IN CITY MAKING ANY KING OF TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE ALREADY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11374379
“I had to have the power steering unit replaced under warranty and now it needs to be replaced again at less than 80000 miles”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11474086
“While driving in rush hour traffic one day all power steering was lost with no explanation”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11718078

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change when the Oil Life System calls it — typically around 7,500 miles, never beyond 12 months. dexos1 0W-20 on modern engines. Small-displacement turbos (Encore GX, Envista): don't stretch the indicator.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles with the oil change — GM pairs the two in its schedule.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and lines at every service. Older Centurys: check rear drum adjustment and parking-brake cables, which seize with age.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

CVT Fluid (Encore GX / Envista FWD)

Every 45,000 mi

FWD Encore GX and Envista use a CVT: GM schedules fluid replacement around 45,000 miles under severe service — which includes most city commuting. AWD Encore GX uses a 9-speed automatic instead (see transmission fluid).

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Conventional automatics (Century's 4T65-E, Regal's Aisin, AWD Encore GX's 9-speed): GM lists 45,000 miles severe / longer normal. Older Buicks respond well to a simple drain-and-fill — avoid pressure flushes on high-mile units.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Small-turbo three-cylinders (Encore GX, Envista): roughly every 60,000 miles — check the manual. Older 3.1/3.8 V6s: iridium plugs last to 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM schedules replacement around 45,000 miles; inspect at every oil change in dusty regions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles; replace on cracking or glazing rather than mileage alone.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace roughly every 22,500 miles per GM's schedule — behind the glovebox on modern Buicks.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (Dex-Cool)

Every 150,000 mi

Dex-Cool is rated 5 years / 150,000 miles. On older 3.1/3.8 V6s, intake-gasket seepage was the classic failure — check coolant level and condition at every oil change on a Century.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Stop-start-equipped Encore GX/Envista use AGM batteries — replace like-for-like, not with a cheaper flooded battery.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

19 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

6

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2017 Buick Enclave reflects Buick's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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