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2025 Buick Enclave Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2025 Buick Enclave has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Brake master cylinder failure and total brake loss.” 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.

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2025 Buick Enclave.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

  • Electronic Brake Module Component Failure

    Action #EA26006 · opened Aug 21, 2026

    On April 11, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE24011 after receiving complaints concerning a loss of brake assist in 2023 MY Cadillac Lyriq vehicles. These complaints allege a hard brake pedal, followed by a “Brake System Failure” mes…

    View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

Brake master cylinder failure and total brake loss

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

8 NHTSA complaints · 2025-07 → 2026-05

“Driving at 30mph and all the dashboard lights turned on and all the warnings kept popping on the dashboard and 30 seconds later the brakes were not working when I was approaching a busy intersection”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11740224
“The vehicle had had some odd electrical issues. The brakes ended up failing while driving but no electrical issues at the time proceeding it. What I wasn't able to report before was that the brake pedal sunk to the floor with no effort to stop the vehicle at all”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11696262
“The contact owns a 2025 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that a software update was required”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11673412

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake squealing and premature pad wear

SERVICE BRAKES

5 NHTSA complaints · 2025-03 → 2026-05

“This happens every single day, not just today, but are two separate issues related to my brakes. 1- squealing brakes. Every single day and for several miles before they warm up”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11729319
“Brakes are extremely noisy at low speeds”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11727213
“The contact owns a 2025 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the brakes started to squeak. There were no warning lights illuminated. The brake pad life percentage was going down daily”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11646657

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Instrument cluster and infotainment display failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 NHTSA complaints · 2024-10 → 2026-01

“Digital dash display is completely black. There is no display of speed, lane departure, back-up camera or parking assist/surround view camera. Neither vehicle restart nor software reset corrects the issues”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11712604
“Check engine light came on first and then the infotainment went blank for three days. Took to dealership for the software update which shut the infotainment system down completely”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11653173
“The contact owns a 2025 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the display screen intermittently malfunctioned and only a black image was displayed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11621571

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic emergency braking activation without an obstacle

SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2025-11 → 2026-05

“The Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system activates unexpectedly and dangerously. Incident 1 5/7/2026: While driving approximately 2 mph in a drive-thru and rounding a curve, the vehicle suddenly applied full braking without warning”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11738785
“Driving down the street after a short trip this morning with no one on the road in front of us the vehicle had an alert like we were about to impact someone and braked pretty hard 2x back to back with the collision alert popping up”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11697839
“The car frequently just slams on the brakes on its own when reversing. Doesn’t matter the speed, and nothing is behind me at all”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11732501

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine and transmission failure causing loss of power

ENGINE

6 NHTSA complaints · 2025-05 → 2026-03

“Catastrophic engine failure. We were left stranded in [XXX] while on a trip. No warning lamps. Vehicle was towed and inspected by the Buick dealership service department”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11726348
“My wife's 2025 Buick Enclave with less than 10,000 miles (around 9,800) stranded us on the highway. Transmission was shuddering and felt like we were hitting rumble straps on acceleration”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11721385
“The engine and/or powertrain system catastrophically failed while the vehicle was in motion on the freeway. The vehicle lost power, shut down, and became disabled”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11706976

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in a crash

AIR BAGS

2 NHTSA complaints · 2025-09 → 2026-07

“The contact owned a 2025 Buick Enclave. While the contact’s daughter was driving through an intersection on a green light at an undisclosed speed, a truck crashed into the front driver’s side of the vehicle. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11750304
“The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35-45 MPH, the vehicle was T-boned by another vehicle on the passenger side. The air bags did not deploy”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11690298

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)

No occupant deaths in FARS 2010–2024 crashes are on record for this year and model. That is the census answer for the window, and it says nothing more than that.

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.

3

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues 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 2025 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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