Makes›Buick›Enclave›2008

2008 Buick Enclave

Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2008 models.

Buick Enclave
Pictured: 2022 Buick Enclave 'Essense' (facelift), front 6.1.22. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
Body styles
4dr SUV FWD Cx/Cxl
Engines
3.6L 6-cyl
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
MPG (best)
19 combined · 16 city / 24 hwy
Length
202 in
Curb weight
4,780 lb
NHTSA rating
Not rated
Recalls
4 campaigns

Pros & cons

What's good

  • AWD / 4WD available

Watch out for

  • Many owner complaints283 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 74 for similar models — most often about the air bags.

Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 21 similar 2008 models — not a review. How we calculate this →

Overview

The 2008 Buick Enclave is a SUV - offered with a 3.6L 6-cyl engine and front-wheel drive and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.

It measures about 202 inches long and 79 inches wide on a 119-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,780 lb.

EPA rates its most efficient version at 19 MPG combined (16 city / 24 highway), 1% better than the 2008 SUV - average of 18.9 MPG, for an estimated $3,550 a year in fuel.

It has 4 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 283 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.

Dimensions & weight

BodyLengthWidthHeightWheelbaseTrack F / RCurb weightWeight F/R
4dr SUV FWD Cx/Cxl202 in79.1 in72.8 in118.9 in67.3 / 66.9 in4,780 lb55/45

Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.

Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →

Engines, MPG & running costs

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCity / Hwy / Combvs. classFuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Enclave FWD3.6L 6-cylAutomatic 6-spdFront-Wheel Drive16 / 24 / 19+1%$3,550468
Enclave AWD3.6L 6-cylAutomatic 6-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive16 / 22 / 18+3%$3,700494
Spend $5,750Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
18.9 MPG2008 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD average

EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2008 EPA class average. How we calculate this →

Safety ratings & technology

NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2008 Buick Enclave under the current (2011+) test program.

Similar 2008 SUV -s

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2008 Buick Enclave (this car)19 MPGNot rated4
2008 Toyota Land Cruiser15 MPGNot rated5
2008 Chevrolet Tahoe21 MPGNot rated3
2008 GMC Yukon21 MPGNot rated3
2008 Ford Expedition14 MPGNot rated0
2008 Nissan Pathfinder17 MPGNot rated3
2008 Dodge Durango16 MPGNot rated2

Recalls (4)

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module · Oct 7, 2021

NHTSA campaign 21V782000 · 555 vehicles

Problem
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.
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate · Jun 30, 2015

NHTSA campaign 15V415000 · 691,144 vehicles

Problem
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.
Risk
If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.
Air Bags › Side/Window · Mar 17, 2014

NHTSA campaign 14V118000 · 1,176,407 vehicles

Problem
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.
Risk
Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.
Electrical System · Jun 4, 2010

NHTSA campaign 10V240000 · 1,365,070 vehicles

Problem
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.
Risk
IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
Fix
DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Check your VIN for open recalls at NHTSA ↗

Not every 2008 Buick Enclave is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.

Owner-reported problems

283Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
4Involved a crash
9Involved a fire
37Injuries reported
108,039 miTypical mileage at failure
Air Bags65
Power Train62
Engine45
Electrical System41
Unknown Or Other33
Steering30
Structure › Body24
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate16
Complaints received per month (last 24 months with reports)
20/05: 220/06: 220/10: 420/11: 121/02: 121/03: 221/06: 221/09: 121/11: 121/12: 122/01: 122/04: 122/05: 322/06: 122/08: 222/09: 123/07: 123/10: 224/05: 224/06: 124/08: 125/04: 125/05: 125/11: 120/0520/1121/0621/1222/0522/0924/0525/04max 4

Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.

Used 2008 Buick Enclave buyer's checklist

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 4 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
  2. Air Bags — 65 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
  3. Power Train — 62 owner reports. Test-drive through all gears, including reverse; note slipping, harsh or delayed shifts.
  4. Engine — 45 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
  5. Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 108,039 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
  6. Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.

Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2008 Buick Enclave. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.

Other Enclave years

Compare all years →
YearMPG (best)LengthOverallRecallsComplaints
2027 Enclave22–Not rated00
2026 Enclave22207.5 inNot rated13
2025 Enclave23207.5 inNot rated038
2024 Enclave21204.3 in★★★★★07
2023 Enclave21204.3 in★★★★★022
2022 Enclave21204.3 in★★★★★114
2021 Enclave21204.3 in★★★★★226
2020 Enclave21204.3 in★★★★★661
2019 Enclave21204.3 in★★★★★144
2018 Enclave21204.3 in★★★★★066
2017 Enclave18202 inNot rated3179
2016 Enclave18202 inNot rated4141

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Buick. How we calculate this →