How Long Do Buick Enclaves Last?

TaxiHack is reader-supported. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.

The first Buick Enclave was released in 2008 and was off to a rocky start as the first model, and subsequent ones received a lot of complaints.

The Buick Enclave has been releasing more reliable models as of late, but the effects of its launch are still visible.

With a disastrous launch, it is fair to question how long do Buick Enclaves last, and the answer is nothing too special as this will last you about 200k to 250k miles which is pretty standard for most Sports Utility Vehicles that are competing with the vehicle.

Some sources say that it can reach a bit less than 250k miles, but this is the max you should expect for the most part.

Some people may still not believe that the Buick Enclave can last this long, so I will be directly comparing the vehicle to other SUVs that are similar to it and seeing how the Buick Enclave can compete against them in terms of reliability and longevity.

What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of A Buick Enclave?

Let's find out if your Buick Enclave can last more than 200000 miles or not through my in-depth guide

As is standard for most Sports Utility Vehicles on the market, the Buick Enclave can give you 15 years of comfortable and smooth driving.

With the mileage range being so high, you should realistically expect a total of 225,000 miles on a Buick Enclave, but depending on how you treat the car, for better or for worse, your total mileage will shift accordingly as well.

The overall life expectancy will also depend on the components of the vehicle as well which can significantly boost or hinder the lifespan of the vehicle.

The driving habits and location will also impact the life of the car, so many different factors can affect how long your car will run, and I will go over them throughout the article.

Does Buick Enclave Last Longer Than Other Similar Vehicles?

While all the other Sports Utility Vehicles can equal or even surpass the Buick Enclave when considering the possibility that no problems occur during the 13+ years of the car, this is simply unrealistic and will not happen, which begs the question, how does the Buick Enclave fare against other vehicles.

I will answer this question below by comparing the Buick Enclave against three well-known vehicles.

I will be assessing these comparisons based on factors that affect the longevity of the cars and the general opinion of the public on them and see how well the cars can perform accordingly.

1. Buick Enclaves Vs. Toyota Highlander

Starting these comparisons, I put the Buick Enclave against the Toyota Highlander. Japanese manufactured vehicle that has had its significant presence since 2001.

  • The Buick Enclave is totally beaten when it comes to reliability, as most sources place it at a lower mark when compared to the Highlander.
  • Having a lot fewer problems across most of its models, the Buick Enclave can beat the Toyota Highlander, which has received many complaints and concerns over the years.
  • The Buick Enclave is much more expensive to repair and maintain than most vehicles in its class. However, the Toyota Highlander is much cheaper and beats the industry standard.
  • Lasting 50k miles less than the Toyota Highlander, it cannot cover the same total mileage as it.

After these comparisons, it is safe to say that despite the flaws of the Toyota Highlander, it is still the better vehicle and will no doubt last longer than the Buick Enclave.

Even if you encounter a problem with the Toyota Highlander, it can easily be fixed for a cheap rate.

Related: How Many Miles Will A Toyota Highlander Last?

2. Buick Enclaves Vs. Subaru Outback

The second car I will be comparing the Enclave to is the Subaru Outback, a mid-sized Sports Utility Vehicle that has been present since 1995 and has been in multiple top 10 lists for most reliable SUVs.

  • The Buick Enclave, in comparison to the Subaru Outback, has fewer reliability ratings across multiple different reports and sources.
  • The Buick Enclave has had fewer models than the Subaru Outback. Still, most of these models have significantly fewer issues and complaints than the models of the Subaru Outback, which started problem-free but over time started to raise a lot of concerns.
  • The Buick Enclave and the Subaru Outback are both expensive vehicles to maintain. Especially when compared to the industry average, however, the Buick Enclave is even more expensive than the Subaru Outback.
  • The Buick Enclave cannot outlast the Subaru Outback in terms of total raw mileage, as the Subaru Outback can easily last for 300,000 miles.

Overall, the Subaru Outback has the Buick Enclave beat; however certain models of the Outback may be able to outperform certain models of the Subaru Outback depending on the model and problems and complaints can receive.

Related: How Many Miles Will A Subaru Outback Last?

3. Buick Enclaves Vs. Dodge Nitro

The final car I will be comparing the Buick Enclave with is the Dodge Nitro, a compact Sports Utility Vehicle available to purchase from 2007 to 2012.

  • Despite still being in production, the Buick Enclave could not achieve a higher reliability rating than the Dodge Nitro, which only saw five years’ worth of models.
  • Aside from the first two models, the Buick Enclave has more problems than the Dodge Nitro, which had fewer issues in the remaining three models.
  • As has been the trend, the Buick Enclave is much more expensive to maintain than the Dodge Nitro, which comfortably remains cheaper than other cars in its category.
  • The Buick Enclave can beat the Dodge Nitro, which could not last as long as the Enclave, short a few years or 35,000 miles.

While you could make the case that the Buick Enclave can last longer than the Dodge Nitro, I will have to side with the Dodge Nitro due to its cheaper repair costs and higher reliability scores, implying that it can more consistently reach its maximum lifespan than the Buick Enclave.

Life Expectancy Of Buick Enclave Car Parts

The car’s components work together to make sure that the car runs and does so smoothly.

This means that in case of any malfunction or defect, the performance and lifespan can be affected.

This is why responsible owners should make sure that all the components of their car are well maintained so that there are no issues in their car which can impact the lifespan of the vehicle.

For this reason, I will now talk about the average lifespan of various important parts of the Buick Enclave and see how well they last and ways owners can extend their lifespan or help them last as long as possible.

Average Lifespan Of Buick Enclave Brake Pads

Just like the overall lifespan of the Buick Enclave, the brake pads of the vehicle also have a standard lifespan of 2 to 5 years.

This allows them to travel 30,000 miles at the minimum and 70,000 miles at the maximum, which is common for most brake pads.

While it does have an AWD system, it is not an off-road vehicle that should spare you some wear and tear, but depending on the local traffic, if you may find yourself deploying too often, the brake pads may wear out more often.

To avoid this from happening, you should control your driving, avoid any sudden brakes and adopt slower speeds.

Using better durability brake pads rather than the stock brake pads can also help as they will naturally last longer.

Average Lifespan Of Buick Enclave Battery

As is typical with most cars produced by General Motors, the battery of the Buick Enclave should last you an average of 4 years.

While it mostly depends on the usage of the car and the climate, a good range to expect your battery life is about three years at the minimum and five years at the max, after which you will probably need a replacement.

This is pretty much the same for most vehicles, so the Buick Enclave does not special in this regard either.

This also means that most of the ways you can extend the battery life are similar.

Keep the car in a temperature-controlled environment when you are not using it, and make sure to drive it every now and then to prevent the battery from draining completely.

Average Lifespan Of Buick Enclave Tires

The lifespan of the tires has the most variations when it comes to car components, as depending on the location and terrain, the tires will be subjected to a different amount of wear and tear.

Most owners will see their tires last for 50,000 miles at the minimum and 60,000 miles at most.

Since you will not be going off-road with the Buick Enclave, excess wear and tear should be less of a problem and should help you more consistently reach inside this expected range.

However, bad roads and frequent brakes can just as easily cause your tires to wear out which means that you should try to avoid bad and rough roads to preserve the tires.

Another way you can keep your tires in good condition is by having them rotated every 3 to 4 months.

You should also have their alignment checked and adjusted every six months. Along with this, you must maintain the tire pressure to alleviate any uneven wear.

Average Lifespan Of Buick Enclave Transmission

The newer models of the Buick Enclave have a much more reliable transmission than the older models, being capable of lasting much longer, sometimes for the entirety of the car’s lifetime.

This, however, can only be achieved if you make sure to maintain the transmission and eliminate any problems before they can get out of hand.

Older models of the Buick Enclave are much less reliable, especially considering that some of them had their transmissions go out as early as 90,000 miles which is less than half of the car’s total lifespan.

You can prevent most of these problems from happening by making sure that you shift the car correctly.

Always carry out routine inspections of the transmission and change its fluid to avoid transmission failure.

Average Lifespan Of Buick Enclave Spark Plugs

Similar to most vehicles and following the trend of being a standard vehicle when it comes to longevity, the spark plugs of the Buick Enclave can last you around 70,000 miles and are recommended to be replaced around the 90,000-mile mark.

A good way to try and extend this to 100,000 miles is by making sure you keep the spark plug clean and maintain it every couple of months.

You can do this by making sure there are no deposits or that the spark plugs are not worn out.

You should also visit the mechanic if your Buick Enclave begins to have uneven power or trouble starting, as these could be signs of spark plug issues and should be fixed as soon as possible to avoid further problems.

Average Lifespan Of Buick Enclave Key Fob

The durability & lifespan of the key fob rarely comes into question as most of the time, it does not have any problems bringing it down, nor does it have much to do, despite making the lives of its owner and passengers much easier.

Depending on how much you use the key fob, it should last you an average of 3 to 5 years.

The battery life should also be relatively the same, give or take a year which is why the key fob should not raise any concerns.

If you still want to make sure that the key fob lasts as long as possible, make sure that you do not spam the buttons and press the buttons gently to avoid damaging the circuits inside.

What Is Good Mileage For A Used Buick Enclave?

Regardless of what car you are buying, you should always try to get a used car at the lowest mileage possible, as this allows you to drive the car carefree for at least a few years until the eventual problems start to spring up.

It also leaves a lot of the car’s lifespan intact, which means you can drive it for years on end.

For the Buick Enclave, I would recommend anything less than 90,000 miles as beyond this mileage, depending on the condition of the vehicle, a lot of issues can arise.

The biggest of these issues is transmission failure which is known to be happening at around this range.

If you think the vehicle is in good condition, then you can maybe push this up to 100,000 miles, but anything higher may not be worth it.

How To Increase How Long Your Buick Enclave Last

While you should definitely adopt the teaching I have mentioned above for each component, there are also a variety of different habits and things you should carry out if you want to extend the life of your Buick Enclave.

These things may also apply to other cars as well, so make sure to do these things as much as you can:

  • Regular cleaning.
  • Frequent maintenance.
  • Regular checkups.
  • Adding and replacing fluids in the car.
  • Slower and controlled driving.
  • Visit the mechanic if you feel there is a problem.

By doing these things, you not only solve any problems as they pop up but prevent problems from coming up in the first place and help in the overall longevity of the car.

Problems That Limit The Life of Your Buick Enclave

While most of these problems have been cut down over the years, the Buick Enclave had a lot of issues that owners had to deal with.

These issues were both severely damaging to the systems of the car as well as costly and could seriously impact the life so of the Buick Enclave, which is why you should know all of the issues you can expect when owning the vehicle:

  • Stretched timing chain.
  • Transmission failure.
  • Stuttering.
  • Power steering failure.
  • Air conditioning issues.
  • Engine power reduction.
  • Engine failure.

All of these problems can occur at varying stages of the Buick Enclave’s lifespan, which can have a huge impact on the life of the car and its functionality, so you should be aware that these problems can occur and should maintain the affected components to avoid them and keep your car in good, running condition.

Related: Buick Enclave Starting Problems

What To Look For When Buying A Buick Enclave

Aside from the choice of the model, you can’t really go wrong with the Buick Enclave.

The car is a luxury SUV that is great for families, which is why you should be looking out for a few things which can further heighten this experience:

  • Premium 3rd row seats.
  • Recently produced models.
  • Rearview Camera.
  • Vehicle Service History (if any).
  • Vehicle Mileage (if buying used).
  • All-wheel drive functionality.
  • Various active Safety Features.

The Vehicle service history and mileage should be able to help you assess whether the car is worth buying as they can detail a lot of useful information about the car.

Generally, you should try to get a newly released model as they have comparatively fewer problems and a wide range of active safety features and optional packages which are worth getting.

Related: Best And Worst Years For Buick Enclave

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is The Buick Enclave A Reliable Car?

The Buick Enclave has seen some mixed responses when talking about its reliability over the years, but with the praise and performance the recent models have been generating, it is safe to say that the Buick Enclave is a very reliable car and can easily last you for years to come.

This has, however, not always been the case as the early models of the Buick have received a lot of complaints which are the main reason why the reliability of the vehicle has taken a hit.

Q2. Do Buick Enclaves Have A Lot Of Problems?

While the recent models of the Buick Enclaves have received a lot of praise due to their lack of problems and high value, the earlier models of the lineup were quite problematic, as I have explained above.

These problems will not only cost you a lot to repair but will also drastically reduce the lifespan of your vehicle, as well as hamper the experience of driving the Buick Enclave.

As long as you avoid the first few models of the series, you should not get many problems.

Q3. Is It A Good Idea To Buy A Used Buick Enclave?

The answer to this question depends on the model you are considering buying for the Buick Enclave.

Coming with few issues and a lot of advanced safety features and value, many models of the Buick Enclaves are both good to buy and affordable as well, making them a good choice to purchase.

This cannot be said for the initial few models of the Buick Enclave, which had a lot of issues and should be avoided when buying a used car as these issues can easily creep up.

Q4. Do Buick Enclaves Rust Easily?

Coming with six years or 100,000 miles of warranty against rust, the Buick Enclave is capable of lasting significantly long without forming any sort of rust and corrosion.

Even after a huge amount of usage, the Buick Enclave has a reputation for not rusting.

Aside from temporary rust forming around the brakes, according to some users, the Buick Enclave is relatively rust-free, and you should not have to deal with rust when owning this car.

Q5. Is The Buick Enclave Expensive To Maintain?

Being a full to mid-sized Sports Utility Vehicle, the Buick Enclave may be a bit expensive to maintain.

Gathering over $8,600 for maintenance and repairs for ten years alone, it is quite cheaper than most of its competitors.

The Buick Enclave, however, does have a roughly 25% chance to require a major repair which may significantly boost the amount of money you have to pay.

This should not be an issue for recent models but for earlier models of the Buick Enclave. This is a major possibility.

Conclusion

Despite the difficult launch of the lineup, the Buick Enclave was able to restore the faith of the people in it and able to plant its feet firmly.

So releasing models to the public which do not raise concerns as to how long do Buick Enclaves last as the vehicles have been able to create a reputation which assures owners that the car will last them around 200k to 250k miles.

Giving the Buick Enclave proper attention and maintenance will help boost the vehicle’s lifespan so that it can more consistently reach this milestone and even surpass it.