2008 Buick Enclave: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Aug 27, 2019 · Driver assistance, Engine · 170,000 miles · WV

While driving 60 MPH on the interstate in bumper to bumper traffic, my car went into limp mode. Rpms were high and I had to pull over from the fast lane with tractor-trailers driving around me after researching the issue, it seems this has been seen in alot of cars. This is a dangerous defect that needs to be resolved. I hope no one dies to make the manufacturer resolve this issue. The mechanic said this was a known issue with this vehicle. Recommended a transmission replacement. In fact, there were two other buick/gm cars with the same issue waiting to be worked on. The codes were p0776, p0796 and p0700.

Filed Aug 12, 2019 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 180,000 miles · MT

I have had continuous problems over the last year with the stabilitrack system going off and it telling me to service stabilitrack. However, now my transmission is going out and I have a car that I owe way too much for and can't afford to get the transmission fixed. On top of the transmission my ignition only works part of the time. There is no point in replacing the ignition if the transmission is gone. I have already replaced the motor on the windshield wipers but apparently the previous owner had the motor replaced during the recall so I had to pay out of pocket for that. Not to mention spending over $200 just to get my headlight bulb replaced at a shop because its not simple enough to just take the cover off and replace the bulb. This car has been nothing but a money pit. The transmission has been acting a little strange like occasionally not wanting to shift one day and then being fine the next. The other day I was driving and it wouldn't shift, rev"d up to 4000 RPM and wouldn't go over 40 MPH. I'm at the point where I can not afford to continue to pay full coverage insurance plus my car payment on a car I cannot drive.

Filed May 26, 2019 · Transmission · 150,211 miles · MA

The transmission is in limp mode and is not responding. I call the manufacture low jack security system and they said I need to buy the insurance before they can unlock the vehicle. I think they playing with the computer of my vehicle. My car was running okay. No I can't use this car anymore!

Filed Apr 24, 2019 · Fuel system, Steering · 5 miles · MA

This SUV is the devil it self. Is giving me all kind of problem right now it have a limp mode and I have no idea what to do the transmission is not working in any gear. The soft codes said p0171, p 0174, p 0420, p 0300 is crazy. I have change the alternador, the purge valve, the valve canister on top of the gas tank and the other sensor that tell you about the fumes of the tank went filling. I also change the pcv valve all the breathers hoses in the intake housing , I change the troutle body, the spark plugs, the coils, the intake gaskets, the oxigents sensors,the batery poles. And this SUV still giving me problems now it went to a transmission limp mode and is not coming out not even if you erase the codes and all fuses are good.

Filed May 29, 2018 · Transmission · 116,000 miles · NE

Transmission failed while in motion at 116,000 miles. Began shuddering / slipping while driving uphill. Eventually jammed in 2nd gear and will not shift, with check engine light (code p0700). Gm will not replace it because it is 6 months past the "extended coverage" of their service bulletin. (10 years / 120,000 miles) . I am now having to pay $3,800 to have certified transmission replace the transmission.

Filed Dec 7, 2016 · Transmission · 13,503 miles · VA

Takata recall, I have problems with my transmission running hot. There have recalls on buick enclave 2008, but they claim its certain vins. It would not shift into gear like it should when the car is hot and then you get a warning transmission hot engine idle. Then the transmission starts to drag, had to pull out of traffic to prevent being ran into. Then I would shift into gear real hard and jerk. The vehicle has a bad roll back.

Filed Sep 21, 2016 · Transmission · 105,000 miles · ME

Waveplate debris in silinoid car jerks from park to drive doesn't shift well at all

Filed Sep 21, 2016 · Transmission · 108,039 miles · OK

I have financed this 2008 buick enclave, which I got in february 2016. Love the car and all the space it has. That was until today! This week as I was leaving the car wouldn't shift into reverse. Once I got it into neutral I was able to back down the incline from the carport to the street. It did shift into drive, but would only go about 25 MPH on a busy highway and stayed in first the whole time. I contacted the local chevy/gm dealer and he said to bring it in. I couldn't because I was at work. This morning the dealer called again after being asked to by my husband and sent a technician to my home. The tech checked it and wrote some codes down and went back to the dealership. The dealer then called and said if I could get the car to him he would have the tech check the fuses and relays. He checked the codes he had pulled and checked all fuses and relays and said that I needed to contact a transmission shop because the computer was not talking to the transmission. All of this after an almost hour trip to drive 8 miles to the dealership and drive that same 8 miles back home because we kept having to stop on the side of the road and stop the engine and then restart it again on that same busy highway. We had several near misses (people driving the 65 mile speed limit nearly rear ending us). Surely there is something that can be done to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else!

Filed Jul 1, 2015 · Transmission · 102,700 miles · MD

Transmission would not shift above gear 2. Dealer agrees this is a wave plate issue. Both of us initially thought this would be covered under: #14404: special coverage adjustment - transmission clutch wave plate - (mar 3, 2015) but my VIN isn't covered. Not sure why, and I would like to know why. There are many other 2008 enclave owners complaining that their vins are not covered either for this issue. Http://www.enclaveforum.net/index.php?topic=26706.160 it looks like #14404 needs to be extended to additional enclave vins

Filed Dec 22, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 74,074 miles · CA

The car started to have trouble shifting into gears, especially overdrive. Then it wouldn't go into reverse. The 3-5 reverse waved plate broken, replaced 3-5 reverse housing, replace 3-5r piston and dam assembly, replace all seals and gaskets, replace front cover piston spring assembly, and transmission fluid filter.......$3,173 later I was out the door not happy. I was out of town on vacation at the time! My car only had 74,074 miles on it.

Filed Dec 22, 2014 · Transmission · 66,000 miles · WI

While on the highway on a trip, the transmission of my 2008 buick enclave started skipping/shifting roughly when accelerating/upshifting. Soon the transmission would not go faster than 30 miles an hour and seemed stuck in 2nd gear. I exited the highway as soon as I was able to. By then, it could not go on reverse either. At the repair shop, the transmission was disassembled, with a broken wave plate replaced and complete overhaul. A very scary experience! Please help look into this safety hazard. Your help is so very much appreciated.

Filed Dec 17, 2014 · Transmission · 124,000 miles · MN

Check engine/emissions control light came on as we were driving. Stopped about a half hour later to put gas in, as we were stopped at a stop light the car didn't want to go (no power, no shift). As we were leaving the station, the car would not go. It would not shift into 3rd year, rpms were at 4000 at only 40mph. Drove home and later drove it to the mechanic. Drove fine then, but the RPM gauge was fluctuating. Mechanic read the codes as 716 and 717. Took it to a transmission specialist and it did the same thing, wouldn't shift. Trans mechanic states its the clutch wave plate that probably broke and magnetic pieces attached to the sensor causing it to go into a limp mode. Approximate cost to replace the $20 part (wave plate) will be in the upper $2000! Ridiculous. I'm losing my faith in gm vehicles. Per a web search, this is a common problem with enclave, acadia, outlook and traverse. Something needs to be done about this!