2008 Buick Enclave: complete transmission failure

Filed Jul 15, 2023 · Airbags, Electrical · CA

At 65,000 Transmission went out 100,000 Electrical issue due to lose ground wire under fuse box 121,000 Electrical issue caused battery to drain and vehicle not turn off. Even if key out of ignition 121,000 Driver Side Curtain Airbags deployed when battery replaced

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 Feb 18, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 146,938 miles · SC

At 146,938 miles, the engine has died (pistons have collided with valves at two points and engine has jumped timing). The transmission needs to be replaced for the second time (originally replaced at 56k miles). There was no sign on the dash that there was a problem with either.buick offered no help with this being so unusual for the engine to need to be replaced and the transmission for the second time.

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 Jun 9, 2016 · Transmission · 77,827 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 buick enclave. While driving 50 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. While at a stop sign, the failure recurred. The vehicle had to be shifted into different gears for the vehicle to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,827.

Filed Jan 8, 2016 · Steering, Transmission · MS

My car has less than 75k miles on it and been maitained very well! The transmission has gone out and I am being told that it will cost 5k dollars to replace due to a wave plate issue. Whay has this not been addressed with recall? In addition to that the sterring has a terrible sound coming from it and this is not being diagnosed right. All the buick dealers want to do is charge for a repair instead of really fixing the problem. I would like to know where the transmission comes from so when I have to spend money I do not have on a new transmission I don't have the same issue with shotty crafsmanship! I am not ever buying another buick. I will also encourange all my freinds to steer clear of them!

Filed Nov 15, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 86,000 miles · OH

Under 100k miles, transmission went out. Dealership stated, faulty wave washer and snap ring. This caused the vehicle to go into a neutral position at 70 miles/hr. Engine revved. Lost steering and vehicle would not accelerate. Had to coast to the shoulder during heavy traffic. Gm stated replacement would cost $4500 for new transmission. Declined gm's estimate and went to a different auto shop and rebuilt the transmission. Mechanics at the transmission shop stated that gm/buick was well aware of the faulty transmission but they have not recalled these faulty transmissions. Auto shop stated the part to fix the transmission only costs $7. Didn't want to get a new gm transmission as it may be just as faulty as the current transmission that had the problem. Gm should be held accountable and I expect full reimbursement for the payment and emotional distress this problem has caused me.

Filed Aug 31, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 140,000 miles · SD

Driving at interstate speeds with cruise control on, set to 80mph. After hitting a ridge at edge at edge of bridge, the vehicle suddenly shuttered causing vehicle to automatically shut off cruise control and decelerate quickly. I went from going 80mph to 55mph in a short amount of time. After touching the gas to try to maintain speeds, car suddenly shifts into a neutral position pushing engine to red-line, then shift into 5th gear roughly. The vehicle from this point on, had issues shifting into 3rd and 5th gears. This car had absolutely no prior issues with the transmission prior to this date. I had the car serviced and completely checked out by a mechanic for any mechanical issues a few days prior to this trip. I took it to the dealer, who fixed two separate transmission plates and replaced the transmission module. I was guaranteed by the repair shop manager that I would have no further issues with the transmission. Little did I know, I should have gotten that conversation in writing. I continued to have hard shifts after the repair, only to be told that's the transmission module sensing how I drove. Less than one week later, transmission completely failed, leaving my wife stranded on the side of the road with the vehicle unable to not shift out of 1st gear, forcing me to call a tow truck to bring it to back to the dealership. Now they are telling me I have to replaced the entire transmission, all at my cost. After paying for the plates and module to be replaced less than a week prior, now they want to again replaced those parts with a completely new transmission. If I were being followed too closely by another car or semi on the interstate, I would have been rear-ended. If that were the case- there wouldn't be a complaint, but a lawsuit. Get this transmission issue fixed. I have read countless stories of the same exact problem.

Filed Aug 24, 2015 · Transmission · MN

2008 buick enclave. Consumer writes in regards to reimbursement for vehicle transmission repairs. *smd the consumer stated gm denied her request for financial support. In spetember 2014, the transmission was replaced due to a wave plate defect. The consumer received a letter from gm stating they would offer full reimbursement for vehicles that had the repair if they were less than 10 years old or had less than 120,000 miles at the time of the repair. The consumer was denied, because her vehicle had a 122,000 miles by the time she was able to afford the repair.

Filed Dec 31, 2014 · Engine, Steering · 80,000 miles · MN

Friday dec 26th at 4:30 pm I was accelerating to merge into rush hour traffic on I-35 when I had a catastrophic transmission failure. There were no alarms, lights, noises, smells or anything else to alert me to the fact that my vehicle was about to fail. As I merged my RPM's suddenly went past 5000 and my 2008 enclave began to decelerate. By the grace of god there was no loss of life, mine or the other drivers around me, as my vehicle lost power. I was surprised to learn that the situation described above is not an isolated event. Like so many others before me my vehicle (at 80,000 miles) was diagnosed with wave plate failure (p0776). I have called gm and requested that they pay for the repair since it's due to a faulty part, but their response is to deny, deny, deny. The manager I spoke to stated that there hasn't been a recall so gm is not obligated to do anything about the problem. The most distressing part of this situation is not the $3500.00 I'll be paying after gm's "assistance". It is the fact that I was never notified of the high failure rate of the gm wave plate. I should have been given a chance to fix it before I was put in such a dangerous situation. This transmission problem is like a ticking time bomb. Thankfully, the "bomb" going off in my enclave didn't result in any casualties, but is that what it's going to take to get a recall? I hope that the federal safety agency does something about this issue before someone is killed.

Filed Dec 11, 2014 · Transmission · 72,500 miles · WY

During acceleration on a busy highway, car lurched and lost power. Evasive action was taken to avoid collision with big rig trucks hauling large hay loads. Check engine light came on.told by shop the vehicle needed a new transmission. Gear 3,5 and reverse were affected by automatic transmission clutch failure. Vehicle only had 72500 miles on it. Have several other owners who stated their transmissions in like vehicles also failed well short of 100,000 miles. Danger to driver and passengers due to sudden lurch and loss of power.

Filed Nov 21, 2014 · Transmission · 96,000 miles · MI

When accelerating I was just coasting. I put it in park and then back in drive and went about a block then lost acceleration again. I had the car towed to the dealership. I was told the 3-5 clutch failed. Some metal pieces in the transmission come loose. When the car cools down they settle and the gear may work. As it warms up they get in the way again and the gears stick. I was told I needed a new transmission or a rebuilt one. I was told they would be putting in another 2008 transmission but that the part that failed had been corrected. I asked them to contact gm to see if they would cover the cost but they would only cover half of the cost. I am thankful for that but I feel this should not have happened to a 2008 car with 96,000 miles on it. I had been on the expressway the day prior to this happening and the very next time I drove the car this happened. It could have resulted in an accident. So I was without my car for eight days.