Several times I have been stopped at a red light, and my parking break will come on without me engaging it. I was almost hit by other vehicles the last time my vehicle did this. People were blasting their horns and speeding around me because I was unable to move my vehicle. Because I had not manually engaged my parking break, my vehicle would not allow me to disengage the parking break until after it finally read that I engaged it. It took me 10 minutes of having to turn my car off and back on and trying to engage the parking break manually before the vehicle finally noticed it was engaged and would allow me to disengage my vehicle so that I could move it out of the way. This has now happened 3 separate times in the last month. It is an extremely dangerous situation and is making me become nervous to drive my own vehicle.
2018 Buick Enclave brakes problems
21 complaints (32% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 23,000. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 21
- of this car's complaints
- 32%
- typical mileage
- 23,000
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Antilock: ABS warning light1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Buick Enclave brakes problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2018 Buick Enclave brakes
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2018 Buick Enclave owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The brake system ABS module/sensor malfunctions- yes it is available for further inspection. Safety is an issue due to the ABS indicator light on. Yes, the problem/issue has been confirmed by a dealership. No inspections have occurred other than the dealership. The only warning is the light indicator for the brakes, parking ABS.
The contact owns a 2018 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, and at various speeds, while the brake pedal was depressed, there was an abnormally loud high-pitched grinding or squeaking sound coming from the brakes. The contact stated that the noise was loud enough that pedestrians would turn and look at his vehicle when he depressed the brake pedal. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where the sound was being emitted and could not repair the failure. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Passenger side rear electronic parking brake wire clip failed, wire is rubbing against the rear cv boot. This caused a short that led to defective ABS control module that had to be replaced for anti-skid and anti-roll for this SUV. It also affected the transmission alert system. Related Bulletins: https://s3.amazonaws.com/shop-ware-prod-attachments/2ce2615fbf6158c020eb7ddbba19c956d5c9cf33.pdf?1678982217 https://s3.amazonaws.com/shop-ware-prod-attachments/df15af6513bb2265bc07179efd733f06e355fe8a.pdf?1678916531 From Shop: "Continued working with the electronic parking brake system Used GM Techline connect to attempt to reprogram the EBCM because of the programming error DTC. After programming we also performed the module configuration procedure and although e removed the programming error, the system is still reporting a failure with the LEFT parking brake circuit. All circuits have been checked. The current hypothesis is that the electronic brake control module (EBCM) has failed internally. This likely occurred when the actuator wiring became exposed and allowed the wiring to short together. : https://s3.amazonaws.com/shop-ware-prod-attachments/d0edde862ec36d33b013087e9934f74892154a13.pdf?1678995379
The Electronic Parking Brake has had multiple apparent malfunctions and one complete failure. On several occasions the parking brake failed to disengage completely with multiple warning dash lights illuminating. One such incident apparently self-corrected after being left parked overnight our semi-heated garage, with another incident only partially disengaged the parking brake with warning lights indicating a parking brake malfunction, and after driving two to three miles returning home the right rear brake was baking hot. The latest malfunction was a complete failure of the parking brake to engage at all, with the warning lights again illuminating and would be an obvious danger while parking. The vehicle is just over four years old and was two-and-a-half months out of warranty at the time of failure, and had/has 5,121 miles. It has now been waiting at the dealership for repairs for FOUR WEEKS, awaiting a Parking Brake Control Module which they cannot give any timeline for delivery or arrival. It is unknown if the Brake Control Module for the parking brake has any control or effect on the service brakes, so the vehicle is sitting at the dealership collecting dust, unusable to us.
The contact owns a 2018 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly began to drive sluggishly before coming to a stop. The brake warning light had illuminated and the message service ABS system was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the ABS computer had lost its program and needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 52,000.
The car has an auto-stop feature however at times, when the car is stopped, the entire electrical and engine shuts down even while the car is in drive. The driver must restart the car and put the car into park and then back into drive. When the car restarts, several lights/messages turn on including "Service Transmission" and the "Service Parking Brake" message and parking break light. This is a safety and hazard issue as it has happened while in traffic on the freeway when at a standstill.
While on free way transmission stopped functioning properly after exit unable to move vehicles in gear. Dealer said it was a computer programming issue. Another instance 9 months later care emergency break would not dis engage even after shutting vehicle off and restarting several times that transmission would stop shifting soon received messages dealer said it was a computer programming error .
While driving on very slick roads on a highway, I attempted to brake the vehicle in preparation to making a left hand turn. I could not stop the vehicle. The wheels kept pushing me forward. I could feel the ABS pulsing but the vehicle would not stop. Luckily, no one was ahead of me or I would have hit the vehicle. It felt like the car was overriding my attempts to stop it. I wasn't just sliding on slick roads; the vehicle was actively pushing me forward.
The e-break warning came on twice after releasing the e-break when parked, the warning came on shortly after pulling from a shopping center parking lot. The e-break light was flashing with the 'service light' active and a display notification of emergency break issues. Both of these two incidents happen after the last service update n19221631 was implemented back on 5/2020. The first one was present around september 2020 and the last one on 11/23/2020. I'm not sure if these two incidents happen due to the implementation of the service update but it seems coincidental that they happen shortly after the service update as this condition did not occurred before the service update. I do not drive my buick much with only about 11k miles currently so it is not obvious the problem is due to age and usage unless there is a defect with the e-break product.
Questions about the 2018 Buick Enclave brakes
Does the 2018 Buick Enclave have brakes problems?
Owners have filed 21 complaints about the brakes of the 2018 Buick Enclave, 32% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2018 Buick Enclave brakes problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 23,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Buick Enclave brakes?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Buick Enclave have bad brakes?
The Buick Enclave model years with the most brakes complaints are 2018 (21 complaints), 2008 (16 complaints) and 2025 (16 complaints).
Other 2018 Buick Enclave problems
Transmission 16Engine 15Electrical 10Driver assistance 8Fuel system 5Acceleration 2Airbags 2Body 2Lights 2Steering 2Suspension 2Seat belts 1Visibility 1
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2018 Buick Enclave?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history