Check a VIN

Buick Enclave headlights problems

28 of the 2,515 owner complaints about the Buick Enclave describe headlights failing or too dim, most of them for the 2023 model year.

owner complaints
28
worst model year
2023
typical repair cost reported
$1,450
typical mileage
58,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.

By model year

  • 2023
    5
  • 2022
    2
  • 2018
    2
  • 2017
    3
  • 2015
    3
  • 2014
    3
  • 2013
    4
  • 2011
    2
  • 2010
    1
  • 2009
    1
  • 2008
    2

What owners say

Filed Jul 28, 2026 · Lights · FL

The driver side headlight was working and then it wasn't. A very costly expense to replace.

Filed Jun 10, 2026 · Lights · FL

Right-side LED headlight assembly failed at under 3 years and ~55,000 miles. Dealer states the sealed LED unit is non-serviceable and must be replaced as a complete assembly, quoted at ~$1,450. LED headlights are rated for tens of thousands of hours and are marketed to last the life of the vehicle; this failed at a small fraction of rated life. Other 2023 Enclave owners report the same right-side failure at similar low age/mileage, suggesting a recurring defect.

Filed Feb 15, 2026 · Brakes, Suspension · OH

Shortly after purchasing my 2017 enclave premium around 60000 I noticed a problem that felt like vehicle's tires were skipping when making sharp turns. Upon my own extensive research (as I didn’t have time money and couldn’t go won’t vehicle) discovered a clutch pack needed replaced. This is after replacing the battery and brakes nit even a month after buying. Later after taking it for an oil change I received a report stating the rear differential was cracked and power steering rack needed replaced. While driving in rush hour traffic one day all power steering was lost with no explanation. Still having problems with tire pressure monitor replacing multiple tire stems and tires. Won’t start after filling with gas or is stuck in crank position trying to start when it finally dies it wants to stall out. Currently headlights are flickering with no known cause. Oh and the driver heated seat stopped working right after purchase. I’m at a huge loss with repairs costing more than the worth of a vehicle that continues to have serious issues even after fixing the problem it seems to repeat itself. Owe too much to trade in. All these problems are known to occur I cannot believe this isn’t a lemon or recalled parts. If not in enclave same thing happens in similar vehicles made by sane manufacturers during the same years. I will never purchase another GMC nor purchase from Toyota who failed to help after purchase.

Filed Dec 21, 2025 · Airbags, Electrical · CA

My vehicle has begun all us sudden flickering headlights from low beams to high beam when driving and also it ay the airbag safety light turn on with the locks also doing a closing and opening while driving.

Filed Dec 11, 2025 · Lights · FL

The headlights continously and irregularly flicker between high and low beam while driving at night. I have no control over it and cannot turn off the high beams when they activate. This is highly annoying to drivers ahead me, as they believe I am trying to get their attention (or be obnoxious). In these times and the legalization of open carry weapons in the state of Florida, this can be highly dangerous if the wrong person is aggravated by unintentional signaling. I have already had issues on the road with drivers not happy with the high beam flicking on and off at them while driving on the road. They have become very aggressive, following, slowing down, honking at me because they think I am being impatient or trying to tell them someting is wrong. I spent $2000 in January 2025 trying to get this fixed and it has started (December 2025) happening again.

Filed Nov 6, 2025 · Electrical, Lights · SC

I have been the owner of this vehicle almost 6 months. My headlights and brake lights do not currently work because of what was diagnosed as electrical failure at the Buick dealership. There are no warranties for this issue specifically aside from the 36,000/3 year warranty which is expired. The dealership mechanics don’t know how to fix this issue and informed me it could be thousands. It poses an extreme safety risk and prevents me from being able to drive my car at any point requiring headlights. I’ve been given a warning from an officer as to my lights being out as it gets dark around 5-5:30 pm. This vehicle hasn’t been altered in any way and has all original manufacturer parts. It has not been wrecked or in any minor or major accident. I am stuck with a “LEMON” but in the state of SC my vehicle doesn’t qualify. This vehicle has 70k miles. I am the 3rd owner. Buick indicated that these model enclaves have been known to have headlight issues. I do not have an alternative vehicle. I have children. I have responsibilities. I cannot go without a safe vehicle and currently I’m unable to use my vehicle for the purpose it’s intended because of this issue. I need a replacement vehicle if this is not a repairable issue. I also cannot get new financing as this vehicle has only been financed for 6 months.

Filed Oct 27, 2025 · Lights · CA

Headlight on right side failure - no light. AI shows a recall for this problem, but my vin was not listed. Notice also states 2022, 2023, and 2024 vehicles. It should be as car was only 2 years 10 months old with about 42000 miles. GM has the part now. Dealer inspected the car. Light had less then 750 hours on it; references say average light should last 20,000 hours. An obvious defect. Only noticed failure due to a neighbor seeing it. We drive mostly in the day due to age. Car is used only to go to work. Car has auto headlights, and they do not operate during daylight when we drive.

Filed Oct 18, 2025 · Lights · IN · crash

I had storm damage to my vehicle and needed the front headlight replaced. This was a insurance claim and it went to a local body shop as well as a GM Dealership trying to fix the problem. My vehicle is equipped with Adaptive Forwarding Headlights that turn with my steering wheel. Once my headlight was replaced this feature cannot work again. This feature is what holds my headlights in alignment with a module behind the headlight. GM is aware of this issue, and they cannot fix it. Now I have headlights that will not stay in place. The GM dealership said it cannot set my headlights the proper way due to the feature not working now. GM owned the issue; told us their engineers are working to find a fix however it has been years and every Enclave that needs a new headlight loses the feature they can't fix. I bought this car for the adaptive headlight feature to help me see at night and now I'm stuck with a vehicle I don't even want because GM can't fix their own product. It is not fair, and I can't see at night at all now due to my headlight pointing at the ground. Safety is a huge issue. GM needs to recall and fix their Enclaves or any other vehicles they make that have Adaptive Forward Assistant Headlights.

Filed Dec 15, 2023 · Lights · NY

The headlights on our 2023 Buick Enclave do not provide nearly enough light at night. If you shine the lights up against a wall at night they seem bright but they do not seem to light up the area directly in front of the car. When driving on a road without streetlights at night I barely feel like my headlights are on. It’s so bad that I am concerned that if a person or an animal stepped out in front of my car I wouldn’t be able to see it in time to avoid it. I brought the car into the dealer today and they actually found that both headlights need to be raised 11-12 inches (they were completely shocked). This is very odd for a new car with only 5k miles. Unfortunately, raising the headlight did not add more light in front of the car at night. I think the issue is caused by the headlights not only being very small but also because they are very low on the car. Also, the headlights are below the grill and the running lights are on the hood. I believe this could be a design flaw that is also a safety hazard. A mechanic at the dealer also agreed with me that in general the lights are very dim. If you drive this model car at night on a road with no street lights I bet you will come to the same conclusion. Attached is the invoice from today that shows the headlights had to be raised. I told the dealer that they should pull another enclave off their lot and see if the issue is only present in my car or if the headlights on other enclaves need to be raised.

Filed Aug 10, 2023 · Visibility · MI

Front windshield has Shadows when high beams pointed on objects like Signs traffic lights or lights from a moderate distance, issue only shown at night when your high beams pointed on signs, in addition to Road lights from moderate distance shows duplicate lights until you get closer in order for the two lights to be Unified as one object. As you can see in the three attached pictures, all the signs has a shadow in addition to the lights it shows that there is another light under the original light while in fact there is only one

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the Buick Enclave headlights

Which Buick Enclave years have headlights failing or too dim problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2023 (5 complaints), 2013 (4 complaints) and 2014 (3 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix headlights failing or too dim on the Buick Enclave?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,450 (median of 5 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used Buick Enclave?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history