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Buick Enclave vs Ford Explorer: reliability compared

From 2008 to 2026, owners filed an average of 132 complaints per model year about the Buick Enclave and 819 about the Ford Explorer.

Side by side

Buick EnclaveFord Explorer
Model years compared2008-20262008-2026
Owner complaints2,51515,555
Complaints per model year132819
Recalls29102
Years to avoid2008201420132014201520162017
Best years20182019202020192022
Most common problemAirbagsSteering
Crash rating5 2026No data
Fuel economy21-22 mpg combined (2026)19-24 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2008 Buick Enclave: 5362008 Ford Explorer: 14820082009 Buick Enclave: 2202009 Ford Explorer: 332010 Buick Enclave: 2752010 Ford Explorer: 11520102011 Buick Enclave: 2132011 Ford Explorer: 1,1982012 Buick Enclave: 1332012 Ford Explorer: 83120122013 Buick Enclave: 712013 Ford Explorer: 2,2392014 Buick Enclave: 2922014 Ford Explorer: 1,68420142015 Buick Enclave: 1712015 Ford Explorer: 1,8202016 Buick Enclave: 1422016 Ford Explorer: 2,46720162017 Buick Enclave: 1792017 Ford Explorer: 1,7062018 Buick Enclave: 662018 Ford Explorer: 73620182019 Buick Enclave: 452019 Ford Explorer: 3032020 Buick Enclave: 612020 Ford Explorer: 1,25420202021 Buick Enclave: 262021 Ford Explorer: 4562022 Buick Enclave: 142022 Ford Explorer: 27620222023 Buick Enclave: 222023 Ford Explorer: 1132024 Buick Enclave: 72024 Ford Explorer: 2120242025 Buick Enclave: 392025 Ford Explorer: 1112026 Buick Enclave: 32026 Ford Explorer: 442026
Buick EnclaveFord Explorer

Problems compared

EnclaveExplorer
Airbags770411
Steering4443,513
Engine3842,274
Transmission3631,626
Electrical2821,199
Body1753,181
Driver assistance121832

Questions about the Buick Enclave vs Ford Explorer

Which is more reliable, the Buick Enclave or the Ford Explorer?

Between 2008 and 2026, the Buick Enclave has 2 years to avoid and the Ford Explorer 5. The Buick Enclave has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Buick Enclave drew fewer complaints per model year (132 vs 819), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Buick Enclave or the Ford Explorer?

From 2008 to 2026, the Buick Enclave was covered by 29 recalls and the Ford Explorer by 102.

What years of the Buick Enclave and Ford Explorer should you avoid?

Buick Enclave: 2008 and 2014. Ford Explorer: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

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