Skip to content

FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH

2021 Buick Enclave AWD

The 2021 Buick Enclave AWD has 2 NHTSA safety recalls on file, 24 owner complaints, and gets about 20 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.

SPECS

2021 Buick Enclave AWD at a glance

Engine
6-cyl 3.6L
Cylinders
6
Displacement
3.6 L
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Transmission
Automatic 9-spd
Body
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel
Regular

Source: EPA / NHTSA vPIC, as of July 11, 2026.

SAFETY RECALLS · NHTSA

2 open

Air Bags

24/06/2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave vehicles. During service by dealers, certain vehicles may have received incorrect air bag calibration software that may affect frontal airbag deployment.

Remedy: Dealers will update the air bag calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 29, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N212340220.

Air Bags

31/03/2022

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212352140.

NHTSA has opened one or more investigations covering this model. Recalls can follow an investigation, so check NHTSA for the latest before you buy.

Open safety recalls are free to fix at any franchised dealer. What recalls mean → Source: NHTSA recalls, as of July 11, 2026. Recalls can be issued any time, confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.

OWNER COMPLAINTS · NHTSA

24 filed
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    About six months ago the tailgate foot sensor failed and has not worked. Since then, the tailgate began randomly opening on its own, mostly when the car is parked and shut off, but as of today(4-28-2026) it started occurring while I'm driv

    6
  • SERVICE BRAKES

    Brakes started grinding at 1000 miles. I will filed a complaint with the dealership and hope they record it. Now I have approximately 2100 miles on the car and it continues to sound and feel like my brake pad and rotor on the right front ar

    6
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    The catalytic converter has been replaced 3 times. The flex pipes has been repaired and replaced 4 times and the exhaust pipes has been welded on 5 times. The back tail pipe fail off while driving and had to be welded. The exhaust on this v

    3
  • POWER TRAIN

    The muffler and tail pipe has fallen off 6 times and ive had to get repaired. I believe it is due to the bad torque converter that others have complained about and goggle says that is a likely failure on the buick.

    2
  • SEAT BELTS

    Passenger side seatbelt latch gets stuck so when trying to buckle it doesn’t go in, you have to try multiple times. Get a notification on dashboard every once in a while saying seatbelt or airbag issue contact dealer. Warning light (air bag

    2
  • STRUCTURE

    The liftgate of my vehicle began opening on it's own at no apparent interval, but now occurs frequently while waiting for a repair part to come in. This has happened while parked - including in public parking lots (where someone malicious

    1

Problems owners reported to the government, useful for spotting patterns, not proof any one car has them. What complaints mean → Source: NHTSA complaints, as of July 11, 2026. Owner-submitted reports, not verified diagnoses.

CRASH-TEST RATINGS · NHTSA NCAP

Overall
★★★★★
Frontal
★★★★☆
Side
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★☆

Government crash tests of this model; not every trim or year is tested. Source: NHTSA NCAP, as of July 11, 2026.

FUEL & RUNNING COST · U.S. EPA

Combined
20 mpg
City / Hwy
17 / 25
Est. fuel / yr
$3,100
CO₂ / mi
440 g

EPA lab estimates; real mpg varies by how you drive. Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov, as of July 11, 2026. Annual cost assumes 15,000 mi/yr at EPA's reference price.

All figures above come from free U.S. government sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, investigations, crash tests) and the EPA (fuel economy and specs). We don't show market price, insurance cost, or proprietary reliability scores, because there's no free, reliable public source for them. For a verdict on a specific listing, with a fair-offer number and what to ask the seller, that's the VINly app.

BEFORE YOU BUY

What to check on this car

Confirm the recalls were fixed

This model has 2 open NHTSA recalls (including the air bags). Recall repairs are free at the dealer, so ask the seller for proof the remedy was performed, or verify by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.

Watch for a pending investigation

NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.

  • Test-drive the basics

    Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.

  • Check the title and the VIN

    Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.

  • Ask the seller the right questions

    Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.

See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.

Quick answers

What is recalled on the 2021 Buick Enclave AWD? +

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 2021 Buick Enclave AWD, including the air bags. See the full list above, and confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Buick Enclave AWD get? +

The EPA rates the 2021 Buick Enclave AWD at 20 mpg combined (17 city / 25 highway), about $3,100 a year in fuel.

How safe is the 2021 Buick Enclave AWD? +

NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2021 Buick Enclave AWD 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover resistance.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Buick Enclave AWD? +

Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA for the 2021 Buick Enclave AWD. The most-reported area is electrical system.

MORE BUICK RESEARCH

FREE IN THE APP

Comparing a few cars? Save the 2021 Buick Enclave AWD and line it up against the others in the app.

No account. Saving and comparing cars is free; the per-listing report is $3.99.

THE FULL BUYER'S REPORT · $3.99

Found a 2021 Buick Enclave AWD for sale?

The research above is free. The app takes a screenshot of one real listing and returns a verdict, a fair-offer number, the red flags specific to that car, a walk-away floor, and a message you can send the seller, word for word.

Research another car → Have the VIN? Decode it free →