Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
16 City / 22 HWY
Horsepower
288
Seats
7 -8
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Summer S
Spacious, 4 door, family vehicle.
It is amazing! By far the best car I have ever driven!! Excellent amount of space, super comfortable, amazing air conditioning, etc! The space is probably my favorite because I have 3 kids and a husband, so having room for all of them and more is amazing to me! Also, the features!! Heated seats being one of the favorites for my husband, it is just down right perfect for us!
accountCircle Keelan M
Upscale, leather & wood, large. Although a family vehicle, it is not a “mom car.”.
I bought the car about 3 years ago used. I love the size; 7 people. I have leather, wood trim, DVD players in the backs of headrests for the kids. The back seats are comfortable that even tall adults can fit comfortably. My enclave gives me a feeling of being safe.
accountCircle M N
It's very comfortable. I love driving it.
My car is big but doesn't feel like a tank. I enjoy driving it and have had no issues with breakdowns or needed maintenance.
accountCircle Sandy S
Very comfortable ride with good gas mileage.
Smooth comfortable ride in a roomy vehicle. Enough space for 7 to be comfortable. This is a sharp vehicle that turns heads!
accountCircle Robert B
Buick Enclave SUV review.
The Enclave is a roomy , comfortable SUV and has been most reliable and cost effective. Overall the performance has been excellent.
accountCircle Brittany B
Buick enclave: luxurious yet practical.
My Buick enclave is amazing, super comfortable, drives great! Has plenty of room next vehicle I purchase will be a newer Buick enclave. Everyone that rides in it loves it, one of the best riding SUV's out there! Great for multiple children, strollers, pets, etc. Buick has done an amazing job with their vehicles it is luxurious and practical.
accountCircle Charles S
Great looking and great handling in wind storm and snow.
Great on gas lot of room seats up to seven people great ride lots of good comfy seats and very good in winter goes threw a lot of snow with all wheel drive.
accountCircle Reuben L
Comfortable and reliable.
I have had a few problems such as an exploding sunroof. This happen out of nowhere! But the truck performs really well actually. Runs pretty decent when you have a tune up and oil change. It has heated seats, rear reverse camera, remote auto start and leather.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Kaitlin H
Maybe it was just the year I got?
There was a lot of mechanical issues, like the cylinders, the temperature gage, a few other things have gone wrong with it. We put about $1,500 before the catalytic converter started to go. I love the design of the exterior and the many of the amenities like the heated seats. I enjoy having three rows of seats without having to drive a large vehicle.
accountCircle Elizabeth K
The most unreliable vehicle. I wouldn't buy another
Performance is great. But the enclave is a very unreliable vehicle. I have replaced everything under the hood 3 times in 4 years. I will not even let my children ride in this car. Because you never know when and where it will break down... Oh but it will...
accountCircle Darrin Nunley
139,000 and already DEAD!
I bought this general motors pile of junk because my wife liked the way it looks. To bad it is mechanically the worst vehicle I have ever owned. It has only 139,000 miles on it and the engine is blown. Following is all that has happened in so few miles: $4000 rebuild transmission at the GM dealership. GM dealer replaced the power steering pump. All of the most used control knobs had the color wear off. The adjustable ride struts in the front rattle like thier falling out. The oil pump went out while rolling down the interstate and blew the engine. 139,000 miles on a $50,000 vehicle! This just isn't right. How can GM get by with such c**p.
accountCircle Jack hunt
Relieabilty
Junk
accountCircle LaQuitea V
Beware of electrical issues.
My remote start went out 2 years ago, and I have been having electrical problems ever since. One mechanic we called said he was well aware of the problems that Buick enclave owners have. It has been a difficult problem to fix. I do really enjoy the backup camera, and the seat warmers.
accountCircle Kandice P
2012 Buick enclave issues.
A lot of battery problems and random dash lights come on randomly. Problem cannot be diagnosed by the mechanic if it is not occurring right when it is being checked. Vehicle has even shut off while I was driving 80 mph on the interstate. Still no diagnosis.
accountCircle Arthur M
Buick enclave is a reliable family vehicle.
Car has great gas mileage, drives a bit tight. I have had a lot of strut issues and air conditioning issues. All in all good car, reliable, and will get you where you want to go. I have taken my kids on road trips, and driven cross country. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone that needs a family vehicle with plenty of seating. Now storage is a bit small if you have 6 people if you are family of four just enough to pack your suitcases.
accountCircle Jenn B
Timing chains are known to go in the car resulting in forking out thousands you might not have
I bought the car with high miles. I should've known better. The engine blew a month later. It was an additional $3500

Buick Enclave Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Base
288 HP 18 MPG 7-8 Seats
car
Convenience
288 HP 18 MPG 7-8 Seats
car
Leather
288 HP 18 MPG 7-8 Seats
car
Premium
288 HP 18 MPG 7-8 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 Buick Enclave Owner Reviews

4.33
220 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 58%
4 stars 25%
3 stars 11%
2 stars 2%
1 star 4%
accountCircle Cindy R on June 11, 2021
Great car! Easy to drive is big enough for the whole family.
It's a great family car! Not the best mileage. Drives really well in the snow. Perfect for my family of 7. I would definitely buy it again however I would want 8 seats instead of 7. I do have problems with my gas tank sensor and can't seem to get it fixed which makes my engine light come on a lot.
accountCircle Shea H on May 21, 2021
Buick enclave: amazing purchase, few flaws.
Very little problems to report. Difficult to "hook" car seats in seats, tight fit between second row bucket seats to get to third row of seats. Third row seats are somewhat difficult to follow down. Battery location is very odd-back passenger side floor second row. None of these things would prevent me from purchasing the vehicle again. Seating is very comfortable, leg room in front is great, handles great, reverse camera is awesome, controls are all easy to find and use, love the capability for the back to have its own control of heat/air.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Stacey W.

Lots of space! This was the perfect size SUV with an easily accessible third row. The captain chairs in the second row adjust, which makes getting in and out easy for everyone. There is also plenty of legroom for all passengers.

likeFilled Megan G.

Back up camera, programmable seat positions, seat heaters and coolers, auto headlight movement when turning, remote trunk open and close, adjustable seating, Bluetooth connectivity, USB connection for phone.

likeFilled Jeffrey J.

All wheel drive. Air conditioning. Sunroof. Seats 7 people. Fold down seats for storage. 6 cylinder. Air in back row. New brakes. Runner board. Ability to go fast when needed. Is a Buick. Stylish red color.

likeFilled Amy F.

The Buick enclave premium comes with both heating and cooling seats. The enclave also has Bluetooth and has a DVD player. It can hold up to seven people. The enclave rides extremely nice and also rides extremely nice.

likeFilled Kim M.

It has a backup camera. I love the heated seats, they also cool. It has a Bluetooth. You can make hand free calls if you wish. It has a heating system for the back of the vehicle. There is also a sun window.

likeFilled Paris H.

This vehicle rides extremely smooth, is luxurious, and the manufacturer offers great warranties. The vehicle has three rows, which is wonderful for families. The seats lay flat, which is optimal for transporting large/long items without having to have a pick up truck. It offers functionality and style.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Stacey W.

Like most SUVs this is a gas-guzzler. The Bluetooth technology is older so it does not work as well. I am truly very happy with this vehicle, so I really do not have many cons to share. With over 100,000 miles she's running great!

dislikeFilled Megan G.

No DVD system as it was outrageously priced, my trunk randomly came out of alignment for no reason so I cannot always use the auto close feature, the paint on the temp control buttons has worn off very quickly.

dislikeFilled Jeffrey J.

Needs shocks and struts. Windshield wiper motors. Rear wheel bearing sensor. Has a council that is in the middle of the middle row connecting to the back row. Makes it difficult to get to the back. Nothing else negative.

dislikeFilled Amy F.

I have a hard time finding any cons on the premium Buick enclave. I absolutely love my premium Buick enclave. I can't really think of anything that I would want to change. It's an overall great vehicle to own, probably my all time favorite vehicle I have ever owned.

dislikeFilled Kim M.

It does not have a GPS system. It does not have a movie system for the back seat like some of the vehicles do. The battery is under the front driver seat. The spare tire is not easy to get to or are the tools to change a flat tire.

dislikeFilled Paris H.

I absolutely love my Buick, and if given the opportunity to upgrade to a more recent year, I definitely would. I cannot think of any cons of my vehicle, other than it not having a tow hitch. However, that is expected with a luxury vehicle.

Ranks #8 Midsize SUV by Owners

The 2012 Buick Enclave has an average owner rating of 4.43 out of 5 which ranks it #8 of 22 other Midsize SUVs.

1
car
4.88
2
car
4.69
8
car
4.49

Ranks #7 Midsize SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Buick Enclave has a combined MPG of 25 which ranks it #7 of 22 other Midsize SUVs.

1
car
29 MPG
2
Tie
car
27 MPG
7
Tie
car
22 MPG

Is The 2012 Buick Enclave A Good Car?

Yes, the buick enclave is a awesome vehicle. I love the heated seat and the back up camera. I also like the front and back seat heating and cooling system.
Kimberly M.
Yes. Love it! Best vehicle I've bought in years. Wouldn't trade unless I went for an upgrade in year model.
Candace S.
Yes. It is a reliable vehicle that has plenty of room for our family. It safely fits our car seats and has extra room for cargo or other passengers.
Cara A.
My Buick Enclave is a great vehicle. It has third row seating and storage in the back. You can also easily lay down the third row seating for additional storage. It drives wonderful, has a great... Read More
Grace C.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Buick Enclave?

I feel that it is a very reliable. I have not had any problems as of yet. The location of the battery is not ideal.
Kimberly M.
Some mechanical issues, but extremely reliable for the most part. I bought used and had to have some work done, but nothing too major and expensive.
Ana T.
Our Buick Enclave is a very reliable family vehicle. We have not had any issues with it since purchasing it.
Tanya P.
My Buick Enclave has almost 100,000 miles. I do routine maintenance and have had no problems and is very reliable
Jennie M.

Is The 2012 Buick Enclave A Good Value?

I feel that it depends on the extras you get. It can be a bit expensive. I do feel that it can be a good value for the price.
Kimberly M.
We purchased our Buick Enclave for around $29,000. We knew we would pay more for a Buick, but we also knew it would be a reliable brand.
Maria S.
It was approximately $45,000 new and currently estimated at $15,000. It is fully loaded and I feel is a great value.
Jennifer L.

Related Articles for 2012 Buick Enclave

From the Vehicle History blog

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2012 Buick Enclave Transmission Problems: While Rare, Owners Report Slipping and Hesitating During Gear Shifts Around 100,000 Miles
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2012 Buick Enclave Problems Include Multiple Airbag Recalls, Failing Liftgates Struts, and Transmission Woes

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2012 Buick Enclave power steering fluid type?

Answer: The recommended power steering fluid to be used in a 2012 Buick Enclave is Prestone fully synthetic power steering fluid. It is very important to maintain the required level of power steering fluid to enjoy a...

What's the 2012 Buick Enclave fuel pressure sensor location?

Answer: The 2012 Buick Enclave fuel pressure sensor location is at the end of the fuELRail connected to the injectors going back into the car. Car parts will eventually become ineffective. The fuel filter needs to be...

What's the 2012 Buick Enclave fuel filter location?

Answer: The 2012 Buick Enclave fuel filter location is inside of the gas tank, on the back left of the vehicle. Car parts will eventually become ineffective. The fuel filter needs to be replaced every 30,000 miles. If...

What are some of the 2012 buick enclave radio problems?

Answer: The 2012 Buick Enclave radio problems are loose wire and blown fuse. You will come into issues with the sound. The source could be from the stereo's speakers or a phone that is connected to the vehicle....

2012 Buick Enclave: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2012 Buick Enclave uses SAE 5w-30 viscosity, fully synthetic motor oil in itS4.3 liter v6 engine. The vehicle has an oil capacity of 5.0 US quarts. You can find these oils at any maSSRetail location. You...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety