Is the Chevrolet Traverse more reliable than the Buick Enclave?

No. The Enclave has a clear edge. Owners filed 234 complaints on the Enclave versus 1417 on the Traverse, which works out to 2.6 versus 7.2 per 10,000 sold. Both still hold a good standing, so neither is a bad buy, but the Traverse has more repeat failures.

Which has more recalls, the Traverse or the Enclave?

The Traverse. Federal recall records show 19 recalls across its 9 model years, against 10 for the Enclave. Check any specific VIN for open recalls before buying, since the count alone does not say which cars were fixed.

What are the common problems with the Chevrolet Traverse?

The biggest are AWD Service messages that drop the car to two-wheel drive, alternators failing early, and brakes that do not stop the car at low speed. Cracked front exhaust bracket welds also show up, with a rattle at startup and exhaust smell in the cabin.

Do the Traverse and Enclave share any problems?

Yes. Both have front exhaust pipe brackets that crack at the welds and leave a hole in the pipe. Owners describe rattling, a loud exhaust note and fumes in the cabin. Both also have crash-linked reports in power train, electrical and brakes.

Which model years of the Traverse and Enclave should I avoid?

For the Traverse, avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. For the Enclave, avoid 2019 and 2020. The newest years have fewer complaints mainly because they have been on the road less, so do not treat them as the safest.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Buick Enclave vs Chevrolet Traverse: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Buick Enclave

Good

Chevrolet Traverse

Good

The Buick Enclave comes out ahead of the Chevrolet Traverse on reliability by a clear margin. The deciding fact is complaint volume: Traverse owners filed far more, and the Traverse has nearly twice the recalls.

How Do the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse Generations Compare?

Most used examples of either model come from the second generation, which began with the 2018 model year and ran through 2024, with a facelift in 2022. Shoppers will see mainly those years. A third generation is listed starting in 2024 for the Traverse and 2025 for the Enclave, so cars from 2025 and 2026 are early in their run. Their records are short because owners have had little time to report problems. Treat those years as unproven rather than safe, even though the 2026 model year ranks among the strongest for both.

Verdict

The Buick Enclave is more reliable than the Chevrolet Traverse, scoring 76/100 vs 70/100.

Edge goes to the Enclave, and it is a clear one. Both land in good standing, but Traverse owners filed far more complaints per vehicle sold, and federal recall records show 19 recalls for the Traverse against 10 for the Enclave. The Traverse also has repeat problems that dealers struggle to fix: AWD shutoffs, early alternator failures and brakes that fail to stop the car at low speed. Enclave complaints are fewer and more scattered, so a shopper is less likely to land on a known pattern.

Key Differences

1Buick Enclave has 9 fewer total recalls
2Buick Enclave scores 6 points higher in reliability
3Buick Enclave has 4.6 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

3Buick Enclave

—

0Chevrolet Traverse

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Buick Enclave vs Chevrolet Traverse: Which Is More Reliable?

Buick Enclave vs Chevrolet Traverse at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Buick Enclave	Chevrolet Traverse
Reliability Score	76/100	70/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	10	19
Complaints per 10k Sold	2.6	7.2
Year Wins	9	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse?

Drivetrain and electrical failures define the Traverse. AWD Service messages drop the car to two-wheel drive, RPM sticks high while the car acts as if it is in park, and alternators fail early, sometimes causing sudden power loss while driving. The Enclave draws a different mix: a power liftgate that opens by itself, a transmission that slams into park, and brake grinding within the first 1,000 miles. Crash-linked reports appear in power train, electrical and brakes for both, but the Traverse has more in each. Cracked front exhaust bracket welds show up on both.

Buick Enclave vs Chevrolet Traverse common problem areas comparison
Component	Buick Enclave	Chevrolet Traverse
POWER TRAIN	0.4Very Low	2.2Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	1.1Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.3Very Low	0.9Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.4Very Low	0.7Very Low
ENGINE	0.3Very Low	0.6Very Low
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.2Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	—None	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	—None	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Buick Enclave vs Chevrolet Traverse Reliability Compare by Year?

Buick Enclave vs Chevrolet Traverse year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Buick Enclave	Chevrolet Traverse	Edge
2026	81/1000R / 0C	76/1000R / 6C	Buick Enclave
2025	77/1000R / 31C	75/1000R / 132C	Buick Enclave
2024	77/1000R / 7C	73/1000R / 107C	Buick Enclave
2023	79/1000R / 17C	72/1002R / 62C	Buick Enclave
2022	76/1001R / 12C	73/1001R / 76C	Buick Enclave
2021	75/1002R / 21C	71/1003R / 72C	Buick Enclave
2020	68/1006R / 48C	62/1008R / 188C	Buick Enclave
2019	75/1001R / 38C	62/1003R / 358C	Buick Enclave
2018	75/1000R / 60C	62/1002R / 416C	Buick Enclave

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Buick Enclave scored 79/100 and the 2024 Chevrolet Traverse scored 73/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Buick Enclave vs the Chevrolet Traverse?

Pick the Enclave if you want the lower chance of a repeat problem. Its complaint count is much smaller, and its most common reports, such as a liftgate that opens on its own or brake noise, are less alarming than the Traverse's power loss and AWD shutoffs. Target 2023, one of its strongest years, and be careful with 2019 and 2020, its weakest. Check the front exhaust pipe bracket on any used one, and ask about transmission behavior on a test drive. Choose the Traverse only if a specific car's price or condition beats the Enclaves you find, and then shop carefully. Skip 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. Ask whether the alternator has been replaced, test the AWD system, and look under the car for a cracked exhaust bracket. GM special coverage for that bracket applies to 2019 and 2021 models but not 2020, so a 2020 could leave you paying out of pocket. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so do not read their quiet record as proof of quality.

Buick Enclave vs Chevrolet Traverse: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Traverse more reliable than the Buick Enclave?: No. The Enclave has a clear edge. Owners filed 234 complaints on the Enclave versus 1417 on the Traverse, which works out to 2.6 versus 7.2 per 10,000 sold. Both still hold a good standing, so neither is a bad buy, but the Traverse has more repeat failures.
Which has more recalls, the Traverse or the Enclave?: The Traverse. Federal recall records show 19 recalls across its 9 model years, against 10 for the Enclave. Check any specific VIN for open recalls before buying, since the count alone does not say which cars were fixed.
What are the common problems with the Chevrolet Traverse?: The biggest are AWD Service messages that drop the car to two-wheel drive, alternators failing early, and brakes that do not stop the car at low speed. Cracked front exhaust bracket welds also show up, with a rattle at startup and exhaust smell in the cabin.
Do the Traverse and Enclave share any problems?: Yes. Both have front exhaust pipe brackets that crack at the welds and leave a hole in the pipe. Owners describe rattling, a loud exhaust note and fumes in the cabin. Both also have crash-linked reports in power train, electrical and brakes.
Which model years of the Traverse and Enclave should I avoid?: For the Traverse, avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. For the Enclave, avoid 2019 and 2020. The newest years have fewer complaints mainly because they have been on the road less, so do not treat them as the safest.

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How we score the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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