Last updated: 2026-10-10
Buick Enclave vs Ford Explorer: Reliability Compared
Buick Enclave
Ford Explorer
The Buick Enclave comes out ahead of the Ford Explorer on reliability, and by a clear margin. The Explorer has 117 federal recalls across its model years, while the Enclave has 10. Owner complaints for the Explorer also run more than twice as high per vehicle sold.
How Do the Buick Enclave and Ford Explorer Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Buick Enclave is more reliable than the Ford Explorer, scoring 76/100 vs 67/100.
A clear edge goes to the Enclave, and the size of the Explorer's recall list is part of the reason. Federal recall records show 117 recalls across the Explorer's model years against 10 for the Enclave. Owner complaints run the same way, at 6.8 per 10,000 sold for the Explorer and 2.6 for the Enclave. Both stand well overall. The gap comes from how serious and widespread the Explorer's faults are: shifting trouble, sudden power loss, and engine failures with replacement quotes in the thousands.
Key Differences
- 1Buick Enclave has 107 fewer total recalls
- 2Buick Enclave scores 9 points higher in reliability
- 3Buick Enclave has 4.2 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Buick Enclave vs Ford Explorer: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Buick Enclave | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 76/100 | 67/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 10 | 117 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 2.6 | 6.8 |
| Year Wins | 9 | 0 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Enclave and Ford Explorer?
Harsh or erratic shifting, sudden power loss, and engine failure dominate the Explorer's complaints. Owners report gears slamming in from a stop, stalls that dealers traced to the main wiring harness or a ground wire, loose A-pillar molding, and engines with metal in the oil or a dropped intake valve. Rear camera recall repairs have also waited on parts. The Enclave's complaints are narrower: a power liftgate that opens by itself, brakes that grind early, and a front exhaust bracket that breaks or cracks at the welds. The Explorer has crash-linked engine, structure, and back over prevention complaints. The Enclave has none in those areas, though its power train, brake, and electrical complaints include crashes.
| Component | Buick Enclave | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 0.4Very Low | 1.6Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.3Very Low | 1.1Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.4Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 1.1Low |
| ENGINE | 0.3Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.4Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| SEAT BELTS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| SEATS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | —None |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | —None |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Buick Enclave vs Ford Explorer Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Buick Enclave | Ford Explorer | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 81/1000R / 0C | 70/1004R / 0C | Buick Enclave |
| 2025 | 77/1000R / 31C | 72/10014R / 65C | Buick Enclave |
| 2024 | 77/1000R / 7C | 73/1006R / 14C | Buick Enclave |
| 2023 | 79/1000R / 17C | 71/10012R / 84C | Buick Enclave |
| 2022 | 76/1001R / 12C | 65/10021R / 208C | Buick Enclave |
| 2021 | 75/1002R / 21C | 62/10022R / 354C | Buick Enclave |
| 2020 | 68/1006R / 48C | 54/10029R / 1066C | Buick Enclave |
| 2019 | 75/1001R / 38C | 69/1004R / 252C | Buick Enclave |
| 2018 | 75/1000R / 60C | 64/1005R / 651C | Buick Enclave |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Buick Enclave scored 79/100 and the 2024 Ford Explorer 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 Ford Explorer?
Buick Enclave vs Ford Explorer: Common Questions
- Is the Ford Explorer more reliable than the Buick Enclave?
- No. The Buick Enclave has a clear edge. It has far fewer recalls and a lower complaint rate, at 2.6 per 10,000 sold against 6.8 for the Explorer. Both are rated good, but the Explorer's complaints include more serious faults such as engine failure and sudden loss of power.
- Which has more recalls, the Explorer or the Enclave?
- The Explorer has far more. Federal recall records show 117 recalls across its model years, compared with 10 for the Enclave. Explorer owners also describe waiting a long time for parts on the rear camera recalls, 23V342000 and 25V442000, which leaves the repair undone.
- What is the most common problem with the Buick Enclave?
- Electrical trouble leads, with 39 complaints. The power liftgate opens on its own while the car is parked, locked, or even driving. One service center blamed the rear hatch switch. Power train and brake complaints follow closely, with 35 and 34 complaints each.
- Do Ford Explorer transmissions have problems?
- Yes. Power train is the Explorer's largest complaint area, with 618 reports and 12 linked to crashes. Owners describe the first two gears slamming in from a stop, skipped gears, sudden downshifts at speed, and power loss. Dealers often could not reproduce the fault.
- Which Explorer and Enclave model years should I avoid?
- Avoid the 2020 model year for both, since it is among the weakest for each. Also skip the 2021 Explorer and the 2019 Enclave. Newer years such as 2025 and 2026 look better, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so check their records before buying.
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Decided between Buick Enclave and Ford Explorer? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Buick Enclave and Ford Explorer
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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