Last updated: 2026-10-10
Buick Enclave vs Honda Pilot: Reliability Compared
Buick Enclave
Honda Pilot
On reliability, the Buick Enclave comes out ahead of the Honda Pilot, with far fewer recalls and owner complaints. Both rate good overall. The Pilot's electrical failures, stop/start problems, and engine failures are what set it back.
How Do the Buick Enclave and Honda Pilot Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Buick Enclave is more reliable than the Honda Pilot, scoring 76/100 vs 68/100.
Reliability favors the Buick Enclave by a clear margin, though both land in good standing. The deciding fact is volume. The Pilot has drawn far more owner complaints per vehicle sold and many more federal recalls. Its infotainment blackouts, stop/start failures, and engine failures are serious and often come back after dealer work. The Enclave's complaints are fewer and more scattered. Its worst patterns, hard transmission shifts and early brake noise, still deserve a close look before you buy.
Key Differences
- 1Buick Enclave has 41 fewer total recalls
- 2Buick Enclave scores 8 points higher in reliability
- 3Buick Enclave has 6.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Buick Enclave vs Honda Pilot: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Buick Enclave | Honda Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 76/100 | 68/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 10 | 51 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 2.6 | 9.1 |
| Year Wins | 8 (1 tied) | 0 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Enclave and Honda Pilot?
Electronics and the engine drive the Pilot's trouble, while the Enclave's complaints are more mechanical. Pilot screens go blank with "Network Communication Lost," taking the backup camera with them. Stop/start can fail to restart the engine, and some engines fail suddenly with a knock, with two fire reports. Enclave owners describe liftgates that open on their own, transmissions that slam into park, grinding brakes within the first 1,000 miles, and cracked exhaust brackets. The Pilot's engine and collision-avoidance areas have crash-linked reports, and the Enclave has none there. Only the Enclave has crash-linked brake complaints.
| Component | Buick Enclave | Honda Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.4Very Low | 2.4Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.3Very Low | 1.1Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.4Very Low | 0.9Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.3Very Low | 1Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.4Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | 0.6Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.6Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.4Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| SEAT BELTS | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Buick Enclave vs Honda Pilot Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Buick Enclave | Honda Pilot | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 81/1000R / 0C | 81/1000R / 0C | Tie |
| 2025 | 77/1000R / 31C | 71/1004R / 111C | Buick Enclave |
| 2024 | 77/1000R / 7C | 72/1006R / 82C | Buick Enclave |
| 2023 | 79/1000R / 17C | 72/1005R / 93C | Buick Enclave |
| 2022 | 76/1001R / 12C | 72/1003R / 105C | Buick Enclave |
| 2021 | 75/1002R / 21C | 63/1008R / 358C | Buick Enclave |
| 2020 | 68/1006R / 48C | 60/1009R / 431C | Buick Enclave |
| 2019 | 75/1001R / 38C | 56/10011R / 794C | Buick Enclave |
| 2018 | 75/1000R / 60C | 63/1005R / 408C | Buick Enclave |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Buick Enclave scored 79/100 and the 2024 Honda Pilot scored 72/100 — 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 Honda Pilot?
Buick Enclave vs Honda Pilot: Common Questions
- Is the Honda Pilot more reliable than the Buick Enclave?
- No. The Enclave has a clear edge, though both rate good. Owners filed far fewer complaints per vehicle sold on the Enclave, and it has far fewer recalls. The Pilot's main problems are infotainment blackouts, stop/start failures to restart, and engine failures.
- Which has more recalls, the Pilot or the Enclave?
- The Pilot. Federal records show 51 recalls across its 2018 to 2026 model years, compared with 10 for the Enclave over the same span. One Pilot recall covers the fuel pump, and owners said dealers lacked parts for it.
- Which is cheaper to repair, the Pilot or the Enclave?
- The data cannot settle this. Independent repair-cost data exists only for the Pilot: about $542 a year, 0.5 unscheduled shop visits a year, and a 13% chance a repair is major. There is no matching figure for the Enclave.
- What is the biggest problem with the Buick Enclave?
- Transmission and brake complaints are the most serious. Owners describe the transmission slamming into park while pulling away and brakes grinding within the first 1,000 miles. Each area has crash-linked reports. The power liftgate opening on its own is also common.
- Which Pilot and Enclave years should I avoid?
- Avoid 2019 and 2020 for both models, since those are the weakest years. The 2023 and 2026 years score well but are newer, so they have had less time to collect complaints. Check any car's recall history before buying.
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Decided between Buick Enclave and Honda Pilot? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Buick Enclave and Honda Pilot
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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