Last updated: 2026-10-10
Buick Enclave vs Subaru Ascent: Reliability Compared
Buick Enclave
Subaru Ascent
In this matchup, the Buick Enclave comes out clearly ahead of the Subaru Ascent on reliability. Owners filed far fewer complaints per vehicle sold on the Enclave. The Ascent draws repeat reports of CVT trouble and a driver's mirror that shakes at speed.
How Do the Buick Enclave and Subaru Ascent Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Buick Enclave is more reliable than the Subaru Ascent, scoring 76/100 vs 69/100.
Clear edge goes to the Buick Enclave. Both carry a good standing, but Ascent owners filed 879 complaints (9.2 per 10,000 sold) against 234 (2.6 per 10,000) for the Enclave. The Ascent's trouble is repetitive: CVT failures that return after repairs, and a driver's mirror shake dealers say they cannot fix. The Enclave has serious reports too, especially in brakes and the transmission, but far fewer of them. Federal recall records show 16 recalls over 7 Ascent model years and 10 over 9 Enclave years.
Key Differences
- 1Buick Enclave scores 7 points higher in reliability
- 2Buick Enclave has 6.6 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 3Buick Enclave has 6 fewer total recalls
Category Scoreboard
Buick Enclave vs Subaru Ascent: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Buick Enclave | Subaru Ascent |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 76/100 | 69/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 7 |
| Total Recalls | 10 | 16 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 2.6 | 9.2 |
| Year Wins | 7 | 0 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Enclave and Subaru Ascent?
Repeat failures define the Ascent. Its CVT squeals, shudders, slips, and sometimes loses drive on the highway, and replaced transmissions can show symptoms again. A shaking driver's mirror fills two separate complaint groups. The Enclave's reports are more scattered: a power liftgate that opens by itself, a transmission that slams into park, early brake grinding, and a cracked front exhaust bracket. Both models have crash-linked reports in electrical, power train, and brakes. The Enclave has more of them, three each in power train and brakes, despite far fewer complaints overall.
| Component | Buick Enclave | Subaru Ascent |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.4Very Low | 2.7Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.4Very Low | 1.5Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 1.4Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.3Very Low | 1Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.4Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.3Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | —None | 0.5Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| SEAT BELTS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| STEERING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | —None |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
| WHEELS | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Buick Enclave vs Subaru Ascent Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Buick Enclave | Subaru Ascent | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 81/1000R / 0C | 76/1000R / 1C | Buick Enclave |
| 2025 | 77/1000R / 31C | 76/1000R / 8C | Buick Enclave |
| 2024 | 77/1000R / 7C | 76/1000R / 43C | Buick Enclave |
| 2023 | 79/1000R / 17C | 71/1003R / 36C | Buick Enclave |
| 2022 | 76/1001R / 12C | 70/1001R / 50C | Buick Enclave |
| 2020 | 68/1006R / 48C | 58/1004R / 310C | Buick Enclave |
| 2019 | 75/1001R / 38C | 55/1008R / 431C | Buick Enclave |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Buick Enclave scored 79/100 and the 2024 Subaru Ascent scored 76/100 — 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 Subaru Ascent?
Buick Enclave vs Subaru Ascent: Common Questions
- Is the Subaru Ascent more reliable than the Buick Enclave?
- No. The Enclave has a clear edge. It drew 234 owner complaints, or 2.6 per 10,000 sold, while the Ascent drew 879, or 9.2 per 10,000. Ascent owners report CVT slipping and shuddering, plus a driver's mirror vibration that dealers could not cure.
- Which has more recalls, the Ascent or the Enclave?
- The Ascent has more. Federal recall records show 16 recalls across 7 Ascent model years and 10 across 9 Enclave model years. The Ascent's count is packed into fewer model years, so each year tends to carry more recalls.
- What is the most serious Subaru Ascent problem?
- The CVT is the most serious pattern. Owners describe squealing, shuddering, slipping, and hard shifts, often starting early in the car's life. Some lost drive on the highway. Transmissions were replaced, sometimes more than once. The driver's mirror vibration is the most widespread complaint.
- Are Buick Enclave brakes a problem?
- They can be. Owners report grinding or metal-on-metal noise very early, in some cases within the first 1,000 miles. Some say the car feels slow to stop. Brakes are one of the Enclave's crash-linked areas, with three crash-linked reports, so have them checked before you buy.
- Which Ascent and Enclave years should I avoid?
- Avoid 2019 and 2020 on both models, since those are the weakest years for each. The 2026 model year is listed as strongest for both, but it has had little time to collect complaints, so do not read it as proof of better reliability.
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Decided between Buick Enclave and Subaru Ascent? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Buick Enclave and Subaru Ascent
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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