Is the Buick Enclave more reliable than the Hyundai Palisade?

Based on our data, the Buick Enclave is more reliable with an average score of 75/100 compared to 63/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Buick Enclave or the Hyundai Palisade?

The Hyundai Palisade has more recalls (33) compared to the Buick Enclave (10). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Buick Enclave or the Hyundai Palisade?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Buick Enclave has a lower complaint rate at 2.6 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 31.7 for the Hyundai Palisade. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Last updated: 2026-05-15

Buick Enclave vs Hyundai Palisade: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Buick Enclave

Good

Hyundai Palisade

Good

Choosing between the Buick Enclave and the Hyundai Palisade? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Buick Enclave currently leads with an average score of 75/100 compared to 63/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Buick Enclave and Hyundai Palisade Generations Compare?

As of today, the Hyundai Palisade is in its second generation, which began in 2024. The model underwent a facelift in 2023, indicating that it's still early in its current generation cycle. Early-generation vehicles can sometimes experience first-year issues as manufacturers work out initial production kinks. The first generation, spanning from 2020 to 2025, had a facelift in 2022, which likely smoothed out many early reliability concerns. The Buick Enclave is in its third generation, introduced in 2025. Being early in its generation, it might also face initial reliability challenges typical of newer platforms. The second generation, lasting from 2018 to 2024, received a facelift in 2022, suggesting it was a more mature and potentially more reliable choice after years of refinement.

Verdict

The Buick Enclave is more reliable than the Hyundai Palisade, scoring 75/100 vs 63/100.

The Buick Enclave demonstrates superior reliability compared to the Hyundai Palisade, with a higher average reliability score of 75/100 versus the Palisade's 63/100. The Enclave also has a significantly lower owner complaint rate of 2.6 per 10,000 sold, compared to the Palisade’s 31.7. Furthermore, the Enclave has experienced fewer recalls, with just 10 over nine years, while the Palisade has had 33 across seven years. Although both vehicles have common issues with service brakes, the Palisade's higher repair cost estimates and broader range of problems make the Enclave a more dependable choice.

Key Differences

1Buick Enclave has 29.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Buick Enclave has 23 fewer total recalls
3Buick Enclave scores 12 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

3Buick Enclave

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0Hyundai Palisade

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Buick Enclave vs Hyundai Palisade: Which Is More Reliable?

Buick Enclave vs Hyundai Palisade at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Buick Enclave	Hyundai Palisade
Reliability Score	75/100	63/100
Years Tracked	9	7
Total Recalls	10	33
Complaints per 10k Sold	2.6	31.7
Year Wins	6	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Enclave and Hyundai Palisade?

The Hyundai Palisade exhibits a notably higher volume of complaints compared to the Buick Enclave, with service brakes and seat belts being significant areas of concern, including 16 and 1 crash-linked issues respectively. The Palisade also shows a higher frequency of visibility/wiper and suspension complaints, which are not as prominent in the Enclave's profile. Conversely, the Buick Enclave's problems are less frequent overall, with electrical system and power train issues being the most reported, yet still relatively minor in comparison to the Palisade. Both vehicles have crash-linked complaints in their service brakes and electrical systems, but the Palisade has a broader range of affected components.

Buick Enclave vs Hyundai Palisade common problem areas comparison
Component	Buick Enclave	Hyundai Palisade
SERVICE BRAKES	0.4Very Low	5.4Average
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	3.9Average
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	3.6Average
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.3Very Low	3.3Average
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	2.1Low
SUSPENSION	—None	2.3Low
POWER TRAIN	0.4Very Low	1.6Low
ENGINE	0.3Very Low	1.7Low
STEERING	0.1Very Low	1.1Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.4Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.4Very Low
VISIBILITY	—None	0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS	—None	0.2Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Buick Enclave or Hyundai Palisade?

Based on independent repair cost data, the Hyundai Palisade incurs an average annual repair cost of $573 with a repair frequency of 0.4 visits per year. This suggests relatively low maintenance demands, with fewer than one repair needed every two years. For the Buick Enclave, specific data on annual repair costs and frequency is unavailable, making a direct cost comparison challenging. However, the absence of major repair risk information for both vehicles leaves some uncertainty in long-term reliability. For cost-conscious buyers, the Hyundai Palisade presents a clearer picture of predictable expenses and lower repair frequency, potentially resulting in fewer disruptions and lower cumulative costs over time. In contrast, the Buick Enclave's unspecified costs could imply higher variability, suggesting the Palisade might be the better value for those prioritizing budget predictability.

How Does Buick Enclave vs Hyundai Palisade Reliability Compare by Year?

Buick Enclave vs Hyundai Palisade year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Buick Enclave	Hyundai Palisade	Edge
2025	77/1000R / 31C	70/1003R / 139C	Buick Enclave
2024	77/1000R / 7C	63/1005R / 304C	Buick Enclave
2023	79/1000R / 17C	62/1005R / 326C	Buick Enclave
2022	76/1001R / 12C	65/1005R / 241C	Buick Enclave
2021	75/1002R / 21C	61/1006R / 354C	Buick Enclave
2020	68/1006R / 48C	59/1007R / 521C	Buick Enclave
2026(predicted)	78/100(predicted)	65/100(predicted)	Buick Enclave

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Buick Enclave scored 79/100 and the 2025 Hyundai Palisade scored 70/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Buick Enclave vs the Hyundai Palisade?

If you prioritize reliability and a lower likelihood of recalls, the Buick Enclave is the better choice for you. With a reliability score of 75/100, significantly fewer recalls at just 10, and only 2.6 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, the Enclave offers peace of mind for those who value dependability. Its top issues include the electrical system and powertrain, but overall, it presents a more stable ownership experience. On the other hand, if you are more concerned with managing annual repair costs, you might lean towards the Hyundai Palisade. Although it has a lower reliability score of 63/100 and a higher recall count of 33, independent repair cost estimates suggest an annual cost of $573, which provides a clear budget expectation. However, be prepared for potential issues with service brakes, seat belts, and visibility/wipers. If you can navigate these concerns, the Palisade offers a more predictable financial commitment for repairs.

Buick Enclave vs Hyundai Palisade: Common Questions

Is the Buick Enclave more reliable than the Hyundai Palisade?: Based on our data, the Buick Enclave is more reliable with an average score of 75/100 compared to 63/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Buick Enclave or the Hyundai Palisade?: The Hyundai Palisade has more recalls (33) compared to the Buick Enclave (10). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Buick Enclave or the Hyundai Palisade?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Buick Enclave has a lower complaint rate at 2.6 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 31.7 for the Hyundai Palisade. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

More Buick Enclave comparisons

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More Hyundai Palisade comparisons

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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