Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Last Friday, we decided to make a 3 hour trip to visit family. The drive was fine, no problems with the AC. However, the next day we hop in excited to sight see and take the kiddos to the park. And guess what?!! The AC starts blowing full blown HOT air from both the rear and front vents. WOW!! You really don't understand a heat index of 110 F until you're getting it full blast in an insulated Buick! We tried turning it ON/OFF, adjusting the AUTO settings, trying REAR only.... Nothing! What a disappointment. Not only that, but just to turn around and head back took 5- 10min because of the congested traffic. My poor kiddos tried to bare with us! We turned off the AC, rolled all the windows down, and just tried to breathe at a steady pace! As I looked back at them, they were really red, hair drenched in sweat, and complaining of the heat. Ugh! It ticks me off just thinking about it! Hot air was continuing to come through the bottom even though the AC was off.
The next day I did a little research and turns out that the AC issues on the Enclave have been going on since 2008! Why,o why has there not been a recall?? I'm soo glad I didn't decide to remote start my vehicle and have the kids get in before me. I sometimes use the remote start to cool the car down before we enter it! It wouldn't have worked that day or even now... AC is on only HEAT mode for some reason.
During my research, I found this website. Really glad I did! I read through the comments and seriously could not believe how many of us having been going through this. Not only those who live in Texas where the heat can cause death but those up North where the chilly cold weather can cause frost bite. What's the deal with these AC problems?? Why hasn't GM stepped in?
Well, I called GM. With these exact same questions... Hoping a recall had been sent out by now. The very nice representative informed me that NOTHING for the AC had been issued but that there were two other ones that should get looked at. I asked about my warranty... And what do you know! It EXPIRED 1 DAY BEFORE I CALLED. He told me that he would email Sherri or Mallory to see if there was anything they could do. Being it was the wknd, I got a call from the dealership Monday. I was advised to get a diagnostic done $130/hour... I scheduled the appointment. Need to know what's wrong, right? Just got a call... It's the Evaporator Core! Ding, Ding! No surprise here after reading this forum. And guess how much for just the front one?? $2,000!! I mean really?? GM seriously?? How can you not see there's something wrong here? My dream car has just turned into a nightmare.
I too am having air condition problems with a (new for me) 2012 Buick Enclave. The Enclave was my dream car and I finally was able to purchase one the end of June of 2014. I do enjoy the car, but I have had air conditioning problems since I bought it. I took it to the dealership twice and they said they put a gauge on it and it was blowing cold air. Well, if you test it in the morning while it's cool, yes it will. But, when I drive it after it's been sitting out in the sun, it won't blow cold air at all. It blows air, but it's as hot as it can be and continues to blow hot after 20 to 30 minutes or more! My co-workers won't ride in my car to lunch anymore until I get it fixed. They have older cars than mine and say their cars get very cold within 5 to 10 minutes, that there is something wrong with mine. We get more cool air with the windows open on a 100 degree day than with the A/C on! I asked if it needed refrigerant and was told they checked it and it as fine. So, I told them about our experience taking the car to Vegas in July after I bought it and we suffered in 110 degree heat with no A/C! The guy told me well, in 110 degree heat it's not going to get as cold. Well I don't need the A/C when it's cool out, I need it when it's hot!
Amber N.
GM Customer Care
I have a 2013 Enclave with the same issues so it's very unsettling that the original thread started back in 2009. So it looks like nothing was fixed. I just bought this vehicle in 2014 with only 18,000 miles, from our local Mercedes dealership. I just thought that maybe someone just wanted a more of a luxury name brand car but I thought why would anyone turn in something so new so quick. I went to Mercedes to get a Mercedes but saw the Enclave and side by side I just couldn't stop looking at this car and quickly feel in love with the new body style, and all the beautiful luxury amenities.
But now I can guess why this person traded it in. On two long distance trips 5 hours plus, the AC shuts off ans just blows can air. I thought well maybe low freon, but when we stopped for lunch it's started working again but shortly after it did it again... no cold AC air. When I got back home doing short back and forth travels it works fine. Then it did it again on another trip; so this was no flook. After driving for about 2 hours the cold AC air stops and it's just regular fan air blowing . When we would stop to take a potty break it would work again and then again after driving for about 15 minutes just fan air. It was a miserable trip. Something is obviously shutting off on the AC on long distant travels. I'm taking it to Buick to get fixed, I'm under warranty so I'll send an update on how it goes.
We apologize for the trouble you've experienced with your air conditioning. We definitely realize this is not something you expect to happen with a new vehicle purchase. Can you please send us your VIN, mileage, contact information and dealership so we can offer our assistance? We're available via private message, or email at socialmedia@gm.com [attn Amber].
Thank you
Amber N.
GM Customer Care
I'm sorry to hear about your concerns with your Enclave. I would be happy to look into this further for you. Please email me at socialmedia@gm.com along with your VIN, current mileage, contact info and the dealership you were working with.
Anisha T (assisting Patsy)
GM Customer Care
We definitely apologize for these concerns, and we would be more than happy to look into this further for you. Please send us an e-mail socialmedia@gm.com and include your VIN, current mileage, contact information and a preferred dealership. We do look forward to hearing from you soon!
Patsy G
GM Customer Care
So my warranty ran out this past December. Low and behold I have the issue as soon as the temperature rose and we started using the A/C again. But guess what this time they found the problem. A leaking Evaporator core. NOW you find the problem?!?!?! Thats $1800 I dont have. I will never buy a Buick or GMC again. and will discourage anyone i know from buying one either. Absolute garbage. Also I'm contacting a lawyer to get this thing lemon lawed. Luckily California law is on my side, this time.
The AC on my Buick Enclave has never worked well in high temp/high humidity days since I bought the car brand new. I usually keep the Auto Temp set at 78 in the Summer and 74 in the winter. My problems also started out with the front AC not putting out cold air, but the back working fine. Eventually the back stopped working as well. They replaced a valve last Summer but the problem returned in the Fall (the air was never as cold as it was before it stopped working properly). I didn't take it back in because I didn't need AC in the winter. But in the winter, the heat quit working on the front passenger side. I thought I finally had time and money to take it in to be repaired recently. I was wrong...
Now Sewell Buick Service Dept is telling me it needs an evaporator coil leak repaired for $1700 and they discovered a new problem...a timing cap needs to be replaced for $2000. My car has not had any oil leaking in my garage at all and no extra oil changes have been necessary...so the timing cap came as a complete shock. The Service Advisor said that was because it was slinging the oil when I was driving and it was falling into a cap so I would not have noticed it. I called my brother who owns his own mechanic shop in another state...he said the explanation on the timing cap does not make any sense.
NOT HAPPY!! After reading this forum I don't think I will purchase another GM car. My husband is still driving our 2001 Ford Expedition and it does not have anywhere near the problems my 2009 Enclave has had.
We're sorry to hear of the concern and experience you've had regarding your Enclave, lsfth. Customer sentiment, such as yours, is very important to GM. We rely on our loyal customers and do not want to see you go. Would you like to have this looked at through another dealership in your area? We would be more than happy to assist you with this. Feel free to let us know how you wish to proceed. I look forward to your response and working with you.
With Regard,
Marlea W.
GM Customer Care
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
We definitely can understand your frustrations with this! You expect reliability with your vehicle and we always strive to provide you a quality vehicle for you to enjoy. We want to apologize for the unexpected concern involving your Enclave. We want to look into this further for you, and reach out to the dealership on your behalf as well. Please send us an e-mail at socialmedia@gm.com along with your VIN, current mileage, contact information and preferred dealership. We look forward to hearing from you.
Patsy G
GM Customer Care
We apologize for this concern, and we would be happy to look into this further for you. Please e-mail us at socialmedia@gm.com along with your VIN, current mileage, contact information and preferred dealership. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Patsy G
GM Customer Care
Was the first time we drove more than an hour one way non stop. It happened several times when driving longer distances. We just had to put the windows down and turn off the air completely for about 15 to 20 mins then it would work again for 1 and a half hour to 2 hours.
Glad I ran into this site. When driving back home. Going to call the dealer tomarrow. I would think any recalls would have been taken care of before I bought it.
2004 Yukon owner as well, every now and the the passenger A/C blows hot air. Took it in, they could replicate the problem but could not figure out how to fix it unless I approved a bunch of money to take it apart. No thanks, just close those vents. Never an issue with the driver or rear a/c though.
Hello phillyman1,
I certainly understand how frustrating it must be to have A/C issues in your vehicles. Glad to hear that you are planning on working with the dealership to resolve the A/C concerns with your Enclave. I can recognize that this is an inconvenience before your upcoming weekend trip. I also see that you were having similar issues with your Yukon, but you were not planning on having it serviced. If you change your mind in the future please know that we are always here to help.
Let us know how things turn out with your Enclave. Have a safe trip!
Helen S.
GM Customer Care
I experienced this also this spring, no cooling from the air conditioner. I did add refrigerant and problem seems to have gone away. Yet on some longer trips it comes back but not with the vengeance of the spring trip. I have noticed on the longer trips condensate puddling under the Enclave at intermediate stops.
After reading the above earlier posts my thoughts are going to the fact of condensate not properly draining during the long trips. Earlier posters reading this think back, were those long trips non stop; no red lights or very short stops? Basically not enough time for the condensate to drain. I am thinking too small a drain port or back pressure when the vehicle is under way at higher highway speed. This never will be able to be repeated, parked at a dealership, engine and air conditioner operating in the parking lot for eight hours.
Sometimes, the cabin vents (driver side more than passenger side) stop blowing warm air, but the floorboard vents are fine. What's even more frustrating is the dealership's inability to fix this problem. I was told by the service adviser and tech that I need to turn the thermostat to 85 or maximum, because they don't see an error code when they analyzed it.
Just because they can't find an error code doesn't mean there isn't a problem. Buick/GMC...how about training your tech/advisers to diagnose problems w/o relying solely on your diagnostic software? Supervisor was nice...but that didn't fix the problem.
I have not taken it back to the dealer as I know that the response will be 'unable to duplicate problem'.
I feel badly for the GM CUSTOMER CARE reps following the comments on this thread as they have to know that their robotic canned responses are ridiculous.
I have read more than enough to convince me to trade in my beautiful Enclave and never buy another GM product
I took mine to dealer with the complaint "Driver's side A/C blows cold, Passenger side and Rear blow 10 degrees warmer". (meat thermometer).
They checked it out while I waited and determined that it was failure of R side 'temp door actuator' which is located under dash. They ordered part and installed it three days later.
So far, blowing just like new. Hope your prob is that simple.
Had to complete our trip during the biggest heat wave in memory with no A/C !!! - basically ruined out vacation (sitting in 100 degree heat in a vehicle all week). Very dissapointed to read this is a common problem with these GM cars and no recalls or TSB's. I have a dealer appointment tomorrow. Hoping to avoid any stonewalling from GM on covering the repair under warranty, 2nd evaporator core failure in less than a year! Not a happy customer - I cannot foresee buying another GM product if they do not cover the repairs (just too expensive if it fails again and vehicle obviously has some issues that GM is not owning up to). I have 3 other (Japanese) cars with between 125k & 200k miles on each and not one issue like this (other than regular maintenance). One more problem that is the rear shocks/struts bounce all over the road at the slightest bump (very unsafe) ... thought it was perhaps intentional to make the ride more smooth but I noticed 2 other similar year Enclaves doing the same bounce bounce thing down the freeway ... very hard to imagine these were engineered correctly as I have owned many many cars over the years and none with issues like this. I will report back here (and many other forums) on how GM stands behind their product - will gladly give them credit if they step up and take care of what is obviously an ongoing problem. Every manufacturer has issues... if they stand behind their product... GREAT! If not ...it it like getting robbed from someone you trusted.
Thank being said, there is obviously something amiss with the A/C systems on this vehicle and I am concerned about a large expense if it goes again next season.
While I definitely need to give GM credit for covering most of this repair, it is a problem that should not be occurring on a car with this few miles. Now, if i can get them to stand behind the defective bouncing shocks, I will be a happy camper. Thanks GM.
It's great for an individual consumer when the manufacturer steps up and extends a warranty, but there is another side of the story that needs to be recognized. Under customer pay repair times the labor that the technician would be paid for repairing the system would be 5.5 hours. (Compressor 1.6 hours, Condenser 2.5 hours, and full evacuation and recharge 1.4 hours). When the job turned into a warranty one that same work now only paid the technician 2.9 hours. (1.2 for the compressor, 1.7 for the condenser, with the evacuation and recharge included in the repair time) Isn't it something how equal pay for equal work doesn't apply here? Remember this trade secret every time that you see the shortage of qualified technician's impact a diagnostic routine or some repair efficiency/effectiveness.