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2009 Buick Enclave

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 Enclave.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2009 Buick Enclave is a midsize SUV equipped with a 5.5-quart engine requiring 5W-30 API oil, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined. In terms of reliability, the 2009 model year recorded 220 owner complaints with steering issues cited as the primary concern, along with 8 total recalls issued. Positioned between the model's highest complaint year in 2008 (536 complaints) and its later low-complaint years, the 2009 Enclave represents a transitional period in the vehicle's reliability trajectory, suggesting that while initial model years experienced more significant problems, later iterations showed meaningful improvement in owner satisfaction.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2009

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy16/22/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 730 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12690386. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 730 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP255-65R18OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12690386
Engine air filter	15278634
Spark plug	19300872
Battery	88866309 alt 88866138
Front wiper blades	25941805 alt 25941804
Serpentine belt	12608660
Thermostat	12689041
Cabin air filter	20958479

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	202 in
Overall width	79.1 in
Overall height	72.8 in
Wheelbase	118.9 in
Curb weight	4780 lb
Track (front / rear)	67.3 / 66.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	16 / 22 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Enclave of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.6–9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.60 sec — 2018 Avenir

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2008	CXL 3.6L V6	9.00 sec	17.00 sec	275 hp	AWD
2008	CXL 3.6L V6	9.20 sec	17.10 sec	275 hp	AWD
2011	CXL-2 3.6L V6	8.40 sec	16.50 sec	288 hp	AWD
2013	Premium 3.6L V6	8.50 sec	16.70 sec	288 hp	AWD
2016	Premium 3.6L V6	7.90 sec	16.30 sec	288 hp	AWD
2018	Avenir 3.6L V6	6.60 sec	15.20 sec	310 hp	AWD
2018	Avenir 3.6L V6	7.00 sec	15.40 sec	310 hp	AWD
2018	Avenir 3.6L V6	7.20 sec	15.60 sec	310 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SAE 75W · SYNTHETIC in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 15.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	4.2-6.3
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SAE 75W · SYNTHETIC
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.7 qt
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.5 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	Upper and Lower: 17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	15 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	140 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	29.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	29.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	173 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	151 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.30-2.50 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	6.5-8.0 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	730 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	194-225 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-60
Engine Compression	140
Engine Oil Pressure	10 psi @ Idle, 20 psi @ 2000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash	Hydraulic in
Exhaust Valve Lash	Hydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	47
Torque to Knuckle	129 ft-lbs / 151 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.14 in / 0.79 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.14 in / 0.79 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	1.08 in / 0.72 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 mi	Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2009 Buick Enclave sits just after the model’s 2008 launch year, and the federal data shows a sharp improvement in owner complaints, dropping from 536 in 2008 to 220 in 2009. However, 2009 carries the highest recall count (8) and investigation count (3) of the early 2008–2012 period, with complaints rising again slightly to 275 in 2010 before generally trending downward. The 2009 complaint profile is dominated by steering, which accounts for 90 of the 220 complaints, followed by engine, electrical system, and power train at 13, 12, and 12 complaints respectively, while crash and fire complaints are relatively low at 3 and 6, with root causes unspecified. Given that 2009 benefits from a major complaint reduction from the launch year yet still carries elevated recall and investigation activity compared with 2010–2012, it is a cautiously acceptable early-model choice, but a 2010 or later example likely offers a more settled ownership prospect.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

1230

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

220

Owner complaints

3 involved a crash · 6 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’08’09’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 220 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering90

Engine13

Electrical System12

Power Train12

Unknown Or Other10

Structure7

Vehicle Speed Control6

Air Bags6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V782000Air Bags:FrontalReported 07/10/2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect. Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on…

15V415000Structure:Body:Hatchback/LiftgateReported 30/06/2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1230 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
13598	2025-09-09	Unknown Or Other	New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
PIC5650M	2025-08-06	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Enclave. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 48 battery Vehicles taking 5.5 qt Engine oil filter 12690386 Engine air filter 15278634 Spark plug 19300872 Battery 88866309

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2009 Enclave take?

5.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2009 Enclave have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Enclave get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined mpg.