BuickEnclave2015Overview/buick/enclave/2015/base/
FWD platform

2015 Buick Enclave

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 Enclave.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2015 Buick Enclave is a front-wheel-drive SUV whose 6.0-quart engine runs on 5W-30 oil and sends power through a 6-speed automatic transmission, returning EPA figures of 16/22/18 mpg across city, highway, and combined driving. With 170 total owner complaints—air bags leading the list—and five recalls on record, this model year sits well below the Enclave's troubled 2008 launch year, which generated 536 complaints, yet far above the single complaint logged for 2026 models, placing it in the middle of a complaint history spanning 2008 through 2026. For researchers, that trajectory indicates Buick made measurable progress addressing early-generation problems, though the persistence of air bag complaints and multiple recalls suggests the platform still carried unresolved safety concerns well into its lifecycle.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192015

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30OEM · 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 · 660 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731742. 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 · 660 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP255/60R18OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731742
Engine air filter15278634
Spark plug12681660
Battery88866309
Front wiper blades20945800 alt 20945799
Serpentine belt12654815
Thermostat12689041
Cabin air filter20958479

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length202 in
Overall width79.1 in
Overall height71.7 in
Wheelbase118.9 in
Curb weight4923 lb
Track (front / rear)67.3 / 66.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 22 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular 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.

6.5–9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.50 sec — 2022 Avenir
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2016Premium 3.6L V67.90 sec16.30 sec288 hpAWD
2013Premium 3.6L V68.50 sec16.70 sec288 hpAWD
2018Avenir 3.6L V66.60 sec15.20 sec310 hpAWD
2018Avenir 3.6L V67.00 sec15.40 sec310 hpAWD
2018Avenir 3.6L V67.20 sec15.60 sec310 hpAWD
2011CXL-2 3.6L V68.40 sec16.50 sec288 hpAWD
2020Essence ST 3.6L V66.60 sec15.10 sec310 hpAWD
2008CXL 3.6L V69.00 sec17.00 sec275 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, SAE 75W · Synthetic in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 15.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidDEXRON(R)-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid
Brake FluidDOT 3
Brake Fluid Capacity1.2
Differential Gear OilSAE 75W · Synthetic
Differential Gear Oil Capacity16.0 qt
Engine Coolant50
Engine Coolant Capacity11.4
Engine OilSAE 5W · Synthetic

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs89 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings18.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft/lbs.
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to Transmission43.0 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts55.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub173 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub151 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub Bearing Housing BoltsInstall a new retaining nut. ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub Bearing Housing BoltsInstall a new retaining nut. ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.037 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity7.8 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Capacity2.5 oz
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance660 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature194-225 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)43-58 psi at idle psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-100
Engine Compression100 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 47; Rear: 20 /; Front: 47; Rear: 20
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 129; Rear: 129 /
ABS Sensor Torque7 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.080; Rear: .720
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 1.090; Rear: .730
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.001
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head or head bolt bosses · M11 Bolts:

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
2150 degrees; M8 Bolts:150 degrees
111.0 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
275 degrees75 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 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 7,500 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Life Monitor (inspect)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · 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 2015 Buick Enclave sits at a transitional point in the generation's lifecycle, following a severe 2014 spike of 290 complaints and 7 recalls, and preceding a more stabilized 2016 with just 140 complaints and 4 recalls. For the target year, complaints dropped significantly to 170 with 5 recalls and zero federal investigations, indicating an overall improvement over the prior year. However, the 2015 complaint profile is heavily skewed by 99 Air Bags reports—which the data does not specify a root cause for—alongside 7 crash complaints and zero fire complaints. This concentration suggests a specific, isolated concern rather than widespread vehicle degradation, placing 2015 favorably within the generation's broader downward trend in federal incidents. Provided the airbag issue is verified as resolved on the specific vehicle, the 2015 model is a good year to buy given its notably cleaner federal record compared to the problematic early and mid-generation years.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1406
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
170
Owner complaints
7 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 170 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags99
Steering6
Unknown Or Other5
Electrical System4
Service Brakes3
Vehicle Speed Control,Service Brakes3
Seat Belts3
Wheels3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 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…

21V246000Air Bags:Critical FastenersReported 08/04/2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached. Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1406 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U2026-01-08Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G2025-11-20Unknown Or OtherThis 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2015 Enclave take?

6.0 qt of SAE 5W-30 ACDelco dexos1 Synthetic Blend is recommended, per the factory manual.

Does the 2015 Enclave have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 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.