Buick Enclave Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

General Motors LLC faces a proposed class action over a brake master cylinder defect in the 2025 Buick Enclave and four related 2025 GM models. Owners allege a brake warning light and a pedal that sinks toward the floor.

The case, Barron v. General Motors LLC, is filed and pending in a Pennsylvania federal court. No multidistrict litigation has formed for this specific brake defect, though a related federal safety investigation into the same brake system remains open.

GM issued a service update for the master cylinder but has not recalled the vehicles for this defect. Three earlier Buick Enclave model years were subject to separate airbag and fuel system recalls, each described later on this page.

Latest Buick Enclave Lawsuit Updates

August 21, 2026: NHTSA Opens Engineering Analysis into Brake Failures

NHTSA‘s Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA26006 on August 21, 2026, after escalating a preliminary evaluation into brake failures across GM‘s eBoost brake system [1].

The system is shared by an estimated 1,164,820 GM and peer vehicles. Covered models include 2024-2026 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia. Peer Honda and Acura vehicles built on the same brake module are covered too.

January 21, 2026: Barron Plaintiffs Amend Their Complaint

The plaintiffs in Barron v. General Motors LLC filed a First Amended Complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, adding a Missouri plaintiff who owns a 2025 GMC Acadia.

Eric Barron and Chelsey Thompson remained named plaintiffs. The amended complaint kept the same core claim: GM sold vehicles with a defective brake master cylinder assembly and allegedly knew about the problem beforehand.

October 2, 2025: Barron V. General Motors LLC Is Filed

Eric Barron and Chelsey Thompson filed a proposed class action against General Motors LLC in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, case No. 2:25-cv-05696, over the brake master cylinder defect described above.

The complaint alleges GM sold 2025 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles with the defect. It says GM knew about the problem beforehand from an earlier service update.

August 20, 2025: GM Revises the Brake Master Cylinder Service Update

General Motors revised Service Update N242482170, first issued December 9, 2024, to add a replacement part number for the eBoost brake master cylinder assembly [2].

The bulletin covers 2025 Buick Enclave and 2024 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles with a missing internal cartridge seal in the eBoost module. It is a dealer service campaign rather than a safety recall, and GM has not directly notified owners.

April 11, 2024: NHTSA Opens a Preliminary Evaluation

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE24011 on April 11, 2024. The office acted after receiving complaints of lost brake assist in 2023 Cadillac Lyriq vehicles. Owners described a hard brake pedal at startup.

Investigators later found the same eBoost brake system installed in other GM models, including the Buick Enclave, and expanded the inquiry into the Engineering Analysis described above.

May 10, 2023: Airbag Inflator Recall Expands to the Buick Enclave

NHTSA recall 23V-334 notified dealers that GM was expanding an ARC “MC”-variant front-driver airbag inflator recall to cover more vehicles [3].

The expansion covered 244,304 of 994,763 total affected vehicles, including 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia models. An inflator rupture can send metal fragments into the vehicle interior during deployment, GM told NHTSA in the recall report.

March 31, 2022: Roof-Rail Airbag Recall Covers the 2021-2022 Enclave

GM placed 2021-2022 Buick Enclave and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles on stop delivery March 31, 2022, ahead of GM recall N212352140, released as NHTSA campaign 22V210 [4].

The roof-rail airbag harness connector to the passenger-side airbag may have had incompatible terminals installed at the assembly plant. That could prevent the airbag from deploying in a crash. Dealers replaced the connector at no charge.

November 19, 2021: Fuse-Block Class Action Is Dismissed

A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California granted GM’s motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint in Casey v. General Motors, LLC without prejudice [5].

The docket closed March 21, 2022, after the plaintiff did not file a further amended complaint within the court’s thirty-day deadline for seeking leave to amend.

November 4, 2020: Fuel Pump Recall Covers the 2020 Enclave

NHTSA acknowledged GM recall 20V-639 on November 4, 2020, after a GM report dated October 15, 2020, covering 2,781 model year 2020 vehicles [6].

The recall covered 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5, Cadillac XT6, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia models. A fuel pump jet-nozzle burr could block fuel flow and cause the engine to stall without warning, raising the risk of a crash.

February 18, 2020: Fuse-Block Class Action Is Filed

Rebecca Casey filed a proposed class action, Casey v. General Motors, LLC, on February 18, 2020, alleging an electrical fuse-block defect that could cause a stall or power loss.

The suit named certain 2013-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, and 2017 GMC Acadia Limited vehicles as affected. GM later moved to dismiss the case, described above.

Who May Be Affected?

Owners or lessees of the five 2025 GM models named in the Barron complaint above are covered by that litigation.

The complaint describes a red Brake or ABS warning light, a “Service Brake System” message, and a brake pedal that turns stiff, hard to press, or sinks toward the floor.

Some owners report the symptoms returned after a dealer replaced the brake master cylinder under GM’s Service Update N242482170. Others say a dealer lacked the parts to complete the repair.

Whether a specific vehicle and its repair history support a claim takes an individual legal review, since each owner’s documentation and timeline differ.

Reported Injuries or Damages

The Barron complaint does not allege a specific personal injury. It seeks economic damages for vehicles the plaintiffs call unmerchantable and worth less than represented, plus the cost of repairs they say GM should have covered under warranty.

Separately, the same EA26006 resume also reports 745 total incidents associated with the eBoost brake system, after removing duplicate reports.

That total includes 22 crashes or fires, 5 injury incidents involving 6 injuries, and no reported fatalities, as of the analysis opening on August 21, 2026.

Regulator incident reports and unproven complaint allegations are different kinds of evidence. A report filed with NHTSA is not by itself proof that this defect caused a specific crash or injury.

Recall and Regulatory Background

No safety recall covers the current brake master cylinder defect. GM addressed it only through a service update instead, for now.

Three earlier Buick Enclave recalls covered different defects. NHTSA 23V-334 covered airbag inflator rupture risk. NHTSA 20V-639 covered fuel pump stall risk. NHTSA 22V210 covered a roof-rail airbag connector.

Related coverage includes the GM airbag lawsuit and the roof-rail airbag failure lawsuits pages, each described in more detail there.

A separate multidistrict litigation, MDL No. 3051, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, consolidates unrelated ARC airbag-inflator lawsuits against GM [7].

Evidence to Preserve

Buick Enclave owners considering a legal claim about the master cylinder problem should keep the following records and documents on hand:

• The original purchase or lease agreement and the vehicle title, which show the purchase date and price
• Any paperwork received from a dealer for GM’s Service Update N242482170, including the date of the repair
• Dealership invoices or repair orders that mention the brake system, the master cylinder, or a stall complaint
• Photographs of the dashboard from when the warning light or message described above appeared
• The confirmation number of any complaint filed about the vehicle with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Emails, letters, or notes from calls with GM customer service or the dealership about the brake problem

Filing Deadlines

Deadlines for filing a legal claim over a defective vehicle, unlike a single nationwide rule, come from each state’s own law.

How much time an owner has can depend on where the owner lives and when the defect, the loss, or any related damage first became known.

Missing the applicable deadline can end an otherwise valid claim. An owner considering a claim over the Buick Enclave brake defect should speak with a lawyer promptly. Repair records are easier to gather while they remain available.

Potential Compensation

If the Barron case or a related claim succeeds, damages could include two conditional categories. One is the cost to repair or replace the brake master cylinder assembly. The other is the vehicle’s diminished value.

Other possible categories include warranty-related economic losses. No settlement or verdict amount for this specific defect has been publicly reported.

Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Potential compensation is never promised or guaranteed in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There a Buick Enclave Class Action Lawsuit?

Yes, Buick Enclave owners are covered by a class action lawsuit against General Motors, Barron v. General Motors LLC, pending before U.S. District Judge John F. Murphy, case No. 2:25-cv-05696.

Is My 2014-2017 Buick Enclave Part of the Airbag Inflator Recall?

Your 2014-2017 Buick Enclave is part of NHTSA recall 23V-334 if manufacturing records show it received a suspect front-driver airbag inflator. GM began notifying dealers May 10, 2023, and planned to start owner notification around June 26, 2023.

Is There a Recall for the GM Brake Master Cylinder Defect?

No, GM has not issued a safety recall for the brake master cylinder defect. GM’s Service Update N242482170 covers dealer repairs instead, and it expires at the end of the vehicle’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty period.

What Does NHTSA’s Investigation Say About the Buick Enclave’s Brakes?

NHTSA’s investigation into the Buick Enclave’s brakes is Engineering Analysis EA26006. It says a failed eBoost system can trigger multiple warning lights. The system also limits the vehicle’s speed to 70 KPH, about 43 MPH, until it is repaired.

What Should I Do If My Buick Enclave Has Brake Warning Lights?

If your Buick Enclave shows brake warning lights, schedule a dealer inspection promptly and ask about Service Update N242482170. The dealer repair replaces the master cylinder and takes about 2.7 hours of labor.

Was the 2020 Buick Enclave Fuse-Block Lawsuit Successful?

No, the 2020 Buick Enclave fuse-block lawsuit was not successful. U.S. District Judge William Q. Hayes dismissed the case’s second amended complaint without prejudice, and the docket closed in March 2022 after no further amendment was filed.

How Do I Join the Buick Enclave Lawsuit?

There is no separate way to join the Buick Enclave lawsuit yet. The Barron case remains a proposed class action, filed with a $405 federal filing fee. A court has not certified a class, so joining would follow a court order or a formal settlement notice.

What Does the Research Say About the Buick Enclave’s Brake Defect?

Research on the Buick Enclave’s brake defect, NHTSA’s Engineering Analysis EA26006, found that drivers described an immediate loss of brake assist. That differs from GM’s account of a gradual failure. The analysis logged 745 incidents linked to the eBoost system, including 22 crashes and 6 injuries.

References

1. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2026/INOA-EA26006-17028.pdf
2. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2025/MC-11021982-0001.pdf
3. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V334-3594.PDF
4. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2022/RCSB-22V210-3795.pdf
5. https://www.courtlistener.com/?q=Casey+v.+General+Motors&court=cand+casd&type=r
6. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2020/RCAK-20V639-8697.pdf
7. https://jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/MDL-3051-Transfer_Order-12-22.pdf