Buick Enclave: StabiliTrak® System
The vehicle is equipped with the StabiliTrak system, which brings together antilock braking, traction control, and stability control functions to help the driver maintain directional control in many everyday and demanding driving conditions. This system is designed to support vehicle stability when road grip changes, when a tire begins to slip, or when the vehicle does not respond exactly as the driver intends.
In the Buick Enclave, StabiliTrak works as a background safety and control system. It does not replace careful driving, proper speed, or good judgment, but it can assist the driver by helping manage wheel slip and vehicle direction when traction becomes limited.
When you first start the vehicle and begin to drive away, the system performs several diagnostic checks to make sure there are no detected problems. During these checks, the system may be heard or felt while it is working. You may notice a brief sound, vibration, or light mechanical feel through the vehicle.
This is normal and does not mean there is a problem with the vehicle.
The system should initialize before the vehicle reaches 32 km/h (20 mph). In some cases, it may take approximately 3.2 km (2 mi) of driving before the system initializes. Until the system completes its normal checks, drive smoothly and avoid aggressive acceleration or abrupt maneuvers.
If the system fails to turn on or activate, one of the following messages will be displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC):
SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRAK, the StabiliTrak light will come on and stay on, and four chimes are heard. If these conditions are observed, turn the vehicle off, wait 15 seconds, and then turn it back on again to reset the system. If any of these messages still appear on the Driver Information Center (DIC), the vehicle should be taken in for service. For more information on the DIC messages, see Ride Control System Messages .
These messages should not be ignored. If StabiliTrak or traction control is not operating correctly, the vehicle may still be drivable, but it may not have the same level of assistance during slippery conditions, sudden maneuvers, or low-traction acceleration. Have the system inspected if the warning continues after restarting the vehicle.
The StabiliTrak light will flash on the instrument panel cluster when the system is both on and activated. A flashing light usually means the system is actively helping control wheel slip or vehicle stability. This can happen during acceleration on slippery roads, during a turn, or when the system detects that the vehicle needs assistance maintaining its intended path.
The system may be heard or felt while it is working; this is normal. The driver may notice reduced engine response, a vibration, a pulsing sensation, or brief brake activity. These signs can be part of normal system operation and do not always indicate a malfunction.
The traction control button is located on the instrument panel.
The traction control part of StabiliTrak can be turned off by pressing and releasing the traction control button. Turning traction control off may be useful in a limited number of situations, but for normal driving it is recommended to leave the system on.
Traction control can be turned on by pressing and releasing the traction control button, and the appropriate TRACTION CONTROL ON message will be displayed, if it has not been automatically shut off for any other reason.
When the traction control system is turned off, the appropriate TRACTION CONTROL OFF message will be displayed on the DIC. The vehicle will still have brake-traction control when traction control is off, but it will not be able to use the engine speed management system. See “Traction Control Operation” following for more information.
When the traction control system has been turned off, system noises may be heard and felt as a result of the brake-traction control working. This may occur because the system can still apply brake force to a spinning wheel even though engine power reduction has been disabled.
It is recommended to leave the system on for normal driving conditions. StabiliTrak and traction control can be helpful on wet pavement, loose gravel, snow, ice, or uneven road surfaces. The system may also assist during sudden changes in traction, such as when one side of the vehicle is on a slippery surface and the other side has better grip.
However, it may be necessary to turn the system off if the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow and you want to “rock” the vehicle to attempt to free it. It may also be necessary to turn off the system when driving in extreme off-road conditions where high wheel spin is required. See If the Vehicle Is Stuck .
Use this option carefully. If the Buick Enclave is stuck, excessive wheel spin can damage components, overheat parts, or dig the tires deeper into the surface. Turn traction control off only when the situation requires it, and turn it back on once the vehicle is free and normal driving resumes.
Traction Control Operation
The traction control system is part of the StabiliTrak system. Traction control limits wheel spin by reducing engine power to the wheels through engine speed management and by applying the brakes as necessary. This helps the tires regain grip when one or more wheels begin to spin faster than the others.
The traction control system is enabled automatically when the vehicle is started. It will activate and the StabiliTrak light will flash if it senses that any of the wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction while driving. If traction control is turned off, only the brake-traction control portion of traction control will work.
The engine speed management will be disabled. In this mode, engine power is not reduced automatically and the driven wheels can spin more freely. This can cause the brake-traction control to activate constantly, especially on slippery or loose surfaces.
Notice: If the wheel(s) of one axle is allowed to spin excessively while the StabiliTrak®, ABS, brake warning lights, and any relevant DIC messages are displayed, the transfer case could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Reduce engine power and do not spin the wheel(s) excessively while these lights and messages are displayed.
This notice is especially important for vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive. If warning lights or DIC messages are present, avoid forcing the vehicle to move by applying heavy throttle. Reduce engine power, stop unnecessary wheel spin, and have the condition checked if the warnings remain.
The traction control system may activate on dry or rough roads, or under conditions such as heavy acceleration while turning or abrupt upshifts and downshifts of the transmission. When this happens, a reduction in acceleration may be noticed, or a noise or vibration may be heard. This is normal.
For example, if the vehicle accelerates over a rough surface, turns sharply while power is being applied, or encounters a patch of loose material, the system may briefly intervene. The driver may feel the Buick Enclave reduce power or apply brake control for a moment as the system works to restore traction.
If cruise control is being used when the system activates, the StabiliTrak light will flash and cruise control will automatically disengage. Cruise control may be reengaged when road conditions allow. See Cruise Control .
Disengaging cruise control during traction or stability intervention helps return direct speed control to the driver. When roads are slippery, uneven, wet, snowy, or icy, it is often better to drive without cruise control so speed can be adjusted immediately.
StabiliTrak may also turn off automatically if it determines that a problem exists with the system.
If the problem does not clear itself after restarting the vehicle, see your dealer for service.
For safe operation, keep the system active during regular driving and pay attention to any warning lights, chimes, or DIC messages. StabiliTrak can help support control, but it cannot overcome poor tire condition, excessive speed, unsafe maneuvers, or severe road conditions. Smooth steering, gradual acceleration, proper tires, and safe following distance remain essential for confident driving.
