LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS. OCCURS WHEN TURNING FROM STOP SIGNS/SIGNALS, TURNING INTO PARKING SPACES, AND OTHER LOW SPEED DRIVING. MY 2008 ENCLAVE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP TODAY FOR REPAIRS. THEY SAY IT MAY NEED NOT ONLY A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT THAT THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM MAY NEED REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEPT. STATES THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE AT LOW SPEEDS FOR THE POWER STEERING TO KICK IN. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN INTERSECTIONS. ALMOST TRADED IT IN LAST WEEK TO AVOID ALL OF THE COSTLY REPAIRS, BUT CAN'T FIND ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT SUITS MY NEEDS AS WELL AS THIS ONE (I'VE OWNED IT FOR 4 YEARS, AND AM SPOILED). HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE ONE THAT GM IS FULLY AWARE OF AND SHOULD RECALL SINCE IT IS OBVIOUSLY A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL YEAR. ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS ALMOST PAID OFF, I DON'T HAVE $3500 LAYING AROUND AND AM HAVING TO REFINANCE THE VEHICLE TO PAY FOR THE HIGH COST OF REPAIRS TO THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. *TR
2009
STEERING
I BOUGHT MY ENCLAVE BRAND NEW. I NOW HAVE 73000 MILES ON IT. WE TOOK THE CAR IN BECAUSE IT WAS BECOMING VERY HARD FOR ME TO TURN THE WHEEL AND I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE POWER STEERING RACK & PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED! WHAT??!! I HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE THAT I KNOW OF HAVING THIS KIND OF MAJOR ISSUE WITH THEIR CAR AT 73000 MILES. WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER BUICK OWNERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE WITH FEWER MILES ON THEIR CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT BUICK NEEDS TO RESEARCH AND RESOLVE. MY OTHER SAFETY PROBLEM IS THE POWER LIFTGATE. IF YOUR CAR IS PARKED ON A HILL, THE POWER LIFTGATE WILL DROP ON TOP OF YOU WITH NO WARNING. THE LIFTGATE STRUTS DONT WORK WHEN YOUR CAR IS PARKED ON A SLOPE. *TR