WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP AND MOVING FORWARD THE POWER STEERING UNIT WOULD FAIL TO ENGAGE, THUS RENDERING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. ON SEVERAL INSTANCES I NEARLY HIT OTHER VEHICLES IN PARKING LOTS, AND ON ONE OCCASION I NEARLY HIT A PEDESTRIAN. THE BUICK DEALER ADVISED ME TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING UNIT, WHICH I DID AT MY EXPENSE WITH 67000 MILES ON THE CAR. BUICK REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST INSTANCE HE HAD SEEN OF THIS POWER STEERING UNIT FAILURE. INTERESTINGLY, I HAVE TALKED TO ONE PERSON WITH A GMC ARCADIA AND ANOTHER WITH A SATURN OUTLOOK WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME MILEAGE RANGE. THOSE TWO VEHICLES ARE IDENTICAL TO MY BUICK ENCLAVE. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A VEHICLE RECALL.. *TR
2010
STEERING
WENT TO TURN LEFT FROM A SLOW COAST OFF OF A TWO LANE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT WITH TRAFFIC COMING FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE STEERING GOT REALLY TIGHT AND I NEEDED MAXIMUM FORCE FROM MY ARMS TO TURN THE WHEEL TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THE WAY OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE THAT HAD TO QUICKLY APPLY BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ME. I HAD JUST GOT TWO NEW TIRES WHEN THE EVENT OCCURRED AND SPENT THE NEXT 10 MONTHS WITH TWO MORE TIRES THINKING THE TIRE STORE HAD MESSED UP THE STEERING . THEY LOOKED IT OVER TWICE AND COULDN'T FIND ANY ISSUES. THE STEERING BECAME SO THE TIGHTNESS WAS FELT MOSTLY GETTING INTO PARKING SPACES AT SLOW SPEEDS. THEN, I ALMOST HIT A PARKED CAR THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE WHEN TURNING LEFT AGAIN FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A FAILED STEERING PUMP AND A LEAK IN THE STEERING RACK. GMC PAID FOR THE PARTS AND I PAID $700.00 FOR THE LABOR. *TR
