NHTSA — Steering Problems

2008 Buick Enclave (Page 4 of 5)

CarComplaints.com Seal Of This Might Hurt

CarComplaints.com Notes: Buying the first model year of any vehicle is rarely a good idea. You become a guinea pig for the automaker and they are really not nice to guinea pigs.

The 2008 Enclave has a wide enough range of problems to issue a warning. There's transmission failure under 90k miles, new power steering units costing over $1,300, and enough engine complaints to NHTSA to scare anyone away.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,097 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Buick Enclave steering problems

steering problem

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2008 Buick Enclave Owner Comments (Page 4 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #38

Dec 232013

Enclave

  • 76,662 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

As we were driving around a dark curve on a well traveled country road, the car quit pulling, the battery died, and the car would not shift. We were unable to move the car and were in the dark. There were two adults and two children in the car at the time. We had to call a wrecker to pick up the car and a deputy sheriff to direct traffic and keep from being hit by oncoming traffic. Apparently, the shifter broke and the transmission died. Both had to be replaced. I found out later that the transmission is the #1 complaint on this particular car. Why has a recall not been done" do lives have to be lost before something is done??"

- Tifton, GA, USA

problem #37

Jan 172013

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 65,089 miles
Loss power steering while turning off highway. Had to drive in manual steering mode. Power steering came back but has remained intermittent. Steering fluid is fine. Dealer stated issue related to previous seen issue with Enclave steering requiring gear replacement at 1500 cost.

- Jamison, PA, USA

problem #36

Nov 182013

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 72,000 miles
My wife, with 2 children in the car and one on the way, got stuck in a parking lot, unable to turn the steering wheel. She was pinned in and called me in tears to help. I drove down to the store to help her expecting something simple but found that I could barely turn the wheel. Steering fluid was fine and I was able to muscle it into a space. The next day we went back to try and move the car and it seemed fine. I drove it home but when I tried to turn into my road I overshot the turn and found myself sideways across the rd. Halfway passed the intersection! this is a dangerous vehicle! I have since been online and found many, many similar stories. The dealer that fixed this said that this effects other Buick models as well and informed me that there is a class action suit filed over this problem. This is a $2200 repair and I've read that it just comes back for some people in another 20,000 miles! please look into this... its just a matter of time before someone gets hurt or killed.

- South Sutton, NH, USA

problem #35

Sep 092013

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Williamstown, WV, USA

problem #34

Nov 012011

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
This car has a whinning noise coming from the steering column that gets louder the more drive it. I have contacted the Buick care dept and they indicated it is a known problem but they will not fix it. They had me take my car to the Buick place where I purchased the vehicle and they come up with about $1900 to fix this and say that it is a known problem with the Buick steering that some housing is too close to the steering column and it creates the noise and steering problems and that Buick and everyone else is aware of it and that they should issue a recall but do not. In addition I have engine stalling problems where there is lack of power upon sudden acceleration. This happens frequently.

- Fort White, FL, USA

problem #33

Nov 052013

Enclave

  • 62,500 miles
Loss of power steering. Power steering pump was replaced at approx. 9000 miles for a failure then under GM warranty. Car now has 62500 and dealer advises pump is bad again. Will not cover replacement even though it has already been replaced once. This appears to be a known safety defect but GM is not issuing a recall and the replacement pumps are no better than the originals. Thank you for your research on the issue and holding GM accountable for the safety issue that many are experiencing.

- Parker , CO, USA

problem #32

Nov 282012

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 85,300 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Attempted to make a right hand turn from a shopping mall driveway into oncoming traffic. The steering system failed and would not allow the driver to turn the steering wheel. Power to the system returned within 5-10 seconds, but the vehicle was narrowly avoided by cars traveling the roadway being entered.

- Marysville, MI, USA

problem #31

Oct 082013

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
The steering rack & pump were replaced at 23,000 miles under warranty. Now, at 70,000 miles, it needs to be replaced again ($1900 repair) for the same reason. The steering whines whenever the wheel is turned, and loses power at any time during low speed. Serious safety concern for me and my family! others have had this same issue. Needs to be recalled before someone gets killed.

- Glen Allen, VA, USA

problem #30

Sep 052013

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 129,563 miles
Power steering fails at low engine RPM, making it extremely difficult to turn at intersections with no gas applied.

- Worthington, MN, USA

problem #29

Aug 082013

Enclave

  • miles
I was driving my Buick Enclave and I was going about 10 miles turning into traffic and it locked in me I was scared to death!!! I had my kids in the car I only had this car for 30 days I took it back to the dealer am they said it is the steering rack and the steering pump if everyone is having the same problem that mean this parts are defective and should be recalled please help.

- Elgin, IL, USA

problem #28

Sep 022013

Enclave

  • 60,256 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Steering loses power (locks up) at low speeds. I struggled to turn at all. If my wife was driving she would have crashed, she would not have been strong enough to control the car.

- Fort Collins, CO, USA

problem #27

Jun 102013

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 78,241 miles
Steering loses power (locks up) at low speeds.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #26

Aug 032013

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 54,256 miles
Lost total steering at low speed, luckily I was in and open area and not in close quarters like a parking lot.

- Monroe, WI, USA

problem #25

Jul 172013

Enclave

  • 71,000 miles
Steering locked up while turning at low speed, almost hit another car in the process. Buick knows this is an issue on the Enclave platform, still, no recall. If I did get into an accident and a fatality occurred, litigation would have been in order. Is this what Buick is waiting for" someone to get injured, this is a safety issue. The original sticker price for my 2008 Buick Enclave was North of $40,000, wow and they can't get something as simple as a steering rack and pump right" this needs to be a recall, I just had to pay $2800 to get this fixed, and not really sure if it will or will not happen again in the future. I just can't believe there is no recall for this, apparently Buick does not care one bit about their customers and definitely does not want repeat business. I will tell everyone I know to avoid Buick at every expense and never, never, never buy an Enclave. I am also considering selling the Enclave and buying something that is worth it and safe.

- Hales Corners, WI, USA

problem #24

Jul 012013

Enclave

  • 74,000 miles
Steering rack system had to be replaced due to steering issues while driving. When we took it in to the dealer we were told that it needed to be replaced as it wasn't safe to drive in that condition. We were told that the steering could fail or lockup.

- Stillwater, MN, USA

problem #23

Jun 012010

Enclave

  • 20,000 miles
Steering unit emits growling noise when turning the wheels. There is feedback thru the steering wheel. I have had the power steering fluid changed at 10,000 mile intervals and that seems to help, but the service station that changes my oil tells me that the unit needs to be replaced! he has seen the same issue on the GMC acadia and Saturn SUV as well. Also, we continue to have wet carpet on the passenger side due to the sun roof leaking.

- Elmwood, TN, USA

problem #22

Jun 082013

Enclave

  • 22,500 miles
During wet weather, the power steering seems to shut down and making it very hard to steer the car. This has happened many times over the past two years. It seems to happen after just starting out and driving thru a small puddle of water and after a few miles seems to operate normally. This is the same complaint I have seen from other owners and needs to be considered for a recall because this is an accident waiting to happen. We had one close call, how ever do to the low speed was able to stop the car in time. Somehow water must be getting into the steering components.

- Maitland, FL, USA

problem #21

Jan 022013

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 68,000 miles
The steering is now making a loud moaning noise. Will be taking to dealer to try to fix. Reading many reports online that this is a wide spread issue.

- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

problem #20

May 012013

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 108,000 miles
While turning into parking spots or in an intersection while at low speeds the steering becomes extremely difficult if not impossible.

- Suwanee, GA, USA

problem #19

Dec 032012

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
The steering on my car is almost impossible when I am driving under 15 mph. Places such as parking lots, backing out of my driveway, etc has become dangerous for me to maneuver. I am very concerned for my safety. I took it to the shop today and they're telling me it's a known issue but there is no recall...it's going to cost me over $2,000 to fix. The power steering pump and rack need replaced. It's completely ridiculous for Buick to not stand behind this!

- Wichita, KS, USA

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