Power Steering Intermittent Failure

8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,630
Average Mileage:
71,400 miles
Total Complaints:
16 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
  2. issue recall notice (5 reports)
  3. replace power steering pump (2 reports)
  4. replaced steering rack (2 reports)
  5. repair rack and pinion (1 reports)
2010 Buick Enclave steering problems

steering problem

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2010 Buick Enclave Owner Comments

problem #16

May 202020

Enclave CXL 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,042 miles

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

Power steering pump failed. There was extended coverage for this issue through GM, but because of the age of the vehicle it was not covered. Repair cost would have been higher, but the dealer we purchased the vehicle from helped me out with the cost.

- Dan M., Star Prairie, WI, US

problem #15

Jul 112018

Enclave 3.61

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,183 miles

Just Irritated that when moving slowly and turning. The power steering grabs and let go.

- Robert D., Akron, OH, US

problem #14

Mar 012018

Enclave CLX 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,000 miles

First it was the stretched timing chain - cost over $3000. Now power steering going out intermittently and it appears that will cost more than $600 and could actually exceed the timing chain cost of $3200. Ridiculous for a vehicle that's supposed to be one of GM's best.

- T H., Columbus, US

problem #13

Mar 012016

Enclave CXL 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles

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

The 2010 Buick Enclave has been put into a GMC dealership for intermittent power steering failure problems on two occasions. The last repair to fix the power steering problem was to replace the engine motor mounts and power steering bushings. Well, the problem is still there and when you are backing up a small utility trailer or camper to park it, the problem is worse. Low speed or rpm when you are turning left or right you tend to loose your steering for a few seconds. I found if I'm patient I will get my steering back, but really who wants to buy this high end Buick and have these types of negative service outcomes. Even my wife is getting tired of the power steering failure and she used to love this car. General Motors, if you read these complaints or even care about your customers, I think its time you take care of these complaints and fix this SH*T!

Signed

TIRED

- msmalt, Leesburg, US

problem #12

Mar 242017

Enclave

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,368 miles

Excited about our once per year vacation and driving our 2010 Buick Enclave to our destination in Colorado. Enclave has 93,000 miles and recently inspected to insure safe travels. Made it about half way and the power steering failed in Wisconsin causing unsafe driving conditions. Took to a dealer and this is a VERY COMMON problem with the 2010 Enclave. Some components were covered after searching the web-found TSB #14329, however the steering rack IS NOT covered and cost $1,700 to replace--despite being told by BUICK that the entire problem would be covered by a special warranty..... Repairs take 10 hours, so instead of a family camping trip/hike in Colorado, we "vacationed" in Waukesha WI, and out $1,700 for a KNOWN defective steering issue. Waukesha WI has it's charm--but our one vacation with the kids is shot....I am DONE with GM!!

- bandit310, Cadillac, US

problem #11

Nov 222016

Enclave LX 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

Driving home on my street and turning on a long flat arc in the road, snow and ice on the road, but certainly negotiable, I begin the turn at 20mph and just as the vehicle begins the turn, I lose steering power. The vehicle begins to drift, front first, toward the curb (passenger side). I try to correct the drift but steering is unresponsive and we crash into the curb, bending the axle and breaking part of the rim.

I have driven in Minnesota for 35 years and know when my vehicle is slipping or sliding from poor road conditions. This was not an oversteer where the rear end begins to carry and fishtail, this was a flat arc turn at low speed where the power steering cut out and the car drifted front right first into a curb.

If the road had not been slick, I could have done more to stop the vehicle but without steering response, all I could do was brake. By the time I could muscle the steering into responding, we had already hit the curb. Stiff necks for driver and two passengers.

- djezpmc, Edina, MN, US

problem #10

Apr 022014

Enclave CXL V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

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

The total cost was $2100 and was out of warranty. The dealership contacted GM on my behalf and got GM to cover all but $500 of the cost. Considering I bought the car only a few months earlier from a GMC dealership, I would have hoped they could have identified the problem and fixed it before selling it to me.

- Alexander B., Arnold, MD, US

problem #9

Jul 252016

Enclave

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,871 miles

I started having issues with the steering on our Enclave around middle of July 2016. I took it to our local repair shop and he suggested replacing the power steering rack assembly. After having the work done, it did ok for a few days and then back to same thing. I did some research and found Buick was having issues with this, but did not see any recalls. I took my car back to the repair shop and they discovered that Buick had a Special Coverage Adjustment on this (#14229B). They gave me a copy of it and it extends the coverage of this issue for 10 years or 150,000 miles and shows it would make payment of repairs already done.

I called Buick, they refuse to pay me for this because I had to summit charges September 15, 2015, even though it appears this adjustment shows a date of September 23, 2015...so you have 2 days! I was told I was email a letter about this in 2014, which I did not receive. The representative correctly read my address, but had the state wrong, then when I corrected him, he said that was what they had. Yea Right! You see your mistake! He said they would have paid for it if I took it to a dealer....well, if I had not that do you think I would pay a repair shop to do it?

- John P., Madison, MS, US

problem #8

Apr 292016

Enclave

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,173 miles

my husband has talked with the dealership regarding the steering locking up off and on during turns and was told it "may be covered under warranty or it may not be" it would depend on what they found when they got it in to look at it. Well yesterday we dropped it off for them to look at and today they tell my husband it will cost $5000 to fix the rack and pinion and the struts and the oil leak. I was not aware of any oil leak or strut problem only the steering that would leave me during turns either at an intersection or into a parking space.

This is a VERY dangerous problem and is evident several people either have had or are having and Buick/GM needs to recall these vehicles and correct this problem before someone gets killed! Why don't they be proactive and fix this no?

- d120859, Whitehouse, TX, US

problem #7

Feb 182016

Enclave

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,990 miles

My family could have been hurt the steering just stopped on my wife and I am very upset. It is like going through hoops just to get it fixed with a high ass car note this is ridiculous

- Vincent & Neika W., Pittsburgh, PA, US

problem #6

Jul 152015

Enclave V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,000 miles

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

BOUGHT 2010 BUICK ENCLAVE, AT APPROX 52K MILES STARTED HAVING ISSUE TURNING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS, INFORMED DEALER WHICH SAID NOTHING WRONG. HAPPENED AGAIN NOW AND AT 57K, TOLD SAME DEALER, DEALER STATES NOTHING WRONG, CHARGED ME DIAGNOSTIC. INFORMEDAGAIN AT 61K AND OUT OF WARRANTY, STILL NOTHING, THEN DROVE IT TO FLORIDA, 16 HRS ONE WAY, AND WHAT A TIME IT WAS TURNING THE WHEEL AT LOW SPEED,

RETURNED HOME, STRAIGHT TO DEALER, THEY SAID IT LIKELY IN STEERING COLUMN, AFTER SHOWING A 100 PLUS PAGE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT I FOUND ON INTERNET, THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AT MY COST DURING THIS VISIT.

ALSO HAVE HAD A FUEL PUMP ISSUE AND ALSO PAID OUT OF MY POCKET. POOS SERVICE TO MISLEAD ME INTO SAYING THEY DID NOT KNOW AND FINALLY AFTER I SPENT 2K THEY NOW KNOW WHAT THE HELL THE ISSUE IS

THE LIKELY HOOD I BUY ANOTHER BUICK IS -.1

- slu1616, Belleville, IL, US

problem #5

Sep 012013

Enclave CLX 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,000 miles

Noticed this shortly after buying the car two years ago. Recently it has become much worse and a real pain. Trying to turn especially at low speeds to then have the power steering go out is tough on my wife. Not good for me either and I consider it a safety concern.

Will take to the Buick dealer for another recall and then complain about this one. From reading the comments, the dealer apparently says the problem is rack and pinion, but not sure if that is the problem or if there is a power steering pump problem. Will update once I have an answer, but this problem appears to extend to a large number of 2010 Enclave's otherwise there would not be over 100 complaints on this website.

- Michael C., Canton, GA, US

problem #4

Mar 162015

Enclave V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,883 miles

There are 74 complaints listed, we received a notice last year about the problem but had not experienced it ourselves. Now, the noise at low speed makes me think the steering is going to fail. When I called the dealer they told me it would cost $88.00 to do a diagnosis the problem. I am a disabled veteran with limited income and do not understand why It will cost me anything.

This is a problem that is listed as a Technical Service Bulletin and there are numerous complaints. What does it take to get a problem fixed? Death, damage, injury.... I have had enough problems dealing with life issues after 13 years of military service. Not Playing the Vet card... Just want Buick to do the right thing.

- Charles P., Albuquerque, NM, US

problem #3

Jan 302014

Enclave CXL V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

I AM IN THE SALES OF VEHICLES AT A SMALL DEALERSHIP IN MASS.. MY WIFE GETS A NEWER VEHICLE OUT OF OUR INVENTORY YEARLY. HER LAST CHOICE BEING A 2010 BUICK ENCLAVE CXL.

IN LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP SHE KEEPS TELLING ME SHE HAD INTERMITTENT STEERING FAILURE AT LOW SPEED, START-UP, TURNING, AND THAT SHE HAD FELT THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THE GRAND CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. NATURALLY, THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES I TRIED TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM I NEVER FELT IT. FINALLY I GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL AS SHE WAS BACKING INTO OUR GARAGE AND FELT THE FAILURE IN THE STEERING SHE WAS FEELING. NEEDLESS TO SAY SHE WAS ABLE TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO!

BEING IN THE CAR BUSINESS I AM ABLE TO TALK TO MOST SERVICE MANAGERS AND AM ABLE TO GET THE DIRT ON MOST AUTO PROBLEMS AND HOW TO FIX THEM AS WELL. BUT I HAVE NEVER IN MY 25 YEARS OF SERVICE AND SALES RUN INTO MORE STONE WALLING/LYING/OR JUST PLAIN NOT GETTING A STRAIGHT ANSWER ON HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND WHY IT'S HAPPENING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD SPECIFICALLY BY G.M. THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS IN ALL ASPECTS OF ANY REPAIR INVOLVING THE STEERING RACK, ALL OF THE STEERING SHAFTS, POWER STEERING PUMP AND JUST ABOUT ANY OF THE HALF DOZEN OR SO REMEDIES THAT DIFFERENT GM/BUICK DEALERSHIPS HAVE GIVEN ME CANNOT REMEDY THE ISSUE BECAUSE GM HAS NOT FIGURED OUT WHAT THE DEFECT IS IN THE PARTS OR THE VEHICLE. THESE HAVE BEEN FROM AS SIMPLE AS GREASING THE INTERMEDIATE DRIVE SHAFT SEALS TO REPLACING THE STEERING RACK AND POWER STEERING PUMP. THE PRICING WAS FROM $500.00 TO $2500.00 WITH NO ASSURANCE THAT THE REPAIR WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AFTER MORE RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS COULD HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

AFTER A EXHAUSTIVE RESEARCH AND MANY PHONE CALLS MY FINAL CONCLUSIONS ARE THAT G.M. IS GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE WITH THIS PROBLEM ACROSS THE BOARD WITH THE ENCLAVE, ARCADIA AND TERRAIN MODELS. THESE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS HAVE LED TO A DISTINCT DEPRECIATION OF ALL THESE MODELS BOTH AT AUTO AUCTIONS AND AT RETAIL DEALERSHIPS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY. BEING IN THE POSITION AT A DEALERSHIP AND NOT BEING ABLE TO FIX A CAR IS ONE OF THE MOST FEARED THINGS TO HAVE TO TELL A CUSTOMER LET ALONE YOUR WIFE!

I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM ALL GM SUV VEHICLES UNTIL A CORRECT FIX FOR THESE ISSUES ARE REMEDIED BY GENERAL MOTORS. MY WIFE WILL BE DRIVING A TOYOTA OR HONDA SUV SHORTLY AND HER ENCLAVE WILL NOT BE RETAILED AT MY DEALERSHIP, IT WILL BE SOLD AT AUCTION AS FAR FROM HERE AS I CAN.

RESPECTIVELY SUBMITTED SOON TO BE FORMER 2010 BUICK ENCLAVE CXL OWNER

- davidpitzer95mass, feeding hills, MA, US

problem #2

Jun 112014

Enclave CXL V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,136 miles

While driving at low speeds, or when accelerating from a stop position while turning the steering wheel, it becomes very stiff as if the power steering has stopped working.

Huge safety concern if my wife or daughter were driving, I don't believe they would be able to complete the turn without causing an accident.

- johnsdad1, Damascus, OR, US

problem #1

Jul 012013

Enclave CXL 6 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

July 1st 2013 and the 75000 mile is a rough guess. I now have 89000 miles and the problem has got worse with time. I have a 10 a.m. apt tomorrow. The problem is the power steering appears to fail on an intermittent basis. Usually at low speeds when trying to park or turn (left or right). When the steering fails it takes all my strength to turn the wheel. It will suddenly start working only to fail again. It has also happened at high speeds while turning corners when you can feel the steering wheel jerk back and forth as the steering fails then works again. This problem causes the same effect as when "over-steering."

When I mentioned it to the service department they spoke as if this was a new complaint to them. They said there are no Bulletins or Recalls on the problem. I will find out tomorrow, however, I am sure I will have to pay for this problem. I did find on-line during my research that there is a "class action" lawsuit filed for this problem in April 2013. GM asked the Judge to dismiss the complaint and the Judge has ordered that GM respond. I have not been able to determine the status of that lawsuit.

- David L., Washoe Valley, NV, US

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