NHTSA Complaint #10290149 — 2008 BUICK LUCERNE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN SEVERE RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. SUDDENLY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER EXERTED GREATER EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SPEED WAS REDUCED AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CAUTION. THE GEAR SHIFT WAS PLACED INTO " NEUTRAL" POSITION AND THEN TO THE "DRIVE" POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE WATER SEEPAGE TO THE STEERING SERPENTINE BELT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,500.