NHTSA Complaint #10552196 — 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE

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