NHTSA Complaint #10578465 — 2007 GMC ACADIA

WHILE ROUNDING A HIGHWAY OFF RAMP, POWER STEERING GOT EXTREMELY STIFF. THERE WERE NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE SYSTEM PRIOR. I GOT HOME, CHECKED THE FLUID, AND IT WAS FULL. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO MY LOCAL GMC DEALER TO DISCUSS PROBLEM AND REPAIRS. THE SERVICE WRITER STATED "WE KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEMS ON THESE VEHICLES, AND THEY TYPICALLY FAIL IN THE 70 TO 90 THOUSAND MILE RANGE." THEN THEY WANTED $2000 FOR REPAIRS. REPAIRS WHICH ARE GETTING DONE CHEAPER AT MY LOCAL GARAGE. MY PROBLEM WITH THIS, IS THAT GM KNOWS THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, OTHER THAN MAKE PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO SPEND HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO FIX. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THIS IS THE SAME ACTION THE COMPANY TOOK IN THE IGNITION ISSUE THEY ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH. YES, I AM ANGRY AT GM FOR NOT BACKING THEIR PRODUCT, BUT THAT IS NOT WHY I AM WRITING TO YOU. I AM WRITING TO YOU, BECAUSE I AM A FIRST RESPONDER, AND SEE FIRST HAND WHAT CAN HAPPENS WITH SAFETY ISSUES TO VEHICLES. WHAT IF THIS ISSUE HAPPENED TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS LITTLE ABOUT CARS, OTHER THAN HOW TO FUEL AND DRIVE THEM SAFELY? WHAT IF IT WAS A FAMILY AND THEIR CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND THEY DID HAVE AN ACCIDENT? I UNDERSTAND ALL HYPOTHETICALS, BUT A SAFETY ISSUE NONE THE LESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR