NHTSA Complaint #10606238 — 2011 GMC ACADIA

I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN IT FELT LIKE THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. I APPLIED MORE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE AND IT SMELLED HORRIBLE. I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND IT WAS PERFECT. I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK, BUT NOW THERE'S A WHINNING SOUND EVERY TIME I TURN. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND THAT GM IS GOING THROUGH A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR INDIVIDUALS INSIDE THE CAR. THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS CASE # [XXX] FILED ON 03/22/2013. AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 2009-2012 GMC ACADIA, 2009-2012 BUICK ENCLAVE, 2009-2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR