NHTSA Complaint #10632227 — 2009 GMC ACADIA

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A GMC DEALERSHIP ON MARCH 1ST 2014. THE VERY NEXT DAY I REPLACED A HEADLIGHT (NO BIG DEAL), A FEW DAYS LATER IT WAS VEERING TO THE LEFT VERY HARD SO I TOOK IT BACK. THEY SAID THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF 45 DEGREES, SO THEY FIXED IT. 1 MONTH LATER THE STEERING STARTED LOCKING UP WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY THE GM DEALERSHIP WHO SAID IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION, AND STRUTS AND BEARINGS. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER AUTO SHOP WHO SAID IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND REPLACED IT, THE LOCKING UP STOPPED. THEY SAID THE RACK AND PINION WERE BAD BUT COULD LAST A BIT LONGER. A MONTH LATER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS COMPLETELY OUT(THE VERY FIRST TIME I TURNED IT ON), AND A MONTH LATER THE ENTIRE CAR IS WHINING VERY LOUDLY WHICH I AM ASSUMING IS THE RACK AND PINION FINALLY GIVING OUT. I HAVE SPENT 20K ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAD IT FOR 6 MONTHS NOW. IN THAT 6 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. THAT IS ON TOP OF THE 3 RECALLS IT HAS BEEN IN FOR IN THE 6 MONTH PERIOD ALSO. NOW IT HAS TO GO BACK IN TO FIX THIS RACK AND PINION. THANKFULLY I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THIS STEERING COLUMN IS NOT ALL COVERED. I AM BEYOND FRUSTRATED AND TIRED OF THROWING IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WHEN I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND THIS REPLACING OF THE STEERING RACK IS A BIT RIDICULOUS SINCE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT EVEN HAVE 100K MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, BUT WHEN I DONT HAVE AN EXTRA FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THROW INTO IT AFTER PUTTING A HUGE DOWNPAYMENT ON IT, AND HAVING A BRAND NEW FORD VEHICLE FOR 9 YEARS AND NEVER HAVING TO PUT A DIME INTO IT. I AM SICK OF IT. IT IS WRONG THAT GM PUT FAULTY CHEAP PARTS INTO THEIR VEHICLES. *TR