NHTSA Complaint #10661377 — 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE

IN AUGUST OF 2014, AROUND 60K MILES, I NOTICED A MOAN WHEN I STEERED AS WELL AS A "KNOCK" THAT I HAD HEARD PREVIOUSLY AND TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY (THEY SAID IT WAS A TIRE ROD; CLEARLY IT WAS NOT). I WAS AWARE THE MOAN MAY BE MY POWER STEERING PUMP, SO I BROUGHT IT IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. NOT ONLY DID I FIND MY POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT, BUT THAT WAS THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF A MUCH LARGE ISSUE- MY STEERING RACK WAS LOOSE, AND WAS DISENGAGING FROM THE MOUNT, WHICH IN TURN, CAUSED THE CORRUPTION OF MY POWER STEERING PUMP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS WORSENING VERY QUICKLY AND IF I LOST MY STEERING RACK FROM THE MOUNT, I COULD LOSE STEERING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. I WAS INFORMED THIS TYPE OF REPAIR IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR A CAR THIS NEW, WITH NO ACCIDENT HISTORY, AND OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, AND IS LIKELY AN "ENGINEERING ISSUE." I AM APPALLED AT NOT ONLY THE PRICE OF THESE REPAIRS WHICH I PAID OUT OF POCKET ($1,968.51), BUT AFTER SOME RESEARCH, HOW COMMON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS WITH 2008 & 2009 BUICK ENCLAVES, ESPECIALLY AROUND 60K MILES. THE MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE NOW IS 65,342. *JS