NHTSA Complaint #10722943 — 2009 GMC ACADIA

AN INTERMITTENT STEERING ISSUE DEVELOPED WHEREBY STEERING INPUT WOULD BECOME RESTRICTED AND PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM ADDING OR SUBTRACTING STEERING. THE ISSUE PRESENTS DURING TURNING AND CORNERING AND RESULTED IN NUMEROUS HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS AND ONE SERIOUS NEAR MISS. UPON INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE RACK AND PINION WERE INHERENTLY DEFECTIVE, OR THE CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE OF OTHER STEERING DEFECTS WHICH IS VERY CONCERNING. UPON FURTHER REVIEW, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS MODEL YEAR ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE BEEN PLAGUED WITH DEFECTIVE STEERING ISSUES. GIVEN THE APPARENT INCIDENCE RATE AND THE HIGH RISK NATURE OF THE ISSUE, I AM SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED THIS HAS NOT CULMINATED IN A RECALL.