NHTSA Complaint #10789555 — 2012 BUICK ENCLAVE

A WEEK AGO, I FELT MY 2012 BUICK ENCLAVE WASN'T STEERING PROPERLY...LIKE I SUDDENLY HAVE CONSIDERABLY LESS CONTROL...AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS FIGHTING ME WHEN I TURN. I NOTICED IT BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET MY CAR'S STEERING TO RESPOND COMING ONTO AN ENTRANCE RAMP ONTO 76W IN PA AND IT ALMOST VEERED INTO THE LANE TO THE LEFT (AS I WAS FIGHTING TO HOLD MY WHEEL TO THE RIGHT COMING OFF THE RAMP). I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY LOCAL GM CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DID DIAGNOSTICS AND DISCOVERED A MALFUNCTION IN MY STEERING PUMP AND A LEAKY HOSE. HE SUGGESTED I CALL THE GM DEALER WHO REPAIRS MY CAR FOR ANY ITEM UNDER RECALL, BULLETIN OR EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE THE ISSUE HE IDENTIFIED IS CONSISTENT WITH A SAFETY ISSUE IDENTIFIED ON EARLIER ENCLAVES. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT FAULKNER BUICK IN WEST CHESTER DID STATE THAT IT IS AN ISSUE ON EARLIER MODELS AND THERE IS A BULLETIN ISSUED FOR EARLIER MODELS FOR POWER STEERING ISSUES IN ENCLAVES. MY YEAR/VIN IS NOT COVERED. HE SUGGESTED I CALL GM. I WAS ON PHONE WITH GM WARRANTY FOR AN HOUR. THEY OPENED CASE BUT SAY THEY CAN'T REVIEW CASE UNTIL THE STEERING ISSUE IS VERIFIED BY A GM SERVICE DEALER. I WILL HAVE TO PAY GM SERVICE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHEN I ALREADY PAID A GM CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR SAME. GM IS NOT ABLE TO TELL ME UNTIL ONE OF THEIR SERVICE PROVIDERS CONFIRMS ISSUE WHAT, IF ANY, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THEY WILL PROVIDE. THE REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT ~$1000...THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOSE NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND ESTIMATED LABOR IS 6 HOURS. IN MEANTIME, I HAVE TO SLOW MY CAR DOWN TO 20 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS COMING ONTO OR OFF OF RAMPS FOR MAJOR HIGHWAYS SUCH AS PENN TPKE BECAUSE STEERING CONTROL ISN'T THERE & IT FEELS AS IF WHEEL IS PULLING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION, I'M HAVING TO FIGHT IT, AND IT FEELS AS IF CAR WILL SKID OUT. MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT ALL OTHER POSSIBILITIES AND ID'D FAULTY STEERING PUMP AND HOSE LEAK, SPECIFICALLY.