NHTSA Complaint #10882524 — 2010 BUICK ENCLAVE

THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY IN TURNS IN INTERSECTIONS. TURNING THE VEHICLE BACK STRAIGHT OUT OF A SWEEPING 90 DEGREE TURN IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL A 5 TO 8 SECOND PAUSE ELAPSES. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, USUALLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BRAKE HEAVILY IN AN INTERSECTION FOR WHAT LOOKS LIKE NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS DANGEROUS NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF DRIVER CONTROL, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND IT CAN BE PURPOSEFULLY REPRODUCED IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED RAPIDLY WHILE AT A LOW SPEED. ALSO NOTICEABLE IS A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN JUST BELOW THE STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES, HEARD MOSTLY AT LOW SPEED IN A QUIET ENVIRONMENT. IT IS A TINY SOMEWHAT VIBRATIONAL SOUND SIMILAR TO RUNNING YOUR FINGER ACROSS THE TEETH OF A VERY FINE TOOTHED HAIR COMB. WHILE THIS NOISE IS NOTICEABLE AND IT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT IS NOT AN INDICATION THAT THE STEERING IS PREPARING TO FAIL AT THAT TIME. THE NOISE COMES AND GOES... IT FEELS ALMOST ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP RESERVOIR HAS BEEN CHECKED AND IS FULL. THE SERPENTINE BELT DRIVING THE PUMP IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO NOT BE SLIPPING. THE RACK AND PINION IS MOUNTED SECURELY AND IS NOT LEAKING EXTERNALLY.