NHTSA Complaint #11350970 — 2016 GMC ACADIA

FAILURE OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM - AT LOW SPEEDS, POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE IS NOT ACTIVE. VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN STEERING WHEEL FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR MOVING AT LOW SPEED. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY RISK IN THE ABILITY TO AVOID PEDESTRIANS, VEHICLES OR OTHER OBJECTS WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, MOST NOTABLY PARKING LOTS. CONDITION STARTED AROUND THE 50,000-MILE MARK. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION, FLUID APPEAR TO BE LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. HAD VEHICLE TAKEN TO GM-CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM REQUIRED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH THERE APPEARS TO BE CONCERNING HISTORY OF POWER-STEERING RELATED FAILURE ON THE GMC ACADIA. PRIOR MODEL YEARS (2007-2011) HAD THE WARRANTY EXTENDED ON THE SYSTEM UPWARDS OF 10 YEARS AND 150,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, A VARIETY OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM OF THE 2016 GMC ACADIA. NHSTA DATABASE ALSO POINTS TO A NUMBER OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS, TYPICALLY OCCURRING AROUND THE 50,000 MILE RANGE. THIS INDICATES A LATENT MANUFACTURE DEFECT IN WHICH FURTHER ACTION MUST BE TAKEN TO ADDRESS THIS ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE.