2009 Buick Enclave: steering wheel locks up

Filed Oct 20, 2023 · Steering · 179,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2009 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while reversing at 5 MPH, the steering wheel seized and was inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive to his destination. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering wheel sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.

Filed Mar 31, 2020 · Steering · 120,000 miles · MN

Steering locks up periodically in motion at slow speed when making a turn on highway also from a dead stop when turning leaving a intersection. Arm strong power steering meaning very hard to turn.

Filed Mar 2, 2020 · Steering · 126,000 miles · NC

My steering continues to lock up when driving. Making turns steering gets tight. I have had almost had an accident due to this safety issue. At this point I am concerned for my safety and children when driving. There seems to be alot of issues and complaints regarding a replacement steering gear/rack pinion and leaking fluid. At one point do gm think about the safety of their customers. This repair cost is $1709.04. On top of other repairs I just paid $1812.44 to fix other issues that I can somewhat understand but the steering gear and rack pinion is definitely an issue of concern to all families and can definitely loose their life. Every day I get in my vehicle my concern is will my family loose their life if my steering lock up or I cant avoid an accident due to the issue.

Filed Apr 18, 2018 · Airbags, Steering · 102,000 miles · OH

Power steering locks up or goes out while turning at slow speeds or when you apply the brakes. This happens on the highway, city streets, parking lots or in driveways. There is no warning or apparent reason for this to happen. When it started we had our mechanic take a look, and he stated everything looked good and power steering fluid levels were normal. He suggested he could look at the steering rack and pinion could be what is needed, since this is common on this model and year of vehicle. As time goes on it continues to worsen and is not safe to drive the vehicle with or without my family as passengers. The mechanic stated it was going to cost upwards of $1300 to repair, which we feel should be the cost of the manufacturer since this is a common problem!

Filed Sep 30, 2015 · Steering · 89,000 miles · AL

Today I had to replace the rack and pinion on my car. This morning I went to make a left hand turn from a complete stop into gas station and the steering locked up. I lost all control of the car for a few seconds as oncoming traffic was approaching. A similar incident happened a few weeks ago while I had my 1 and 5 year old in the car. I was circling around a building to the left. The steering seemed to lock up and pull right..at the same time the engine revved up. I hit the brakes to avert going down a steep decline. I immediately took the car to my mechanic and they found a leak from the rack and pinion. I started researching this and discovered it seems to be acommon repair.

Filed Aug 25, 2015 · Steering · 70,000 miles · TX

Steering locks up at low speeds. It happens when turning a corner at low speeds and its very hard to turn almost cause me an accident on 08/23/15 with all my family on board.

Filed Aug 18, 2015 · Steering · 98,000 miles · MI

At times the steering locks up at low speeds. It happens normally when turning a corner at low speeds. It locks up and very, very hard to turn. I am sure at some point in a congested area it is going to cause me to cause an accident and possibly hurting or killing someone or myself. This is without a question a safety issue that buick needs to own. I have read in many forums that allot of buick owners are experiencing this issue. I have owned alot of vehicles in my life and have never had to pay up to $2200 to fix the steering on a vehicle because of premature failure. I have owned several cars that I have driven over 200,000 miles and never had mechanical steering issues. Buick needs to own this critical safety issue. Respectfully, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Filed Jul 28, 2015 · Steering · 54,000 miles · TN

Power steering locks up at speeds under 20 MPH. Started around 54000 miles and have gotten increasing worse just. Extremely hazardous to us and everyone on the road . !

Filed Jul 15, 2015 · Steering · 64,000 miles · NY

I have had problems with this vehicle since I purchased it in jan 2015, this is one of several things that have gone wrong and make this vehicle extremely dangerous to drive, when steering this vehicle whether slowly into a parking spot or on a turn, the steering locks up on you and becomes extremely difficult to turn, also I have had problems with the transmission, often when trying to speed up to get on highway, it pulls back or the rpms reave really high and the car doesn't go forward. Also once you put the car in park and take your foot off the brake the car actually rolls several inches and bobs back an forth, this actually knocked my child down as she was getting out of car and she hit her head on the concrete. When telling the dealer of these issues their answer is well unless we can get the car to do these things we have no idea what your are talking about and can't fix it. Meanwhile when I looked for other complaints these same complaints came up by several consumers.

Filed Jan 29, 2015 · Steering · 39,448 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering and the steering gear hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,448.

Filed Jul 18, 2014 · Steering · 107,000 miles · PA

When making a right turn my steering wheel locked up and I could barely make the turn. This happens randomly and is becoming more frequent. This now happens when I turn right or left, but it still is very random. I always have children with me and one of them has just received their driver's permit. I do not feel that it is safe for my new driver to practice with this vehicle....even though it is only 5 years old. I love this car but there have already been several recalls dealing with airbags and seatbelts and now the should be one dealing with this power steering issue. Clearly this is not an isolated occurrence and there are numerous other owners dealing with the same problems. This issue is an accident waiting to happen. Not knowing if you will be able to make a turn when there are pedestrians and other traffic in the mix is not safe! Buick...you need to get this fixed!!!!! One angry, unhappy consumer!

Filed Apr 2, 2014 · Steering · 56,000 miles · AZ

At parking lot speeds when you try to turn into a barking lot space the power steering locks up it takes a lot of strength to turn it any further. I can't let my wife drive it any more because she could not turn it.I am waiting for this to happen at higher speeds.from what I see on the internet I am not the only one that is having this problem.I think this should be added to the rest of the recalls that gm has if this would happen at higher speeds it could be a real problem.