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Buick Enclave whining noise problems

19 of the 2,515 owner complaints about the Buick Enclave describe whining or grinding noise, most of them for the 2010 model year.

owner complaints
19
worst model year
2010
typical repair cost reported
$1,900
typical mileage
66,918
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Aug 26, 2024 · Steering · MA

I own a 2024 Buick Enclave Avenir the steering wheel has a Whining Noise when vehicle is in motion or standing when turning the steering wheel. The Air Bag is in the steering wheel I am concerned if there is a problem with the steering wheel if the Air Bag could eject from the steering wheel causing an accident when vehicle is in motion. Took it to my dealership following is an E-mail sent to me. Even though it's built in late 2023 it's a 2024. So that bulletin doesn't pertain to your vehicle, but I will ask today if there is a 2024 Buick Enclave Avenir on the lot and I'll try to see but if there's no 2024, I have to wait to see what GM says because that bulletin doesn't work for your newer vehicle. Also, the 2023 Buick Enclave is different when it comes to the steering. For example, a 2023 Buick enclave has a bulletin #PIT5987: Whining Noise from Steering - (Feb 17, 2023) that is a whining noise from the steering but that only pertains to a 2022-2023. Thats what service manager acquired about if the 2024 would follow that same bulletin ---Date of manufacture of my Buick was December 2023.

Filed Jan 22, 2022 · Airbags · MD · 1 injury

1.Passenger airbag- warning light gives me a daily message to service the airbag. I worry about whether the airbag will deploy at any moment or may not deploy if an accident occurs as I travel with my children daily. 2.Power steering- My power steering locked as I was driving 2 years ago. The auto shop has replaced/repaired the power steering system multiple times, however steering continues to whine and rub. 3.Trunk liftgate- The liftgate has abruptly lowered as my children and I have tried to get items in and out of the back. This resulted in one of them getting hit in the head. The back liftgate button has stopped engaging.

Filed Jun 6, 2020 · Steering · UT

Power steering is leaking fluids. Hearing a slight howling sound when turning the steering wheel.

Filed Nov 4, 2019 · Steering · AR

2011 buick enclave makes a whining noise when accelerating, turning and slowing down. Dealership informed me that car is "cold" and needs warming up because temperature has changed. However, my car was making this noise just not as bad during the summer. I asked if it was the power steering pump or if I needed fluid. They informed me they capped off the fluid during each of my service visits but the noise is still there. Now I'm going to have to take it somewhere else for a second opinion after reading other people's issues with their enclave. My issue is always during start up, turning and stopping which is a huge problem. It has been escalating for the past few months. It's worst now.

Filed Oct 29, 2017 · Engine, Steering · IN

Engine light came on and took into dealership for a diagnosis of issue. Was told that the timing chain had stretched and needed replaced with a cost estimate of $3000. This is the 2nd time that this has happened, the first being at 48k miles, and now at 95k miles. When the repair was being made, was told that the crank shaft was warped and had frayed the engine internally - caused by the bad timing chain and I now needed a new engine. Contacted buick, but they would not do anything about it. Buick has known about this issue for years, and yet refuses to back their product or help their customers. Once the engine was replaced, I now have a loud power steering 'whine' and was told that the power steering pump needs replaced - another known issue by buick. Just incredible.

Filed Oct 18, 2017 · Steering · 103,900 miles · TX

Loud whining noise and leaking from rack/pinion pump. Hewlett chevy/buick dealership acknowledges pump is covered under special coverage adjustment but won't perform repair until pump and rack actually go out...putting my family in danger.

Filed Aug 2, 2016 · Steering · 41,480 miles · CA

Noticed a whining noise in my steering wheel when turning. Called the dealership and was told this was "normal". Not being satisfied with this took it in and insisted they check it. I was then told the rack and pinion is failing and needs to be replaced. The cost would be $2000. I bought this car new and it only has 41,000 miles on it. I feel that this should be paid by gm since this is a common complaint and very dangerous and could result in an accident. I will no longer buy anything built by gm if this is how they treat their customers. I paid $53,000 and I thought I would have this car for a few more years. I guess not.

Filed Jun 27, 2016 · Steering · 66,918 miles · IA

Power steering pump wear condition received a recall notice from buick september 2014 in regards to a power steering pump wear condition, but the letter advised not to take to the dealer for repair until it was an issue. The letter did not state specifics as to how an individual would know that there was an issue but while taking the vehicle to holzhauer motors in cherokee, ia (authorized dealer) on june 17, 2015 for service (lube & filter change) I mentioned to the service advisor that when I turned my steering wheel there was a whining sound. I was later contacted by the service advisor stating that the power steering pump needed to be replaced and the cost of replacing the actual pump and labor was covered under said warranty. The service advisor also informed me that the rack and pinion also needed to be replaced. The service advisor clearly stated that the reason the rack and pinion needed replacing was because the power steering pump had gone out, but the parts and labor to replace the rack and pinion was not covered under the power steering pump warranty, even though that it what caused the rack and pinion to fail.

Filed May 5, 2016 · Steering · 51,187 miles · TX

Car with 51,187 miles had to have steering gear replaced and flush and bleed system. Owner heard a whine in in the power steering when turning. At a cost of 1,193.76 + tax. Never heard of such a thing with that few miles on a vehicle.

Filed Mar 16, 2016 · Steering · 50,000 miles · TX

Over time our 2011 buick enclave experienced a whining noise at idle and lower speeds, particularly when turning. Dealership indicated that this was due to a leaking/defective power steering pump and potentially the entire steering column may need to be replaced. This vehicle is approximately 3 years old and approximately 50k miles - disappointed to discover that this issue is not currently covered under warranty/recalls. I would not expect to encounter an issue of this magnitude with a car at this point in the life cycle - this is a potential safety concern if this issue progresses to a situating where the steering totally fails.

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmissionReported October 29, 2020 · 194,105 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Risk
Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑888‑988‑7267, Buick Customer service at 1‑866‑608‑8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

Recall number 20V668000 · Recall details

Power train: automatic transmissionReported February 21, 2014 · 355 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk
If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Buick owners at 1‑800‑521‑7300, and GMC owners at 1‑800‑462‑8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.

Recall number 14V092000 · Recall details

Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shiftReported March 6, 2009 · 276,729 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 buick enclave, chevrolet cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, gmc acadia, pontiac g5, g6 and saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and fmvss 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention". On some of these vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjustment clip may not be fully engaged. If the clip is not fully engaged, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. With this condition, the drive could move the shifter to "park" and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in "park".
Risk
The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before march 24, 2009. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463, pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668 and saturn at 1‑800‑972‑8876 or at www.gmownercenter.com.

Recall number 09V073000 · Recall details

Questions about the Buick Enclave whining noise

Which Buick Enclave years have whining or grinding noise problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2010 (6 complaints), 2011 (6 complaints) and 2008 (3 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix whining or grinding noise on the Buick Enclave?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,900 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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