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2009 Buick Enclave Rack and Pinion / Power Steering
kwame_enclave
Member Posts: 1
I started reading this forum blog because I found out today that my 2009 Buick Enclave will have to have its rack & pinion replaced at 85,000 miles and out of warranty. What I found to be odd was that in February 2012 a reader "mgmd11" had the exact same issue and my mechanic is telling me the same thing his mechanic told him... "My mechanic said this is a common problem with this model and there is no quality recall." It will cost me $1300. I am amazed that two years later, there is nothing that has been done to recall this model with this issue... It is sad to hear that after two years this thing is still happening... How can I get some relief? Anybody have any solutions, suggestions???
1
Comments
Do you realize that a "Recall" has a legal definition? Basically, it applies to SAFETY issues.
Otherwise, it would be a "Technical Service Bulletin" (TSB) That refers to everything else.
You could try researching ( http://www.nhtsa.gov/ ) to see if your vehicle has been reported.
At 85K miles, this car "does not owe you anything".... it has served a long life and should be EXPECTED to require some repairs. Why the heck to you expect this to be 'covered' by someone else? I have replaced rack-n-pinion units on two seperate vehicles. One came from a scrapyard and was replaced by mechanic, the other one I purchased at autoparts store and replaced it myself.
Also, If you know this is a 'common problem', you should have taken precautionary measures and replaced the power-steering fluid more frequently. (Did you change it ever?)
There have been technical bulletin on the power steering, but mostly to replace seals within the system, not the entire rack (although this is sometimes necessary). So "leaks" have been a known problem but not necessarily the entire rack being defective. Of course, advising to replace only the seals might be GM's way of cheaping out the repairs, I don't know.
You can always ask for a goodwill adjustment--if you are on good terms with your dealer he is occasionally given discretionary funds for this purpose. But you'd have to be kind of cozy with the dealer, in terms of having bought from him perhaps or had service done there.
But after 5 years, and out of warranty with 80K miles, you may have to bite the bullet on this one.
I, too, was just informed of needing a new rack and pinion. This is ridiculous. I have a 2008 Buick Enclave with 73,000 miles on it. Clearly there is a problem here. I have to pay $1800 to have this fixed. Where is the relief GM? You should cover this cost.
This is a ridiculous expectation!! Why do people think that SOMEONE ELSE should pay to fix their car after that many miles? After the warantee is over, you pay for your own repairs. You are not a "victim" and and not owed anything.
If you want a vehicle that is reliable beyond 150K miles, consider something besides GM products.
I also have a 2009 enclave with 64,500 miles. My power steering is randomly going out. I have checked the fluid and it is fine. I take care of my car well and get it serviced at the dealership. It is scary when you go turn and it stops working I have 4 encounters thank God that no one was coming the other direction or my and family & I would have been in multiple wrecks. I do not understand because it has been a ongoing issue and there is a Class Action lawsuit with the steering defects but no recall?
We are sorry to hear you've experienced this. We'd be happy to reach out to your dealership on your behalf. If you'd like our assistance, please reach out to us via email at socialmedia@gm.com. Please include your full contact information, VIN and dealership name.
Thank you,
Andraya
GM Customer Care
My 2008 Enclave is in the dealership now getting the steering rack removed and replaced with a new one after it had completely failed while driving and causing us to lose all power steering. It has been serviced regularly and is the nicest car we own and now becoming the most expensive car we own after this latest issue. It is a very big safety issue when you lose all power steering with a baby in the back seat. I called GM and they said they will mail me a letter and reimbursement form "IF" my vehicle is involved in the recall.. I have a feeling that since i own a 2008 and not a 2009 that I may have to just bite the $1800 fix for a complete failure of the system that i did not cause and appears to be an ongoing issue with many of the enclaves. Its just frustrating to have this happen..
Hi grgelliot,
Safety is of utmost importance to us at General Motors and we're sorry if you feel your vehicle has not met this standard. We understand this repair may have posed as a financial inconvenience for you and your family and we do apologize. If you have any additional questions or concerns, we would be more than happy to address them via private message.
Amber N.
GM Customer Care
Marlea W.
GM Customer Care
I have received your message nessa709 and will continue our communication within private message.
Marlea W.
GM Customer Care
unsafe ride,
G M is a big disappointment for me. I purchased a used Enclave and two months later steering problems began. I now have total loss of power steering at slower speeds. Turning corners are very unsafe and parking lots are difficult also. According to G M service manager this vehicle had steering gear, pump and fluid changed out at 41,990 miles. Now at 72k steering is bad again Buick Customer Assistance, G M Service dept.manager and Dealer manager all said they are unaware of any such problem with Enclaves. How can that be with so many people having the same complaint and a class action law suit in California? I asked Customer Assistance if they will fix the $310.14 steering valve as I am already paying $1,105.41 for an engine oil leak. Their reply was "sorry, you are out of warranty and will be paying for that yourself". I don't expect them to pay for the leak but the steering should be their fix. This will be my last G M vehicle, I wish I had my Toyota back. Will this steering problem turn out to be like their ignition switch problem and take ten years to be resolved? Sorry for being so long winded but I am very disappointed with the vehicle I wanted so badly.
We truly regret to learn you feel this way based on your experience. General Motors relies heavily on customer loyalty and we do not want this experience to affect your outlook on the brand. If there is anything we can do to help with your situation please private message us, or contact us via email at socialmedia@gm.com. Please be sure to include your VIN, exact mileage, full contact information and service center.
Thank you
Amber N.
GM Customer Care
I Will never buy another GM product.
Our deepest apologies for the trouble you've experienced with your Buick Enclave. We understand multiple repairs can pose as an inconvenience and we're sorry to hear this situation has caused you to feel this way. Please private message us your VIN, dealership name and contact information if there's anything we can do to help.
Amber N.
GM Customer Care
I bought my 2009 Buick Enclave CXL AWD 57,000 miles at an actual Buick dealership (so I trusted it was reliable) in Auburn, Indiana in January 2015. I told my sales person I had looked for this specific model since we were planning to go on vacation in Seattle Washington in the summer and we wanted the panoramic glass roof in the back for the kids. I brought it in to my local Buick dealer in Lima, OH to check several issues and found out Auburn had sold it with several leaks, including the steering gear (also known as the rack and pinion). Luckily I had a 90 day warranty from the dealership. The Auburn dealership apologized and said please bring it back in and give them a chance to make it right. They fixed several leaks including the transmission cooler lines but not the steering gear. When I went to pick it up, just from looking under the car on the ground it still looked all oily and messy. The Service Writer refused to come out and look at it in the parking lot and said that they were too busy and if I needed anything else done I would have to reschedule for the following week. He had the Service Manager talk to me. I told him that I needed to make the vehicle was right and safe as we were going to be driving 3,000 miles from Ohio to Seattle in the summer. He had a different Service Writer check and talk to me who said that the steering gear was okay, it was just that the transmission cooler lines had leaked down it but those lines were replaced now. So, I brought it back to my local Lima Buick dealer. They checked it again and even gave me pictures of the steering gear actively dripping. My Lima Buick service center said it is a common problem and that they don't fix the steering gear, but they replace it entirely as there is a new improved model of steering gear. At this time in April 2015, there was no recall or extended warranties on the steering gear so that it would cost $1,300. I emailed the leaking pics to the General Manager at the Auburn dealer. The Used Manager and Service Manager said they already completed in good faith repairs and wouldn't fix anything else. I had to complain to the Auburn, IN Buick dealership General Manager that it wasn't a "good faith" repair and point out that it was in their written 90 day warranty and that they were obligated to fix it or they would have a problem. They then agreed to fix it under my extended warranty. They said I had to pay the $100 deductible but that, I could live with.
That wasn't the worse problem though. Buick ruined our family vacation road trip across the country. My nightmare with this vehicle came when we drove it from Ohio to Seattle Washington on the vacation we'd been planning for a year. I had the front brakes done, the oil changed and the transmission fluid and filter changed before we left. After a week of driving 3,000 miles to Washington and through mountains the transmission went out on the freeway as we were leaving to head home. With 1 week of vacation left, I was stranded for 10 days while the Chehalis, Washington Buick dealership rebuilt my transmission. Come to find out, this was a known transmission problem, that it's not a pro-active recall, but the repair would be covered under an extended warranty called Special Policy 14404A. I was grateful that the repair would be covered. But then I found out that Buick's policy is to send a letter to owners about this, but that they wouldn't repair it until it breaks down. Then I was disgusted I never received any letter or was notified by either of the two Buick dealers that worked on it. If I would have known I could have just rented a minivan. Since we were out of vacation I had to send my wife and kids home on a plane and drive home by myself while burning 2 days into my 2016 vacation. While I was stuck in Washington I called the Buick corporate customer service line twice. They said they would look into reimbursing me for a rental car, hotel and the plane tickets home but that wouldn't replace half a vacation and our lost vacation days from work. They never called me back. I sent them an email and a express overnight letter and got no response. I hold Buick responsible for not letting me know about this known problem, putting my family at risk driving across the country and then still not doing the right thing. It's a nice riding vehicle but I'm embarrassed that I can't support this American made product. ** The moral of this story is CHECK ANY OUTSTANDING WARRANTIES, RECALLS, SPECIAL POLICIES ETC..., NOT JUST A CARFAX (OR REPORT OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST), BEFORE YOU BUY A VEHICLE !! **
It occurs to me that the Japanese car dealers/manufacturers would cover this fix,no questions asked! I've experienced their service. It puzzles me that the North American manufacturers/dealers continue as though there will always be more than enough market share for them so they can afford to lose customers! It doesn't seem to have sunken in that the young people of today are interested in foreign cars more so than we ever were in the last 50 years! Good luck GM and others with this kind of attitude. Don't come looking for a bail-out next time you get your financial house in a mess, you're more likely to get the middle finger.