buick enclave 2009 Complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

if we don't drive our 2009 buick enclave every few days, the battery goes completely dead and we have to charge it to even get the key out of it. the dealership service department looked at it and said the battery is fine but there is a "bulletin" (but not a recall) about a "parasitic power draw" problem in these vehicles and they will let us know when they have a repair available. in the meantime, we are to make a point to run our enclave every few days.

Reported in: CHADWICK IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

while making a left hand turn was hit in the left rear passenger door. the 10 side impact curtain air bags did not deploy. was told by gm that the center post between front and back door is the only place that has a side impact sensor there from the front door to the back bumper offers no protection from a side impact other than the vehicle itself.

Reported in: SELMER TN || Crash: Y || VIN #: 5GAER23D39J

SEATS

complaint about headrest in 2009 buick enclave. the headrest tilts so far forward that it is not possible for me to sit against the back part of the seat without having the headrest push my neck forward and down. road bumps cause it to slam in and out against the head causing neck and back strain. the design of this headrest is flawed and dangerous.

Reported in: SANTA ROSA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D49J

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

tl*the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. the contact was driving approximately 35 mph on normal road conditions; proceeding to a traffic signal. suddenly, there was a vibration noise coming from the power steering system. the driver pulled over to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle. the vehicle was able to resume operation. the failure occurred whenever the brakes were depressed. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. the failure was related to the power steering pump which was replaced. the failure mileage was 1,000. the current mileage was 11,000. the consumer stated the vehicle developed a power steering noise and vibration feeling when holding the steering wheel. gm stated the noise was normal. updated 04/16/10. *jb

Reported in: EUPORA MS || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl*the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. the contact stated she was accelerating to speeds of 45 mph and removed her foot from the pedal yet the vehicle continued to accelerate without warrant. she attempted to apply the brakes but the vehicle would not respond. the engine was shut off and she placed the vehicle into park to avoid crashing into a vehicle ahead of her. the vehicle was towed to a local dealer where they were unable to duplicate the failure. the contact stated she had experienced the failure at least twice. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 17,500 and the current mileage was 18,000.

Reported in: CEDAR LANE TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D39J

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

vehicle 2009 buick enclave. keeps turning on the light engine and at the dealership they keep telling me that is because i don't close the gas knob correctly. when the engine light turns on while im driving it gives me a message of power engine reduce and it reduce my speed and i can't continue driving. i've almost cause 2 accidents while im driving due to this issue. it will completely stop in certain times while im driving. last incident 06/05/10. as well, my tire got flat around a month ago and i realized the dealership sold me the vehicle with no extra tire and emergency equipment to change my tire.

Reported in: LAS VEGAS NV || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER13D09J

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

at 13,759 miles on new vehicle, brakes pulsed when applied. front rotors excessively rusted/pitted/warped, measured and tried to machine, would be below min. specs if machined. brake pads were worn excessive at min thickness due to the rotor concern. replaced front brake rotors and pads. rear rotors warped/out of round, machined rear rotors.

Reported in: LIVERPOOL PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D19J

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

tl*the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. the contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, he attempted to stop the vehicle and noticed that the brakes failed and the brake pedal went to the floorboard. he tried to downshift and could only stop the vehicle by using the parking brake. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who could not duplicate the failure; therefore, they changed the brake fluid. the contact had not spoken with the manufacturer when the complaint was filed. the current and failure mileages were approximately 28,000.

Reported in: KIMBERLY ID || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D99J

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

the check engine light came on. i took the vehicle to the dealer and it was diagnosed as a "stretched" timing chain. the vehicle was under warranty and the dealer replaced the timing chain. the vehicle only had 30,000 miles when the problem arose.

Reported in: CLARENCE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D49J

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

purchased new 2009 buick enclave cxl fwd(3/30/09) fully loaded. 4 months later, battery died. made 5 or more visits to gm dealership. they ran parasitic drain diagnostics over night , new upgrades installed, replaced battery twice and more than a year later, every couple of months battery dies. i think there are many people out there with this kind of problem that gm should fix the problem under a recall before some electrical catches on fire and gm will have to payout millions.

Reported in: SUGAR LAND TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D49J

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. the contact stated that the head rests for both front seats were tilted too far forward, causing discomfort to the contact while driving. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact asked if the head rest on the second row of the seats would fit the front seats. the consumer also inquired as to how to remove the 2nd row seat head rest. the consumer ordered and installed the 2nd row head rest which eliminated the discomfort. the failure mileage was 1 and the current mileage was 18,000. updated 02/10/11 *bf updated 02/22/11

Reported in: MARSHALLTOWN IA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D59J

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

tl*the contact owns a 2009 buick enclaved equipped with a blue ox braking system. after towing the vehicle with the braking system, the contact noticed smoke from under the vehicle. the contact noticed that the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard and the brakes would not engage. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who replaced the braking system. the defective system was sent back to the manufacturer who could not diagnose the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 15,000 and the current mileage was approximately 28,000. updated 02/10/11 *bf updated 12/06/2011 *ln

Reported in: SCOTTSDALE AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D99J

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2009 buick enclave experienced noisy brakes with only 16,000 miles. gmc couldn't diagnose the problem so the brakes and rotors were replaced. 7 months later the same car with 26,000 miles had heavy brake pulsating under normal braking conditions. gmc had to turn the front rotors again due to excessive heat and burn spots which caused warping of the rotors. gmc says this repair doesn't fall under warranty since the brakes and rotors were replaced one time prior; however, they are missing the point in that this isn't a brake pad issue nor is it due to excessive braking. this is a problem with the abs system which is covered. no car (under normal driving conditions) should have to replace brakes and rotors twice in 26,000 miles. the hot spots on the rotors concerns me since a brake fire could result endangering lives.

Reported in: FORT WORTH TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D99J

STRUCTURE

2009 buick enclave cxl. since 2010 it has leaked water from under the dashboard on the passenger side. this year we have started to notice it more when the heat came and we turned on the ac, the ac stopped working a couple of times and when i would turn my car while driving there would be water coming out from under the dashboard from the passenger side on the floor and the ac would start working again. finally my husband took down the cover off the blower motor and when he took it down it was filled with water, he cleaned it and the motor started working again but not for long, it didn't even last 3 days and the motor blew out. now i am without ac.

Reported in: STERLING HEIGHTS MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

AIR BAGS

tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. the contact stated that the service air bag light remained illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on numerous occasions, where the air bag sensor was replaced several times. the failure continued. the failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage 53,000.

Reported in: CORPUS CRISTI TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D19J

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

a 18 wheelers tire tread was in the road. i straddled it to avoid a wreck. the tread punctured the front of my plastic gas tank resulting in a gas leak. i had to pay for a new tank and installation. there isn't a protective shield on the front of tank.

Reported in: MUSCLE SHOALS AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D99J

STEERING

the steering will bind up and almost lock up resulting in a very difficult turn. this is a major safety issue as if the vehicle will not turn there could easily be a crash. this "steering lock up" issue seems to happen while turning into an entrance, or parking lot or turn signal or onto another road. there are no issues while driving but having a vehicle lock up while trying to turn is a problem. this safety issue not only affects the driver and passengers but it also affects the safety of the general public. this vehicle has been in the buick shop 3 times for this issue-1st time i was told it was the power steering fluid, but that didn't fix it. the second time i was told it was a defective water pump leaking onto the drive belt but that didn't fix it. the 3rd time i was told that they could not find the issue but they would file a claim. well, the issue still exists and i have emailed buick customer service with no response but this is a major safety issue that must be resolved!

Reported in: WHITE MILLS KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23DX9J

STEERING

i was slowing down to make a right turn into my parents drive when the power steering failed (felt like it was locking up). at the time i was pulling a small trailer so i had to pass up the driveway to keep from getting into an accident. i turned around again and everything seemed fine. later that day it happened again and then it was 6 weeks before it happened again. i called my service advisor who said there may be air in the line. i had just serviced my car. the symptoms continued off and on for several months off and on...and i finally had the rack and pinion replaced on june 14, 2012 as well as the power steering pump. i am very concerned there may be other similar vehicles with similar issues that may cause a serious or even fatal accident.

Reported in: FLOWER MOUND UT || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D59J

STEERING

steering went out without warning. items necessary to correct problem are replacement of power steering and gears. gm does not cover under power train warranty. by simply viewing edmunds.com you will see that this problem has affected multiple years and multiple consumers. the issue is an obvious design problem for buick and should be recalled and fixed.

Reported in: ADVANCE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D09J

STEERING

the power steering on my 2009 buick enclave intermittently (3-4 times per day) locks up preventing me from turning the wheel. after an incident, the power steering seems to re-engage. however, there have been multiple close calls when i have not been able to turn quickly. from the buick/gm message boards, this seems to be a very common problem with little to no action from buick/gm.

Reported in: BLISSFIELD MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

in the last 2 months, i have had multiple problems with the power steering tightening and locking up, narrowly avoiding running off the road or into another vehicle several times. when i took the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic, they declared that the power steering rack had malfunctioned and that there were metal shavings in the power steering pump. both the power steering rack and pump would need to be replaced. it was also determined that this was not caused by wear and tear. when i researched similar complaints online it appears that this is a recurring problem with the 2008 and 2009 buick enclaves due to faulty equipment by gm. i am very concerned that this make result serious accidents and request the nhtsa to look into this matter.

Reported in: PEARLAND TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D29J

STEERING

for about a month now, our power steering seems to be tightening up when steering a tight radius like turning a sharp corner or pulling into a parking space. it is very frequent occurring every day now. i have 3 kids i drive daily to multiple locations and am worried about my and their safety. if i was driving at a high speed and had to swerve to avoid something in my path this would make me very nervous. i have read many blogs about this issue and gm had better take this into serious consideration for a world-wide recall. i cannot believe for the price of this vehicle the amount of issues it has. very very disappointed in this car.

Reported in: ARLINGTON WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D89J

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

the engine on my 2009 enclave was replaced in feb of 2012 because it was cracked , at the time i had approximately 32k on the car. there was no indication of a problem the car just died on a major highway. the car again died a few weeks later due to a timing belt snapping. on 8/10/12 i was traveling from my home state of new york to virginia for vacation, with my family, and the car lost power again on a major highway at 10:30 at night we had to have the car towed, find a hotel and then rent a car to get to our destination. this time it was a fuel injector and an o2 sensor. we have incurred over $900.00 in expenses we have contacted buick and they are not willing to do anything about this car. we will no longer be covered by a warranty after 50k the car currently has about 43k. the car has broken down 3 times since feb. each time with my family in it, there is never any indication that the car is going to break down it just dies. i am fearful to keep putting my family in this car what do i do?

Reported in: CLIFTON PARK NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D29J

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

the engine on my 2009 enclave was replaced in feb of 2012 because it was cracked , at the time i had approximately 32k on the car. there was no indication of a problem the car just died on a major highway. the car again died a few weeks later due to a timing belt snapping. on 8/10/12 i was traveling from my home state of new york to virginia for vacation, with my family, and the car lost power again on a major highway at 10:30 at night we had to have the car towed, find a hotel and then rent a car to get to our destination. this time it was a fuel injector and an o2 sensor. we have incurred over $900.00 in expenses we have contacted buick and they are not willing to do anything about this car. we will no longer be covered by a warranty after 50k the car currently has about 43k. the car has broken down 3 times since feb. each time with my family in it, there is never any indication that the car is going to break down it just dies. i am fearful to keep putting my family in this car what do i do?

Reported in: CLIFTON PARK NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D29J

STEERING

power steering fails intermittently in parking lots and at slow speeds. am almost unable to turn the steering wheel at all, then it "gives" causing the car to jerk.

Reported in: TAYLORS SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER13D89J

STRUCTURE:BODY

tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. the contact stated that the lift gate had failed. the contact stated that while trying to retrieve an item from the trunk, the lift gate fell and hit her in the head. the contact stated that she sustained several headaches. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the struts on the lift gate needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 50,000.

Reported in: PLAQUEMINE LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D69J

ENGINE

i purchased the vehicle used 1 month ago. on two occasions, the car has not started after getting gas. after several minutes, the car will start again. i believe this problem has been fixed by replacing the evap purge solenoid. on two occasions within the last week, the car would not start after being parked in the driveway overnight. the first time, the battery was completely dead and the car had to be towed in. the mechanic attributed the problem to low voltage, recharged the battery, and the battery tested good. five days later, the vehicle was dead again. a little research seems to indicate there may be a problem with battery drainage in the 2009 buick enclave. since purchase, the vehicle has been at the mechanic for more days than i have used it.

Reported in: JACKSONVILLE FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23DX9J

STEERING

while driving at very low speed--usually when preparing to park or turning at very low speed, the power assist goes out completely, and to complete turn it is very difficult and much worse than the "old fashion" manual steering systems. no indication that such failure is going to happen and failure is very unexpected. no failure at speeds above less than 5 miles per hour.

Reported in: BERKELEY SPRINGS WV || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D49J

STEERING

power steering fails intermittently when maneuvering at low speeds executing tight turns such as going into or out of a parking spot. there are many online vehicle owner complaints and this is clearly an accident waiting to happen that the ntsb needs to get in front of .

Reported in: AUSTIN TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D59J

POWER TRAIN

vehicle transmission either, slips, doesn't shift or shifts erratically. the engine misfires at times. steering issues. navigation system issues, strut failure, heated seat failure. ## vin failed ##

Reported in: FAYETTEVILLE WV || Crash: N || VIN #:

SUSPENSION

vehicle transmission either, slips, doesn't shift or shifts erratically. the engine misfires at times. steering issues. navigation system issues, strut failure, heated seat failure. ## vin failed ##

Reported in: FAYETTEVILLE WV || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

vehicle transmission either, slips, doesn't shift or shifts erratically. the engine misfires at times. steering issues. navigation system issues, strut failure, heated seat failure. ## vin failed ##

Reported in: FAYETTEVILLE WV || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

i was driving with my family on vacation in the mountains and the vehicles steering began to lock up in every turn. we almost hit multiple people. the vehicle drove fine in a straight line it's only when cornering or turning. took it to a dealer to ask of they have ever heard of this problem because i read numerous incidents online of people having the same issue. every dealer told me they haven't heard of a steering problem with the enclave. i really find this hard to believe with all of the post online. they want to replace the entire steering rack at a ridiculous price. i do not believe that the issue they are only guessing! there have multiple occurrences since and very close calls. this vehicle will have to be parked until we get some help with this issue!!!! please help!!!

Reported in: GASTONIA NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D79J

STEERING

i have already had the steering rack replaced previously... now, today, the steering pump is failing and needs to be replaced... this is a safety issue... i have notice a number of other enclave owners experiencing this problem. there should be a recall on this item.

Reported in: APPLE VALLEY MN || Crash: N || VIN #:

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

2009 buick enclave. consumer writes in regards to power liftgate malfunction. *smd the consumer stated the power liftgate malfunctioned and injured her husband in april 2013. the consumer stated her husband planned to remove some items from the vehicle. as she pushed the power button, the liftgate began to open as usual. when it reached the top, her husband started to reach for the items. without warning, the very heavy liftgate dropped about 18-24 inches, hitting him on the forehead and cutting a perfect v which matched the design of the latch. he was knocked to the ground with blood pouring from the gash in his head. the next day, the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the struts were replaced.

Reported in: STILLWATER OK || Crash: N || VIN #:

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE

2009 buick enclave. consumer writes in regards to power liftgate malfunction. *smd the consumer stated the power liftgate malfunctioned and injured her husband in april 2013. the consumer stated her husband planned to remove some items from the vehicle. as she pushed the power button, the liftgate began to open as usual. when it reached the top, her husband started to reach for the items. without warning, the very heavy liftgate dropped about 18-24 inches, hitting him on the forehead and cutting a perfect v which matched the design of the latch. he was knocked to the ground with blood pouring from the gash in his head. the next day, the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the struts were replaced.

Reported in: STILLWATER OK || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

i bought my enclave brand new. i now have 73000 miles on it. we took the car in because it was becoming very hard for me to turn the wheel and i could have been in an accident because of this. the dealership told us that the power steering pump and the power steering rack & pinion had to be replaced! what??!! i had never heard of anyone that i know of having this kind of major issue with their car at 73000 miles. we did some research and found that there have been several other buick owners with this same issue with fewer miles on their car. this is a safety issue that buick needs to research and resolve. my other safety problem is the power liftgate. if your car is parked on a hill, the power liftgate will drop on top of you with no warning. the liftgate struts dont work when your car is parked on a slope.

Reported in: RIVERDALE GA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

purchased on 05-25-2013 as a replacement vehicle for a 2004 nissan xterra. noticed when turning into parking space or driveway that power steering suddenly turned into manual steering and was difficult to turn. took vehicle in for an unrelated problem( dvd stuck in player) and ask them to check power steering. ? maybe low fluid? no problem found. did some online research only to find this has been a common problem years 2008 to 2010 usually resulting in replacement of pump and rack and pinion.called dealership and reported problem, they are now ordering a steering pump to see if it will fix problem.i have only had the car 3 days and driven 200 miles. also found that them problem includes gm acadia and chevy traverse.

Reported in: GROVE CITY PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D79J

STEERING

purchased june 2009. coolant level has never stayed at full level. after adding coolant it eventually drops in level. lately, having problems with the power steering. sometimes it becomes very difficult to turn wheel. current mileage is 89,000.

Reported in: WISCONSIN RAPIDS WI || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

purchased june 2009. coolant level has never stayed at full level. after adding coolant it eventually drops in level. lately, having problems with the power steering. sometimes it becomes very difficult to turn wheel. current mileage is 89,000.

Reported in: WISCONSIN RAPIDS WI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the power steering failed. the contact stated that he had to increase the amount of effort in order to steer the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 65,000.

Reported in: TRACEY MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23DX9J

STEERING

i was stopped on the street waiting to pull in my drive way as traffic passed. i attempted to turn expecting to pull in as normal but steering wheel locked up and missed driveway. to avoid traffic accelerated into yard due to steering not working as anticipated. steering returned to normal intermittently.

Reported in: PERRYSBURG OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D69J

STEERING

first noticed problem 5 months after purchase in october 2012. turning into parking lot, left or right at a stop light, steering wheel locks up. steering rack replaced and problem is still not fixed. nothing kicking out code with diagnostics and fluids are fine.

Reported in: MICHIGAN CITY IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D29J

STEERING

at low speed the steering will not function correctly. i was going thru parking garage and as i turned the steering would not respond. this is now occurring at low speeds and steering locks up.it is ok at above 10mph.

Reported in: ANDERSON SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D89J

STEERING

the power steering loses power when making a turn. the steering still works just with no power assist. this is extremely scary as the wheel suddenly pulls out of your hand unless you are gripping very tightly with both hands. the power steering can then return just as suddenly. the only good thing is that it seems to only happen at lower speeds so while i may hit another car while pulling into a parking space i probably won't kill myself or some other driver while driving at speed.

Reported in: SUWANEE GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV13D09J

STEERING

i was driving and attempted to make a turn, the power steering failed and i almost crashed into another vehicle, with other traffic coming toward me around 45 mph. over the past couple weeks, the power steering intermittently failed and took significant effort to turn. this is a used vehicle so i am unsure of the previous frequency of occurrence. i took the vehicle to the buick dealership who found the steering gear was at fault and had to replace it at a cost of $900. upon researching the cause, i have found that this is a common occurrence with this and other gm products. i am documenting this to assist the bureau in determining that this is a very serious safety issue with this product and should be evaluated and issued a recall.

Reported in: OCALA FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D89J

STEERING

the steering wheel started to make a rubbing, squeaking sound upon turning left or right at low speeds. by the next day, i had lost power steering completely at low speeds. i went to make a turn, thinking i had power steering and almost got in an accident because i was unable to turn the car as quickly as usual. it was so scary! i took the car to the dealer who has had it in the shop the last four days. they are replacing the entire steering column. i hope that will solve the problem, but after reading tons of complaints online at buick enclave forums, i fear that this issue is widespread and is an on-going problem, no matter how many "fixes" at the dealership.

Reported in: BAKERSFIELD CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D69J

STEERING

my husband went to make a right hand turn and when he turned he lost power steering and the abs light, traction control icon, brake light and "service all wheel drive" all came on at the same time. my dash looks like a christmas tree.

Reported in: ST. JOHNSVILLE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D89J

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

my husband went to make a right hand turn and when he turned he lost power steering and the abs light, traction control icon, brake light and "service all wheel drive" all came on at the same time. my dash looks like a christmas tree.

Reported in: ST. JOHNSVILLE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D89J

STEERING

after highway driving for a couple hours, i exited onto the off ramp and stopped at the intersection. when my time came to turn, the steering wheel would not move. i was out in the middle of traffic, and almost was hit by oncoming traffic. i had to brute force the steering wheel to get it to move while vehicle moving. while vehicle was moving at city speeds (20-40mph) i was able to steer. later that day the steering seemed to work again, but was noisy and made scraping sounds at the ends of travel. recently the problem returned again, where there is no assist in steering at stopped position (unless i rev the engine up to 2000rpm), and when i am driving the steering assist seems to be back. i am extremely concerned that this is a safety issue and will eventually cause a serious accident. from the other complaints it sounds like the complete steering system is at fault, and in some cases after repair this can happen again. what is being done to remedy this? the complaints go back to 2010....

Reported in: BAY CITY MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D29J

STEERING

intermittent, complete failure of power steering / steering assist at low speeds, e.g. when braking at a left turn or when parking, resulting in difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle.

Reported in: ERIE CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D49J

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. while stopped and on a slight incline, the contact stated that the vehicle rolled away in reverse. the failure recurred several times. the vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. the manufacturer was not notified of the issue. the approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

Reported in: PHILADELPHIA PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV13D89J

STEERING

my vehicle has experienced the exact same as numerous complaints for this model and year. at low speeds, the power steering will intermittently fail. just as everyone else, i am told i need a new steering gear, power steering pump, and alignment. this is a safety issue. recently when trying to pull out from a gas station, the power steering failed and it was very difficult to continue turning into near lane without being pulled into the farther lane with oncoming traffic. if this would have been a daughter, i cannot imagine what would have happened (pull into oncoming traffic for a head on collision and possible death). further, to demonstrate buick and gm are fully aware of this problem, when i had it investigated at the local buick dealer, the service department told me that gm changed the power steering pump after that model year because the "7-van pump" installed does not give a great amount of flow of fluid, and it is now replaced with a 12-vane pump. he probably wasn't supposed to tell me that. buick and gm offer absolutely no assistance. it is one thing if there was something wrong with an amenity or something. but a safety issue should be recalled or assistance given. again, there are numerous complaints of exactly the same issue. is it going to take someone pulling out and being pulled into oncoming traffic before gm does the right thing? will an innocent person have to die before the proper action is taken? very upset with the lack of interest from gm and buick for the sole purpose of "saving a buck". where is the integrity?

Reported in: SAGINAW MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D79J

AIR BAGS

got into a major accident two cars ran into my vehicle and everyone was injured and the air bags did not come on to prevent that. i have insurance and police report that states this.

Reported in: BEAUMONT CA || Crash: Y || VIN #:

WHEELS

got into a major accident two cars ran into my vehicle and everyone was injured and the air bags did not come on to prevent that. i have insurance and police report that states this.

Reported in: BEAUMONT CA || Crash: Y || VIN #:

STEERING

the vehicle (2009 buick enclave) was being serviced at a gm dealer for investigation of a noise we have heard while driving the car. the mechanics determined that the noise was due to the steering mechanism which was beginning to fail and needed to be replaced to avoid potential loss of steering.

Reported in: CHARLOTTE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D79J

STEERING

i own a 2009 buick enclave that started experiencing intermittent steering lock-up issues at approximately 55,000 miles. the steering would intermittently 'lock-up' especially at speeds below 35 mph without warning, the problem became much worse over time. we frequently travel to the nc mountains where there are many 2 lane curvy roads going up/down the mountains, the problem was especially noticeable when traveling in the nc mountains. a vehicle having the steering 'lock-up' is a definite safety issue. i had the vehicle repaired by the dealership when it reached 68,295 miles for $2186.50 due to safety concerns of harming one of my children or wife should a wreck occur due to not being able to steer the vehicle. the repairs consisted of replacing the defective 'steering gear' as well as the power steering pump due to metal shavings from the disintegrating steering gear getting into the power steering pump. in searching encvlaveforum.net many users complained of the same issue with vehicles in the lambda family (enclave, traverse, acadia). a recall should be issued for this defect.

Reported in: MOORESVILLE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D49J

STEERING

i brought my car into the dealership in late 2012 for a sound that it was making when i turned my steering wheel. they told me it was "an air bubble in the power steering line" the sound never went away and only got worse- i brought it back into the shop this week- 11/13/13- not the dealership- and i am not being told that my power steering is going out and it has been leaking fluid and damaged my rack and pinion. clearly there are numerous other customers with this same issue and people have had their power steering fail on them while driving- this is a huge safety issue and in my opinion due to the rate of occurrence should be addressed by the manufacturer.

Reported in: LAFAYETTE LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER13D19J

STEERING

i took my car in to be fixed again. i needed the running lights and a hesitation in the car fixed. so they fixed the problems, but when they went to test drive it the power steering failed. now the power steering needs to be replaced. it seems this car is needs to be fixed all the time. i have had a lot of cars and this is the most i have ever had problems with a car. it really scares me that this can be fixed but will most likely fail again due to the problems with gm's steering.

Reported in: WESTFIELD WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D19J

POWER TRAIN

i took my car in to be fixed again. i needed the running lights and a hesitation in the car fixed. so they fixed the problems, but when they went to test drive it the power steering failed. now the power steering needs to be replaced. it seems this car is needs to be fixed all the time. i have had a lot of cars and this is the most i have ever had problems with a car. it really scares me that this can be fixed but will most likely fail again due to the problems with gm's steering.

Reported in: WESTFIELD WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D19J

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. the contact stated that while sitting at a complete stop, smoke emitted into the cabin from under the hood. the engine compartment then became engulfed in flames. the fire department was called to the scene and the vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where it was discovered that the power steering components had failed and allowed fluid to leak onto the manifold. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

Reported in: ANDOVER MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D29J

STEERING

while wife was driving her buick enclave with the kids the power steering pump failed and she narrowly averted being in an accident while trying to turn on an intersection. she was unable to maneuver the vehicle after the pump failed. vehicle was taken to the dealership and it was confirmed that the pump was indeed bad. the dealer also stated that the need to keep the pump in stock because of the amount of failures they see on the buicks and also the chevy traverse. a search on the internet revealed hundreds of complaints of people losing power steering on the chevys and buick models with nothing being done by gm to remedy the situation. losing the ability to steer a vehicle without any warning is a fatally or serious accident waiting to happen(if not already). something needs done to have these known faulty parts recalled or a fix in place. other buick enclave owners as well as the dealership have stated that replacing the pump does not permanently fix the problem but only delays the problem until it occurs again. hopefully my wife and kids will stay out of harms way when it happens again. please press gm for a fix to this problem before someone is injured.

Reported in: GENESEO IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D69J

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the power steering failed without warning. the contact stated that he had to increase the amount of effort in order to steer the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure and current mileage was 84,000.

Reported in: GENESEO IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D69J

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

engine coil misfires resulting in hesitation when accelerating.

Reported in: MONTEBELLO NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D09J

STEERING

my power steering, in my 2009 buick enclave, has caused me problems for almost two years. the power steering has made weird (and loud) noises, when doing slow speed turns. there always seemed to be resistance when turns are made (especially if a slow, sharp turn is needed), above the norm. finally, today, the entire power steering/rack pinion drive went out. i almost got into an accident, when trying to turn left out of an intersection today. it now requires a huge effort to turn the wheel and the car is not safe to drive.

Reported in: OXFORD MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23DX9J

STEERING

my 2009 buick enclave has intermittent loss of power steering, mainly at lower speeds to make turns. this is a very dangerous situation. when this occurs, it takes a lot of strength for me to turn my vehicle. i have read numerous complaints of the same problems of other enclave owners and many different attempts to repair without success. i also came across a web site that states there is a class action lawsuit against gm for said problem. this is such a safety issue that immediate action is needed today! peoples lives are in danger, inside and outside of these vehicles. this failure happens without warning! your prompt attention is appreciated! recalls need to be ordered asap.

Reported in: CARRIERE MS || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

i was heading out my neighborhood up a hill to make a left turn and all of the sudden the steering wheel would not move and almost caused me to get into a wreck. i already had the steering pump and pinions changed 1 week ago and now this happens. apparently this is an issue gm knows about and nothing has been done. i have 2 kids and i am concerned about their safety. not to mention how costly this is and as a single mother i cannot afford to buy another vehicle or repairs, by the way i did just purchase this vehicle 2 weeks ago. yes i did just purchase it from a dealer.

Reported in: TUCKER GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D29J

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

i was heading out my neighborhood up a hill to make a left turn and all of the sudden the steering wheel would not move and almost caused me to get into a wreck. i already had the steering pump and pinions changed 1 week ago and now this happens. apparently this is an issue gm knows about and nothing has been done. i have 2 kids and i am concerned about their safety. not to mention how costly this is and as a single mother i cannot afford to buy another vehicle or repairs, by the way i did just purchase this vehicle 2 weeks ago. yes i did just purchase it from a dealer.

Reported in: TUCKER GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D29J

STEERING

hard to turn. my wife almost hit by a tractor trailer. appears to be a common problem with most enclaves.

Reported in: WELLINGTON FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

my 2009 buick enclave started out with a feeling in the steering when turning to the limits either left or right which was checked out by the dealership as being nothing. then the power steering pump started making noises which was determined by the dealership as something the occurs in this type of pump but is not a safety issue. then the noise became louder and loss of power steering when the engine is initially started and at lower speeds ie in a parking lot. now there feels like a detent in the steering at the straight foreword position and it is noticeable when turning (on the highway) and takes some strength and awareness to overcome the problem. the dealer advises that there is no recall and the car is no longer covered on warranty.

Reported in: MOIRA NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23DX9J

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

purchased 2009 buick enclave new in april 2009. taking it to the dealer for the third time in a week for the steady malfunction indicator light (aka check engine light). first visit (wednesday) revealed pistons misfiring. approximate cost - $400. second visit (friday) did not reveal anything. dealer stated that when the mil was 'fixed' on tuesday, it probably triggered something to make the mil go off for no reason. or, it could be a real problem that will only be revealed after the mil is reset. if the mil does come back on, it's probably the catalytic converter - which will cost almost $600 for the part and $400 plus for the labor. mil came back on friday evening. third visit is tomorrow and i shudder to think what will happen. after researching online, it appears many enclave owners have experienced problems with the mil. very costly problems. have had the same problems that others have experienced - timing change, batter replaced at an unusually short period of time after purchasing vehicle, power steering, memory seat motor blew, peeling paint from a/c and radio buttons and other buttons, etc. really enjoyed the enclave but starting to regret this purchase as it is only 5 years old. some of these problems should have been recalls and no cost to consumer.

Reported in: CHELTENHAM PA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

i have already issued a complaint regarding this issue and continue to have issues with not being able to turn the vehicle in traffic. there have been over 60 complaints filed with the nhtsa regarding steering failure of this vehicle and similar platforms while in traffic. gm has already been shown to fail to correct safety issues despite having knowledge of such (hence the current significant media coverage). there is a class action suit against gm in relation to this issue (the judge so far has ruled against gm to have the suit dismissed giving validity to the issue). i kindly request nhtsa re-evaluate this issue and initiate an investigation. i apologize for using this section to inquire but did not locate any other means of inquiry.

Reported in: OCALA FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i would not recommend this vehicle, it is pretty expensive for all the problems we've had. it has already been recalled twice for two different problems. in december it started misfiring, hesitating and becoming sluggish. after taking it to three different repair facilities they figured out the pistons were misfiring and three ignition coils(all on the same side) had to be replaced. while i realize the time frame of the warranty has passed, we were under the mileage for warranty coverage. i guess automobile makers penalize you for not putting a lot of miles on your car. now, just three months later with only a few more thousand miles added - out of the blue i'm driving down the road and numerous warning lights come on. park assist goes off, all wheel drive goes off, abs warning light, and brake warning light all come on at the same time. when i called the dealer i was told to turn the car off and then back on and it should be fine - it wasn't. then i was told it was ok to drive it! if so, then why all the warning lights? too many things have gone wrong, for a price tag of over $50,000.00. we have always had the suggested maintenance performed, i feel this vehicle is not made well and is not worth the price tag, but more importantly - how safe is it???

Reported in: PRINCE FREDERICK MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV32D39J

STEERING

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.

Reported in: MESA AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER13D89J

STEERING

while trying to execute a u-turn, the power steering failed. oncoming traffic was able to swerve around me or this would have resulted in a collision. the power steering often fails when attempting to turn while going slowly. this is a serious problem and safety concern.

Reported in: POCATELLO ID || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

at low speeds the power steering fails intermittently causing severe difficulty maneuvering near parked cars or pedestrians.

Reported in: NEWCASTLE WA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

the steering began making strange noises intermittently soon after we bought it. we didn't know if it was just something that would go away, but other than slight noises, it was just a small distraction. soon, it became harder and harder to steer at times, and the noises have increased. now, we sometimes are scared we will not be able to turn the wheel effectively at the necessary times, and my wife has had it lock up on her. we are scared for our safety. in looking online, it is clear that this is a manufacturer defect. we have taken it to the gm chevrolet dealership, but they can't really fix it because there is no "recall" on it, and we are out of the warranty period. however, had we taken it initially, we would not have known that the initial problem would get worse and worse, but it was there all along.

Reported in: MACCLENNY FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D39J

SEAT BELTS

tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. the contact stated that the seat belt buckle became fractured and the contact was unable to secure the seat belt. the contact stated that the warning lights for the seat belt did not illuminate. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the vehicle was not been repaired. the failure mileage was 35,000. updated 06/10/14 ma the consumer stated the side seat belt buckle was broken. when it was in the fold down position, it was difficult to raise it back into the sitting position. updated 07/03/14

Reported in: GARRY IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER13D79J

STEERING

car became almost impossible to steer when doing slow turns or in a parking lot. the dealer said it was the power steering pump. it was replaced along with all the other parts and supplies needed. after that it seemed to work okay.

Reported in: NAPLES FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23DX9J

STEERING

at speeds between 25 and 45 mph, the power steering fails and the wheel is hard to steer to the left or right. the problem was intermittent; however, the problem is progressively getting worse. on one occasion, i attempted the make a right-hand turn at an intersection and almost hit a car to my left. after that incident, i brought the vehicle to a certified dealer and was told the power-steering gear and pump need to be replaced at a cost of approx. $3,000. additionally, the condition did not qualify for warranty work. i continue to drive the vehicle because i have no choice at this time, but i have to be cautious at every turn and strong-arm the steering on occasion. not bad for a $45,000 vehicle! thanks buick!

Reported in: ST CHARLES MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D49J

STEERING

power steering intermittently fails when turning. very dangerous when crossing traffic during a left turn, or when maneuvering around pedestrians in parking lots.

Reported in: BULVERDE TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D89J

STEERING

while turning (both left and right) at low speeds the vehicle randomly loses power steering control and becomes very difficult to complete the turn. completing the turns becomes so difficult, my wife has to stop the vehicle forward motion and back up, or when crossing traffic, has to continue in a straight path from where control was lost and hope she can make it across to avoid a wreck. times of occurrence are at random when making turns across traffic from low speeds, turning in parking lots and any other time low speed turns are required. frequency seems to be increasing as time goes on.

Reported in: FATE TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D09J

AIR BAGS

tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. the contact received nhtsa campaign id number: 14v118000 (air bag). the contact stated that the part was unavailable as a result the remedy was unable to be performed. the manufacturer issued a notification letter stating that the part was available however, the dealer did not have parts available to perform the remedy. the contact had not experienced a failure.

Reported in: CINCINATII OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D49J

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

power steering fails and the wheel is hard to steer to the left or right. it continues to get worse and worse. in addition, as we were driving down the street at about 30 mph and all of the electrical went out in the vehicle. we stopped the vehicle, restarted it, and the problem went away.

Reported in: GOODYEAR AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D09J

STEERING

power steering fails and the wheel is hard to steer to the left or right. it continues to get worse and worse. in addition, as we were driving down the street at about 30 mph and all of the electrical went out in the vehicle. we stopped the vehicle, restarted it, and the problem went away.

Reported in: GOODYEAR AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D09J

STEERING

as i was trying to turn into my office the power steering quit working and i about got rear ended. next time i was making a turn into a side road and same thing and i could not get out the maxim road quick enough if someone was coming i would have been t-boned. the following time i was turning out of my driveway and same thing if some one was coming it would not have been good because i live in a curve. next time making turn onto main road luckily no one was coming again. last incident to date turning in my sitters driveway and ran off of her driveway because it quit working. the fluid has been checked so i know that is not the issue. it is scary issue for my family and i.

Reported in: NEWNAN GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D49J

STEERING

i have a 2009 buick enclave its start have a intermitent loss of power steering, when at lower speeds and try to turn left or right. last weeks this been happen every day, sometimes its make a lot noise and get check engine code p0008. then check engine goes off after couple hours.

Reported in: NEWARK NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D39J

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

i have a 2009 buick enclave its start have a intermitent loss of power steering, when at lower speeds and try to turn left or right. last weeks this been happen every day, sometimes its make a lot noise and get check engine code p0008. then check engine goes off after couple hours.

Reported in: NEWARK NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D39J

AIR BAGS

we have a recall 14187 from buick. this recall has been in effect for few month. we have contacted our dealer jones motor in savannah, tn. they have been unable to get the parts from buick to repair our car.

Reported in: DECATURVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D59J

STEERING

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!

Reported in: COVINGTON PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D89J

STEERING

recently when driving at low speeds & making right or left turns my steering seems to tighten up. at first the was just occasionally but now more frequent. it's almost as it totally locks for a moment or two. i have a couple occasions when turning i had no control, most recently it happened when going around a round about, it locked up wouldn't turn anymore & i ended up going in another lane, slamming on my breaks. i was very close to hitting other cars.

Reported in: APPLETON WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAFR23089J

SEAT BELTS

tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. the contact stated that the third row rear passenger side seatbelt failed to retract and the seatbelt had to be cut. the contact mentioned that due to the failure the passenger sustained an abrasion across the chest. the vehicle was to be taken to an authorized dealer for inspection, diagnosis and repair. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 98,500.

Reported in: DANIELSVILLE GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D49J

STEERING

we intermittently lose power steering at low speeds. so far we have not hit anything, but have come close at intersections, in parking lots, and in driveways. i am not sure when it first happened. maybe about a year ago. at the beginning, it was once in a while. now just about every trip we have an incident. power steering reservoir is full and pump appears to be working properly. when i told the dealer of the issue i am having, they recommended changing the pump and gear at an approximate cost of $2,000. as an engineer, i found it hard to believe that both the pump and gear needs replacing. i did some research online and found that many people with same issue who did change pump and gear still had the same issue. further research leads me to believe that the power steering system has a design is defect that needs to be addressed by national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa). the enclave and other gm vehicles have a variable effort steering (ves) system that varies the amount of effort to steer the vehicle. apparently the steering gear valve solenoid can stick causing lose of steering with no warning. i recommend that nhtsa requires gm to either replace ves system with a highly reliable design or disable the system to reduce possibility of having an accident due to power steering failure. nhtsa is welcome to use my vehicle to analyze the issue.

Reported in: ORLANDO FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D09J

POWER TRAIN

while stopping for a traffic signal on a slight incline the vehicle began to roll backward. the engine would not hold even for the amount of time to move my foot onto the brake. vehicle rolled backwards approximately 1-2 feet in process due to weight of auto and inability for drive train to retain the original position. upon investigation i found this problem exists and will not be addressed by the manufacturer.

Reported in: JOHNSON CITY TN || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

in the past i had jerking or slipping of transmission at approximately 40 miles an hour, or the engine was having a coil miss fire. i had 3 new coils installed by dealer under warranty with similar problems before. took to dealer and they could not determine if transmission was slipping or engine miss firing, but no code on miss firing engine. slipping or hesitating of transmission is more likely but can not determine since does not act the same consistently. steering noise started in the winter approximately november 2013, but off and on since; steering seems a little stiff but not failing yet like so many other complaints i have read about here. i was charged $342.81 for dirty throttle body and oil in the air dust tube which might cause misfire, they cleaned and replaced bank 2 value cover and cleared codes, performed idle lean reset. this did not fix problem on 05/19/2014. i returned on 06/10/14 and left car till 06/11/14 the dealer let me use a loaner over night. the dealer said stumble/misfire at times was not acting up enough to diagnose. i had the cars automatic transmission flush service on 02/26/14 and there was no problem at that time. in the course of owning this vehicle i had 3 coils replaced with problems starting 01/05/10 one coil, second coil on 08/11/10. third coil shortly thereafter, this is after complaining since 12/02/2009 about engine shudder. the misfire/stumble is still happening about 40 mph and sometimes around 20mph if you are slow going but not on a pull or accelerating. we love the car, but the problems are getting expensive and the worry of what else can go wrong is stressful. i did not mention the warranty repairs of water pump going out front motor mount failure, shift lever, airbags, seat belts, left out remote mirror failure, engine and transmission code updates. dealer seem ok, so gm can not fix or will not due to cost.

Reported in: OWASSO OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D39J

STEERING

in the past i had jerking or slipping of transmission at approximately 40 miles an hour, or the engine was having a coil miss fire. i had 3 new coils installed by dealer under warranty with similar problems before. took to dealer and they could not determine if transmission was slipping or engine miss firing, but no code on miss firing engine. slipping or hesitating of transmission is more likely but can not determine since does not act the same consistently. steering noise started in the winter approximately november 2013, but off and on since; steering seems a little stiff but not failing yet like so many other complaints i have read about here. i was charged $342.81 for dirty throttle body and oil in the air dust tube which might cause misfire, they cleaned and replaced bank 2 value cover and cleared codes, performed idle lean reset. this did not fix problem on 05/19/2014. i returned on 06/10/14 and left car till 06/11/14 the dealer let me use a loaner over night. the dealer said stumble/misfire at times was not acting up enough to diagnose. i had the cars automatic transmission flush service on 02/26/14 and there was no problem at that time. in the course of owning this vehicle i had 3 coils replaced with problems starting 01/05/10 one coil, second coil on 08/11/10. third coil shortly thereafter, this is after complaining since 12/02/2009 about engine shudder. the misfire/stumble is still happening about 40 mph and sometimes around 20mph if you are slow going but not on a pull or accelerating. we love the car, but the problems are getting expensive and the worry of what else can go wrong is stressful. i did not mention the warranty repairs of water pump going out front motor mount failure, shift lever, airbags, seat belts, left out remote mirror failure, engine and transmission code updates. dealer seem ok, so gm can not fix or will not due to cost.

Reported in: OWASSO OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D39J

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

in the past i had jerking or slipping of transmission at approximately 40 miles an hour, or the engine was having a coil miss fire. i had 3 new coils installed by dealer under warranty with similar problems before. took to dealer and they could not determine if transmission was slipping or engine miss firing, but no code on miss firing engine. slipping or hesitating of transmission is more likely but can not determine since does not act the same consistently. steering noise started in the winter approximately november 2013, but off and on since; steering seems a little stiff but not failing yet like so many other complaints i have read about here. i was charged $342.81 for dirty throttle body and oil in the air dust tube which might cause misfire, they cleaned and replaced bank 2 value cover and cleared codes, performed idle lean reset. this did not fix problem on 05/19/2014. i returned on 06/10/14 and left car till 06/11/14 the dealer let me use a loaner over night. the dealer said stumble/misfire at times was not acting up enough to diagnose. i had the cars automatic transmission flush service on 02/26/14 and there was no problem at that time. in the course of owning this vehicle i had 3 coils replaced with problems starting 01/05/10 one coil, second coil on 08/11/10. third coil shortly thereafter, this is after complaining since 12/02/2009 about engine shudder. the misfire/stumble is still happening about 40 mph and sometimes around 20mph if you are slow going but not on a pull or accelerating. we love the car, but the problems are getting expensive and the worry of what else can go wrong is stressful. i did not mention the warranty repairs of water pump going out front motor mount failure, shift lever, airbags, seat belts, left out remote mirror failure, engine and transmission code updates. dealer seem ok, so gm can not fix or will not due to cost.

Reported in: OWASSO OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D39J

STEERING

my vehicle is extremely hard to steer at low rates of speed. it is almost as if the power steering goes out. i was almost in a collision because i was unable to maneuver the car quickly. thankfully, i was able to get out of the way. i had my children in the car. this issue appears to be frequent and corrected in later buick enclave models. this issue is a safety hazard that gm needs to investigate. this faulty power steering pump needs to be recalled immediately.

Reported in: BURKE VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23DX9J

STEERING

on january 2, 2014, my wife noticed that her car had a steering issue when turning. at low speeds, the steering becomes hard to turn, as if it was binding. i was informed by a mechanic that most likely it was the rack and pinion. i had that replaced, but still the issue exists. another auto tech currently is investigating the same issue and believes and believes it is the electronic brake control module, which tells the car to energize a solenoid that assists in steering at slow speeds. this is an issue, for my car does not have a huge amount of miles. what happens if my wife is unable to steer out of the way of a driver who is coming close to hitting her? and she is unable to do so? she might get hurt or even killed. somebody is going to get sued...either the dealership where i bought the car, or gm itself for knowing about this issue, but refuses to recall the cars. my question is...how many people have to complain, hurt, or killed, because gm refuses to fix this issue? and from what i seen online, there are tons of complaints about this steering issue! where are the bureaucrats who are in charge of transportation? this is not an isolated issue. it is nation wide. i plan on asking my local papers and news organizations about this issue and see if they can do a story about this and get consumers informed about gm products. maybe gm will issue a recall when it hits them in their profits.

Reported in: MANSFIELD TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23DX9J

STEERING

the power steering goes in and out while using it. starting to see on line that this is a very common issue with the make and model. it usually goes out when turning at a high rate of speed or when your parking.

Reported in: ST. LOUIS MO || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick enclave. the contact stated while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was merged to the shoulder of the road. the engine failed to restart after several attempts. the failure recurred multiple times. the vehicle was towed to a dealer. the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 18,000.

Reported in: POOLER GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D59J

STEERING

this problem arises at multiple times daily and it has happened ever since the date of purchase. when you turn usually at slower speeds the steering wheel will become almost impossible to turn at your designated target. in my opinion and it seems to be a common factor with this specific gm/buick model that out of all the recalls the steering was the biggest concern mentioned but it has not been recalled along with the other issues from this vehicle. i purchased the 2009 buick enclave because i trusted gm vehicles and i had my third child on the way so my first choice was a gm vehicle. presently, my mind and trust has changed about gm vehicles because it seems that the manufacturer is ignoring this huge issue that numerous consumers have filed complaints on. since my daughter has been born i refuse to put her in that vehicle because of such fear that we will have an accident because of one of the many issues going on with my 09 buick enclave. this is very upsetting since myself like many that have purchased this vehicle thought of the purchase as an investment or a new fresh step in life. but now it has turned out to be a huge disappointment and added stress to my families life including a danger to not just us but others.

Reported in: PARIS TN || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

dealer is telling me the power steering pump and the rack and pinion steering are leaking and need replaced. estimate is $1754. i just started noticing the steering whining in the past week or so. warranty ended on the steering at 90,000. from the amount of complaints i see online, it appears something needs to be done about this problem. gm needs to issue a recall.

Reported in: KETTERING OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

loss of power steering at low speeds. initially occurred occasionally, but frequency has increased to the point where it now occurs almost daily. prior to steering failure, i did notice a funny sound when the steering wheel was turned to far right or left. at first i thought this was just my car, but it would appear that it is a pretty widespread issue judging by the number of complaints lodged, which i am sure represent just a fraction of the owners who have experienced this issue. given the serious safety issue involved, i am very surprised there has not been a recall since gm seems to be issuing recalls for much less serious issues.

Reported in: JEFFERSONVILLE VT || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAEV23D19J

STEERING

driving home and the stabilitrak and traction control light comes on. car now spins tires and has disabled the abs. very unstable car with abs not working properly. take my vehicle in for routine maintanence and was told rack and pinion is leaking. got online and see class action law suit against gm for this same reason. no recall. i don't see how gm does not think this is a safety issue. to be driving down the road and steering fail. not only endangering people in the car but also everybody else around them. i'm starting to hate this car. looks good from a distance but the problems gm has had with these models enclave, traverse, acadia all models with this steering system. not a cheap fix either! my father worked for gm so that's all we buy. seriously reconsidering though.

Reported in: CARTERSVILLE GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23DX9J

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

driving home and the stabilitrak and traction control light comes on. car now spins tires and has disabled the abs. very unstable car with abs not working properly. take my vehicle in for routine maintanence and was told rack and pinion is leaking. got online and see class action law suit against gm for this same reason. no recall. i don't see how gm does not think this is a safety issue. to be driving down the road and steering fail. not only endangering people in the car but also everybody else around them. i'm starting to hate this car. looks good from a distance but the problems gm has had with these models enclave, traverse, acadia all models with this steering system. not a cheap fix either! my father worked for gm so that's all we buy. seriously reconsidering though.

Reported in: CARTERSVILLE GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23DX9J

STEERING

2009 buick enclave 80k miles - power steering intermittently fails, predominately at low speeds and sharper turns, with no warning.

Reported in: RICHMOND VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 5GAER23D69J