This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
While driving I lose power steering, whether it's 10 miles per hour or 50 miles per hour. Difficult to turn while driving. It seems to have gotten worse over the last few months and the power steering makes a noise while moving the steering wheel. Upon recovery of the power steering, I nearly lose control from overcompensation for trying to turn the wheel with all my strength. Extremely dangerous and unpredictable. There are too many complaints with GMC and the NHTSA to continue without a recall.
This is an intermittent problem where the power steering goes out while the engine is at low RPM. Typically at lower speeds, but makes it unsafe to steer when it happens. However, if you are exiting a freeway with gas off and engine idling it is difficult to steer when/if it happens. This is a common problem for this vehicle and saw that there is a class action lawsuit against GM for this. I hope they GM recognizes this and turns into a recall as this car has had many safety related issues.
Over the last year the turning on my Acadia while at slow speeds has gotten progressively worse. This especially happens at lower speeds, but I have always been able to complete my turn. In April it finally got worse where I needed "brute force" to make a turn and I almost hit another vehicle. At this time the automobile is an "accident" waiting to happen and I will not let my wife or daughter drive it anymore. I have taken the car to my mechanic and he has replaced the power steering pump and rack and pinion and the problem still continues!!! he does not know what else to do! I see that there are many other out there having the exact same problem. GM needs to find a solution to the problem and fix it!! this is a 45K car and these types of problems should not exist, and if they do, they should be handled by GM promptly. I am planning on filing a lawsuit as soon as I find a lawyer familiar with these GM issues.
Replaced steering pump, two days later replaced steering pump again. The issue is that at all instances of no acceleration the steering becomes uncontrollable. However pressing the accelerator restores power steering. At times there was also cases where the steering would not cooperate when entering a freeway when not accelerating.
There should be a recall on this car!!! while turning at low speeds, the power steering locks up.it is impossible to muscle the wheel. I almost got into an accident several times. This has happened many times. I cannot drive the car anymore as it is very dangerous!! there are so many complaints of the power steering locking up!! why isn't GMC looking into this"? do we have to wait until someone is seriously injured or killed"
- Glen Ellyn, IL, USA
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We have had issues that are getting more serious with our 2009 GMC Acadia regarding loss of steering control at low speeds and when turning. The wheel will lock up and become extremely hard to complete the turn. It has gotten so bad that I will not allow my daughter to drive it as the issue could cause a serious accident. Our mechanic has been calling other dealers and nobody seems to know if it is the steering rack or pump. Both will cost around $1000 to fix and we still done know if the issue will be fixed. What is GMC doing about this. Steering issues could cause them more problems than getting this issue fixed.
We were driving in a parking lot and as we began to turn left to park the car, the power steering failed. We had to stop suddenly to avoid a collision. It took incredible arm strength to straighten the car out to leave the parking lot - to return home with the car. When accelerating (higher RPM's) the power steering capability returned. When driving slowly to turn into our driveway, the steering not only failed - but also froze. No amount of arm strength could turn the wheels. This is a serious accident waiting to happen, and after searching online today - I found that this is a systemic issue with this make and model of GMC Acadia. I also found that a class action lawsuit has been filed for this same car defect. It is very disappointing that a recall has not been mandated, as this defect causes random steering failure and could be fatal.
The contact owns a 2009 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that a knocking and creaking noise was present when turning the steering wheel. The contact also indicated that the steering wheel became more difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that the steering gears were faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 69,000. Updated 9/12/14
The rack and pinion steering gear and power steering pump appear to be defective in my 2009 GMC Acadia. For the past several weeks my power steering will lock up or freeze mid-turn, which is very scary. The power steering is gone completely and I have to turn really hard before it seems to re-engage. I am unable to take tight turns in this situation and I am often on the wrong side of the road as I try to pull out of the turn waiting for the power steering to re-engage. I have been lucky so far that I have not run into any oncoming cars when the system locks up. My car is currently in the shop and we are looking at least $1500 worth of repairs.
I took my 2009 Acadia into the GMC dealer with around 65,000 miles on it after buying it used (1 previous owner) with around 42,000 miles. They told me I had a power steering leak in the rack and pinion and it would cost around $2000 to replace a seal because they have to pull the whole rack off. He told me it would be okay for a while, but eventually it would cause the power steering to go out. After researching, I've seen multiple other Acadia owners who have had the exact same problem. I have refused to pay for the repairs because I think this is a safety issue that has effected enough of this model vehicle to warrant a general safety recall. I know of 3 other people in my hometown who have experienced power steering problems with their Acadia's, and the GMC dealership acknowledged to me that it is a significant problem with GMC Acadia model years 2008-2012. If that's not enough, then I'm not sure what is, but if my power steering goes out while I'm driving, well, let this serve as notice to GMC.
When making a turn at a low speed, the power steering failed. After a minute or two and pulling hard on the steering wheel, I hear a click and the power steering re-activates. Another incident just like the first one happened the next day. I did not drive the car again until I took it to the local GMC dealership. It has been the for 3 days and they say that they can not determine what the problem is. The car is not safe to drive until there problem is solved. Although I did not have an accident when this happened, it was very scary when I felt that I could not control the turning of the car. I see there are many incidents described just like this posted online.
The contact owns a 2009 GMC Acadia. The contact stated when the steering wheel was turned it made a knocking noise. The dealer performed a diagnostic test which located the failure in the steering gear box and the rack pinion ball rack assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 28,600.
The steering locks up at low speeds when trying to make a turn. It is extremely dangerous because it is almost impossible to get the vehicle to steer, I barely got mine off the road when it occurred. It is kind of a hit and miss situation, it does not happen on every turn you make; it might happen once and then the next turn it won't and then the next it locks up again. At this point I have my vehicle parked until it's repaired because it's too dangerous to operate because you never know when it will lock up and if you would be able to maintain control of your vehicle. This problem needs to be recalled, especially after so many complaints have been made of the same issue with the vehicle, before someone ends up injured due to the faulty steering. After reading all of the complaints I'm surprised GM has not addressed this issue.
On slow speeds the power steering goes out completely on turns this seems to be a ongoing issue due to other reports power steering just fails but not all the time someone is going to get injured badly as GM knows and you know of this problem.
The power steering was noisy from around the date of purchase. This problem evolved into intermittent failure of the power steering at both low speeds and at highway speeds. The complaint has not been addressed adequately by General Motors even though I am finding many complaints for this same issue. In fact, there is a class action lawsuit pending currently (see below). The vehicle now has approximately 78,000 miles and the intermittent problem persists along with electrical issues on rh side of vehicle. The class action was brought on behalf all persons in the United States who purchased or leased any 2009 through 2012 GMC Acadia, 2009 through 2012 Buick enclave, or 2009 through 2012 Chevrolet traverse vehicles (collectively, 'class vehicles') designed, manufactured marketed, distributed, sold, warranted and serviced by General Motors, llc and General Motors company this action arises out of a uniform and widespread defect in the integral steering system of an entire class of automobiles that poses an extremely unreasonable safety risk not only to the driver and passengers of the vehicle, but to other drivers on the road and pedestrians on the streets. The lawsuit alleges that the steering system in these vehicles are defective because steering may intermittently and drastically fail while the car is in motion (the 'steering defect'), thus creating a serious safety risk. A copy of the complaint is attached here. Complaint: GM 4-1-13 the court denied GM's motion to dismiss and ordered it to answer the complaint. GM motion to dismiss.
At low speeds power steering failed. Need to be accellerating in order for power sterring to work. Seems like a default that should have a recall given that this isn't an uncommon experience. My mileage is really low and I am frankly surprised to have the issue. GMC should probably do a recall before someone gets hurt or killed. Hopefully this isn't a recurring issue after I get it fixed.
During the last few months I have noticed a problem with my 2009 GMC Acadia. The problem occurs with the power steering failing when I am trying to steer or turn. It is as if the power steering stops working completely and I am forced to use manual steering which can be extremely difficult and is a serious safety issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Kansas City, MO, USA