NHTSA — Steering Problems

2008 Buick Enclave (Page 1 of 5)

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CarComplaints.com Notes: Buying the first model year of any vehicle is rarely a good idea. You become a guinea pig for the automaker and they are really not nice to guinea pigs.

The 2008 Enclave has a wide enough range of problems to issue a warning. There's transmission failure under 90k miles, new power steering units costing over $1,300, and enough engine complaints to NHTSA to scare anyone away.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,097 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2008 Buick Enclave steering problems

steering problem

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2008 Buick Enclave Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #98

Jun 222024

Enclave

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Unknown

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #97

May 072024

Enclave

  • miles
i was driving fine until i slowed down and tried to turn, the steering wheel was hard to turn and making a grinding noise. it works fine going on the highway. i noticed this was a big issue with the enclave and wondering why this isnt recalled? ive spent enough money on this that i didnt have and cant afford another expense. i do not have a warranty on it. no check engines light and fluids are good

- Cloquet, Mn, MN, USA

problem #96

May 082022

Enclave

  • 125,637 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while driving 3-5 MPH and making a turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's husband was able to continue driving the vehicle however, extra effort was needed to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 125,637.

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #95

Jul 022020

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 159,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The power steering on my vehicle has been failing more frequently to the point I'm afraid to drive it. I am a polio survivor and depend on the full function of my right arm @ all times. Since purchasing the 2008 Enclave in June 2019, the power steering has begun failing every time I use the vehicle. The worst failure was on the freeway @ 80 mph while returning home to Idaho, from the death of my father in tuscon. The steering failed while I was negotiating a curve. I was able to pull out of the curve @ the last minute. It scared me half to death! over the last few months, the steering has become more impossible to manage, which has caused the rotator cuff of my right arm to become exceedingly more painful. The power steering pump has been an on going issue with these cars to the point of the pump being redesigned by GMC. I feel this issue is a serious safety hazard and warrants a recall. Sincerely, [xxx], rn (retired) information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Chubbuck, ID, USA

problem #94

Aug 012019

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 160,000 miles
I have own this car for 1 year. Shortly after purchasing it I started to notice that every once in a while the steering wheel would lock up making very difficult to turn but it wouldn't do it all the time. It seems to get worse the longer the car is running. It is now doing it pretty regularly and has caused some pretty bad scares when on an off ramp etc. There was a recall on this very problem but it says my car/VIN is not included. I would like to find out why?

- Van Meter, IA, USA

problem #93

May 012019

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 121,000 miles
The power steering fails on turns with no warning. From what I read this is common on Buick Enclaves. I was almost in an accident from the power steering failure. Once I was on a 55 mph highway changing lanes when it failed, the rest are usually when turning. My mechanic said the power steering pump needs replacement.

- Woodruff, WI, USA

problem #92

Sep 202019

Enclave

  • 122,613 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. When the contact depressed the brake pedal to make a turn at 25 mph, the steering wheel seized. There were no warning indicators illuminated and the failure occurred randomly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power brake vacuum pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 122,613.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #91

Apr 192019

Enclave

  • 5 miles
This SUV is the devil it self. Is giving me all kind of problem right now it have a limp mode and I have no idea what to do the transmission is not working in any gear. The soft codes said P0171, P 0174, P 0420, P 0300 is crazy. I have change the alternador, the purge valve, the valve canister on top of the gas tank and the other sensor that tell you about the fumes of the tank went filling. I also change the PCV valve all the breathers hoses in the intake housing, I change the troutle body, the spark plugs, the coils, the intake gaskets, the oxigents sensors, the batery poles. And this SUV still giving me problems now it went to a transmission limp mode and is not coming out not even if you erase the codes and all fuses are good.

- Brockton, MA, USA

problem #90

Mar 292019

Enclave

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that the electric power steering failed and caused the steering wheel to seize in either direction. The vehicle was unable to be driven due to the intermittent failure and was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified. The dealer was not contacted. The diagnostic results were not provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was not available.

- Euclid, OH, USA

problem #89

Mar 022019

Enclave

  • 165,000 miles
Light flash by them selves truck door lifts by it self serviceability track and traction control lights are on and now won't accelerate, and power steering pump is also a issue. When ever lights and hatch open alone the park is parked and cut off

- Youngstown, OH, USA

problem #88

Jan 142019

Enclave

  • 158,501 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving and making a turn the power steering failed to function. Took the car to a mechanic and he replaced the rack and pinion and pump. The problem continues. Power steering works when accelerating and stepping on the gas. When you take your foot off the gas or are stopped power steering does not work. When making a turn at an intersection the power steering goes off and it is difficult to complete the turn. I read on line that other 2008 Buick Enclaves have the same problem.

- N Imas, CA, USA

problem #87

Dec 012018

Enclave

  • 620,000 miles
The power sterring pump and rack pionion is out and needs both front and lower control arms need to be replace cannot turn the steering wheel while ran into a park vehicle now I am being sued

- Redford, MI, USA

problem #86

Jul 132018

Enclave

  • miles
This car is a mess. It didn't pass the state emission test sticker. The traction control system in conjunction with the stability track control system. Are bringing up a check engine light with error code P0174 and P0171. Every time those system showed up in the instrument panel I got a follow up check engine light. I don't know what the problem is and two GMC Buick dealer have said different fix method. Very back for me. They want to fix different problems. They don't know what the real problem is. They are guessing.

- Brockton, MA, USA

problem #85

Aug 152018

Enclave

  • 175,000 miles
Power steering pump failure. At low speeds wheel becomes almost impossible to turn. This has caused several near accidents. Dealer quoted almost $1600 to replace. Online research shows this is a common problem for this vehicle. I have already had the steering worked on once before after having difficulty turning the wheel. As it is over 3 years since then, I am told the cost is due from me in full.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #84

Aug 012018

Enclave

  • miles
The power steering pump

- Smithfield, VA, USA

problem #83

Oct 262015

Enclave

  • 104,000 miles
Complete engine power reduction automatically casing car instantly to drop from 65 mph down to 25 mph in the middle of a 4 lane highway. Lost all power steering ability and not able to turn car and almost drove into trees before it came to a stop. I had to have aaa come and tow my car to walser Buick GMC in bloomington,

- Minnetonka, MN, USA

problem #82

Oct 052017

Enclave

  • 149,000 miles
The power steering seems to fail at times. It becomes very difficult to turn the wheel after stopping at an intersection or traffic light. It's also difficult to make turns into traffic when I have to quickly merge into the flow of traffic.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #81

Aug 252011

Enclave

  • 77,000 miles
Power steering is hard to turn at low speed

- Naches, WA, USA

problem #80

Feb 242017

Enclave

  • 74,200 miles
This is a 1 owner vehicle, not driven long distances or on salted or rough terrain. In the last few months, I have had to replace both stabilizer bars, shocks, struts, and because the brakes were not put back on properly the brakes and rotors, and in 2011 the gear box had a leak which was replaced. Now after spending $4K in the last few months, I am being told the rack and pinion (which is the same as the gear box) is leaking again! I only have 74K miles on this car! I previously had a 1990 Chevy Suburban that never had these kinds of issues! and yet here alone I see over 80 issues for the power steering alone! make GM recall this vehicle or I fully intend to start a class action lawsuit and include your organization as well for failure to protect the public!

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #79

Nov 232016

Enclave

  • 149,000 miles
My 2008 Buick Enclave has been an accident waiting to happen the entire life of the car. My main concern is the power steering. It has gone out 5-6 times in the 8 years I have owned the vehicle.if you would like invoice of each time/date I have them with the exact problem. Five or 6 times it went out.-- three at slow speed low RPM trying to turn in the city and at 6 1 wt 230 it took all my strength not to hit a car head on during the turn.three on the interstate turning off exit an higher speed. If my daughter or granddaughter had been driving in the city they would have been dead. Buick extended the power steering warranty to 150;000 miles. I had the last power steering pump put in at 149,432 miles 11/23/16. My concern to you and Buick is about every 25K power steering goes out. I never had a power steering problem with my 2002 chevey sub with 160K witch we still drive--never had a power steering problem with my 2002 GMC den with 251K witch we still drive..Buick knows they made a engineering design flawed car with their first Enclave SUV at the expense in money and lives of the 2008 owners all 2008 Enclaves should be grounded like the 787 was before boeing/faa found out what was causing the battery fires and fixed them!!.why is a flying public life worth more than the a driving public life? if you and Buick will not ground the Enclave then at least they should be a free safety check ever quarter for the life of the car for their design flaw problems.I think there are 12. Ps I cannot write 6 times so I put last one on 'when did this happen.

- Spartanburg, SC, USA

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