2009 Buick Enclave complaints

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. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

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! *TR

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.

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.

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. *TR

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. *TR

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

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

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.

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. *TR

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.

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. *TR

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. *TR

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.

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

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. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR