This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Buick Terraza steering problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2crashes
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 13 steering complaints filed for the 2005 Buick Terraza, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 20 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician the steps needed to diagnose and repair the vehicles that may have unwanted or phantom phone calls. Technician will need to determine what type of call the customer is having that is unwanted. The vehicle may receive an incoming call just like any other phone. Typically the customer will hear the phone ringing in the vehicle. This scenario also includes incoming Bluetooth calls. One type of unwanted call can be made if the key pad is faulty the OnStar system will try to make a blue button call for shorted voltage in the circuits. The OnStar module could have an internal fault and produce a ″Phone Unavaila
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗POWER STEERING CLUNK, KNOCK NOISE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2005 Buick Terraza consistently report steering failures that range from dangerous to catastrophic. The most severe incidents involve complete steering lock-up while driving at highway speeds—steering becomes immovable while the brake and accelerator stop responding, accompanied by grinding noise and traction control lights. One owner lost all control on a busy four-lane highway at 50 mph; another had the steering seize at 5 mph during a turn, resulting in a crash into a fire hydrant.
A second major pattern involves unexpected ABS activation that applies the brakes hard, pulling the vehicle to one side (left or right) without driver input. This happens at low speeds and repeats intermittently over weeks or months. Traction control lights accompany these events. Owners report wheel bearing and suspension component replacements (lower ball joints, tie rod ends) that don't resolve the problem.
Owners also report intermittent power steering assist failure that makes the wheel extremely hard to turn, involuntary steering movements at moderate speeds, and persistent steering wheel vibration at highway speeds. One unusual case involved a loose vehicle key lodging in the steering column and jamming the wheel. Dealers consistently fail to diagnose these problems, and Buick has not issued recalls or provided remedies despite multiple complaints over years.
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden Steering Lock-Up During Highway Driving
Steering wheel locks completely while driving, accompanied by loss of brake and accelerator control, traction control and service stability lights illuminate, loud grinding noise from front, vehicle pulls hard to one side or swerves unpredictably. Dealer attributed to faulty steering wheel sensor; owner reports sensor replacement did not resolve recurring problem.
When: Occurred at 50 mph on highway; vehicle had 6,036 miles at time of complaint after 7 months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: steering locks solid; loss of steering control; loss of brake control; loss of accelerator control; traction control light on; service stability system light on; loud grinding noise from front; uncontrollable swerving; vehicle decelerates instantly
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced steering wheel sensor; problem recurred after repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Buick closed case claiming problem resolved after sensor replacement
ABS/Traction Control Activation Causing Loss of Steering Control
ABS system activates and applies brakes suddenly while driving, pulling vehicle hard to one side (left or right), accompanied by traction control light/message and loss of vehicle control. Occurs at low to moderate speeds and resolves after vehicle is parked, turned off, and restarted. Problem recurs randomly.
When: Occurred 4 times in 3 weeks at speeds 5–35 mph; another case at approximately 84,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS activates unexpectedly; sudden uncontrolled braking; vehicle pulls hard to one side; traction control light activates; loss of steering control; brakes engage without driver input
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports both front wheel hubs with integrated wheel speed sensors replaced within prior 18 months; another case could not be diagnosed at dealer
Steering Wheel and Brake Pedal Seize Simultaneously
Steering wheel and brake pedal lock up at the same time while vehicle is in motion at low speed, with ABS and traction control indicators illuminating. Vehicle becomes uncontrollable.
When: At 5 mph during right turn attempt; another case at approximately 84,000 miles at 5 mph
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel seizes; brake pedal seizes; ABS indicator illuminates; traction control indicator illuminates; complete loss of vehicle control
Repairs/costs cited: One case resulted in crash into fire hydrant; dealer could not determine cause
Intermittent Power Steering Assist Failure
Power steering assist drops out suddenly, making the steering wheel extremely difficult to turn. Failure occurs at low speeds and intermittently corrects on its own within approximately 20 seconds.
When: At 5–10 mph; vehicle had 15,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: power steering assist fails; steering wheel becomes very hard to turn; intermittent failure; self-corrects within 20 seconds
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired
Involuntary Steering Intervention
Steering wheel turns involuntarily, pulling the vehicle into an adjacent lane without driver input while driving at moderate speed.
When: At 40 mph; vehicle had 43,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: steering turns involuntarily; vehicle steers into adjacent lane without driver input
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware but offered no assistance
Steering Wheel Vibration
Persistent vibration in steering wheel at highway speeds despite tire rebalancing and rotation. Dealer unable to diagnose root cause after multiple visits and blamed owner for maintenance schedule.
When: Noticed at 8,000 miles on new vehicle; problem continues at 65–70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel vibration; vehicle shaking at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Tire rebalancing performed; tires went bald and were blamed on owner's maintenance; dealer stated nothing further could be done
Uncontrolled Left Front Brake Grab
Left front brake suddenly grabs as if driver applied brake without input, jerking vehicle hard to the left toward oncoming traffic. Occurs repeatedly despite replacement of wheel bearings, lower ball joints, and tie rod ends.
When: First occurred in May 2014; has happened multiple times since then
Symptoms owners cite: left front brake grabs unexpectedly; vehicle jerks hard to left; loss of vehicle control; pulls toward oncoming traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Both wheel bearings replaced, lower ball joints replaced, tie rod ends replaced; no improvement
Tie Rod End Wear and Plastic Seal Failure
Tie rod ends wear prematurely and plastic seals fail, requiring early replacement. Occurs at relatively low mileage.
When: At 31,464 miles; replacement done at 33,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: worn tie rod ends; plastic seal failure on tie rod
Repairs/costs cited: Tie rods replaced at dealer
Ignition Switch Disengagement on Road Impact
Ignition switch disengages when vehicle hits a bump while in motion on highway, causing engine shutdown. Driver must shift to neutral and restart. Occurs at multiple speeds.
When: On highway and at 30 mph on street
Symptoms owners cite: ignition switch disengages on road bumps; engine shuts down; complete loss of ignition
Keyway Obstruction Causing Steering Lock
Loose vehicle key lodges in steering column behind cruise lever, jamming steering wheel and preventing turning. Key became bent and second key broke in ignition during attempted hard turn. Issue caused by damaged plastic surrounding steering column cruise lever area.
When: During parking lot exit maneuvers at low speed
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel locks; loose key lodges in steering column; key breaks in ignition; plastic damaged on steering column
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer removed lodged key; charged $51.50 for new key
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
After making several turns to exit a parking lot I stopped at a stop sign at an exit, proceeded to cross westbound traffic and as I neared the median to turn onto the east bound lanes my steering wheel became locked with the car in motion. I headed straight through the median across one lane of east bound traffic and partially through the second east bound lane. Heading straight toward a…
Dt*: the contact stated the headlights flickered when the vehicle was driven 0-60 MPH. When the vehicle was taken to the sales/service dealer, the problem could not be recreated. The voltage regulator was replaced, but the problem continued. The lights failed to remain bright enough to see well at night. The computer programming was reflashed. The vehicle also had an ongoing issue with the…
I own a 2005 Buick terraza. Bought the vehicle in july of 2005 at around 8000 miles noticed a vibration in the steering wheel ,took it to the dealer and they said the tires needed to be re-balanced. After I left dealership still noticed the vehicle shaking. Went back to the dealership front tires are now going bald and they state it was my fault for not rotating at 5,000 miles. So they do it for…
Had steering trouble with your 2005 Buick Terraza?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2005 Buick Terraza?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 29,000 and 132,000 miles, with the median around 84,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 29,000; a quarter make it past 132,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Buick/Terraza.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.