11 months after I bought my Buick the engine went out the dealer said it was nothing to do with me the replacement used all my warranty. And there has been one after another problem. My steering wheel locks during turns almost had some real serious finder benders. It's throwing p420 code for bank 2 and now have no sound at all everything works but no blinkers, hazard, seatbelt, backup warning…
2010 Buick Enclave steering problems
moderate 126 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
126
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 126 steering complaints filed for the 2010 Buick Enclave, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Of the 9 model years of Buick Enclave we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 126.
Steering accounts for 46% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 11 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2010 Buick Enclave has a widespread power steering problem that dealers knew about by 2013 but only issued a limited recall notice in 2015 covering the pump alone. Owners report the steering suddenly becomes stiff or fails entirely during slow-speed turns—pulling into driveways, parking, U-turns at intersections—often without warning. The wheel may lock up solid, forcing drivers to apply extreme force to complete turns. Some lose steering for 5-10 seconds; others experience it 50-60% of the time they turn. A grinding or whining noise often precedes failure.
Owners report the power steering fluid level looks normal, yet the system fails. When shops replace the pump, metal shavings are found inside, suggesting the pump wore prematurely and contaminated downstream components. Racks leak fluid or fail within weeks of pump replacement. Full system overhaul (pump and rack) costs $2,000-$2,500, often after the car exceeds warranty limits around 60,000 miles. GM's recall reimbursement covers the pump partially but not the rack, even though dealers confirm the pump failure caused rack damage. Multiple owners nearly hit pedestrians, oncoming traffic, or drove off roads when steering failed at speed.
Same Buick Enclave steering reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent loss of power steering at low speeds
Power steering suddenly cuts out or becomes extremely stiff during turns, particularly at speeds under 30 mph in parking lots, intersections, and tight maneuvers. Failure is unpredictable, occurring 50-60% of the time or with increasing frequency. Owners report the steering wheel becomes almost impossible to turn without significant physical force, sometimes requiring drivers to brake heavily to complete turns. Power steering fluid levels typically appear normal when checked.
When: Starts between 30,000-70,000 miles; progresses over months
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering suddenly fails without warning during slow-speed turns; Steering wheel becomes extremely difficult to turn, requiring extra force; Grinding or rubbing noise from steering column during failure; Failure occurs more frequently over time; Whining or squealing sound from steering pump; Corduroy-like rubbing noise from steering column area
Codes mentioned: P0008
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacing power steering pump ($200-$800 labor portion), steering rack/pinion ($1,000-$2,100), or both ($2,000+). Some shops flush fluid multiple times; metal debris found in system on first failure. Replacement parts fail again within weeks to months in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued a Power Steering Pump Wear Condition recall notice (September 2014, limited warranty notice 14582) covering only pumps under certain mileage/year thresholds. Special Coverage reimbursement available in some cases ($258-$700 reported). Some dealers claim no generic problem exists; others admit design flaw. Class action lawsuit filed.
Power steering rack and pinion leaks and degradation
Steering rack develops leaks or becomes internally damaged, often as a secondary failure after pump problems. Owners report rapid fluid loss requiring daily refill. Boots may crack allowing external moisture into sealed components. Metal debris and contamination appear in system after initial pump failure, suggesting cascading damage from pump wear particles.
When: After initial pump failure or independently at 60,000-85,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fluid leaks from rack assembly; Fluid level drops requiring frequent refilling; Steering becomes progressively harder and less responsive; Grinding noise from steering assembly; Wet boots on steering rack assembly
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replacement costs $1,000-$2,100. One owner paid $724 for pump replacement but needed $1,400+ when rack failed days later. Metal debris found in system, suggesting contamination caused by failed pump circulating particles through rack.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Special Coverage notice mentions boots wetting with steering fluid (TSB referenced in narratives), but does not fully cover rack replacement even when pump failure caused the damage. Partial reimbursement available in some cases.
Stuck or locked steering wheel at low speeds requiring physical force to break free
Steering wheel locks up during turns, requiring driver to yank hard or pump the wheel to regain mobility. Occurs during U-turns, parking, and tight maneuvers. Vehicle may come to near-stop due to steering resistance. Differs from gradual stiffening; this is sudden and dangerous.
When: 50,000-70,000 miles typical; can occur earlier
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks or freezes suddenly during turns; Requires extreme force to break wheel free; Vehicle nearly stops during maneuver; Often happens at U-turns or sharp parking lot turns; No warning lights or error codes appear
Repairs/costs cited: Pump and/or rack replacement attempted, but dealers cannot always isolate root cause at time of service. One owner had steering lock up during school drop-off; another during mountain pass driving at 70 mph (nearly drove off road).
Synthesized from 126 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Check engine light went on. Car was seemingly working alright, however, after fueling up, it was difficult to restart the car. In fact, at the last fill up I was unable to start the car for over 20 minutes while at the gas pump. This caused a great deal of anger, frustration, and rage in the other drivers who were waiting to fuel their cars at very busy gas station near lax. The dealership…
When I try to turn left or right at a low speed, the steering locks up. If I stop and start again, the steering works correctly. This is an intermittent problem but is quite serious as it could have caused accidents two of the times it occurred! *tr
Approximately four years ago, my steering started slipping and becoming tighter in tight (<95 degree) turns. Within a short time span, the problem became constant. It is impossible to enter or exit a parking spot. The dealer quoted me $2500 to repair and said the problem is frequent on Buick enclaves from 2010 on.
In the course of annual state inspection and tending to recall issues, was told that the power steering was leaking. Had not noticed any problem with it. Because was a safety issue got repair done; warranty expired (of course) so ended up paying $1400 for replacing power steering rack (including 4 wheel alignment). Contacted gm and they did partially reimburse under "special coverage". That…
My steering completely sticks when turning either left or right at slow speeds. I have heard other Buick enclave owners having the same issue right around 60,000 miles and around the make/model year 2010. There are over 200 complaints on edmund's Buick enclave forum "power steering noise". It is frightening because it doesn't allow you to properly make the turn. I have taken it into my Buick…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Buick enclave. The contact stated that she began having issues with the steering that progressively became worse. There were no warning indicators illuminated before or after the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion failed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The VIN was unknown. The…
Had steering trouble with your 2010 Buick Enclave?
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 2010 Buick Enclave?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 126 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 112 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 59,000 and 85,000 miles, with the median around 68,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 59,000; a quarter make it past 85,000. 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/2010/Buick/Enclave.
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.