ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN THE PAST MONTH MY CAR LOST POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ON CITY STREETS WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE ENGINE. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO MY BUICK DEALER AFTER THE 2ND OCCURRENCE AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN LAST WEEK I NOTICED THAT RIGHT BEFORE I LOST POWER THE SMAL…
2011 buick Enclave steering problems
moderate 41 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
41
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
THE POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING AFTER HEARING LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND DIFFICULT TO STEER WHILE DRIVING. GM SAID THEY DIDN'T SEE A PROBLEM AND NOT PART OF THE "SPECIAL COVERAGE" THAT INVOLVES A STEERING PUMP. APPARENTLY, YOU NEED TO ALMOST CRASH YOUR CAR BEFORE THAT IS REPLACED. I RECEIVED A QUOTE TO REPAIR AND IT'S AT LEAST $800. THE CAR HAS 67K MILES AND IS 5 YEARS OLD - ONLY OWNER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT …
RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE MY POWER STEERING GEAR DUE TO LEAKING SEALS THAT CAUSED FAILURE. ALSO POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. POWER STEERING PUMP IS COVERED UNDER SPECIAL GM WARRANTY (14329 'LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST'), BUT NOT POWER STEERING GEAR. IN DOING RESEARCH, IT SEEMS MANY CONSUMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR ISSUE, BUT GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING GEAR.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2011 buick Enclave?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 41 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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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