At 60,000 miles noticed a slight "squeak" in my steering when turning. Dealership checked it and stated I needed a new steering rack "...found noice coming from sttering gear input shaft seal, but aslo found steering gear leaking fluid out both end of gear". Quoted me a $1589.00 repair. I was informed this has been an issue on enclaves & traverses, but not a recall.
2012 Buick Enclave steering problems
moderate 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 17 steering complaints filed for the 2012 Buick Enclave, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Power steering pump was replaced sept 2017 due to intermittent steering problems when making right had turns generally at lower speeds (78066 mileage). November 2019 same issue (98302 mileage) dealer told me with some cars two years is the life of a power steering pump. I would not be able to control the vehicle if this happened a any rate of speed. Also, the air conditioner has been repaired…
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Buick enclave. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel began to abnormally pull to the left. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician advised the contact that an alignment needed to be performed on the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions where he…
A week ago, I felt my 2012 Buick enclave wasn't steering properly...like I suddenly have considerably less control...as if the steering wheel is fighting me when I turn. I noticed it because I could not get my car's steering to respond coming onto an entrance ramp onto 76w in pa and it almost veered into the lane to the left (as I was fighting to hold my wheel to the right coming off the ramp).…
Had steering trouble with your 2012 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 2012 Buick Enclave?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 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 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 33,098 and 83,000 miles, with the median around 59,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 33,098; a quarter make it past 83,000. 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/2012/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.