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
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$700
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). I…
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?
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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