This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Buick Enclave steering problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Buick Enclave have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Enclave | 126 |
| 2011 Enclave | 41 |
| 2012 Enclave | 17 |
| 2013 Enclave | 12 |
| 2014 Enclave (this page) | 11 |
| 2015 Enclave | 12 |
| 2016 Enclave | 3 |
1crash
2injuries
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 service bulletin provides a procedure to flush and bleed power steering system to correct a power steering noise or fluid leak concern that is caused during extremely low temperatures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a procedure inspecting for excess grease or Sealant on the Exterior of the steering gear due to seeing grease or sealant on certain locations on the gear.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2014 Buick Enclave report steering failures that range from complete loss of power assist to severe stiffening that makes the wheel nearly impossible to turn, especially at low speeds. The most common complaint involves steering that tightens up or locks, occurring both while parked and while driving—one owner couldn't steer in a parking lot at 5 mph; another experienced steering lock-up on a freeway on-ramp at 40 mph. Several owners report the power steering pump failing and requiring replacement, with costs cited around $1,600. A few report the steering rack also needing replacement after the pump was already replaced. One owner had an idler pulley bolt break on the serpentine belt, causing loss of steering assist at only 18,800 miles while the car was parked. Another owner's steering failed completely at 120,000 miles, causing a shoulder separation while trying to steer out of a parking space. One vehicle experienced an unexplained hard left turn at highway speed that resulted in a crash into a concrete divider. Owners mention warning lights illuminating, though one dealer attributed the steering problem to a low battery. Repeated repairs and recurrence of failures are common; one owner had the pump replaced, then needed both pump and rack replaced after the same noise and vibration returned within weeks.
Same Buick Enclave steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Idler pulley bolt failure causing loss of steering assist
Broken idler pulley bolt on the serpentine belt caused the belt to hang loose, resulting in immediate loss of power steering assist while parked. The dealer found the bolt snapped and tapped threads to repair.
When: 18,824 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to turn steering wheel; Belt hanging loose on engine
Repairs/costs cited: Broken idler pulley bolt extracted from block; threads tapped. Fixed under warranty at no charge.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Repaired under warranty; owner questions whether bolts are hardened correctly or if installation torque was excessive.
Power steering pump failure and recurring noise/vibration
Power steering pump failed after approximately 3,000 miles of ownership, producing noise and vibration during turns. After pump replacement, the same noise and vibration recurred within weeks. Mechanic expressed discomfort with the pump design.
When: 3,000 miles after purchase; recurred mid-January and again March 7, 2018
Symptoms owners cite: Noise and vibration when turning; Noise blamed on cold weather but worsened over time
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering pump replaced; ball joint also replaced. Same problem recurred requiring further diagnosis by calling Buick dealer.
Loss of power steering assist with steering rack and pump replacement
Vehicle lost power steering assist, becoming difficult to steer. Both steering rack and power steering pump were replaced by independent mechanic, but the failure recurred. No warranty or recall coverage was available.
When: 120,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering assist; Difficult to steer; Power assisted steering failed during right turn; Owner separated shoulder attempting to steer out of parking space
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack and power steering pump replaced by independent mechanic. After second failure, another rack and pump installed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kolar Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac informed owner vehicle not covered by warranty or recall.
Steering stiffness and lock-up at low and highway speeds
Steering wheel stiffened and tightened to the point of being nearly impossible to turn, occurring both at low speeds in parking lots and at highway speeds (50-60 mph). Problem appeared within first 2 days of purchase but dealer could not duplicate the issue. Stiffness comes and goes intermittently.
When: Purchased December 19, 2020; noticed within first 2 days. Also reported at 45,517 miles with similar symptoms.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel tightens up and becomes hard to turn; Stiffness at low speed; Stiffness at high speed (50-60 mph); Intermittent—comes and goes; Hard to steer into parking spaces, driveways, or make sharp turns; Clenching sound when turning
Repairs/costs cited: At 45,517 miles, dealer found leaking steering gear and replaced rack assembly for $1,941.50. Owner reports many other Buicks have the same problem; GM paid for repairs in some cases but denied this complaint.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer diagnosed at no findings on first visit. Owner states hundreds of complaints on this matter and GM has not issued a recall despite paying for repairs on other vehicles.
Steering lock-up while in motion
Steering locked up while vehicle was in motion, nearly causing a collision. The problem recurred on the way home from the first incident. Dealer found a leaking steering gear.
When: 45,517 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering locked up while in motion; Nearly hit another car
Repairs/costs cited: Leaking steering gear; rack assembly replaced for $1,941.50.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner notes many other Buicks have same problem and GM paid for repair; this complaint was denied and closed unsatisfied.
Unexplained hard left turn at highway speed resulting in loss of vehicle control
Vehicle unexpectedly made a hard turn to the left without driver input while traveling at highway speed in light rain, went into uncontrollable counterclockwise spin, and hit concrete divider. No other vehicles skidded. Owner suspects faulty steering system, antiskid system, or computer glitch. Vehicle not inspected.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Hard turn to left without driver action; Uncontrollable counterclockwise spin; Collision with concrete divider
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not inspected.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer would not talk to owner; vehicle remains uninspected.
Difficulty turning steering wheel with warning lights and electrical issues
Steering wheel became difficult to turn while vehicle was in motion with multiple unknown warning lights illuminated. Dealer attributed the problem to a low battery and recommended battery replacement, but vehicle was not repaired.
When: 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Difficult to turn steering wheel; Multiple unknown warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement recommended but vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified of the failure.
Power steering pump failure requiring replacement at low mileage
Power steering pump failed at low mileage (45,000 miles), requiring replacement. Dealer charging $1,600 for the repair.
When: 45,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering stiffened up; Unable to crank wheel in parking lot at 5 mph; Tension pull then release on freeway on-ramp curve at 40 mph
Repairs/costs cited: GM dealer charging $1,600 to replace power steering pump.
Inability to start vehicle with steering concerns and unreplaced airbag
Owner experienced month-long starting issues before complete failure to start. Vehicle stranded in parking lot. Also has unresolved driver-side airbag replacement that dealership said parts had not been received. GM informed owner not on recall list, so towing and repairs are owner's responsibility.
When: September 25, 2024
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to start vehicle without shifting through gears; Vehicle would start in any gear but mostly neutral; Complete inability to start after month of issues
Repairs/costs cited: Towing cost: $89 hook-up plus $8 per mile. Owner responsible for all repairs. Driver-side airbag not replaced due to dealership not receiving part.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM stated vehicle VIN not on recall list; owner must pay for towing and repairs. Airbag replacement delayed indefinitely.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2014 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 2014 Buick Enclave?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 64,832 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2014/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.