Problems with 2009 GMC Acadia STEERING

Wife was almost hit a couple of times today when there was a complete loss of power steering while turning at low speeds. *tr

While driving i lose power steering, whether it's 10 miles per hour or 50 miles per hour. difficult to turn while driving. it seems to have gotten worse over the last few months and the power steering makes a noise while moving the steering wheel. upon recovery of the power steering, i nearly lose control from overcompensation for trying to turn the wheel with all my strength. extremely dangerous and unpredictable. there are too many complaints with gmc and the nhtsa to continue without a recall. *tr

This is an intermittent problem where the power steering goes out while the engine is at low rpm. typically at lower speeds, but makes it unsafe to steer when it happens. however, if you are exiting a freeway with gas off and engine idling it is difficult to steer when/if it happens. this is a common problem for this vehicle and saw that there is a class action lawsuit against gm for this. i hope they gm recognizes this and turns into a recall as this car has had many safety related issues. *tr

We were driving in a parking lot and as we began to turn left to park the car, the power steering failed. we had to stop suddenly to avoid a collision. it took incredible arm strength to straighten the car out to leave the parking lot - to return home with the car. when accelerating (higher rpm's) the power steering capability returned. when driving slowly to turn into our driveway, the steering not only failed - but also froze. no amount of arm strength could turn the wheels. this is a serious accident waiting to happen, and after searching online today - i found that this is a systemic issue with this make and model of gmc acadia. i also found that a class action lawsuit has been filed for this same car defect. it is very disappointing that a recall has not been mandated, as this defect causes random steering failure and could be fatal. *js

I was making a turn at a curve and the steering seemed to lock up. i braked hard to stop before running off road. steering wheel kicked as i tried to straighten the wheels, then started working again. the steering has gotten worse over the last few weeks making turning difficult at almost any speed. it is intermittent and comes especially at slower speeds. i have not been able to get it to the dealer yet. *js

Over the last year the turning on my acadia while at slow speeds has gotten progressively worse. this especially happens at lower speeds, but i have always been able to complete my turn. in april it finally got worse where i needed "brute force" to make a turn and i almost hit another vehicle. at this time the automobile is an "accident" waiting to happen and i will not let my wife or daughter drive it anymore. i have taken the car to my mechanic and he has replaced the power steering pump and rack and pinion and the problem still continues!!! he does not know what else to do! i see that there are many other out there having the exact same problem. gm needs to find a solution to the problem and fix it!! this is a 45k car and these types of problems should not exist, and if they do, they should be handled by gm promptly. i am planning on filing a lawsuit as soon as i find a lawyer familiar with these gm issues. *tr

Our 2009 gmc acadia's power steering locks up at low speeds. this happens randomly and typically always when the wheel is turned. once the wheel locks it remains 'stuck' for a little over 1 second. while the wheel is 'stuck' it cannot be turned. this is a very common complaint on this vehicle and creates an very dangerous driving condition. a mechanic has diagnosed this issue as a faulty rack and pinion. the mechanic also claimed that this is very common on these vehicles. i was shocked the first time the wheel became stuck while i was driving; it instantly sent me in to a panic. there needs to be a recall on this vehicle. *tr

The power steering quits at slow speeds or slowing down to make a turn. becomes like a manual steering that suddenly becomes hard to turn the wheel. happens in both forward and reverse. makes it difficult to get out of parking spaces. also difficult to stay in proper lane when making a corner turn, have to fight the wheel. *tr

We drove 5 hours to get our acadia. only to realize the very next day less than 24 hours the steering wasn't working right. if parked or at low speeds it is as if it has no power steering. this makes it pretty much impossible to get out of any right spots, parking spots & it literally impossible to parallel park. this issue has only gotten worse. i have researched online and have seen tons of complaints of this same issue and is stating the ones who did have the issue fixed it was the rack and pinion which cost $1400-$1700 to fix! therefore a recall needs to be made of this issue due to faulty assembly before someone gets injured! *tr

The rack and pinion steering gear and power steering pump appear to be defective in my 2009 gmc acadia. for the past several weeks my power steering will lock up or freeze mid-turn, which is very scary. the power steering is gone completely and i have to turn really hard before it seems to re-engage. i am unable to take tight turns in this situation and i am often on the wrong side of the road as i try to pull out of the turn waiting for the power steering to re-engage. i have been lucky so far that i have not run into any oncoming cars when the system locks up. my car is currently in the shop and we are looking at least $1500 worth of repairs. *tr

When making a turn at a low speed, the power steering failed. after a minute or two and pulling hard on the steering wheel, i hear a click and the power steering re-activates. another incident just like the first one happened the next day. i did not drive the car again until i took it to the local gmc dealership. it has been the for 3 days and they say that they can not determine what the problem is. the car is not safe to drive until there problem is solved. although i did not have an accident when this happened, it was very scary when i felt that i could not control the turning of the car. i see there are many incidents described just like this posted online. *tr

Steering failure. appears to be a prevalent complaint among owners of this vehicle. safety hazard. gm should issue a recall.

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 gmc acadia. the contact stated that a knocking and creaking noise was present when turning the steering wheel. the contact also indicated that the steering wheel became more difficult to turn. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that the steering gears were faulty and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 69,000. updated 9/12/14*cn

My acadia began having power steering issues. i checked the power steering fluid, but the level was fine. the problem got increasingly worse until it was to the point that i could hardly turn the car at times. this is a dangerous situation as i would have easily hit other cars going around corners, etc. this is a serious issue as all the people i know that own acadias, have the same power steering issues. this is clearly a widespread and possible accident-causing problem. i believe this should be considered for a recall because of the danger involved in not being able to control this car when the power steering is out. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 gmc acadia. the contact stated when the steering wheel was turned it made a knocking noise. the dealer performed a diagnostic test which located the failure in the steering gear box and the rack pinion ball rack assembly needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure and current mileage was 28,600.

Replaced steering pump, two days later replaced steering pump again. the issue is that at all instances of no acceleration the steering becomes uncontrollable. however pressing the accelerator restores power steering. at times there was also cases where the steering would not cooperate when entering a freeway when not accelerating. *tr

When going at slow speed turning to right or left is tight. *tr

The steering locks up at low speeds when trying to make a turn. it is extremely dangerous because it is almost impossible to get the vehicle to steer, i barely got mine off the road when it occurred. it is kind of a hit and miss situation, it does not happen on every turn you make; it might happen once and then the next turn it won't and then the next it locks up again. at this point i have my vehicle parked until it's repaired because it's too dangerous to operate because you never know when it will lock up and if you would be able to maintain control of your vehicle. this problem needs to be recalled, especially after so many complaints have been made of the same issue with the vehicle, before someone ends up injured due to the faulty steering. after reading all of the complaints i'm surprised gm has not addressed this issue. *tr

Tl * the contact owns a 2009 gmc acadia. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds and when making a turn, the power steering malfunctioned making it extremely difficult for her to maneuver the steering wheel. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician diagnosed that there was a leak in the power steering gear. as a result, the pump and steering gear needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 72,178 and the current mileage was 80,000. updated 08/11/14*lj

At low speeds power steering failed. need to be accellerating in order for power sterring to work. seems like a default that should have a recall given that this isn't an uncommon experience. my mileage is really low and i am frankly surprised to have the issue. gmc should probably do a recall before someone gets hurt or killed. hopefully this isn't a recurring issue after i get it fixed.

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 gmc acadia. the contact stated while traveling approximately 5 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. the failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

* transmission was slipping and revving up between gears. delayed response and clunking sound when it is in reverse. "check engine light" also came on. barely drove the car to the dealership for repairs. dealership service advisor scheduled a transmission rebuild. after doing internet search, i saw countless complaints in blogs, sns, etc. there are so many people having this transmission problem. not acceptable. gmc has powertrain warranty 5 year /100k miles. my warranty expires in four months and gm should provide extended powertrain warranty beyond 5 years based unreliable transmission design/quality. * power steering problem. power steering is making moaning under low speed driving (in the parking lot, driving around subdivision, etc.). noise is coming from the inside steering column area. also steering is very tight and hard. complained to dealership multiple times. dealership replaced the seal twice, but the problem is still there. dealership told me that gm does not have a fix for this problem. *tr

My 2009 gmc acadia started to lock up while steering/turning. i took to dealership and was told i needed to replace my rack. they quoted me $1500! i could not afford this, so they told me it's drivable but will eventually get worse. i cannot park easy in parking lots, i can't make easy turns and it's terrifying when i take my kids in the car. i took it other places - some said it's the rack and others it's the pump. so far i had to replace coils every month, my engine had to be remodeled after a rod snapped off into it and now this! please recall this!!!!!!!!! it's a safety issue and way too costly! *tr

My acadia has some problems with the power steering being "stiff" - or hard to turn in tight spots. (i.e., parking or close turns). i took it to my repairman today and asked him to check it out. he says that he has seen issues with other vehicles, including the acadia and the enclave - this same issue. he started taking it apart and called me and said the entire power steering system, pump, rack n pinion steering, etc. have to be replaced. he said he has had to do this in several other vehicles like this. he said that there were already metal shavings showing up. he told me that parts and labor would be around $1,100 to get this taken care of. he said it will just gradually get worse - it shouldn't go out all together all at once, but it would get worse. i have seen 25+ other complaints on this same problem with the same vehicles. when is gm going to do something about this. i have done regular maintenance on this vehicle all along. it has approx. 80,000 miles on it right now. has been doing this for about a year - not bad - but he is right - getting a little worse all the time. *tr

Vehicle is hard to turn at low speeds, particularly when parking. seems as though power steering is not working. took to dealer and was told that power steering pump went out and that steering gear/rack should also be replaced for $1800+. this is ridiculous on a vehicle that was purchased new and serviced every 3000, primarily at the dealership from which it was purchased. given the other 23 complaints that have been filed for the same issue, it appears to be a common defect and i am extremely concerned about the safety of the vehicle that my wife drives every day with our 2 young children. *tr

2009 gmc acadia slt1 - 67,000 miles currently. power steering failing at lower speeds. when purchasing the vehicle used with only 25,000m+- approx. 2 years ago, i questioned the dealership about the whining noise coming from the steering components and was told that this is normal for all acaidias and not a concern. now the steering is failing at low speed turns. gmc service dept recommending: steering gear housing $42.14 - 2 bolts $11.00 - 2 - bolts $7.59 - 6 - p/s fluid $23.10 and flush and bleed system, labor to replace steering gear housing $640.50 power steering pump $155.69 realign after steering gear repair $69.95 labor for pump $315.00 injectors and coils failing. in dec 2011, i had to replace coils #2 & #3. i just replaced #6 injector on july 17, 2013 (= $685) and on july 24, 2013 (one week later) check engine light reappeared. gmc service dept recommending: 4 - ignition coils $373.30, 6 - spark plugs $42.25, labor for coils, and plugs $241.50. ........................................................... total parts $655.07 total labor $1197.00 tax $54.04 align $69.95 total: $1976.06 offering 40% customer portion pay $790.42 why is there no recall on defective steering components & coils/injectors? in the later 2012 models gm did change the power steering & fluid, so gm is aware that there is a problem with the design. the fuel delivery system is also defective and faulty coils/injectors could and have caused fires. gmc acadia, buick enclave & chevrolet traverse vehicles up to early 2012 models share these above mentioned components are plagued by these two problems along with transmission (wave plate) problems. gm needs to take full responsibility for defective components and not offer discounted repairs. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 gmc acadia. while driving approximately 25 mph, the steering wheel seized. the dealer stated that the steering rack and power steering pump failed. the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vin was unavailable. the approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

During the last few months i have noticed a problem with my 2009 gmc acadia. the problem occurs with the power steering failing when i am trying to steer or turn. it is as if the power steering stops working completely and i am forced to use manual steering which can be extremely difficult and is a serious safety issue. *js

Steering is difficult at low speeds. while driving at low speeds the steering wheel seems to almost lock up and needs considerable force to be turned. the problem is consistently happening every time the acadia is driven. this problem makes it extremely difficult to maneuver in parking lots and at any intersection. this problem has been going on for a little while and seems only to be getting worse. *tr

Was driving our 2009 gmc acadia and as i was slowing and turning the car became very hard to steer, if i was applying the brake i could barely turn the steering wheel. i then asked my father to test it out and even he could barely turn it when applying the brakes and was tight to steer in general. i am 500 mikes from home, but not sure it is safe to drive back home. will call dealer but from all the other complaints it sounds like the power steering pump is or has gone out. this is very unsafe and although i was cautious while driving, it is definitely a safety hazard!!!! *tr

On multiple occasions, the power steering has failed when turning the wheel of the vehicle. this specific instance, as i was trying to cross on coming traffic on a major roadway (posted speed limit 45 mph) to get into a common turn lane to merge with traffic, the steering went out as i barely made it into the common turn lane leaving me with concerns about the safety of driving my vehicle. i have concerns that the steering should be failing so quickly after 3 plus years of the life of the vehicle (bought brand new). *tr

There should be a recall on this car!!! while turning at low speeds, the power steering locks up.it is impossible to muscle the wheel. i almost got into an accident several times. this has happened many times. i cannot drive the car anymore as it is very dangerous!! there are so many complaints of the power steering locking up!! why isn't gmc looking into this?? do we have to wait until someone is seriously injured or killed? *tr

The vehicle's steering stops working at low speeds while trying to park or back out of a parking place. the power steering fails and you must turn the vehicle manually. the issue continues to get worse the longer you wait to get it fixed. *tr

I purchased this vehicle from a gmc dealership on march 1st 2014. the very next day i replaced a headlight (no big deal), a few days later it was veering to the left very hard so i took it back. they said the alignment was off 45 degrees, so they fixed it. 1 month later the steering started locking up when turning at slow speeds. i had it diagnosed by the gm dealership who said it was the rack and pinion, and struts and bearings. i took it to another auto shop who said it was the power steering pump and replaced it, the locking up stopped. they said the rack and pinion were bad but could last a bit longer. a month later the air conditioner was completely out(the very first time i turned it on), and a month later the entire car is whining very loudly which i am assuming is the rack and pinion finally giving out. i have spent 20k on this vehicle and had it for 6 months now. in that 6 months it has been in the shop at least once a month. that is on top of the 3 recalls it has been in for in the 6 month period also. now it has to go back in to fix this rack and pinion. thankfully i purchased an extended warranty, but this steering column is not all covered. i am beyond frustrated and tired of throwing in thousands of dollars when i have had the vehicle a short amount of time, and this replacing of the steering rack is a bit ridiculous since the vehicle does not even have 100k miles on it. i was told it is unsafe to drive, but when i dont have an extra few thousand dollars to throw into it after putting a huge downpayment on it, and having a brand new ford vehicle for 9 years and never having to put a dime into it. i am sick of it. it is wrong that gm put faulty cheap parts into their vehicles. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 gmc acadia. the contact stated while driving approximately 5 mph the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the technician stated the power steering pump assembly and the water pump shaft seal had to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 50,000. *tr

Driving on sr at approx. 65mph when check engine light comes on and "engine power reduced" is displayed. car slows dramatically and eventually comes to a stop. power steering is also lost concurrently. after swerving into opposite lane, i managed to get car off to the side of road. car was towed to dealership (courtesy gm roadside assistance). fuel pressure sensor was replaced after finding the sensor intermittently shorting and causing the low pressure condition. the power steering assembly was also leaking. the steering gear was replaced and flushed. exactly one week later while driving on the same sr at approx. 55mph, the check engine light came on and "engine power reduced" is displayed. car slows dramatically and comes to a stop. however, this time i was able to steer car off the side of the road with no problem. heavy smoke was also coming from the exhaust and the car smelled unusual on the interior. after waiting 3 hours for a tow (gm roadside assistance), the car was towed to the dealership. two fuel injectors were found leaking (# 1 and 3) and were replaced. fuel injectors 2, 4, 5, and 6 were rebuilt. this same vehicle had two fuel injectors (#3 and 5) replaced in august 2011 when this same chain of events occurred (previously reported). i am concerned as to why fuel injectors in this vehicle continue to fail causing the engine to flood with fuel. the safety concern is the vehicle will decelerate and stop with no warning which could cause a fatality if i were on a interstate with little to no shoulder. *tr

On slow speeds the power steering goes out completely on turns this seems to be a ongoing issue due to other reports power steering just fails but not all the time someone is going to get injured badly as gm knows and you know of this problem. *tr

I have been having trouble with the power steering in my 2009 acadia. it looses power for a few seconds almost every time i make a turn now. it is extremely scary if i am in busy traffic. i took it to the dealership and they said that i need to have the whole power steering parts replaced. $1700!!... which is not covered under warranty. i have a friend who is a mechanic and he said that there are more than one component for the power steering and that the dealership wants to replace it all because it is easier than actually figuring out which part is really causing the problem and just replacing that part. this is very frustrating and it is ridiculous that i can't trust the dealership to take care of the problem correctly. we have been researching and finding out that many 2009 acadia owners are having this same issue. obviously gmc needs to cover the costs of issues like these that are happening to not just 1 owner but several!! *tr

When trying to steer the vehicle below 5 mph's (engine below 1200 rpm), the steering wheel will lock up and is very hard to steer. my wife had this happen to her the first when she was pulling into our driveway (thankfully it did not happen in the city). she told me about it, so i then took it to town shopping. it took a while before it happened to me, but finally it did when i was making a tight right hand turn into a menards parking lot. i started the turn and notice instantly that i had no steering. i almost hit another car because i was not able to steer sharp enough or fast enough for the right hand turn. after that, i got in the parking lot and did a little testing. i figured out that the steering was locked, and if the engine was revved over 1200 engine rpm, the steering would come back slightly. after several tries, it did come back. don't know if i can trust it to work all the time??? it appears the problem is worse after the car has been run for a while. with cold temps it works until the steering system warms., then problem is random. scary!!! feels like there is a flow control valve maybe that is in pump, and when it sticks open, the steering is lost at idle speeds. not a good deal... *tr

I was driving slow and when i went to turn the steering was extremely tight. i had told the dealership where i bought it from, from the date of purchase that something was wrong. finally took it in on 10/19/2012 and was told it was the powersteering pump. it's over $400 to get fixed and i don't have it right now. *tr

I had just picked up my car from having the a/c compressor and condensor replaced and i was doing a u turn into a gas station when the power steering went out. i had to manually turn the wheel. with my two children in the back i almost went into a ditch. i immediately called the dealership and took it in for them to look at. they told me that the power steering gear assembly was leaking and needed to be replaced. they found that when the ves valve was commanded shut, the valve would not re-open. the rack was also leaking on the left side. they replaced the gear assembly, set toe and flushed the system. this is a serious safety concern and should be looked into for a recall. *tr

I was in the middle of a turn when vehicle got very hard to control as i was finishing my turn power steering pump started working again and i almost side swiped another vehicle due to the force i had to apply to the steering wheel when pump quit working. took vehicle to dealer and they said power steering pump was leaking and that there has been multiple accounts of this happening in gmc. they did state it was a mechanical failure in the power steering issue of the vehicle but no recall has been issued as if yet. any help with this problem would be greatly appreciated. i see this as a very unsafe condition of the vehicle that should be looked at closely upon gmc's behalf. *tr

The power steering randomly fails at low speeds. this has created several hazardous situations while making left hand turns with oncoming traffic and right hand turns at intersections with waiting traffic on the adjacent street. the car was repaired at a local shop by replacing the power steering pump. i was told this is a common problem and the new pump is a more robust design. the cost for the out-of-warranty repair was about $850. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 gmc acadia. the contact stated that the vehicle would jerk violently intermittently. the contact noticed that there was water leaking from underneath the vehicle. additionally, the power steering assist would sporadically seize accompanied by an abnormal noise when completing a turn. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was advised that the water pump and ignition coil needed to be replaced. an unknown repair was made to the steering component to rectify the failure. on a separate occasion, the vehicle was taken to the dealer for routine service where the dealer advised that the tie rods failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was unknown.

I bought this car in feb 2012 and from the first time i drove it the steering was very tight and makes a clunking nose in the the front end. took the car in to the dealer and the power steering pump was changed and this fixed the steering when it was hard to turn. now it's may 2013 and the clunk is still there and was told its the power steering gear and its about 950 dollars to fix. this is crazy there is only about 83,000 miles on my car. i am ready to let the bank have it. *tr

Power steering fails at low rpm. engages above 1500 rpm. *tr

The power steering was noisy from around the date of purchase. this problem evolved into intermittent failure of the power steering at both low speeds and at highway speeds. the complaint has not been addressed adequately by general motors even though i am finding many complaints for this same issue. in fact, there is a class action lawsuit pending currently (see below). the vehicle now has approximately 78,000 miles and the intermittent problem persists along with electrical issues on rh side of vehicle. the class action was brought on behalf all persons in the united states who purchased or leased any 2009 through 2012 gmc acadia, 2009 through 2012 buick enclave, or 2009 through 2012 chevrolet traverse vehicles (collectively, 'class vehicles') designed, manufactured marketed, distributed, sold, warranted and serviced by general motors, llc and general motors company this action arises out of a uniform and widespread defect in the integral steering system of an entire class of automobiles that poses an extremely unreasonable safety risk not only to the driver and passengers of the vehicle, but to other drivers on the road and pedestrians on the streets. the lawsuit alleges that the steering system in these vehicles are defective because steering may intermittently and drastically fail while the car is in motion (the 'steering defect'), thus creating a serious safety risk. a copy of the complaint is attached here. complaint: gm 4-1-13 the court denied gm's motion to dismiss and ordered it to answer the complaint. gm motion to dismiss. *tr

As per dealer suv needs a new steering rack and a new steering pump, seatbelt retractor not functioning so airbag not working-to fix items approx $2000 this is a 2009 with 75000 miles and should not need this type of repair. *tr

I took my 2009 acadia into the gmc dealer with around 65,000 miles on it after buying it used (1 previous owner) with around 42,000 miles. they told me i had a power steering leak in the rack and pinion and it would cost around $2000 to replace a seal because they have to pull the whole rack off. he told me it would be okay for a while, but eventually it would cause the power steering to go out. after researching, i've seen multiple other acadia owners who have had the exact same problem. i have refused to pay for the repairs because i think this is a safety issue that has effected enough of this model vehicle to warrant a general safety recall. i know of 3 other people in my hometown who have experienced power steering problems with their acadia's, and the gmc dealership acknowledged to me that it is a significant problem with gmc acadia model years 2008-2012. if that's not enough, then i'm not sure what is, but if my power steering goes out while i'm driving, well, let this serve as notice to gmc. *tr

Power steering went in vehicle going around a turn. almost hit a tree. complained to gmc about the danger and they did nothing. i have two small children and bought this for safety. i do not feel safe in this vehicle anymore! this has happened to several other 2009 acadia owners as well. gmc knows about it, but has not recalled the vehicle or let people know the dangers of this.