Power Steering Fluid problems of the 2008 GMC Acadia

My steering in my 2008 GMC Acadia seems to lock up intermittently. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason why this happens and I cannot predict when it happens. Power steering fluid is full and not leaking. Was told the power steering is not "gone" but it is very hard to turn the vehicle when this happens. I feel unsafe considering I travel with multiple kids all the time. This is not something I can afford to go out on my vehicle at this time. Due to the other complaints I have read I feel this is a recall issue and it should be deemed so immediately by the manufacturer.

Received notice from gm re power steering, do not take to vehicle for service unless problem is known. I took vehicle for tire rotation and mechanic noticed power steering fluid leaking, caused damage to rack, pinion, etc. (estimate attached). Called gm dealer and gm cust service, will only cover defective power steering pump not the damage caused by defective pump. Since gm advised not to get fixed until issue occurs (I still have power steering, was not aware of the issue until tires were rotated) why should I be liable for the additional damage caused? also, this morning 12/08/15, while taking my daughter to school, the car buckled and stabiltrak, check engine light came on with a message "power reduced", only able to drive 20-25 miles. The same issue occurred appx. A year ago and I filed a complaint. The light goes and off just like a year ago. After reading several bulletins for the 2008 GMC Acadia, all the above issues are a known issue. I should not have to pay for vehicle defects that are common in all of the vehicles.

As I was driving on the interstate, my power steering suddenly went out. I got to my destination and fluid was just leaking everywhere. I had my vehicle towed to a dealership after I researched my problem. I was aware there was a special notice out about this vehicle and the power steering issues. Gm was initially only willing to fix the power steering pump, not the power steering cooling line and power steering gear. After complaining and questioning, the dealership was able to get the cost down, but gm would not cover the cost entirely to make my vehicle drivable again. This is a known issue and they have admitted to it being a problem, yet they aren't willing to foot the bill to fix it back to the condition it was prior to this issue. While they offered me a much better price to fix it, they should fix it at no cost to me. The wording in the special statement was "steering pump wear" and "sudden loss of hydrolic pressure. " both of which would lead me to believe the word leak should be covered as well. Wear to me mean things being less than perfect and sudden loss of pressure means leak. Inexcusable for gm to weasel out of fixing this issue completely.

While attempting to turn into a parking spot at a shopping center, I lost power steering completely. I was able to man handle the vehicle into a parking area that was sparsely occupied and did not hit anything. If I had been in a different area of the parking lot, there were a lot of pedestrians, pushing strollers and most had children with them. I could have hit several of them and had no control over the vehicle. I took it to the mechanic and he said that the rack and pinion needed replacing. I have now received a bulletin from GMC advising that if I have had a problem with steering, I should take it to my closest dealer for them to run a diagnostic. However, if the diagnostic didn't show specifically that the problem was the power steering pump, then I would be responsible for the cost of the diagnostic plus any repairs needed. My mechanic has advised me that the pump is fine, but the rack and pinion needs replacing since the seals or cylinders have been leaking. I had to add power steering fluid at about 23k miles, but the dealer stated it was probably just not filled up when it was off the factory line. So, I have to leave the vehicle at the mechanic until I can afford to have it repaired since I don't want to drive it. I could have killed someone due to this power steering failure. My research show that this problem is common for the 2008 Acadia and I feel gm should stand up and do the right thing for those of us who bought this vehicle.

The steering wheel in our car had become increasingly difficult to turn, especially at low speeds (parking, in particular initially). We took the vehicle in a couple of times and the mechanic tried several repairs such as replacing the power steering fluid as well as looking for leaks in the power steering. (none were found). The car would drive better after being serviced, but within a couple of days/weeks began to experience the same issues. Finally it got so bad that we could barely turn the vehicle while driving and the car could no longer be driven. We returned it to the mechanic who discovered that the steering rack was completely damaged because the steering pump was bad and had not been sending fluid to the rack. We had both replaced at that time (April, 2014). We received notification in September 2014 that GMC issued a recall on the power steering pump as it was causing "an intermittent drop of power steering hydraulic pressure that will cause reduced or loss of steering assist. " we have been in contact with GMC since that time about being reimbursed for both the pump and the rack since the two are clearly related and they informed us that only the pump was covered (because that's all they recalled) despite the fact that the pump is what caused the damage to the rack and the rack is what made our car un-driveable. The steering rack should also be on a recall list since damage to it is definitely a safety issue. It seems to me that the public recall should have been for the pump and any subsequent damage caused by the pump, including to the rack and pinion system.

There is an intermittant loss of power steering causing complete loss of control of the vehicle. This is a common recurring problem on the GMC Acadia class suvs. This has now happend at least three times while my wife was driving the car, all fortunately while she was driving a low speeds and able to stop before running off the road. The power steering seems to "come back" without reason as well. My dealer is telling me that I need to replace both the power steering pump and steering rack due to internal leaks caused by seal failures. This sounds like a manufacturing defect due to either design of the seals or incompatable steering fluid being installed at the factory that adversely affects the seals. Here is a link to a consumer forum about the Acadia - just put "power sterring" in the serach field and host of repeated problems will come up. . Read more...

In the winter of 2012, the steering started to get more difficult while parking and backing out of spaces. It whined a bit. Service at collection auto told me to replace the position sensor. No change. The steering got worse, fluid began leaking, and I was involved in two near crashes with young children in the car. One the power steering went out upon entering a freeway ramp. It returned to normal after about 10 seconds. It then again happened, but total steering failure while turning into a shopping center across oncoming traffic. The car had to be towed. We took it back and were told that the pump and rack and pinion needed to be replaced. After a good deal of digging and speaking with several dealers other than the one that recommended the change for pump and rack and pinion, we found out that there was no need to replace the position sensor and there were several service bulletins to dealers to replace these with redesigned parts dating to 2012. It currently is at a dealer who is working with gm to fix the problem.

At approx. 62,000 power steering started making a whining noise that kept getting louder and louder. Took to the dealer and they repaired/replaced the rack that they said was starting to go bad. It was covered under the gm certified used warranty and they told me that it was a known issue with these and should be all set. Now, about a year later (warranty expired-power steering is not considered powertrain. . . ) the same noise and high effort to turn steering wheel is happening again. They now say that the power steering pump is going and there is a blown gasket in the steering column causing a leak of steering fluid which is causing the whine. They say that the repair is going to cost me over $750. GMC needs to announce a recall for this issue, or at least issue a notice for dealers to repair this issue when it arises. I'm one of the lucky ones that did not have the system fail when driving. I could probably recover if it did, I'm just glad my wife wasn't driving it with my children when it decided to fail!! I know of at least two other owners that had this same issue, when will gm step up and take care of this issue?!?!.

Power steering fails on my 2008 GMC Acadia. 12/9/09- power steering fails as I get off the highway in greenwich, CT. Almost crash. 12/10/09 - drop car at local service station since my thought is that it just need steering fluid. 12/10/09- service station manager calls and tells me power steering pump shot, and rack and pinion leaking. 12/10/09- car towed to minchin GMC in stamford CT. They provide rental car from enterprise. 12/10/09- call late afternoon looking for an update. Told tech is looking at it now. ¿ I ask for a call back. No call 12/12/09- call dealer. Leave detailed message. Ask for a call back. No call. 12/14/09- call dealer. Speak to service. I am told tech is looking at it. Which I thought was done. Ask for a call back. No call. 12/15/09 call dealer. Speak to service. Am told waiting for a part. Ask for a call back on part availability. No call back. Left another message with main v- mail, detailing how no one has called me back. No call back. 12/16/09- call dealer. Speak to service. Told tech is out to lunch but the part that has to come from California or canada. Finally they call back. I am told that the part that I need is on national back order. Asked for a call back for a better idea when the part will be available.