Four problems related to steering rack and pinion have been reported for the 2011 GMC Acadia. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2011 GMC Acadia based on all problems reported for the 2011 Acadia.
While driving encountering a dangerous loss of power steering intermittently especially during braking (low engine revs). Steering appears to lock and bind. Dealer states failure of power steering pump and rack and pinion gear. Rack and pinion gear. Rack failure should be covered under recall. Car is not safe unless rack and pinion is replaced. This is second failure reported. 1= previous owner 70k / 2=current owner 105k.
While driving encountering a dangerous loss of power steering intermittently especially during braking (low engine revs). Steering appears to lock and bind. Dealer states failure of powersteering pump and rack and pinion gear. This is 2nd time. Power steering first failed at 36,000 miles requiring full rack and pump replacement under warranty. Now, at 100,000 miles pump fails again and requires pump, seal and full rack and gear replacement. Car is not safe. Service bulletin #14329a acknowledges problem with pump and covers pump and gear *seal* but not rack and pinion gear. Rack failure should be covered under recall.
Squeaking/whining in steering column. Dealership diagnosis, power steering gear leaking (rack & pinion) and must be replaced. Cost, $1432. 00 plus tax. Vehicle has only 17948 miles. Not covered by warranty or manuf. Recall. Out of warranty due to age or time. Power steering could fail as it has in other vehicles. Definitely a safety issue. GMC should stand behind their vehicles as this is a design or engineering flaw. This condition is noticed when ever the steering wheel is turned in either direction.
Vehicle was slowing to turn and at 15mph the steering locked up making the vehicle uncontrollable. Vehicle was stopped by median curb and steering somehow unlocked. Took vehicle to dealership and they replaced the steering gear, rack and pinion, and power steering pump. Now a little over 18months later the vehicle has started losing power steering again. Dealership is quoting me $2100 to fix when they replaced the last part under a warranty/recall.