Power Steering Fluid Problems of GMC Acadia - part 2

Powersteering gets tight and vehicle shakes. Brought to dealer and powersteering pump and gear is leaking fluid. The gm dealer told me that the powersteering part is covered but will not cover the fluid leaking and I am responsible for $500 payment. Brake pedal squeaks when pressed down. Gm dealer informed that the brake is leaking and needs a brake fluid flush and a new brake booster.

See all problems of the 2011 GMC Acadia 🔎.

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the steering wheel seized and excessive force on the steering wheel was required. The contact stated that power steering fluid was leaking. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

During check for other warranty work, GMC dealer informed me that the power steering fluid was leaking. The repair was not covered under warranty. All the power steering fluid had leaked out of the internal gasket because the gasket failed and the power steering fluid need to be replaced with new fluid, and replace the steering gear.

Most common at slower rates of speed, the power steering goes out & the vehicle becomes extremely hard to steer. However, this has also happened to me on the highway while travelling at 65+ mph. That was extremely scary. More than once, I have been forced to turn into an oncoming lane b/c the steering is too stiff to turn properly. The issue was intermittent, but is now constant. Have flushed/replaced power steering fluid, relaced power steering pump & resivoir. The vehicle is at my local dealer now (as of 8/22/14) & they are telling me the new pump is bad & that the steering gear is leaking. . . Although there is no evidence of it leaking externally on the ground & the dip stick consistently shows the resivoir as full. Approximate repair cost is $1500 as of now. . . This is a highly dangerous & apparently common situation that GMC should be recitfying with a recall of the Acadia.

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While turning at an intersection at a relatively slow speed, the power steering failed momentarily (approximately 3 seconds) making it impossible to smoothly correct the turn. Fortunately, power steering resumed and I was able to control the car without an accident. This happened again on the same day while turning into a driveway. I promptly returned the car to our GMC service department where a power steering fluid leak was discovered in the power steering gearbox. This is a very serious safety issue. Given your history of the same problem, it is not understood why this is not a safety recall issue.

See all problems of the 2010 GMC Acadia 🔎.

Driving into a small downtown area to meet some friends and heard a whirling noise coming from under the hood (belt, bearing or power steering). As I slowed down the noise intensified, dissipated as I sped up. Notice the steering was tighter and more difficult to turn the steering wheel at slower speeds. The next day I attempted to "check the fluid" secured under the engine cover but was unable to remove it even with the star bit required. I then google'd auto-steering for Acadia and found numerous issues related to failing power steering units. Took it to the dealer frustrated after finding that this is not an isolated part failure. He stated that the bellow was leaking due to a failure (the power steering is under a lot of pressure I was told) and it needed to be replaced. The dealership completed the repair after keeping the car a day. Seems to me this is a potential ticking time bomb and the part may have been under engineered. I have been a long time gm customer but with all the current press I'm not sure I can support them any longer with my patronage.

I filed my initial complaint over the phone but I'd like to add a few more details. After getting nowhere with GMC corporate I did my own research uncovering there is a "class action lawsuit" (I have this document and can forward if needed) in place for multiple GMC vehicles for the steering issue. GMC has publicly admitted to installing wrong size power steering pump! in addition, the power steering cable, a loose rivet in steering column, power steering fluid leaking, and/or no or low pressure all have been the sited as a "possible" cause! point being fixing all of these issues will cost owners thousands of dollars and most don't have this money. GMC needs to recall this issue ASAP! GMC has recalled numerous other non-lifethreatening issues with their vehicles. Loss of power steering when turning left on a main road or at any other time can and will result in serious injury or fatality!! this is serious and needs to be made a priority addressed ASAP!.

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.

See all problems of the 2008 GMC Acadia 🔎.

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...

The contact owns a 2010 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the power steering fluid was leaking from the vehicle. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing, who informed that the failure was normal wear and tear on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

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.

While making a hard right turn front tires very difficult to turn very resistant. Front tires felt like being drug across the pavement. Problem became more frequent in both turning directions. Took it to dealership to find out it is a common problem with this vehicle (others complaining of this online). Steering racket cracked and fluid leaking on right internal in bellows. "internal problem with steering gear". I was told this wasn't recalled because it is not a safety issue, basically some one has to die! excuse me, I drive on the country's most dangerous highway, us 50 over echo summit at least once/twice per month. What if this failed? how is a steering problem not a safety issue? I took the SUV in before we were killed!.

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.

The contact owns a 2007 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated the power steering pump and the gear assembly would have to be replaced. After the repair, the contact noticed a whining noise in the steering. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where she was informed the power steering gear, pump and hose would have to be replaced due to a power steering fluid leak. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 7,000. . . . Updated 05/29/13 the consumer stated the failure recurred . The pump and gear assembly were replaced April. 2013. Updated 06/11/2013.

See all problems of the 2007 GMC Acadia 🔎.