YearToAvoid

2012 Buick Enclave Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 17 steering complaints for the 2012 Buick Enclave, 13% of its 132 total complaints for the year. There is no related recall on file. Median mileage at failure was 59,500 miles, and the leading pattern is steering gear/rack leaks and loss of power steering assist.

Steering complaints
17
13% of 132
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
59,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Steering wheel pulls to one side at various speeds, sometimes traced to alignment issues.
  • Steering gear or rack develops fluid leaks from the boots or seals, leading to a noise described as a squeak or grinding when turning.
  • Power steering assist is lost temporarily during turns or at low speed, most noticeable when parking or entering an intersection.
  • Loud noise when turning, especially to the right, accompanied by increased steering effort and fluid leakage.
  • Steering wheel briefly fails to turn left or right at very low speed, resolving after the engine is restarted.
  • Owners report steering fluid line failures that cause unsafe steering manipulation, sometimes alongside brake fluid leaks.

When 2012 Buick Enclave steering complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 3, 2012, latest Apr 22, 2024.

2012 Buick Enclave steering complaints: complaints filed per month2Dec 2012Oct 2014Nov 2015Jan 2016May 2016Aug 2017May 2018Sep 2021
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2012 to Apr 2024; peak Apr 2014 (2).

Steering recalls for the 2012 Buick Enclave

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by Enclave model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010126 (46%)
  2. 201141 (19%)
  3. 201217 (13%)
  4. 201312 (17%)
  5. 201411 (4%)
  6. 201512 (7%)
  7. 20163 (2%)
  8. 20172 (1%)
  9. 20182 (3%)
  10. 20193 (7%)
  11. 20203 (5%)
  12. 20211 (4%)
  13. 20220 (0%)
  14. 20231 (5%)
  15. 20241 (14%)
  16. 20251 (3%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are steering problems on the 2012 Buick Enclave?
NHTSA lists 17 steering complaints for the 2012 Enclave, which is 13% of the 132 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Buick Enclave steering issue?
No. NHTSA shows no related recalls listed for this steering problem area on the 2012 Enclave.
At what mileage do steering problems typically appear on the 2012 Enclave?
The median mileage at failure among reported steering complaints is 59,500 miles.
What kind of steering failures do owners describe most?
Owners most often describe steering gear or rack leaks causing noise when turning, along with intermittent loss of power steering assist during turns or parking.
Did any 2012 Enclave steering complaints involve crashes or injuries?
No. NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries among the reported steering complaints for this model year.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.