1996 Buick Century

I HAVE A 1996 BUICK THAT RECENTLY DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. THE RACK IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO TURN LEFT. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM WITH MANY GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES. I CONTACTED GM WITH MY CONCERNS AND I WAS TOLD BY THEIR REPRESENTATIVE THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE, BUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR COSTS NOR ISSUE A CONSUMER ALERT OF A POSSIBLE DANGER OF A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING IN MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES. I WAS LUCKY NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR NOW. I WISH THE GOVERNMENT WOULD INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENTS I HAVE OUTLINED AS THERE IS A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY OF A FATAL ACCIDENT HAPPENING WITH ALL 1996 - 1998 BUICK PRODUCTS. THE PROBLEM RESULTS IN COMPLETE FAILURE TO CONTROL THE CAR WHILE TRYING TO TURN LEFT. IF THE PROBLEM WOULD BE WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE CAR COULD STILL TURN, BUT IN MANUAL MODE. THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO TURN TO THE LEFT. THIS COULD BE DISASTROUS FOR SOMEONE. GM SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS BUT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION OR HELP PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK. I FEEL THAT A RECALL WOULD BE IN ORDER IF IT WOULD SAVE LIVES. YOU CAN CONTACT ME FOR THE NAME OF THE INDIVIDUAL I SPOKE WITH AND THE REFERENCE NUMBER FOR MY COMPLAINT TO GM. *TR

MY CAR HAS HAD A HORRIBLE FRONT END VIBRATION SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY ALWAYS BLAMED MY TIRES, EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES WERE BRAND NEW. THEY BLAMED THE TIRES EVEN AFTER THE DEFECT CAUSED THE ORIGINAL TIRES TO FALL APART AND I BOUGHT BRAND NEW TIRES OF BETTER QUALITY THAN WAS ON IT ORIGINALLY. THEN, A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTING NOT WORKING. I HAD IT TO THE SHOP, BUT THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT, AND WHEN IT WAS IN THE SHOP, THEY WORKED FINE. THAT DOESN'T HELP ME WHEN IT STARTS TO RAIN AND I CAN'T SEE THE ROAD AND TURN ON THE WIPERS AND THEY FAIL. NEXT, THE DRIVER'S DOOR POWER WINDOW QUIT WORKING. AFTER REPLACING IT, THERE WAS A SMALL PIECE OF STEEL ON THE DOOR HANDLE THAT BROKE. IT STUNNED ME. IF IT HAD BROKEN A FEW DAYS EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN MY CAR WITH NO WAY OUT THE WINDOW OR DOOR. I FAILED TO UNDERSTAND WHY A PIECE OF STEEL IN A $20,000 CAR WOULD BREAK. WE ARE REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS CAR. MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN A GM FAN ALL HIS 62 YEARS, BUT WE WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER ONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AUTO-TRAN: VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING UPHILL OR WHILE PASSING, LURCHES FORWARD WHEN STARTED IN PARK, TRIES TO LURCH BACKWARD WHILE IN REVERSE, JUMPS FORWARD AT HIGH SPEED IN DRIVE POSITION, NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK ALSO WHEN WENT TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED IT WAS FOUND THAT A WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED AND THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK.*JB