Buick LeSabre Complaints (1998)

400 consumer complaints on file.

#10124494June 7, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NO INJURIES. ENGINE STOPS OR STALLS AT VARIOUS TIMES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124712June 7, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
1998 BUICK LESABRE BECAME INOPERATIVE AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAILPIPE.*MR A SMALL FIRE EMITTED FORM THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS FOR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER REPLACED THINKING IT WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM. RECALL 04V090000 WAS ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121763May 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1. IT STALLED OUT MANY TIME WHILE DRIVING. NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AFTER RESTARTING. 2. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING ON BUSY BIG CITY FREEWAY AT RUSH HOUR. 3. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY REPLACING THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121640May 19, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY WIFE DRIVES A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. SHE HAS A DISABILITY AND IS PACEMAKER-DEPENDENT. ON 5-17-2005 SHE WAS ENROUTE ON THE HIGHWAY TOWARD OUR TOWN IN THE BUICK WHEN IT STARTED RUNNING HOT. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK TO OUR TOWN, WHERE SHE THEN PULLED OVER IN A WAL-MART PARKING LOT. HOWEVER, SHE BECAME VERY STRESSED OVER THE SITUATION BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE HAD GONE WELL INTO THE RED BUT SHE WAS AFRAID TO PULL OVER FOR FEAR OF BECOMING STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. AS IT TURNS OUT, THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IS A FAILED PLENUM, AN ISSUE WHICH OCCURS FREQUENTLY WITH THE GM 3800 ENGINE. I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WELL-KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE NHTSA, AND MANY MECHANICS AND REPAIR SHOPS. THE SAFETY PROBLEM COMES FROM THE FACT THAT (AS FAR AS I AM AWARE) THERE HAVE BEEN NO WARNINGS ISSUED TO CONSUMERS WHO OWN A VEHICLE WITH THE GM 3800 SERIES II ENGINE. THE POTENTIAL FOR SITUATIONS TO OCCUR MUCH WORSE THAN OURS IS NOT ONLY LIKELY, BUT IT IS A GUARANTEED EVENT. MY ONLY RECOURSE AT THIS POINT IS TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA, A COMPLAINT WHICH I FEEL SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. THESE ENGINE FAILURES ARE NOT JUST MERELY A 'CONSUMER MISFORTUNE', BUT WILL BECOME THE UNDERLYING CAUSE FOR INUMERABLE ROAD HAZARDS FOR THE CAR'S OWNERS AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO AN ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW (MATERIALS USED) AND FUTURE SAFETY PROBLEMS (INCLUDING LOSS OF LIFE) CAN BE AVOIDED. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120903May 13, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BETWEN 47,111 AND 49817 MILES ENGINE HAS STALL THREE TIMES AND AFTER COMPLETE STOP I RE-STARTED ENGINE RIGHT AWAY, THERE NO WARNING LIGHTS DURING STALL AT CONTROL PANEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120408April 29, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
1998 BUICK LESABRE HAD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED. THE CONSUMER'S CLAIM FOR A REFUND FOR REPAIRS WAS NOT APPROVED. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD TURNED LEFT ONTO A LOOP AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISS AND MAKE NOISES. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND VIEWED A LOT OF WATER UNDER THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT HE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPARK PLUGS THAT WERE DAMAGED WHEN THE WATER FLOODED INTO THE BLOCK AND OR THE RUPTURED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. REFER TO RECALL CAMPAIGN#04V090000. THE HORN WOULD GO OFF WHEN THE HORN PAD WAS BUMPED OR WHEN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME' HOT. *SC THE MANUFACTURER WROTE THE CONSUMER A LETTER WHICH STATED THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120367April 26, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
1998 BUICK LESABRE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR PART THAT WAS INSTALLED DURING A RECALL. *MR RECALL CAMPAIGN# 04V090000. *SC THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE AT A DEALERSHIP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119181April 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
1998 BUICK LESABRE EXPERIENCING REPEAT PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED AND THE BRAKES STARTED TO LEAK BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE REAR BRAKES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER. SIX MONTHS LATER THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED AGAIN, WHICH REQUIRED THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117853April 12, 2005
POWER TRAIN
1998 BUICK LESABRE HAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION.*MR *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113490March 30, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER PULLED OVER. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CHEVROLET DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT WATER GOT INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK AND LOCKED IT UP. THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED THE(MANIFOLD) PLENUM WITH ALL NEW GASKETS, NEW OIL, ANTI FREEZE AND NEW SPARK PLUGS. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114172March 16, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
CAR HAD BEEN HARD TO START FOR A WHILE. ON DAY OF INCIDENT, WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, A BACKFIRE OCCURRED AND SMOKE ROLLED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN MINUTES, A FIRE STARTED, COMPLETELY DESTROYING THE VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113225March 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD BURST WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110707February 17, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
LOSS OF COOLANT. THE PLASTIC INTAKE PLENUM GOT A HOLE IN IT. THIS FILLED THE ENGINE WITH COOLANT THUS CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE DEFECTIVE PART REPLACED AT A COST OF 900 DOLLARS. I STILL HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART. I'M RETIRED, SO THIS PUT A STRAIN ON OUR BUDGET. THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110719February 17, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGED, BRAKE WAS APPLIED, WENT TO FLOORBOARD, NOTHING HAPPENED. BRAKES WERE PUMPED, NOTHING HAPPENED. VEHICLE STRIKES ANOTHER VEHICLE, AIRBAG DEPLOYS, AUTOMOBILE CONTINUES IN A DITCH, POPS OUT OF THE DITCH, GOES THROUGH AN EMPTY PARKING LOT, POPS ONTO ANOTHER STREET AND EVENTUALLY STOPS AFTER GOING OVER ANOTHER CURB INTO ANOTHER PARKING LOT ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM ACCIDENT. THEORY IS THAT ABS MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED REGULAR BRAKES TO FAIL. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10110940February 7, 2005
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT 55 MPH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107692January 21, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE 3.8L GM ENGINES USED '95 - '98 FOR THE BUICK: RIVERA, LESABRE, PARK AVENUE, REGAL, CHEVY: LUMINA, MONTE CARLO, OLDSMOBILE: 98,88,INTRIGUE, PONTIAC: BONNEVILLE, GRAND PRIX HAVE A KNOWN DEFECT. SERVICE BULLETIN 01-06-01-007A COOLANT LEAK. IN DECEMBER 2004, MY PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTED AND ALLOWED THE ENGINE COOLANT TO FILL THE CYLINDERS OF THE ENGINE WITH COOLANT. GM RESOLVED THE DEFECT WITH A DESIGN CHANGE IN 99. I FEEL THAT GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR OF THE DEFECTIVE PART. SECOND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AT 55 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHICH IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT WARRANTS A RECALL. I CONTACTED GM; SERVICE RECORD NUMBER 1-293342957 THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK AFTER A NUMBER OF MESSAGES (7) THEN DENIED THE CLAIM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106385January 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1998 BUICK LESABRE. PLENUM GASKET ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILS AND ALLOWS COOLANT TO GET INTO ENGINE. THEN ENGINE DIES IN THE ROAD CAUSING PEOPLE TO SLAM ON BREAKS. NO WRECKS. THIS IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH LESABRE'S BUT BUICK HAS FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO PAY $1200 TO FIX CAR AND IT NOW PROBABLY HAS ENGINE DAMAGE. I WOULD LIKE BUICK TO COME FORWARD WITH THIS AND LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT. THIS HAS TO STOP! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109588January 13, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
RECALL CAMPAIGN RECEIVED CONCERNING FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. *BF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A BACKFIRE WHICH RESULTED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MANIFOLD. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105763January 4, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE AND I PULLED OVER TO DISCOVER THAT THERE WAS LOW LEVELS OF COOLANT. IT HAD JUST BEEN CHECKED 2 MONTHS EARLIER AT AN OIL CHANGE AND THE WEEK BRFORE WHEN I GOT GAS. I ADDED COOLANT AND GOT BACK ON THE ROAD. AFTER 5 MILES THE CAR QUIT RUNNING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAD IT TOWED TO A BUICK DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED PLENUM THAT ALLOWED COOLANT TO FOUL THE PLUGS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PLENUM, FOULED PLUGS, COOLANT, AND OIL FOR $800.00 DOLLARS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106638January 3, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD CONSTANTLY. THEN, ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED. THE GASKETS HAD BEEN CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES. ANTI-FREEZE AND OIL LEAKED. CONSUMER FOUND THAT IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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