Buick LeSabre Complaints (2003)

164 consumer complaints on file.

#10177623January 2, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OCCASIONALLY SMELLED ANTI-FREEZE AFTER CAREFUL INSPECTION COULD NOT DETERMINE WHERE LEAK WAS. HAD TO ADD ANTI-FREEZE ON TWO OCCASIONS. TOOK CAR TO GM DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD OF THE PROBLEM. HE SHOWED ME THE LEAK AND ADVISED I SHOULD GET IT REPAIRED ASAP. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST AT THIS POINT IS IN EXCESS OF $1,000. IT WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT IF NOT REPAIRED THIS COULD RESULT IN ANTIFREEZE IN THE OIL WHICH WOULD RUIN THE MOTOR. THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE GASKET THEY USED, WHICH IS PLASTIC AND HAS SINCE BEEN CHANGED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177489December 21, 2006
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2003 LESABRE'S BOLTS ON FRAME IN THE FRONT END RUSTED. *TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175554December 8, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS NOTICED AROUND THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE FUEL LINE ON THE ENGINE RUBBED TOGETHER WITH THE TRANSMISSION CABLE CAUSING A HOLE IN ONE OF THE HOSES, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION CABLE RUBBED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE , WHICH CAUSED GAS TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169477September 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SMALL LIGHTS BURN OUT EXCESSIVELY AND COST A FORTUNE TO HAVE REPLACED. EXAMPLES STEERING WHEEL BUTTON LIGHTS, CLIMATE CONTROL ID (GREEN) LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS ON TRUNK LID. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167936September 12, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT END SHIMMIED. NEW STRUTS, MOTOR MOUNTS, TWO AXLES AND FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. THE CONTACT INSTALLED NEW TIRES THINKING THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIRES, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162885July 19, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, GOING 10-15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY ACCELERATED; SOMETIMES TAKING 15-30 SECONDS AND UP TO FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP RAN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND THE TESTS FAILED TO SHOW ANY CODES TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. UPDATED 08/28/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153605March 24, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE PEDAL PULSATION CAUSED BY SEVERELY WARPED REAR BRAKE ROTORS. VEHICLE HAS 27,400 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151407February 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150103February 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I HELPED MY 78 YEAR OLD MOTHER PURCHASE A 2003 BUICK LESABRE IN EARLY JAN. 2006. WHEN I TEST DROVE CAR I NOTICED COOLANT WAS LOW AND MENTIONED TO SALESPERSON. DEALER REPLACED LEAKING PLENUM GASKET BUT DID NOT REPORT TO ME. LESS THAN 300 MILES LATER THE CAR WAS SEVERELY LOSING COOLANT AGAIN. DEALER SAID UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD (PLENUM) WAS WARPED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PROBLEM IS THAT THE ONLY PLENUM GM MAKES FOR THIS ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE AND WILL LIKELY WARP AGAIN, POSSIBLY DESTROYING ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OWNERS OF GM VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS ENGINE. ALL REPAIRS ON MY MOTHER'S CAR HAVE SO FAR BEEN UNDER WARRANTY BUT WARRANTY WILL SOON RUN OUT. WARRANTY IS SUPPOSED TO COVER ANY DEFECTS IN MANUFACTURING. PLENUM IS DEFECTIVE AND THE ONLY GM AUTHORIZED REPAIR IS WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PLENUM. THIS IS JUST A TEMPORARY FIX. I SPOKE WITH A FORMER GM MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT HE SEES THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME AND THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT IT. PLASTIC IS NOT A SUITABLE MATERIAL FOR THE PLENUM, AS IT WARPS DUE TO ENGINE HEAT. A RECALL IS ONLY WAY TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. THIS ENGINE IS USED IN MANY VEHICLES (BUICKS AND OTHER MODELS) THAT ARE POPULAR WITH THE ELDERLY. IT IS UNCONSCIOUSNESS THAT GM KNOWINGLY ALLOWS THE ELDERLY TO DRIVE CARS THAT WILL LIKELY LEAVE THEM STRANDED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148461January 24, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIM OR BRIGHTEN THE LIGHTS THEY INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WERE THE DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED THE DIMMER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 02/13/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137975September 28, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL ADVISED TO PUSH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER DOWN UNTIL HE COULD SEE THE FLASHING ARROW, NOT ALL OF THE WAY DOWN. THE WAY IT SAID TO DO, IF TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND WHEN MAKING A LANE CHANGE, THE LEVER WILL RETURN ON ITS OWN TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THIS DOES WORK PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER THINKS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUSH THE LEVER ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN MAKING A LANE CHANGE AS ONE DOES WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS THE DESIGN OF THE CAR.*AK UPDATE 11/16/05. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135838September 8, 2005
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE BULGED OUT AND LOST PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A NEW 2003 BUICK LESABRE, BOUGHT IN NOV, 2003. THE TIRES WERE GENERAL TIRES, BRAND "AMERI-GS60". AS I WAS ON A LONG RANGE TRIP, THE TIRE NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT; THE TIRE STORE SAID TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE STEEL BELT HAD GIVEN WAY.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124771June 3, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
2003 BUICK LESABRE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH A BOLT LOOSE ON THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE A DEALERSHIP AND THE REP ASSURRED THE CONSUMER THE BOLT WAS TAKEN CARE OF AND THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE, HOWEVER ON MAY 1, 2005 WHILE DRIVING, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE MADE THE WORST NOISE WHICH WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND DISCOVERED THE RIGHT FRONT BOLT WAS MISSING, WHICH ALLOWED SOME PART OF THE BRAKE TO SWING DOWN AND HIT THE WHEEL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119124April 25, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE SPED ACROSS THE ROAD INTO ANOTHER LANE, CAUSING A HEAD ON COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER WAS INJURED AND ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL. INFORMATION FURNISHED BY AN UNIDENTIFIED INDIVIDUAL, FRIEND OR RELATIVE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10108877December 21, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE CONSUMER OWNS BOTH A 1993 BUICK ROADMASTER AND A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE ROADMASTER HAD POOR LIGHTING IN BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS AND THE HIGHBEAMS ON THE LESABRE WERE EXTREMELY BRIGHT. *BF *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100026November 16, 2004
SUSPENSION, TIRES
VIBRATION, WHICH BECOME GREATER WITH SPEED, IS FELT ON THE FLOOR, FRONT SEAT & STEERING WHEEL: VIBRATION BECOMES WORSE ON A CURVE. THE PROBLEM IS GREATEST ON AN EXTREMELY SMOOTH RUBBERIZED BLACK TOPPED ROAD.ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED, ROTATED & REPLACED: DRIVE TRAIN REALINED: TRANSMISSION DAMPER KIT INSTALLED. PROBLEM CONTINUES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091154September 16, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT STOP LIGHT, TIRES SEEMED TO SKID, SHUDDER AND FINALLY STOP. WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGED, THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO GO ACTING LIKE THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED UP. CONTINUED PRESSING THROTTLE AND IT FINALLY BROKE FREE AND STARTED MOVING NORMALLY. THE INITIAL STOP WASN'T A FAST STOP, JUST NORMAL SPEED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087989September 14, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
ON THREE SEPARATED OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE HEAD REST MOVED UP ON IT'S OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE HEAD REST NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT THREE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AT THIS TIME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091985September 13, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083514August 16, 2004
SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CONSUMER FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SEAT. AFTER SEVEN VISITS TO THE DEALERS, THEY REPLACED THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE TIRES BALANCED 8 TIMES AND HAS BOUGHT 7 NEW TIRES. *JB THE VIBRATING CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAD A DRIVELINE SHIMMY AT HIGHER SPEED THAT WAS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS OUT OF BALANCE AND THE FRONT LEFT REAR WHEEL WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND WAS CORRECTED, VIBRATIONS WERE STILL EVIDENT DURING SUBSEQUENT ROAD TEST AND THREE TIRES WERE FOUND OUT OF BALANCE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES AND WHEELS WEREN'T THE PROBLEM. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A DRIVELINE SHIMMY AT A HIGHER SPEED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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