Buick LeSabre Complaints (1998)

400 consumer complaints on file.

#10072475May 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THIS IS A ENGINE PROBLEM WITH WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A BAD PART DESIGN. THE PART IS FAILURE OF INTAKE PLENUM. THE EGR PIPE FROM THE ENGINE COMES THROUGH THE PLASTIC INTAKE. THERE IS A LOT OF HEAT GENERATED AT THIS POINT. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME A HOLE IS BURNED THROUGH THE INTAKE. THIS FLOODS THE ENGINE WITH COOLANT. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURED AT 59,000 MILES. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1100.00. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS. THE REPONSE WAS . YES WE KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE K ENGINE BUT THE FACTORY HAS NOT CALLED FOR A RECALL. AT 113,577 MILES THE PROBLEM OCCURED AGAIN. I AGAIN HAD THE ENGINE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1140.93. AGAIN I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS. I WAS TOLD THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS SENT OUT IN 1996. THIS STATED THAT IF A OWNER COMPLAINED OF A COOLENT LEAK AROUND THE INTAKE. NOT ONLY SHOULD THE PLASTIC INTAKE PLENUM BE REPLACE BUT ALSO THE ALUMINUM INTAKE SHOULD BE REPALCED BECAUSED THE FACTORY HAD REPLACED THE EGR PIPE WITH A SMALLER PIPE. THIS WOULD KEEP THE HEAT FROM BURNING A HOLE IN THE PLASTIC PLENUM. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS TO BE PAID BY THE OWNER. I CHECKED OUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND FOUND THE PROBLEM COVERED ALL GM 3800 SERIES ENGINES FORM 1995 - 1998 MY ENGINE VIN # IS 1G4HR52K3WH51080. I WAS TOLD BY THE GM SERVICE TECH. THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURED SO OFTEN THAT ANY OWNER OF A 3800 SERIES ENGINE AND THE NEW DESIGN INTAKE HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED YOU ARE GUARANTEED THE ENGINE WILL FAIL. AGAIN I FEEL THIS WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072281May 7, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE ENGINE PRODUCED A LOUD BANG, THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068075April 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE STARTED TO SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE EARLIER IN THE DAY ON 4/27/04. THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR MOST OF THE DAY, QUICK TRIPS TO THE STORE AT MOST. WHEN I GOT HOME THAT NIGHT, THE CAR WAS SHACKING AND POURING EXHAUST VAPORS OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. IN THE MORNING ON APRIL 28T,. IT STARTED JUST FINE. SO, I DROVE IT TO MY MECHANIC. THE CAR RAN SMOOTHLY FOR ABOUT 200 YARDS, THEN IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE, UNTIL I WAS PRACTICLY COASTING WHEN I REACHED MY MECHANICS. AFTER THEY LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE, THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND HAD SPEWED WATER INTO MY ENGINE. THIS LEFT WATER IN MY OIL AND NO COOLANT. MY MECHANIC FLUSHED MY OIL, FLUSHED MY COOLANT, REPLACE THE MANIFOLD WITH THE FACTORY PART, AND REPLACED THE GASKET WITH THE FACTORY PART. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE AND THAT ALL OF THE 3.8L GM ENGINES HAD PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS. I THEN BEGAN TO RESEARCH ON LINE THIS ISSUE, AND APPARENTLY MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED BUICK 3 TIMES TRYING TO PLEAD MY CASE. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS CAR, BUT THE MODEL 2 YEARS PRIOR HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND THE PART WAS RECALLED. I HAVE FOUND A NOTICE THAT NHTSA IS TRYING TO HAVE THE REPLACING THE "DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS" REPLACE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO CRACK. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V090000
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061796April 29, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THE CONSUMERS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED THE RECALL. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062854April 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. PRIOR TO THIS, THERE WAS AN ANTI FREEZE ODOR WITHIN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY NOTICED THAT THE UPPER AND THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTED. *AK CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068667April 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. CONSUMER HAD THE MECHANIC REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068603April 21, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. *AK THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT. THE KEY WAS TURNED TO START THE ENGINE WHEN THE BACKFIRE OCCURRED. THE SERVICE DEALER USED THE OLD PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE FROM THE FIRE. (THE COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO THE CYLINDER AND CAUSED IT TO LEAK) RECALL#04V090000 THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067608April 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTED CAUSING THE ENGINE COOLANT TO FLOOD INTO THE CRANKCASE. ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY LOCKED UP AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER. $1500 IN DAMAGES ON A CAR WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064653April 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
WHILE PARKING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE INPUT MANIFOLD CRACKED/SPLIT AND THE ENGINE COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR KEPT ON GOING DOWN BUT THE CONSUMER NEVER SAW ANY COOLANT ON THE DRIVEWAY OR IN THE OIL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT GM COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063302April 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLES STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066140April 14, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1998 BUICK LESABRE STALLED AT A STOPLIGHT AND WOULDN'T START. AFTER HAVING THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REMOVED, WATER WAS DISCOVERED IN THE INTAKE AND IN THE CYLINDERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065695April 7, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1998 BUICK LASABRE...WITH PLASTIC INTAKE DEVELOPED A CRACK AND ALLOW ALL COOLANT TO PASS THRU ENGINE AND OUT EXHAUST...WAS STRANDED 100 MILES FROM HOME...TO GET TOWED AND REPLACE THIS DESIGN FLAW COST ME OVER 600.00 DOLLARS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065697April 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
1998 BUICK LASABRE...REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS LEAKING ON DRIVERS SIDE...CAUSED WHEEL TO LOCK UP COMPLETELY ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS...PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH MORE INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061952March 11, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I AM UPSET THAT THE GM RECALL # 03054B DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 1998 BUICK LESABRE, ONLY THE PARK AVENUE, ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. FOR BUICK. *AK MY LESABRE DID THE SAME THING AS DESCRIBED ON THE RECALL RESULTS FOR THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION FOUND ON THE INTERNET. HOWEVER, YOUR OFFICE DID LIST IT USING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V090000. PLEASE E-MAIL ME @ [email protected] OR LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR ME @ 850-482-8156, IF MY VEHICLE (1998 BUICK LESABRE, CUSTOM) CAN BE ADDED TO THIS RECALL. AFTER LOOKING AT THE REVIEWS FOR THIS VEHICLE IT SEEMS THERE ARE A FEW COMPLAINTS. THANKS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061751March 10, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
INFO COPY OF LET TO GM, INQUIRING IF THERE IS ANYTHING MORE TO DO TO STOP THE UNNECESSARY TASK OF WRITING MULTIPLE LTRS FOR REIMBURSEMT FROM GM REFERENCING ENGINE COOLANT LEAK ON BUICK VEHICLES. REF ES03-006044 /S/BRENNER 9/23/03. *PH *MJJ NAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061782March 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER DISSATISFIED WITH THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPAIR KIT AND NOTHING ELSE. (NAR) *PH THE CONSUMER WAS ONLY PARTIALLY REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS MADE PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTIFICATION ON THE FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S STARTER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061560March 8, 2004
TIRES
CONSUMER INSPECTED THE TIRES AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD WAS SEPARATING AND STEEL BELT WAS VISIBLE. THE OTHER 3 TIRES HAD CRACKS ALONG THE SIDES. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055365March 1, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, THE CONSUMER HEARD AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS THE PROBLEM. *AK THE EXPLOSION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND THE HOOD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059836February 26, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE REAR . VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE, AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055740February 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE MANIFOLD WARPED, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO SPILL INTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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