Buick LeSabre Complaints (1998)

400 consumer complaints on file.

#10184631March 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
98 BUICK LESABRE. 3.8 DRIVING UP HILL, DOWN HILL, COASTING, IT DOESN'T MATTER. 1 OR 2 TIMES A WEEK THE ENGINE JUST DIES. SOMETIMES I CAN CATCH IT FULL THROTTLE AND IT WILL PICK UP AND RUN FINE. OR THROW IT IN ON THE FLY AND RESTART INSTANTLY. NEW FUEL PUMP AND FILTER USUALLY STARTS GOOD. SOME TIMES I HAVE TO STOP CRANKING IT AFTER 5 SEC 1,2,3 TIMES BEFORE IT STARTS. THIS ONLY HAPPENS 1 TIME EVERY WEEK OR TWO. I CAN'T LET ANYONE ELSE DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THEY WILL PULL OUT IN FRONT OF A TRUCK AND THE CAR WILL QUIT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183837February 28, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT, SUSPENSION
STRUT HAS BEEN WEAK AND NOISY FOR QUITE A WHILE. IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUTS LIKE THE WEB SITE SUGGESTS I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR IT AT NO CHARGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169095September 15, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1998 LESABRE UPPER MANIFOLD PLENUM OVER HEATED, MELTED, CAUSING A HOLE WHICH ALLOWED ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE OIL. *TS *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164381August 3, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
INTAKE MANIFOLD BURNED AT EGR PASSAGE ADJACENT TO THROTTLE BODY COOLANT PASSAGE(ALL PLASTIC- ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS PROBABLY CAST ALUMINUM). SUBSEQUENT COOLANT LOSS INTO ENGINE AIR INTAKE CAUSES ERRATIC OPERATION AND PROBABLE ENGINE DAMAGE. REPLACED MANIFOLD WITH NEW ONE AT A COST OF $500 PARTS PLUS 5 HOUR. LABOR COMPLAINED TO GM BUT TO NO AVAIL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161913July 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
INTERMITTENT SMALL LEAK OF ANTI-FREEZE/COOLANT THAT SHOWS UP ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. HAVE TRACED THAT IT EMANATES FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE THROTTLE MOUNTING AND THEN DRIPS DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE OVER THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND ONTO THE FLOOR. WAS ADVISED BY A GM MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THROTTLE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT MAY RELATE TO THIS LEAKAGE. LOCAL BUICK DEALER INDICATED THAT MY VIN WAS NOT AFFECTED. NONETHELESS, I HAVE THAT PROBLEM OF COOLANT LEAKAGE FROM THAT AREA OF THE ENGINE. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT GASKET AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO LEAKAGE FROM THE THERMOSTAT OR THE RADIATOR HOSE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155747April 20, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE HEAT INDICATOR GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155152March 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1998 LESABRE BURNED A HOLE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START. *TS ***NAR THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE EGR VALVE WAS LOCATED IN SUCH A POSITION THAT THE HOT EXHAUST GASES WERE VENTED TO CLOSELY TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150016February 11, 2006
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE LAST NIGHT WHEN THE REAR WINDOW ON MY VEHICLE SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE HOLES OR DENTS IN THE WINDOW WHERE SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE HIT IT. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND IT WAS A COLD EVENING. I TOOK PICTURES WITH MY DIGITAL CAMERA AND THE WINDOW IS BEING REPLACED TODAY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149308February 2, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD GASKET. COOLANT DEGRADES GASKET CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149750January 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1998 BUICK LESABRE ENGINE SEIZED CAUSING CONSUMER TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD WARPED CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO GO INTO THE MOTOR PER MECHANIC. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED****JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145718December 20, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LOW . HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SHOP THE TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE ENGINE. THIS, IN TURN COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW UP. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 02/06/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136360September 13, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR, STEERING
DT: THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AND THE REAR BALL JOINTS BROKE IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A ROLL BACK AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BALL JOINT ON THE REAR LEFT BACK. THERE WAS NO FORE-WARNING AND NO NOISE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. ALSO THE POWER STEERING BOLTS BROKE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO DROP OFF THE ENGINE BLOCK AND FALL DOWN ONTO THE FRAME MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *AK (11/10/05) THE POWER STEERING BOLTS BROKE ON TWO OCCASIONS ALLOWING THE PUMP TO FALL DOWN ON THE FRAME. THE SHAFT OF THE BALL JOINT SNAPPED ALLOWING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL TO SHIFT REARWARD. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM DROPPED DOWN ALLOWING THE FREE END TO LOCK THE WHEEL. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135658September 7, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
LTR FWD FM CPSC COMPLAINT RE HIS 1998 BUICK LESABRE, HE TOOK CAR IN FOR A RECALL, AND NOW THE CAR IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN BEFORE GM "REPAIRED" IT.*MR AFTER THE VEHICLES RECALL REPAIRS WERE MADE IT LEAKED FUEL VAPORS AND STALLED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134464August 29, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
DT: THE CONTACT TOOK H CAR TO DEALER FOR A RECALL 04V090000 REPAIRS ALMOST ONE YEAR AGO IN AUGUST, 2004. HE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE IN JUNE, 2004, AND THE CAR WAS REPAIRED ON 9-28-04. THEY DAMAGED THE CAR ON THE OUTSIDE AND ALSO UNDER THE HOOD. THE REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS BROKEN AND THERE WAS A SCRATCH UNDER THE FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT. THEY PUT RED TAPE OVER THE HEADLIGHT. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND THE CAR STALLED. THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED THE RECALL REPAIRS WITHIN ONE DAY. THE DEALER DENIED ANYTHING WRONG WAS DONE. THE RECALL WAS IN REGARD TO A FUEL REGULATOR. AS SOON AS THE CAR RETURNED TO THE CONTACT IT SHUT OFF. RECENTLY, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK, AND THE CONTACT SMELLED A FUEL/EXHAUST ODOR THAT WAS VERY STRONG. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON N. . HE TALKED TO GM ON 11-12-04, AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THEY HAD NOTIFIED THE DEALER ABOUT THE DAMAGE, AND FOR HIM TO TAKE THE CAR TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. WHEN HE TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER THE DEALER WAS MAD AND REFUSED TO FIX THE CAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127255August 5, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD AND AFTER ABOUT 80,000 MILES IT FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK UP. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEN CALLED GENERAL MOTORS TO BE REIMBURSED BUT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE WORK DONE. CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN HE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT STAR. SMELLED ANTIFREEZE. THEN, CONSUMER'S SON EXAMINED VEHICLE AND FOUND OUT IT WAS INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129506July 20, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT FUEL SUPPLY LINE RUSTED AND GASOLINE WAS LEAKING . THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE FOR AT LEAST THREE WEEKS, BUT SHE PUT DOWN A PIECE OF CARDBOARD UNDER THE CAR AND SHE PICKED IT UP AND SMELLED IT. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE FUEL SERVER AND THAT THE WIRES WERE RUSTED. THE PART TO FIX THE VEHICLE WAS THE FUEL SERVER LOCATED INSIDE THE GASOLINE TANK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127491July 5, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 60-75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WERE NO POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO ENGAGE. AFTER THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH BROWN SMOKE AND FIRE WAS COMING OUT OF BOTH AIR BAGS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED THE DRIVER PUT OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FLAME. THE DRIVER SIDE FLAME WENT OUT BY ITSELF. THERE WERE ONLY ONE INJURY. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED BRUISING TO THE LOWER PART OF THE STOMACH AND THE THIGHS. THERE WERE NO MARKS LEFT ON THE VEHICLE. DRIVER PUT THE AIR BAG BACK IN THE DRIVER AIR BAG COMPARTMENT AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE ONLY THING BURNT WAS THE AIR BAGS AND THAT WAS THE ONLY DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. MANUFACTURER SENT OUT AN INSPECTOR TO CHECK OUT THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND TAKE PICTURES. THE MANUFACTURER THEN REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO INSURANCE CARRIER. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT GM SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE AIR BAGS. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHY THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE BURNING. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. CONSUMER HAS NO MAILING ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER FOR THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10127147June 30, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT: THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS IN VEHICLE FOR QUITE SOME TIME BUT ALWAYS DISREGARDED AS ANOTHER PASSING VEHICLE OR SOMETHING ELSE. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS GASOLINE NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ALONG THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND MUFFLER. THE CONSUMER DROVE HOME AND CHECKED TO SEE IF IT WAS LEAKING AGAIN, THERE WAS NO LEAK AT FIRST. LATER, WITHIN 20 MINUTES, 2 PUDDLES FORMED FROM THE GAS LEAK. TOOK NAPKIN AND WIPED, UNDERNEATH NEAR FUEL LINES BUT DID NOT FIND ANY MOISTURE. WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE AS TO WHERE THE LEAK ORIGINATED FROM. CALLED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHO SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET IT IN THE SHOP RIGHT AWAY, BUT DID SAY IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH LEAK. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO CHECKED VEHICLE, AND REPLACED A FUEL SENDING UNIT, FUEL TANK, AND FUEL LINE. NO LEAKS SINCE THE REPAIRS. THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE GAS LINES RUSTED AND CAUSED THE LEAK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126485June 24, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
ON SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2005 I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER THE REAR-RIGHT SIDE OF MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE. ON MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2005 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE VYLETEL BUICK DEALER IN STERLING HEIGHTS. THEY EXAMINED THE CAR AND INFORMED ME THAT THE LEAK(S) WERE COMING FROM CRACKS IN THE FLEXIBLE FUEL LINES AND THESE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY EXPLANATION FOR WHAT CAUSED THE CRACKS IN THESE LINES. THE DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE SENDING UNIT IN THE TANK WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED SINCE IT'S HARD LINES WERE EXCESSIVELY RUSTED AND CORRODED AND THE NEW FLEXIBLE LINES WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SECURED. THEY ALSO SAID THAT SINCE THIS IS ALL BEING DONE, THE FUEL PUMP SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD, AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY 75, 600 MILES UNDER "NORMAL" CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS - NO INCIDENTS OF ANY DAMAGE ANYWHERE ON THE CAR -INCLUDING THE UNDERCARRIAGE. SO, IT IS COMPLETLY UNACCEPTABLE FOR THIS CAR TO HAVE CRACKED FUEL LINES - AND ALL OF THE OTHER RELATED PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SAFTY ISSUE! THE FUEL LEAK WAS EXCESSIVE AND HAD I NOT NOTICED IT, THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF A FIRE/EXPLOSION OCCURING. I SPOKE WITH A BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE CAR AT THEIR COST SINCE THE CAR WAS BEYOND WARRANTLY AND THIS WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. I RELUCTANTLY AUTHORIZED TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE SO THAT I COULD HAVE MY CAR BACK. THE TOTAL COST TO ME WAS $892.34. SINCE THE SAME TYPE OF PARTS (FLEXIBLE FULE LINES, SENDING UNIT, FUEL PUMP) HAVE BEEN USED, I DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED. THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING THIS SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122496June 24, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DT: WHEN STARTED VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A BACKFIRE WITH A LOT O SMOKE. CARE WOULD NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO BUICK GARAGE, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND THEY REPAIRED IT. *AK *SB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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