Buick LeSabre Complaints (1998)

400 consumer complaints on file.

#10046272December 10, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION. THERE WAS A BREAKAGE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND MELTING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE DUMPING SHROUD. A SMALL FIRE WAS BURNED ON THE ENGINE BLOCK WHEN THE SHROUD WAS REMOVED. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044426December 10, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
VEHICLE HAD BEEN LOSING COOLANT SINCE 1998. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES. THE GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR) PORT WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND WHEN IT MELTED, COOLANT SEEPED INTO THE ENGINE. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT OF $479.99 FROM MC CLELLON BUICK AFTER CONTACTING THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049431December 8, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1998 BUICK LESABRE - ENGINE BACKFIRE UPON STARTING - BLEW OFF VACUME HOSE AT INTAKE MANIFOLD, CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. ENGINE HYDROLOCKED, SUCKING COOLANT INTO ALL 6 CYLINDERS. FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR REPLACED ALONG WITH A NEW PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048801November 29, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED (I HAD TO QUICKLY MOVE TO THE SHOULDER). NOTICED NO COOLANT IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. TOWED IT TO THE GMC DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER REMARKS: DUE TO ANTIFREEZE LEAK FROM MANIFOLD GASKET ALL FLUIDS WENT THROUGH ENGINE BLOCK AND HYDROLOCKED THE ENGINE AND CAUSING IT TO SHUT DOWN. (THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT THEY HAD TO SEVERAL BUICK LESABRE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM). AT LEAST I AM LUCKY THAT THIS PERSON KNEW WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITHOUT SPECULATION. I HAVE HEARD OTHERS WERE NOT THAT LUCKY AT OTHER DEALER PLACE WHERE THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM EXCEPT SPECULATING ON THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ALL I WANT IS THAT THE GMC COMPANY PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OR REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIRS CAUSED BY THEIR POOR TECHNICAL WORKMANSHIP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044571November 19, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TEMPERATURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER STOPPED AND PUT IN COOLANT. NEXT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED , AND ENGINE DIED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLDS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK THE DEALER ALSO INSTALLED A NEW THERMOSTAT AND GASKET AND REPLACED ALL SIX SPARK PLUGS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048116November 18, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046478November 6, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD AT OWNER'S EXPENSE OF $985.00. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041955November 4, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDERS. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STALLED. *AK *TS *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039726October 28, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
CONSUMER HAD MANIFOLD SYSTEM REPAIRS DONE ON 98 BUICK LESABRE. THE MANIFOLD SYSTEM WAS REPLACED TWICE. AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR, CONSUMER BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALLS FOR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH 3.8 V6 ENGINE. GENERAL MOTORS WERE CONTACTED BUT THE CONSUMER DIDN'T RECEIVE A RESPONSE. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044424October 21, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
VEHICLE HAD BEEN LOSING COOLANT SINCE 1998. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES. THE GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR) PORT WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND WHEN IT MELTED, COOLANT SEEPED INTO THE ENGINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038561October 15, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, BLACK SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED.*AK *TS *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032482October 12, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED AND THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED. *JB *TS *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041553October 9, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTING. LOSS OF COOLANT. REPLACE PLASTIC INTAKE, PLUGS, STARTER, OIL AND FILTER, PCV VALVE, COOLANT. PLUS TOWING BILL AND SHOP LABOR. GM DEFECT. GM KNOWS IT, GM SHOULD REIMBURSE FOR REPAIR COST. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042084October 1, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD INTO THE ENGINE. THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO BLOW OUT. INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DETERIORATING DUE TO THE LEAKAGE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040765September 26, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH ALL DASHBOARD INDICATORS STARTED FLASHING, AND ENGINE STALLED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039479September 24, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
ENGINE COOLANT LEAK, INTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD,OF MY VEHICLE, RESULTED FROM DEFECTIVE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD COMPOSITE MATERIAL DEGRADING AROUND THE EGR STOVE PIPE. BUICK MOTOR DIVISION OF GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, #01-06-01-007A-(07/18/2001), DOCUMENT ID#812024, PERTAINING TO THIS EXACT TYPE OF ENGINE MANIFOLD DEFECT IN 1998 BUICK LESABRE AUTOMOBILES. ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2003, THE EGR STOVE PIPE FAILED IN MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE, ALLOWING ENGINE COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE MANFOLD. I FORMALLY REQUEST THAT YOUR AGENCY IMMEDIATELY BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS DEFECT, IN ORDER TO PROCEED TOWARD ORDERING A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040557September 24, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN MAKING TURNS AND PARKING. ALSO, VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVER'S FOOT IS ON BRAKE, DRIVER HAS TO PRESS BRAKE HARDER UNTIL ENGINE SLOWS DOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039367September 23, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
MY CAR, A '98 LESABRE, HAS A POWER ASSISTED STEERING THAT IS DRIVEN BY A BELT. THE IDLER PULLEY DISINTEGRATED, THE BELT CAME OFF, AND I HAD LITTLE STEERING. A PERSON WITH LESS UPPER BODY STRENGTH WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL. I BELIEVE MANY UNEXPLAINED ACCIDENTS MAY BE CAUSED BY THIS SITUATION. INVESTIGATING OFFICERS WOULD ASSUME THE BELT WAS LOST DURING THE CRASH WHEN THE LOSS WAS ACTUALLY THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. A VEHICLKE THAT HAS A SERPENTINE BELT ALSO LOSES POWER TO THE BRAKES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039400September 23, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
CAR BACKFIRED AND ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038840September 13, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM OUR DAUGHTER'S IN VIRGINIA, OUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE PULLED ONTO A SIDE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, WE FOUND THE RESERVE RADIATOR RESERVOIR TO BE TOTALLY EMPTY. AFTER 20 MINUTES, WE TRIED TO START THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. WE WERE TOWED BACK TO THE NEAREST TOWN, SELINSGROVE, PA, TO A PEP BOYS AND WERE TOLD THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO ROCHESTER WHERE OUR MECHANIC PROCEEDED TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. WE ALSO CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE. THE RADIATOR FLUID IS ENTIRELY SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THERE IS NEVER ANY INDICATION OF OVER HEATING OR CHANGES ON THE GAUGE READINGS BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS NOT HOT, DUE TO THE FLUID BEING IN THERE. CONSEQUENTLY, WE HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. THREE DAYS AFTER THIS HAPPENED TO US, A LETTER WAS MAILED OUT TO ALL OWNERS OF 2000-2003 BUICKS FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. WE CALLED THE NUMBER GIVEN 1-800-832-8425 AND ALSO CALLED BBB AUTO LINE FOR GENERAL MOTORS. GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP US IN THIS MATTER BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE IS A 1998. THE COST WE HAVE INCURRED TO REMEDY THIS FAILURE IS IN EXCESS OF $3,000.00. THE SAME ENGINE WAS USED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM: A 3800 SERIES LL (L36) V6 ENGINE. HOW DO I KNOW THE SAME THING WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN? I DO NOT! I DO NOT WANT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE YET I CANNOT AFFORD NOT TO. WE HAVE BOUGHT GM CARS AND TRUCKS FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS. WE ALWAYS SAID: "BUY AMERICAN". I GUESS THAT TIME IS OVER. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP US? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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