Buick LeSabre Complaints (1998)

400 consumer complaints on file.

#10059483February 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING ANTI FREEZE LEAKED FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059445February 19, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE CONSUMER READ AN ARTICLE WHICH INDICATED THAT GM RECALL CERTAIN CARS WITH POWER STEERING DEFECTS. *LA THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR POWER STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH REQUIRED REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 35392 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058539February 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PURCHASED NEW, THIS WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGE KEPT VEHICLE FAILED WITH 44,500 MILES. I CHANGED THE OIL & FILTER AFTER THE FIRST 500 MILE BREAK-IN PERIOD & EVERY 1K MILES. ON 2/12/04, THERE WAS A ROUGH UNEXPECTED ENGINE KNOCK UPON STARTUP. PLACED IN REVERSE, THERE WAS A SHAKING SENSATION & THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP EVENTUALLY LIT. I DROVE TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR COOLLANT LEAKED INTO THE OIL PORTION OF THE ENGINE. IT WAS AN UNPLEASANT SITUATION, HOWEVER, A DECISION HAD TO BE MADE & I OPTED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE WITH A 2004 LESABRE. I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT THE SAME DAY AND TRIED TO PUT MY 1998 PROBLEM BEHIND ME. I HAVE OWNED LESABRES IN THE PAST, A PARK AVENUE & OTHER GM PRODUCTS WHERE I CLOCKED OVER 250,000 MILES EACH ON MOST OF THEM. TWO DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY 2004, THE BURNING QUESTION WAS WHY MY 1998 BIT THE DUST? I FELT DRAWN TO MY COMPUTER & SEARCHED: "BUICK LESABRE PLENUM FAILURES" TO SEE WHAT I MIGHT FIND. I VIEWED SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS AT THIS SITE AND MANY OTHERS DESCRIBING THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. ALL I COULD HELP BUT WONDER, WAS IF THIS SAME DEFECT PRONE PART WAS IN THE CAR I JUST PURCHASED? I CALLED GM AND SPOKE TO A REP. I TOLD HERABOUT MY 1998 MODEL AND THEN ASKED IF SHE COULD LET ME KNOW IF IT HAD BEEN CHANGED ON MY NEW 2004 MODEL? YES, MY 2004 HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD, SO WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE SAME SITUATION WILL ARISE IN THE FUTURE. WHAT WILL THEY DO FOR ME ABOUT MY NEW CAR? NOTHING. BEWARE THE TICKING TIME BOMB IF YOUR GM VEHICLE HAS THE 3800 SERIES II. A LOUD POP, FOLLOWED BY HESITATION & BY THE TIME THE SER ENGINE LIGHT GLOWS -- IT IS ALREADY TOO LATE. MANY FIRES HAVE BEEN REPORTED ALONG WITH THIS PROBLEM. SOURCES INDICATE THAT IT IS ON APPROXIMATELY 35 MILL ASSORTED GM CARS MANUFACTURED FROM CIRCA 1994 TO PRESENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054181February 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE MANIFOLD UPPER INTAKE VALVE. *JB (MANIFOLD AND GASKETS MALFUNCTIONED) THE OIL PAN AND VALVE COVE WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS ALSO A FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEM. THE DEALER FOUND THE #4 CYLINDER MISFIRING WITH NO FUEL DROP. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056543February 4, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
COOLANT CONSUMPTION, OR AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK NEAR OR UNDER THE THROTTLE BODY AREA OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD ON A 98 BUICK LE SABRE CUSTOM FOUR DOOR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057336February 2, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN IN MOTION. THE VEHICLES VACUUM HOSE, POWER STEERING PRESSURE AND INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055053January 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK THROUGH ENGINE BLOCK AND HYDROLOCKED ENGINE. CALL TO LOCAL BUICK DEALER COMFIRMS THIS IS NOT ISOLATED DEFECT. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AS I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE PART. MY COST $879.98. POSSIBLE FUTURE ENGINE DAMAGE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055750January 23, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER INQUIRED AS TO WHY THE RECALL ON PARK AVENUE WITH 3800 V6 ENGINES EXTENDED TO THE LESABRE AS WELL. *PH THE BUICK PARK AVENUE AND BUICK LESABRE ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME ENGINE. THE CONSUMER SAW RECALL 03V473000 FOR THE PARK AVENUE AND WONDERED WHY THE LESABRE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054649January 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
COOLANT LEAK FROM MANIFOLD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055360January 20, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE CONSUMER HEARD AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A FAULTY PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055234January 16, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE ENGINE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071317January 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AFTER BEING ENGAGED FOR 24 MILES OR MORE . THIS HAPPENS AT START UP FROM A STANDING STOP(STOP SIGN ETC.) IT HAS HAPPEN ONLY 4 TIMES THIS YEAR. DEALER UNABLE TO SAY WHAT IS WRONG OR REPAIR NEEDED.HAS ANYONE GOT A IDEA WHAT IT IS?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070675January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
GENTLEMEN: I HAVE A 1998 BUICK LESABRE WITH 31,258 MILES ON IT. LAST WEEKEND, I TURNED THE KEY AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE STARTER MOTOR CASE HAD CRACKED. MY INDEPENDENT GARAGE PUT IN A NEW STARTER TO THE TUNE OF $526.00. WHEN THEY TRIED TO START THE CAR, THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THE NEW STARTER. THE GARAGE THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE WAS FROZEN DUE TO A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH ALLOWED COOLANT TO ENTER THE CYLINDERS. THEY SAID THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY THE GM "5 YEAR" COOLANT ROTTING THE MANIFOLD AWAY. THEY ESTIMATED THE REPAIR AT $2,000.00, INCLUDING THE STARTER. I CALLED BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE; THEY ARE VAGUE ABOUT ANY PROBLEM OR LIABILITY. THEY DID ASK THAT I TAKE THE CAR TO A BUICK DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. I TOOK IT TO FIELDS BUICK. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND THE CAUSE. THEY WANT $2,300.00 TO FIX IT, EXCLUDING THE STARTER. GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. I HAVE DISCOVERED A GM TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (01-06-01-007A) INDICATING THAT GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE AT LEAST JULY, 2001. THE PROBLEM AFFECTS SEVERAL MAKES AND MODELS. A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 31,000 MILES IS ABSURD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053244January 15, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
STEERING RELATED PROBLEMS INVOLVING MAJOR PART REPLACEMENT. I ALREADY CONTACTED AN NHTSA REP ABOUT A DIFFERENT ISSUE, THE UBIQUITOUS UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM WHICH WE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS ON. AND I DISCUSSED PROBLEMS WITH STALLING TOO. AFTER THAT, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET; I SEE THAT THE MANIFOLD PROBLEM IS MORE PREVALENT THAN I SUSPECTED. I ALSO STUMBLED ONTO DISCUSSIONS OF STALLING, STEERING, AND ENGINE FIRE PROBLEMS. WHEN I CALLED GM 2 YEARS AGO ABOUT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, THEY DENIED THE PROBLEM EXISTED EVEN THOUGH MY DEALER AND OTHER SHOPS TOLD ME EVERYBODY KNEW ABOUT IT. I CALLED GM AGAIN A FEW WEEKS AGO AFTER HAVING MORE GASKET PROBLEMS AND ALTHOUGH THEY FINALLY ADMITTED TO THE MANIFOLD AND GASKET PROBLEMS, THEY COULD NOT HELP ME WITH MY EXPENSES, THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT, AND THE REP WAS OBSESSED WITH HAVING ME SAY THAT I WAS SATISFIED WITH MY CALL TO HIM. I TRIED TELLING HIM THAT I WAS UNSATISFIED WITH GM BUT SATISFIED WITH HIM AS A PERSON, BUT HE KEPT TALKING TO ME UNTIL I AGREED THAT I WAS MOSTLY SATISFIED WITH MY CALL. I WONDER IF MANUFACTURERS HAVE DIFFERENT OBLIGATIONS IN RECORDING AND REPORTING THEIR COMPLAINTS TO AUTHORITIES DEPENDING ON WHETHER CUSTOMERS ARE SATISFIED OR NOT. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052401January 15, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WE WERE THE SECOND OWNER FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE ORIGINAL OWNER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT HAD AROUND 42,000 MILES. AFTER PURCHASE, WE EXPERIENCED AN EXTENDED CRANK BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTED THAT WORSENED, SO ON NOVEMBER 25, 2003, MY HUSBAND AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED AND THEY DID THE FOLLOWING: THEY NOTED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND INTAKE MANIFOLD. FURTHER THEY FLUSHED AND FILLED THE COOLING SYSTEM WITH NEW COOLANT, DID AN OIL AND FILTER CHANGE AND AN ENVIROLUTION ENGINE FLUSH; REMOVED CARBON BUILDUP DESLUDGE INTAKE MANIFOLD; DID A FUEL SYSTEM TREATMENT AND CLEANED THE THROTTLE PLATE PRESSURIZED INJECTOR CLEANED AND APPLIED A FUEL TANK ADDITIVE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS $1434.08 (MINUS $45.00 FOR A BELT REPLACEMENT REQUESTED BY US). THIS WAS A COSTLY REPAIR FOR PROBLEMS IDENTICAL TO RECALL NO. 0354 FOR THE BUICK PARK AVENUE (NHTSA PURSUIT NUMBER EA02-030 AND NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V-473000). TODAY, JANUARY 5, 2004, I CALLED BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300 AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH TONY THOMPSON. HE SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE BUICK LESABRE AT THIS TIME, THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048387January 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 30-MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY FOUND THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INSIDE THE ENGINE. *PH WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT, THE ENGINE WAS HYDROSTATIC LOCKED DUE TO THE COOLANT LEAKS. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053540January 7, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED TO STOP THE LEAK AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. DEALER, ON A PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, REPAIRED A HOLE IN THE RADIATOR. *AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050507December 15, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
LTR FM ANDREW HUNT (NJ) CONCERNED CLASSIFICATION OF ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE AS SAFETY PROBLEM & DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEMS SUGGEST NHTSA RECALL ALL GM MODEL YRS 1995-1998. *MR THERE WAS NO ADVANCE WARNING WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD STOP IF THE COOLANT LEAKS. THE CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED THE COST OF THE REPAIR KIT, BUT NOT THE BALANCE OF THE REPAIRS. THE STARTER FAILED WHEN AAA ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS FULL OF COOLANT IN THE ENGINE. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049698December 13, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COOLANT LEAK INTO ENGINE THRU PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050389December 11, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. COOLANT LEAKED INSIDE THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED. SORRY NO RECALL, AND WOULD COST $ 1,400 TO FIX IT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND WOULD COST $ 700 FOR CONSUMER TO FIX IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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