Buick LeSabre Complaints (1999)

209 consumer complaints on file.

#10440091December 15, 2011
VISIBILITY
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING. MULTIPLE AND CONTINUING FAILURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426558September 21, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE PERFORMING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WITH MY SON HE NOTICED ALL THE FRONT BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND CLOSE TO FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY ENCOUNTERED A BURST REAR BRAKE LINE ON 5-19-09, MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 143,304. SEE NHTSA ODI #: 10269462. ALL METAL BRAKE LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER AND TO/FROM THE ABS UNIT AND FRONT WHEELS WERE REPLACED TO AVOID IMMINENT BRAKE FAILURE. SILENTLY RUSTING BRAKE LINES ARE A POTENTIAL FOR SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED BRAKE LOSS, ONLY GIVING THE DRIVER SECONDS TO REACT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419643August 16, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE AT A LOW SPEED, THE STRUT HOUSING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FAILED AND THE HOOD POPPED OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WHEEL WELDING WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 124,156.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414645July 22, 2011
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER, VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE EVENT LEADING TO THE INCIDENT INVOLVED TURNING ON THE REAR DEFROSTER. AFTER TURNING ON THE REAR DEFROSTER I SMELT SMOKE AND BURNT ELECTRONICS. THE REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT DEFROST. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND PULLED OFF THE PANEL NEAR THE WIRE RUNNING TO THE REAR WINDSHIELD AND DISCOVERED THE "POWER RADIO AMPLIFIER" HAD MELTED AND CAUGHT FIRE, RESULTING IN BURNS TO THE PANEL AND COMPLETE LOSS OF RADIO AND REAR DEFROSTER. THIS OF COURSE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFROST THE REAR WINDSHIELD. A REPLACEMENT PART WAS BOUGHT AND INSTALLED BY MYSELF (THE WIRING HARNESSES AND CABLES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO SEVERE BURNING AS WELL). I STILL OWN THE OLD BURNT PART. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414639July 22, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN IN NATURE. THE FAILURE WAS THE BRAKES ON MY CAR WHICH RESULTED IN A MINOR (NO DAMAGE) ACCIDENT DUE TO LACK OF STOPPING POWER. THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH (PICTURES AVAILABLE, THE LINES MAY STILL BE AVAILABLE) CAUSING NEARLY COMPLETE LOSS OF STOPPING POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BUT DID RUN INTO SHRUBBERY RESULTING IN MINOR SCRATCHES TO THE EXTERIOR. I HAD THE CAR BROUGHT HOME AND REPLACED THE RUSTED BRAKES LINES MYSELF WITH NEW TEFLON COATED LINES TO ENSURE FAILURE WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN. *TT
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398890May 4, 2011
STRUCTURE
DASH PAD IS SEPARATING FROM THE DASH ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL ALONG THE WINDOW LINE . CONCERNED THAT IT WILL ACTIVATE THE AIR BAGS - *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379255January 27, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTO ENGINE THROUGH INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM CAUSING EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT ENGINES AND OR PARTS. DANGEROUS IF ENGINE LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374807January 5, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN DEC 2010 I TURNED ON MY REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ON MY 1999 BUICK LESABRE. IT DID NOT WORK. AFTER CHECKING REPAIR OPTIONS IN THE AUTO MANUALS AND ON LINE, I STILL COULD NOT GET IT WORKING. WHEN MY SON CAME IN FOR THE HOLIDAYS, WE DECIDED TO CHECK THE WIRES AT THE REAR WINDOW. WE DISCOVERED A SQUARE UNIT ATTACHED TO THE BODY UNDER THE ROOF PANEL. THIS UNIT HAD AN ENTRY PLUG WHICH WAS BURNED AND AN OUTLET PLUG LEADING TO THE GRIDS ON THE REAR WINDOW. IT ALSO HAD THE RADIO ANTENNA LEADING INTO IT. THE UNIT AND THE ENTRY PLUG WERE BURNED. MY WIFE AND I BOTH SMELLED SOMETHING LIKE A ELECTRICAL AT ONE TIME BUT DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM. WHAT I AM ASKING IS THAT: COULD THIS UNIT CAUSE A FIRE OR BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL? I KNOW IT IS IN OTHER GM CARS AS WELL AS OUR BUICK. THE PART IN QUESTION IS GM 25623688. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED MY UNIT AND REPAIRED THE WIRING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368818November 27, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR WAS GETTING HARDER TO START EACH TIME- RED LIGHT (OVERHEATING) CAME ON WHILE ON A TRIP- ADDED 4 + QTS OF WATER- DROVE 15 MILES- CAR WOULD NOT START--ADDED 3 + QTS OF WATER--TRIED SEVERAL THINGS TO TRY TO START--NOTICED OIL LEVEL WAS UP-- ASSUMED COOLANT WENT INTO ENGINE- REMOVED 3 FRONT SPARK PLUGS--COOLANT RAN OUT OF SPARK PLUG OPENINGS- CAR WAS TOWED 60 MILES- INTAKE MANIFOLD (WARPED), GASKETS, & THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED- STARTER REPLACED DUE TO BROKEN HOUSING (FROM ATTEMPTING TO START WATER LOGGED ENGINE)- TOTAL EXPENSE APPROX $ 1,000
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269462May 20, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKE LINES IN MY 1999 BUICK LESABRE HAVE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. I WAS DRIVING HOME, UNDER NORMAL WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS, WHEN MY BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT WENT ON. UPON PULLING OVER, I SAW A LARGE LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINES. I MANAGED TO GET HOME AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, SAW ALL LINES WERE EXTREMELY RUSTED. I WILL BE REPLACING ALL BRAKE LINES IN THE CAR WITH NEW ONES MYSELF, AS IT IS TOO COSTLY TO DO AT A SHOP. THE CAR HAS 143304 MILES AND IS NOT OLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253595January 2, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE SEIZED AND WOULDN'T START. FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FULL OF ANTIFREEZE. CAUSED BY A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD. REPLACED MANIFOLD, CHANGED OIL AND ANTIFREEZE AND REPLACED CRACKED STARTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246201October 21, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS CONCERNS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD USED BY GM ON 1998, 1999, 2000, AND SOME 2001 BUICK LESABRE'S EQUIPPED WITH THE 3800 SERIES II V6 ENGINE. FOLLOWING THE FAILURE AND RESULTANT HYDRAULIC ENGINE LOCK OF A NEIGHBOR'S 1999 BUICK LESABRE WITH APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, I VISITED OUR LOCAL BUICK DEALER (LEE CHEVORLET/BUICK - WASHINGTON, NC) TO DISCUSS WHAT APPEARS FROM RESEARCH DONE VIA THE INTERNET TO BE A FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES SO EQUIPPED. IT SEEMS THAT A FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON VEHICLES WITH ABOUT 80K MILES ON THEM, MY WIFE DRIVES SUCH A VEHICLE - A BUICK LESABRE LIMITED PURCHASED FROM LEE CHEVORLET, WASHINGTON, NC ON 2/24/99 IT CURRENTLY HAS 78,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE DEALERSHIP OWNER, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER FREELY REVEALED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS AND CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF A POORLY DESIGNED PART USED ON THEM. THEY ARE PRONE TO FAILURE AT ABOUT THE 80K MILE POINT WHICH RESULTS FROM AN INTERNAL (NOT APPARENT) FAILURE DUE TO MATERIALS DEGRADATION. THE RESULT IS VERY FREQUENTLY THE DISCHARGE OF ENGINE COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDER(S) RESULTING IN A HYDRAULIC LOCK UP WITH FREQUENTLY DISASTROUS RESULTS INVOLVING NOT ONLY AN ENGINE SEIZURE WHILE IN OPERATION BUT ALSO ASSOCIATED SIGNIFICANT ENGINE PARTS DAMAGE. THEIR RECOMMENDATION FOR A REMEDY TO HANDLE THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION IS TO HAVE THE INVOLVED PARTS (TOP AND BOTTOM INTAKE MANIFOLDS) REPLACED WITH "THE GM REPLACEMENT DESIGN RESULTING FROM THE PROBLEM. THESE VEHICLES ARE ALL +/- 10 YEARS OLD AND HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR ORIGINAL 3YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. THEY INDICATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO PERHAPS GET GM TO PARTICIPATE IN A REMEDIATION OF THIS PROBLEM IS TO SPEAK WITH THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE GROUP WHICH I DID YESTERDAY. THEY DENY EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE IN THE $800-900 REPAIR. FAILURE OF THIS PART IN OPERATION COULD BE FATAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225686April 25, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND FAILS TO RESTART. HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. LATER THAT SAME DAY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AND A HALF. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND TOOK 15 MINUTES BEFORE IT RESTARTED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN ELECTRICAL MECHANIC SHOP, BUT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO FIRESTONE AND REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,439.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221825March 20, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WIFE'S 1999 BUICK LESABRE WITH 90,000 MILES ON IT WAS BURNING ANTIFREEZE IN ENGINE. I WAS TOLD BY A CERTIFIED GM MECHANIC TO TRY TIGHTENING THROTTLE BODY MOUNTING NUTS BECAUSE BEING TOO LOOSE WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FROM THE FACTORY. DID THAT 6 MONTHS AGO AND IT SEEMED TO HELP EVEN THOUGH THE MANIFOLD THROTTLE BODY MOUNTING SURFACE WAS WARPED DUE TO THE ENGINE HEAT. OVER THE PAST MONTH THE CAR BECAME INCREASINGLY HARD TO START, BURNED LARGE AMOUNTS OF ANTIFREEZE, AND WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. ON MARCH 13, 2008 I TOOK THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OFF THE ENGINE AND FOUND ANTIFREEZE IN THE INTAKE DUCT GOING TO THE AIR FILTER AND ANTIFREEZE POOLED IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS WAS CAUSED BY TWO SEPARATE DEFECTS, THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NOT SEALING PROPERLY TO THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD (WAS LEAKING IN TWO DIFFERENT SPOTS) AND THE LEAKING THROTTLE BODY TO INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE INTAKE DUCT TO AIR FILTER), WHICH WAS CAUSED BY EXCESS HEAT FROM THE EGR PIPE WARPING THE UPPER MANIFOLD. ANOTHER SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS THE HEAT FROM THE EGR PIPE ERODED THE MANIFOLD TO A POINT THAT IT WOULD CAUSE LEAKING COOLANT TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN NOT ONLY FROM A STANDPOINT OF THE CAR STALLING AND BECOMING HARD TO STEER BUT I WORK IN THE OUTDOORS IN REMOTE LOCATIONS IN SUB ZERO WEATHER IN THE WINTER. I AM ALWAYS PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT MY CAR WON'T START AND I WILL HAVE TO WALK MILES TO THE NEAREST PHONE BUT SOMEBODY ELSE MAY NOT BE PREPARED AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS DEFECT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS IF NOT FIXED. I REPLACED THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKETS WITH AN AFTERMARKET ONE AND THE CAR IS FINE NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214991January 9, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1999 BUICK LESABRE WITH STALLING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WHILE TURNING OR STOPPING. HE STATES THAT NO CODES SHOWED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL PARTS WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE SUCH AS; THE FUEL PUMP, AND BATTERY BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205486October 12, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE ENGINE THEN SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP BOLTS SEPARATED AND FELL INTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE BOLTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,700. *UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED IF THE BOLTS COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM ENGINE BLOCK THEN THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $749.00. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205028October 3, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
1999 BUICK LESABRE WITH A AIR FLOW SENSOR MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY. THEN THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204137September 26, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STABILIZER BAR SPLIT IN HALF. THE DEALER CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WILL HAVE IT REPAIRED ONCE THE PARTS ARRIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66,000. UPDATED 11/14/07
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196933July 11, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1998 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE UPPER MANIFOLD PLENUM WHICH BUICK CHANGED TO PLASTIC OVERHEATED AND MELTED CAUSING A HOLE WHICH ALLOWED ANTIFREEZE TO COMBINE WITH THE OIL. *MC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196919July 10, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
1998 BUICK LESABRE LEAKING REAR WHEEL CYLINDER. CUSTOMER STATES CYLINDER WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES IN 48,000 MILES DEALERSHIP TOLD CUSTOMER IT'S FROM NOT USING IT ENOUGH CUSTOMER IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND USES THE CAR ON A DAILY BASIS**SB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO LIMITED DRIVING, CAUSED THE RUBBER PARTS TO DRY OUT AND CRACK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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