WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DOING 75, MY CAR MADE A LOUD POP SOUND AND WHEN I LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR, THERE WAS A TRAIL OF SMOKE. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND RAN OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE BACK TIRE HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND SPUN ME OUT OF CONTROL THERE WERE 170,000 ON MY 1987 BUICK LESABRE. I ALSO HIT A CAR AND SOME TREES. *TR
1997 Buick Lesabre complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1997 record →
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED, IT BACKFIRED. ONCE THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME, HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT WAS LOW. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $600 AND THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,525.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING ON THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,366.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE CONTACT SMELLED ANTIFREEZE AND NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS BECOMING HOTTER. HE THEN NOTICED STEAM UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 99,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMED WITH FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE ABOUT 95,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START. HE ALSO NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, MORE GASOLINE LEAKED. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT ALTHOUGH HE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
I TURNED THE IGNITION TO START MY CAR ON 1/17/2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30A AND HEARD A VERY LOUD POP AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE COVER AND INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE BOTH SHATTERED. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND A RECALL PERTAINING TO THIS EXACT ISSUE, RECALL NUMBER 96V116000; ADDITIONALLY, I FOUND ANOTHER RECALL PERTAINING TO FAULTY SAFETY BELTS, RECALL NUMBER 96V044000. I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY THE BUICK CORPORATION THAT THERE IS A RECALL BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED FOR SOME UNEXPLAINED REASON. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC. HIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,075. UPDATED 12/12/07
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND HAS TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. ALL PASSENGERS EXITED THE VEHICLE SAFELY AND WITHOUT INJURY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO A SERVICE STATION ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,339 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,384. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE MOUNTING CARRIAGE DISASSEMBLING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S AGE AND MILEAGE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 167,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AS TIME PROGRESSED, THE RATTLING NOISE GRADUALLY INTENSIFIED. THE OIL PRESSURE BEGAN TO DECREASE AND INCREASE RANDOMLY AND FLUCTUATE FROM LOW TO NO PRESSURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE OIL PUMP FAILED AND IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 162,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK, THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK COMING FROM THE THE PIPING ABOVE THE FUEL TANK. THE PIPES WERE ALSO OBSERVED TO BE RUSTED. A SERVICE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND BOTH THE DEALER AND THE PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT MANUFACTURER DID NOT USE THE CORRECT QUALITY PARTS.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON NORMAL DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE 17 YEAR-OLD DRIVER SUFFERED FIRST DEGREE BURNS ON THE RIGHT FOREARM, AND WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THAT THE INFLATER MODULE MAY CORRODE, CAUSING INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB
I HAVE DISCOVERED A BRAKE FLUID LEAK FROM THE ABS MODULATOR ASSEMBLY IN MY 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THERE IS A RECALL (#00V114000) FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM IN 2000 LESABRES. THIS CAN CAUSE THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION! THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO COVER EARLIER YEARS. IN THE MEAN TIME I AM GOING TO PURCHASE A NEW ABS MODULATOR ASSEMBLY. I FEAR THE NEW VALVE ASSEMBLY WILL DEVELOP THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD ON TWO OCCASIONS ON THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF TO COOL DOWN, WHILE WATER AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS ADDED TO THE RADIATOR. AFTER THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED THE PLENUM.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE BACK FIRED CAUSING AN EXPLOSION WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO TURN VEHICLE ON. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED UN-DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO DEALERS FOR SERVICE. THE DEALERS DETERMINED THAT A LEAKY FUEL REGULATOR CAUSED THE BACK FIRE THAT DESTROYED UPPER INTAKE OF MANIFOLD, WHICH COULD ALSO LEAD TO FIRES. THE DEALERS REPLACED THE FUEL REGULATOR AND UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED TO SEE IF VEHICLE WAS PART OF A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURERS DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. *JB
TWO COMPLETE SETS OF BRAKES SINCE OCTOBER 2005 INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS, BOTH VERY COSTLY. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID # 96V116000 REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A LOUD BACK FIRE HEARD WHICH APPEARED TO BE NEAR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
HEARING A THUMBING SOUND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, I WENT TO INVESTIGATE THE WERE ABOUTS OF THE NOISE. I COULD NOT SEE THE PROBLEM BUT, WHEN MY WIFE SAID THAT THERE WAS A LOUD THUMBING NOISE THAT OCCURS ONLY WHILE DRIVING. TWO DAYS LATER THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. I TOOK THE TIRE OFF THE CAR AND NOTICED THAT THE TIRE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND A PIECE WAS MISSING. APPROX 6-8 INCHES OF RUBBER WAS GONE. FIRESTONE TIRE P205-70R15 95S. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF THIS TIRE? THIS IS MY THIRD SET OF TIRES AT 85232 ORIGINAL MILES ON THE 1997 BUICK LESABRE CUSTOM CAR. CAN YOU HELP. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FOR THE TRANSMISSION ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COMPLETED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH SHOWED TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. THE DEALER REPLACED TWO SOLENOID VALVES. THE INDICATOR LIGHT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS TESTING WITH THIS LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *AK
STARTED CAR HEARD LOUD POP, WHITE SMOKE, THEN FLAMES - CAR CAUGHT FIRE - TOTAL LOSS. *JB
SPEEDOMETER IS NOT ACCURATE; NEEDLE BOUNCES ERRATICALLY; CANNOT DETERMINE SPEED. PART REPLACED BY DEALER IN 9/1998; PROBLEM RECURRED IN 9/2001; PART REPLACED BY DEALER; PROBLEM RECURRED IN 10/2005. SPEEDOMETER IN THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE; REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE; MANUFACTURER WILL NOT FULL WARRANTY PARTS & LABOR. *NM
DT: WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF THIS TYPE. THE CONTACT OWNS A BUICK LESABRE THAT HAS A PLASTIC INTAKE CALLED A PLENUM. THIS DEVICE CRACKED AND ALLOWED ENGINE COOLANT TO BE MIXED WITH THE OIL. THIS CAUSED A VAPOR LOCK. NOW, TWO OF THE CYLINDERS SHOW ZERO COMPRESSION, AND A THIRD SHOWS A PRESSURE OF 60 POUNDS. THE ENGINE WAS TOTALED AND MUST BE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP, AND THE MECHANIC MADE THESE TERMINATIONS. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO A BUICK DEALER, WHO SAID THEY DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. AT THIS TIME, NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
DT: THE CONSUMER'S 1997 BUICK LESABRE HAD BLOWN A PISTON. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30-35 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED WITH OIL CHANGES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER PLANNED ON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *SC *AK
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE HORN WILL NOT STOP BLOWING, AND THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY IS MAKING A NOISE. THE SOUND IS COMING OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN DRIVING THE HORN JUST STARTS BLOWING OUT OF NOWHERE, IT JUST STARTS BLOWING, SPECIFICALLY STATES THE CONSUMER. WHEN PRESSING THE HORN PAD IT WILL STOP SOMETIMES. ONE HAS TO PRESS IN A CERTAIN SPOT. THE CAR IS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONSUMER IS GOING TO CALL AND SEE WHAT GM CAN DO. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR TWO WEEKS.*AK
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE CUSTOM. THE ROCKER PANELS RUSTED. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONTACT LIVED IN A STATE WHERE THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER. HE FIRST BEGAN TO NOTICE THIS PROBLEM A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. THIS WAS NOT INTERFERING WITH THE DOORS OPENING OR CLOSING, BUT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF THIS IN THE FUTURE. THIS WAS OCCURRING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK
DT: CONSUMER OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST A LITTLE BUT NOT ENOUGH TO GET COMPLETELY OUT OF TRAFFIC. SHE WAS STUCK IN VEHICLE BECAUSE EVERYTHING ON VEHICLE SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE GROUND CABLE COMING LOOSE, NOT LOOSE FROM THE MOTOR BLOCK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WORKED ON, SHE DID NO FEEL THAT CABLE COMING LOOSE WAS DUE TO A DEFECT. SHE WAS MORE CONCERNED THAT WHEN VEHICLE LOST POWER SHE WAS STUCK IN VEHICLE WITH NO WAY TO ESCAPE. THE DOOR LOCKED AND POWER WINDOWS DID NOT WORK. THE BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THAT THERE WAS NO MANUAL LOCK THAT COULD BE USED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WHEN POWER FAILED. SHE WAS STUCK IN VEHICLE WITH VEHICLE IN THE ROAD AND IN DANGER OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SHE STAYED IN VEHICLE ONE HOUR ON A VERY HOT DAY UNTIL SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTACT A FRIEND ON CELL PHONE, AND HE CAME TO HELP HER. *AK
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT ON JULY 1, 2005 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND HE THOUGHT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. WHEN HE TRIED TO GET A JUMP AND START IT THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD BACKFIRE NOISE. AT THAT POINT, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR MAN, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS RECALL 96V116000. HE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL, DEALERSHIP THEN CHECKED WITH GENERAL MOTORS, AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL WAS FOR CANADA., AND BECAUSE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN THE U.S. IT WOULD NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. CONSUMER THEN CALLED BUICK AND WAS TOLD THE SAME INFORMATION. *AK
1997 BUICK LESABRE BACKFIRES AT STARTUP, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, AND THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. *MR THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND REAR BRAKE NOISE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFO IN REFERENCE TO WARRANTIES RELATED TO HIS MAKE/MODEL. *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. CONSUMER IS ABLE TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED IT WAS AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *BF
THERE WAS AN INTAKE BACK FIRE WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE. WHEN TAKEN TO GET SERVICED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY INTAKE MANIFOLD.*AK RECALL CAMPAIGN 96V116000:INTAKE BACKFIRE DURING STARTING. TURNED THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR AND HEARD A LOAD NOISE. THEN TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND DID NOT TRY AGAIN. MECHANIC SAID LUCKILY THE CAR DID NOT BURN BECAUSE THERE WAS GAS ON THE ENGINE. MECHANIC CALLED BUICK, BUT THEY DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND SAID THE CAR WAS NOT COVERED. *BF
GASKET AND EGR TUBE FAILURE CAUSING PLENUM AND UPPER INTAKE LEAKAAGE CAUSING "HYDRO-LOCK'. *AK
I HAVE A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. I HAD TO HAVE OVER $1600 IN REPAIRS DONE ON THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH A 1998 LESABRE HAS A RECALL ON. WHY, WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS ON 1997 IS IT NOT RECALLED AS WELL? IT'S A RECURRING PROBLEM TO THE POINT THAT THEY REDESIGNED THE MANIFOLDS (WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE LOWER MANIFOLD). TWO DEALERS MENTIONED THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE SAME PROBLEM IS COVERED FOR A 1998 AND NOT A 1997. MY CAR ONLY HAS 76,000 MILES ON IT, WORK WAS PREFORMED BY A BUICK/GMC DEALER. IS THERE ANY WAY THE RECALL CAN EXTEND TO ONE PRIOR YEAR?*AK
I WAS REAR ENDED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN PUSHED INTO THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND TRANSPORTED TO EMERGENCY ROOM. THE SAFETY BELT ON MY 1997 BUICK LESABRE LTD DID NOT HOLD ME BACK DURING THE COLLISION AND I WAS THROWN FACE FIRST INTO MY STEERING WHEEL. THIS RESULTED IN A SEVERELY BROKEN NOSE, SEVERE FACIAL CONTUSIONS AND BRUISES. I AM TOLD BY BUICK DEALER REPAIR PERSONNEL THAT A BUICK LESABRE MUST BE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH IN ORDER FOR SEAT BELTS TO LOCK AND HOLD THE DRIVER BACK. THE SEAT BELTS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR CAN BE PULLED OUT AND ALMOST REACH THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND WHILE DRIVING IT. I HAVE ALSO DISCUSSED THE ACCIDENT WITH SEVERAL PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SIMILAR ACCIDENTS IN DIFFERENT MAKE CARS. THEY STATED THAT THEIR SEAT BELTS DID HOLD THEM BACK AND THAT THEY DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE SEAT BELT ON MY 1997 BUICK IS DEFECTIVE AND ALLOWED ME TO RECEIVE SEVERE FACIAL INJURIES. I BELIEVE THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND PROPERLY REINSTALLED SO THAT THEY WILL WORK IN AN ACCIDENT SUCH AS MINE. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE SEARCHED THROUGH THE COMPLAINTS SENT TO YOUR ORGANIZATION AND NOTICED THAT AN ALMOST EXACT ACCIDENT HAPPENED TO A 1997 BUICK LESABRE LTD IN 1998. THE PERSON INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WROTE TO YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SEAT BELTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND ALLOWING THE PERSON TO SUSTAIN MANY INJURIES. WHEN WILL THE NHTSA NOTICE THAT THERE
FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BROKE. IT WAS THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 96V044000. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER. HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED THE RECALL. *AK *TC
THE HORN REPEATEDLY WENT OFF AND EVENTUALLY IT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CAUSE IS UNDETERMINED. *JB
THE HOOD CAME UNLATCHED AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING.. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE HOOD ASSEMBLY INSPECTED. *JB
THE MECHANIC NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE FUEL TANK WHILE CHANGING THE CONSUMERS OIL. *JB THE CONSUMER NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS FOR TWO DAYS. TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN CHILD SAFETY SEATS WERE OVERWELMED BY FUMES. *TC
I HAVE A GASOLINE LEAK AT THE JOINT WHERE THE FUEL LINE FROM THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT JOIN THE FUEL LINE THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL FILTERING FRONT OF THE RIGHT SIDE REAR WHEEL. AFTER DISCOVERING THE ODOR OF GASOLIONE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR, THE ONLY ACTION I HAVE TAKEN IS TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A BUICK DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL LINE SHOWS SIGNIFICATE CORROSION, BUICK HAS DENIED RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THIS CAR. I HAVE REQUESTED RELIEF FROM BUICK THRU GENERAL BUICK CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ONLY TO BE DENIED AGAIN,TODAY, 10/19/2004. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY BUICK THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR (VALUE BETWEEN $400-$750). IN MY OPINION, FUEL LEAKS OF ANY NATURE SHOULD NOT PRESENT AN ISSUE TO THE CONSUMER FOR LIFE OF AUTOMOBILE. I AM REQESTING THAT THE ABOVE INFORMATION BE ADDED TO YOUR DATABASE IN THE EVENT THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED COMPLAINT.*AK
VEHICLE FAILED TO START DUE TO PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN RECALL NOTICE. *BF THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT CAUSED ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER HEADS. RECALL# 96V116000. *SC THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMMENCED TO RUN ROUGHLY. VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, AND FOUND COOLANT MISSING BECAUSE OF DESIGN DEFECT IN PART CAUSED FLUID TO BE DRAWN INTO ENGINE. THIS CAUSED THE 3ENGINE TO SEIZE AND AN OVERHAUL TO BE NEEDED. POSSIBLE RECALL SCRAPPED BECAUSE PROBLEM WAS NOT A SAFTEY ISSUE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *TC
WHILE DRIVING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING. *NM THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS CLEARLY AN INFERIOR DESIGNED PART. *JB
CONSUMER NOTICE D WHITE SMOKE AND LOSS OF COOLANT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
1997 BUICK LE SABRE ENGINE SHUDDERED THEN STOPPED.*MR
HAD THIS PLASTIC MAIFOLD WARP AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH FLUID COMING OUT ON TO THE ROAD AND BELT FAILURE POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF RUPTURE ,YOU HAVE A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK *JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN CONSUMER STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A HUGE EXPLOSION, THEN FIRE BROKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE BATTERY WAS STILL SMOKING, AND THE ENGINE AND WIRES WERE BURNT. RECALL 96V116000 WAS ISSUED FOR THE FUEL CARBURETOR MANIFOLD INTAKE. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *LA
I CAN'T GIVE NAMES YET B/CAUSE OF LEGAL REASONS. BUT, A CLOSE FAMILY MEMBER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN 08-2003, WENT OFF STEEP CLIFF SPEED WAS 5-10 MILES AN HR. ROLLED THE 1997 LASABRE, WAS WEARING SEATBELT AND FOR SOME REASON AIR BAG WENT OFF. ANYHOW HE IS NOW A QUADRAPLEGIC B/CAUSE THE ROOM COLLAPSED ON HIM. THANKS 2 THE WEAK DESIGN.*AK
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1997 Buick Lesabre → · Every Lesabre year → · How the figures are calculated →