Page 3 of 8 · complaints 101–150 of 400

1998 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 1998 record →

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Oct 5, 200448,000 milesMA

DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR CAUSED DAMAGED . *BF OIL LEAKED DUE TO MANIFOLD WEAR. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THE WARNING LIGHTS HAD COME ON. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. RECALL# 04V090000. *SC THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER AFTER SHE HAD ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Oct 5, 2004KS

RECALL FOR FUEL REGULATOR AND INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEMS . *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL AND HAD ALREADY HAD THE REGULATOR AND INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE MANIFOLD, THEY STATED IT WAS NOT RUPTURED, BUT IT WAS WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPALCED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT THE CONSUMER A CHECK FOR A 127.40, BUT THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HE WAS ENTILTED TO THE REMAINING PORTION OF 374.98. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Oct 1, 200476,787 milesIL

1998 BUICK LESABRE- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, STOPPED AT GAS STATION,CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER STOPPING, INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO GET IINTO THE ENGINE, BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP THE STARTER ALSO BROKE WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR, WAS STRANDED 60 MILES FROM HOME, TO GET TOWED AND GET CAR FIXED COST OVER 2000.00 DOLLARS. IT SEEMS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS A DEFECT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 28, 200469,100 milesOH

A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. PROBLEM WAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A $79.00 CHARGE , AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. *AK *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 28, 2004KS

THE VEHICLE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. *NM THE VEHICLE DIED WHILE THE CONSUMER BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, RESTARTED AND BACKFIRED ALONG WITH ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATION, AND LATER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, BUT HAD RAN ROUGH. SINCE 10/08/02, THE VEHICLE HAD RUN FINE. *SC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail PipeFire
Filed Sep 28, 200411,140 milesOH

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOAD POP THEN SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NM THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A LEAKING MANIFOLD. *SC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 28, 200466,728 milesGA

THE VEHICLE'S PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHICH RESULTED IN WATER GETTING INSIDE THE CRANKCASE. *NM THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE SHE FOUND OUT THAT THE PART HAD BEEN RECALL TWO YEARS AGO. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Sep 14, 2004110,000 milesMI

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V090000. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS, NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. BOB SAKS, 248-478-0500. *AK *SC

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 14, 200469,000 milesMI

THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED. AFTER SENDING THE RECEIPTS TO THE MANUFACTURE, THEY ARE NOT REFUNDING THE ENTIRE AMOUNT. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 13, 200495,000 milesMN

VEHICLE'S ENGINE MISFIRES AND LOSES POWER. *MR THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON ALONG WITH THE MISFIRES AND POWER LOSS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE DUE TO THE ENGINE HYDRAULIC LOCK. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT GM WAS AWARE OF THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM. *SC

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Sep 8, 200435,657 milesWI

REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST FOR 1998 BUICK LESABRE RECALL.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THEIR VEHICLE JULY 2, 2004. RECALL #(04V090000 ) REGARDING FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE REPAIRS DONE ON THE VEHICLE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER REPORTED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. DEALER REPLACED STARTER ASSEMBLY. *TC

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 30, 2004102,116 milesMO

AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A RECALL REPAIRS, VEHICLE WAS CUTTING OFF, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. VEHICLE IDLED ROUGHLY. CONSUMER TOLD MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST PRIOR TO BRINGING IT IN FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD GO AWAY ON ITS OWN. *AK THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILED . *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Aug 30, 2004NC

ENGINE BACKFIRING ON 1998 BUICK LESABRE. *MR RECALL# 04V090000. THE HEATER FAILED AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A WATER PUMP WAS NEEDED. THE ENGINE ALSO DIED WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 24, 2004TN

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Aug 24, 2004MO

CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 96V116000 CONCERNING INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. CONSUMER HAD RECALL REPAIRS DONE. HOWEVER, RECALL REPAIRS FAILED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Aug 20, 2004NC

PROBLEMS WITH FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR ON 1998 BUICK LESABRE.*MR THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED IN ACCORDANCE WITH RECALL V1082. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERRMINED THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD FAILED AND COOLANT WAS FLOWING INTO THE CYLINDERS. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE MANIFOLD SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Aug 20, 2004115,527 milesMN

REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT.*MR THE VEHICLE FUEL REGULATOR FAILED AND CAUSED THE MANIFOLD TO RUPTURE. THE CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT N THE AMOUNT OF $1438.06. THE CONSUMER ONLY RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $160.17 FOR THE REGULATORS. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT SINCE THE REGULATORS CAUSED THE MANIFOLD TO RUPTURE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REIMBURSE HIM FOR THEM AS WELL. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Aug 19, 2004LA

PROBLEMS REGARDING A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. *MR RECALL# 04V090000. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERS THREE TIMES. THE FUEL REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE DIED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE BATTERY CABLE WAS LOOSE AND THE PCM NEEDED CALIBRATING, AND THE STARTER WAS BAD. *SC *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Aug 19, 2004IL

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT REGARDING SERVICES PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. *MR RECALL# 04V090000. THE VEHICLE DIED AT INTERSECTIONS AND WAS SLUGGLISH DUE TO A POSSIBLE FUEL PROBLEM. *SC (DAUGHTER ON BEHALF OF MOTHER RUBY TYNER) THE CONSUMER HAD OVER $300.00 WORTH OF REPAIRS DONE BEFORER SHE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Aug 19, 200469,000 milesPA

COMPLAINT REGARDING A REPAIR INVOICE BUCS38787. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THAT GM DECIDED THAT BURNING A HOLE THROUGH THE INTAKE THAT WAS DRIVEN 69K MILES WAS NORMAL MAINTENANCE AND WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR ADJUSTMENT BY GM. *SC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Aug 12, 200466,582 milesMI

WHILE DRIVING SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, VEHICLE DECELERATED FOLLOWED BY HEAT AND VENTILATION FAILURES. THIS WAS DUE TO ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD MALFUNCTIONING. THE MANIFOLD WASN'T DESIGNED CORRECTLY BY THE FACTORY ENGINEER, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED COOLANT LEAKING. CYLINDER REPLACED, AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD IMPROVED DESIGN, PER BULLETIN 010601007A. ALSO, COOLANT AND FLUID PLUGS WERE REPLACED.*AK *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 12, 200451,594 milesHI

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WERE A MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN FLAW. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE TUBING WAS TOO SMALL, CAUSING THE TUBING TO RUPTURE. *AK THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS WORN THROUGH. *SC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 5, 2004CA

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE BEGAN RUNNING VERY HARD AND ROUGH. FINALLY, ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. CONSUMER STATES DUE RECALL 04V090000 VEHICLE ACTS IN THIS MANNER. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Aug 4, 2004TX

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE PLENUM. *MR DUE TO A BACKFIRING/MISFIRING PROBLEM. *SC THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE PROBLEM AND THE CONSUMER IS NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. RECALL #(04V090000) *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Jul 30, 2004ID

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. *MR THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY LOST MORE POWER AND QUIT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED IN ONE OF THE PASSAGES, WHICH REQUIRED A TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. *SC

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Jul 26, 200485,170 milesNM

RECALL REGARDING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE 1998 BUICK LESABRE. *MR THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WAS RUINED DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM. *SC THE SECOND TIME THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE IT RESULTED IN HAVING TO GET A NEW ENGINE WHICH WAS DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jul 23, 2004AR

PROBLEMS WITH ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PURCHASE THE SMALL COPPER PIECE THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE PLASTIC TO BECOME OVERHEATED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. (1998 BUICK). *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 19, 200455,000 milesLA

IT WOULD BE HARD TO START THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail PipeFire2 injured
Filed Jul 6, 200448,000 milesMA

MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE HAD A RUPTURED MANIFOLD IN JUNE 2003, CAUSING ENGINE TO CEASE AND SMOKE AND MINOR FIRE. THE SMOKE MADE MYSELF AND MY INFANT SON VERY ILL. THIS WAS REPORTED TO BUICK BUT THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR REPAIR SINCE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FOLLOWING RECALL WAS NOT IN EFFECT: NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V473/GM RECALL NO. 03054 AND THAT MY VEHICLE HAD NO RECALL. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE CEASED TO START AGAIN AND IT WAS DETERMINED AT THE BUICK DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS A FAULTY FUEL PRESSUE REGULATOR WHICH WAS REPLACED. BUICK AGAIN REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT ALTHOUGH I BROUGHT THEIR ATTENTION TO THE CURRENT RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I CALLED AGAIN TODAY AS THE RECALL FOR 98 BUICK LESABRES WITH V6 ENGINES WAS AGAIN POSTED BUT BUICK TOLD ME THAT THEIR SYSTEM HAS NO SUCH RECALL AND THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR OVER $1000 OF REPAIRS FOR THE FAULTY FUEL PRESSUE REGULATOR AND MANIFOLD. NHTSA RECALL NO. 04V090/GM RECALL NO. 03054B.*AK *LA

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Jun 29, 2004CA

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT BUCKLE OR RETRACT ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE SEAL BELT WAS NOT A LIFE TIME WARRANTY.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 23, 200492,523 milesMN

WHILE DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I CALLED MY AUTO CLUB FOR A TOW AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A CONNOCO STATION IN PARK RAPIDS. THEY IMMEDIATLY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, STATING THEY SEE A LOT OF THE 3800 ENGINES DO THIS. THE INTAKE PLENUM ROTTED AWAY ALLOWING COOLANT TO FILL A CYLINDER AND STALL THE ENGINE. GM HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLITIN FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WITH LOSS OF POWER TO THE ENGINE THE STEERING AND BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION AS THEY SHOULD. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Jun 18, 200463,468 milesCA

OUR 1998 BUICK LESABRE LIMITED, APRIL 2004 OUR UPPER & LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD'S & GASKET WERE REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK AND THE CAR ONLY HAD 62,000 MILES ON IT. THIS COST US OVER 2000.00 THE WEB HAS HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER GM OWNERS. *AK UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED, CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. OIL AND OIL FILTER HAD TO BE CHANGED, SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED AND CYLINDER'S [ENGINE FLUSHED] HAD TO BE CLEANED OUT. ALSO BROKEN STARTER REPLACED. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED OVER 110 MILES BACK HOME AT A COST OF $ 236.50 [MY WIFE WAS VISITING HER MOM AND HAD 2 GRANDCHILDREN WITH HER WHEN CAR BROKE DOWN IN A REMOTE AREA ,LUCKY FOR US SHE HAD HER CELL PHONE WITH HER AND SOME NICE FOLKS AT A NEAR BY RANCH TOOK CARE OF THEM] MY MECHANIC ADVISED INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED, AND STARTER WAS BAD [HOUSING BROKE] STARTER HOUSING BROKE DUE TO TRYING TO START HYDRO-LOCKED ENGINE. QUESTION: WHY IS BUICK ALLOWED TO USE A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD? AS THIS IS AN AREA THAT GETS VERY HOT. IT'S OBVIOUS, BUICK MADE A BIG MISTAKE BY PRODUCING ENGINES WITH PLASTIC MAN- IFOLDS. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE ENGINE IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND HAS THE EGR TUBE RUNNING THROUGH IT, CAUSING THE PLASTIC TO HEAT UP AND ALLOW ANTIFREEZE TO RUN INTO THE ENGINE. WHEN MY MECHANIC CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO ORDER PARTS, THE SALES CLERK TOLD HIM, "YES WE HAVE THOSE PARTS ON HAND IT HAPPENS A LOT" ALSO THAT THE UPPER & LOWER INTAKES HAD BEEN RE-DESIGNED AND THAT BOTH MANIFOLDS

Air Bags
Filed Jun 16, 200440,000 milesMS

INTERMITTENTLY THE HORN WOULD SOUND OFF AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE HORN SOUNDED OFF TWENTY TIMES SINCE LAST JUNE.*AK *NM

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Jun 9, 2004CA

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND MECHANIC REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Jun 4, 200459,627 milesIN

VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DEGRADED AROUND THE ERG DISTRIBUTION NIPPLE AND THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR DIAPHRAM RUPTURED LEAKING FUEL INTO THE ENGINE THROUGH THE VACUUM HOSE. THIS WAS THE SAME DEFECT AS DESCRIBED IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR RECALL 03V473000, BUT THIS VEHICLE'S MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME TYPE OF ENGINE. *AK *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 4, 2004FL

REGULATOR LEAKING ALLOWING FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *MR WATER IN THE RESERVOIR TANK KEPT EVAPORATING. THE CONSUMER WOULD CONTINUE TO REFILL THE TANK BUT IT CONTINUED TO LEAK. THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR CAUSED THE LEAK ALLOWING FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. THE PLENUM CRACKED DUE TO THE BACKFIRING OF THE ENGINE CAUSED BY THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. *SC *JB

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Jun 3, 200479,160 milesAL

THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO START. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed May 26, 2004116,000 milesIL

WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE LOCKED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONSUMER'S HOUSE AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CORRODED. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED WATER AND ANTI-FREEZE TO ENTER THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVER HEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 20, 200484,052 milesAL

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTED INSIDE THE ENGINE. *JB THE VEHICLE WAS MISSING AND WAS SMOKING. NEW MANIFOLD AND PLUG WIRES WERE ADDED. *SC

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed May 20, 200459,000 milesKS

THE ENGINE BACK FIRED AND BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT THE TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLD BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE TAIL PIPE/ TENSION O-RING/THERMOSTAT, AND GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION. THE ENGINE HAD A MIXTURE OF WATER AND OIL IN IT. FUEL REGULATOR, COIL, AND SPEEDOMETER WIRES ALSO NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK THE SPARK PLUGS WERE CONTAMINATED WITH ANTIFREEZE. THE ENGINE WAS CONTAMINATED WITH ANTIFREEZE AND FUEL. RECALL#04V090000 THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BROKEN AND BURNED THROUGH AND THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LEAKED GAS. *SC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 12, 2004113,577 milesNC

THIS IS A ENGINE PROBLEM WITH WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A BAD PART DESIGN. THE PART IS FAILURE OF INTAKE PLENUM. THE EGR PIPE FROM THE ENGINE COMES THROUGH THE PLASTIC INTAKE. THERE IS A LOT OF HEAT GENERATED AT THIS POINT. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME A HOLE IS BURNED THROUGH THE INTAKE. THIS FLOODS THE ENGINE WITH COOLANT. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURED AT 59,000 MILES. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1100.00. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS. THE REPONSE WAS . YES WE KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE K ENGINE BUT THE FACTORY HAS NOT CALLED FOR A RECALL. AT 113,577 MILES THE PROBLEM OCCURED AGAIN. I AGAIN HAD THE ENGINE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1140.93. AGAIN I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS. I WAS TOLD THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS SENT OUT IN 1996. THIS STATED THAT IF A OWNER COMPLAINED OF A COOLENT LEAK AROUND THE INTAKE. NOT ONLY SHOULD THE PLASTIC INTAKE PLENUM BE REPLACE BUT ALSO THE ALUMINUM INTAKE SHOULD BE REPALCED BECAUSED THE FACTORY HAD REPLACED THE EGR PIPE WITH A SMALLER PIPE. THIS WOULD KEEP THE HEAT FROM BURNING A HOLE IN THE PLASTIC PLENUM. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS TO BE PAID BY THE OWNER. I CHECKED OUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND FOUND THE PROBLEM COVERED ALL GM 3800 SERIES ENGINES FORM 1995 - 1998 MY ENGINE VIN # IS 1G4HR52K3WH51080. I WAS TOLD BY THE GM SERVICE TECH. THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURED SO OFTEN THAT ANY OWNER OF A 3800 SERIES ENGINE AND THE NEW DESIGN INTAKE HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED YOU ARE GUARANTEED THE ENGINE WILL FAIL. AGAIN I FEEL

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed May 7, 200495,000 milesND

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE ENGINE PRODUCED A LOUD BANG, THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Apr 29, 200467,686 milesCO

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THE CONSUMERS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED THE RECALL. *SC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Apr 29, 200452,000 milesAZ

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. PRIOR TO THIS, THERE WAS AN ANTI FREEZE ODOR WITHIN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY NOTICED THAT THE UPPER AND THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTED. *AK CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *PH

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Apr 29, 200456,700 milesTX

MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE STARTED TO SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE EARLIER IN THE DAY ON 4/27/04. THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR MOST OF THE DAY, QUICK TRIPS TO THE STORE AT MOST. WHEN I GOT HOME THAT NIGHT, THE CAR WAS SHACKING AND POURING EXHAUST VAPORS OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. IN THE MORNING ON APRIL 28T,. IT STARTED JUST FINE. SO, I DROVE IT TO MY MECHANIC. THE CAR RAN SMOOTHLY FOR ABOUT 200 YARDS, THEN IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE, UNTIL I WAS PRACTICLY COASTING WHEN I REACHED MY MECHANICS. AFTER THEY LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE, THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND HAD SPEWED WATER INTO MY ENGINE. THIS LEFT WATER IN MY OIL AND NO COOLANT. MY MECHANIC FLUSHED MY OIL, FLUSHED MY COOLANT, REPLACE THE MANIFOLD WITH THE FACTORY PART, AND REPLACED THE GASKET WITH THE FACTORY PART. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE AND THAT ALL OF THE 3.8L GM ENGINES HAD PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS. I THEN BEGAN TO RESEARCH ON LINE THIS ISSUE, AND APPARENTLY MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED BUICK 3 TIMES TRYING TO PLEAD MY CASE. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS CAR, BUT THE MODEL 2 YEARS PRIOR HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND THE PART WAS RECALLED. I HAVE FOUND A NOTICE THAT NHTSA IS TRYING TO HAVE THE REPLACING THE "DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS" REPLACE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO CRACK. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V090000

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Apr 22, 2004NY

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. CONSUMER HAD THE MECHANIC REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › DeliveryFire
Filed Apr 21, 200480,000 milesMI

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. *AK THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT. THE KEY WAS TURNED TO START THE ENGINE WHEN THE BACKFIRE OCCURRED. THE SERVICE DEALER USED THE OLD PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE FROM THE FIRE. (THE COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO THE CYLINDER AND CAUSED IT TO LEAK) RECALL#04V090000 THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Apr 21, 200410 milesIL

PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTED CAUSING THE ENGINE COOLANT TO FLOOD INTO THE CRANKCASE. ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY LOCKED UP AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER. $1500 IN DAMAGES ON A CAR WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 20, 200417,000 milesIA

VEHICLES STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *AK *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Apr 20, 200487,566 milesMA

WHILE PARKING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE INPUT MANIFOLD CRACKED/SPLIT AND THE ENGINE COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR KEPT ON GOING DOWN BUT THE CONSUMER NEVER SAW ANY COOLANT ON THE DRIVEWAY OR IN THE OIL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT GM COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. *SC *JB

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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.

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