1998 Buick Lesabre complaints

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. DEALER FOUND AND REPLACED LEAKING INTAKE PLENUM. *TT

WHILE DRIVING AT 25-35 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

PROBLEM 1....PRESSURE REGULATOR IN THE OIL PUMP LOCKED ,CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BLOW. THIS RECENTLY HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF MINE AT AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE. PROBLEM 2....CAR HAS STARTED TO STALL FOR NO REASON. USUALLY WHEN I'M SLOWING DOWN FOPR A RED LITE OR TO TURN.PROBLEM 3..... WHILE DRIVIND AT AROUND 65-70 THE CAR HAS SURGED FOR AN INSTANT(SORT OF LIKE WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS PEDAL SUDDENLY FOR A SECOND). *AK

WAS RETURNING FROM CHARLESTON, SC TO COLUMBIA, SC SUNDAY 7/28/02 ABOUT 7:00 PM AFTER A HOT DAY ON INTERSTATE 26. AFTER ABOUT AN HOURS TRAVELLING TIME, IN WHICH THE CAR FELT OUT OF ALIGNMENT OR TIRES OUT OF BALANCE DUE TO BAD ROADS IN CHARLESTON, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, THE CAR PULLED OR FISHTAILED IN HEAVY BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I COMPENSATED STEERING AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. THE OTHER VEHICLES SURROUNDING ME MOVED AND/OR SLOWED TO GIVE A WIDE BERTH. I HAD THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS AN AXLE OR CV JOINT HAD BROKEN, BUT UPON WALKING AND LOOKING AROUND THE CAR I FOUND ALL TIRES FULLY INFLATED, BUT THEN NOTICED THAT THE REAR TIRE BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF IT'S TREAD LAYER MISSING AND BARE STEEL WIRES WERE EXPOSED. I WENT ONLINE AND LOOKED UP GENERAL TIRES, READ ABOUT STRESS CRACKS APPEARING WHERE THE TREADS MET THE SIDEWALLS, THEN INSPECT THE ONLY OTHER GENERAL TIRE LEFT ON THE VEHICLE- IT HAD CONTINUOUS SMALL CRACKS THERE. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WOULD ONLY PARTICIPATE PARTICALLY IN THE TIRE REPLACEMENT COST IF I USED THEIR TIRES AGAIN- I REFUSED THEIR BRANDS AND BOUGHT GOODYEARS INSTEAD. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE LIVED THROUGH THE TREAD COMING OFF, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT ANYONE ELSE THAT MAY HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR WOULD HAVE!*AK

GM MADE THEIR INTAKE MANIFOLDS OUT OF A PLASTIC RESIN ON THE BUICK 3800 V6 ENGINE. THEY ROUTED THE EGR VALVE THROUGH IT WHICH CAUSES A HEAT BUILD UP THAT WRAPS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ALLOWING COOLANT TO GO INTO THE ENGINE. MY REPAIR BILL WAS $803.76 PLUS ONE STARTER $189.00 THAT BROKE WHEN THE ENGINE SIEZED. FROM READING ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES WITH THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD. THE DEALER THAT FIXED MY CAR AID YES IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT HE HAD ANOTHER CAR OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS MINE IN THE SAME MORNING AS MINE. SAME PROBLEM AND THAT HE HAD ONE THE WEEK BEFORE. IN MY CASE THE ENGINE DID NOT LOCK UP AS I AS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY BUT THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR SOMEONE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THIER ENGINE LOCKS UP. *AK

AT 50MPH ENGINE STALLED THEN VEHICLE LOST POWER. COULD HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

BRAKE LINES ON ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ROTTED INSIDE OUT. OWNER STEPPED ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING PEDESTRIANS. OWNER INDICATED THAT VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO SALT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER CAN SMELL GAS COMING FROM VEHICLE, ALSO FUEL IS LEAKING ONTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK. CONSUMER STATES GAS FUMES ARE PRESENT WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED.*JB

VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER STATED ENGINE MANIFOLD THAT IS MADE OF PLASTIC IS CRACKED AND SENDING FLUID THROUGH ENGINE, DAMAGING PARTS IN ENGINE. *AK THE PLASTIC INTAKE WAS REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT OF REPAIR EXPENSE. *YH

WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. SOMETIMES VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHEN DRIVING ALONG. VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. DEALER HAS SEEN NUMEROUS TIMES AND CAN'T FIX IT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING EGR VALVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, MECHANIC STATED SENSORS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY.*AK

AFTER HAVING T EGR VALVE SERVICED, MILES LATER WITHOUT WARNING, INTAKE MANIFOLD BEGAN TO LEAK COOLANT ONTO ENGINE, CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUTDOWN AND LOCK UP. MECHANIC STATED INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHEN VALVE WAS SERVICED.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE MOTOR, CAUSING IT TO SHUTOFF WHILE DRIVING.*AK

VEHICLE HAS STALLED 4 TIMES AT 25-30 MPH. DEALER HAS REPLACED FUEL FILTER. BUT THIS HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.*AK THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS ALSO REPLACED DUE TO FUEL LEAK. *TT

WHILE STOPPED FOR GAS, THE VEHICLE SMELLED HOT. THE MECHANIC CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ALL THE WATER AND ANTIFREEZE WAS GONE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. TEH MECHANIC CHECKED THE PRESSURE AND FILLED THE RADIATOR AND RESEVOIR. AN HOUR LATER THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND ALL THE WATER WAS GONE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED AND THE OWNER OF THE GARAGE SHOWED CONSUMER A PLASTIC MANIFOLD ON TOP OF THE ENGINE WITH AN EMISSION CONTROL TUBE CARRYING EXHAUST BACK INTO THE VALVE AREA. THE TUBE HAD GOTTEN SO HOT IT MELTED A HOLE INTO THE PLASTIC ALLOWING THE RADIATOR WATER TO RUN INTO THE VALVES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. THE SERVICE MANAGER KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BUT SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL FOR IT. CONSUMER FEELS BUICK SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. *JG

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS COME ON, AND THE SENSOR IN ENGINE HAS MALFUNCTIONED. CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE IN ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AKIT HAS BEEN INDICATED TO CONSUMER IF DEFECT IS NOT FIXED, POSSIBLE FIRE OR STALLING MAY OCCUR. *JG

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB #87-65-14 TO FLASH PCM WITH UPDATED CALIBRATION AS A RESULT OF AN INTERMITTENT STALL. *TT

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, PARKING LIGHTS SHORTED OUT SEVERAL TIMES, ALTERNATOR FAILED , WIRING BETWEEN THE DOOR AND BODY FRAME SHORTED, AND LEFT REAR WINDOW MOTOR SHORTED. SPARK PLUGS, HEADLAMP SWITCH, BATTERY WERE REPLACED. *TT

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES A GRINDING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE GOING DEAD AT STOPS IN APRIL 2001, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE AT STOPS AND EVENTUALLY HAD BOTH SYMPTOMS DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING, CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 4 OCCASIONS AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL SOMETHING SHOWED UP ON THE COMPUTER, HOWEVER WHILE DRIVING HOME CONSUMER STATED THAT ENTIRE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, LIKE A GUNSHOT, SMOKE FROM THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE BEGAN DROPPING FIRE ONTO THE STREET, THE FIREWALL WAS COMPLETELY BURNED.*JB

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY TECHNICIAN, AND PLENUM WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN GARAGE WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE BURNED DOWN, THERE WERE FIRE AND POLICE REPORTS TAKEN, CLAIM 04-1284-911. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER COULD SMELL EXHAUST FUMES, WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT THE SMELL BECAME WORSE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER COULD NOT, HE HAD TO HIT THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES WITH HIS SHOULDER UNTIL THE DOOR GAVE WAY, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE, IT WAS STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR CAUSED THE FIRE AND IT HAD JUST BEEN PUT ON, CLAIM 01-6150-358. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 4 BLOCKS, WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, CONSUMER COULD SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD, THEN A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 20-5437-956. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 49-3208-890. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE ENGINE, FIRE FIGHTER PUT OUT FIRE WITH A CO2 EXTINGUISHER, CLAIM 59-V971-469. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, A FIRE STARTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSE OF FIRE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE COOLING FAN MOTOR, CLAIM 15-3047-690. *SLC

CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE, EXPERIENCED ENGINE SURGING PRIOR TO FIRE, CLAIM 42-1441-081. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN DRIVEWAY, CLAIM 30-V502-462. *SLC

CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, FLAMES WERE COMING FROM BOTTOM OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE AND HAS A HISTORY OF ENGINE SURGING, CLAIM 42-1441-081. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE ENGINE, CLAIM 59-V971-469. *SLC

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THERE WAS A POP SOUND AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE, CONSUMER POOPED THE HOOD AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 38-J837-871. *SLC

VEHICLE JUMPS AND VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, AND HE INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT.*AK *YH

THERE WAS A HUGE POP, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND STARTED TO SMOKE, CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, CLAIM 38-J837-871. *SLC

I BELIEVE I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE VATS . THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED PREVENTING ME FROM STARTING THE CAR. I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES AND ONE WAS BLOWN BUT THAT GOES TO THE ELECTRONIC LEVEL CONTROL (HENCE A SECOND PROBLEM) ITIALLALLY THE CAR FAILED TO START AFTER JIGGLING THE KEY IT STARTED. THE SECURITY LIGHT REMAINED ON THE WHOLE WAY HOME. CAME HOME SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND STARTED BACK UP AGAIN. LATER THAT EVENING MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO THE STORE, WHERE IT FAILED TO START. SHE CALLED ME I PROMPTLY RESPONDED WITH 2 OF MY CHILDREN IN TOW. AFTER CHECKING FUSES, READING THE OWNERS MANUAL AND DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, JIGGLING THE KEY THE CAR STARTED...THANK GOODNESS. THEN WE GOT HOME AND IT DIED. YESTERDAY I CHECKED ALL FUSES TO VERIFY, ITS NOT THAT..FINALLY DETERMINING ITS IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM RELATING TO THE LOCK CYLINDER. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HOPE THE DEALER WILL FIX IT. TODAY I HAVE CONTINUED TO POKE AROUND AND ATTEMPTED TO START IT..SUCCESSFULLY AFTER JIGGLING THE IGNITION/KEY. DO YOU KNOW IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE? UNFORTUNATELY WE DO NOT KNOW IF IT WILL START AGAIN. THIS IS NOT A PLEASANT SITUATION. DO YOU KNOW WHAT MIGHT CAUSE THE LOCK CYLINDER TO DO THIS? WILL THIS REQUIRE NEW PASSKEYS?*AK

AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS I WAS COMUTING TO NY FROM MY RESIDENCE IN NH. THE CARS TRANSMISSION WAS NOT RESPONDING WELL. I ARRIVED NEAR FINCHBURG MASSACHUSETTES WHEN I DECIDED TO TURN BACK HOME. POWER AND RESPONSE WERE VERY INADEQUATE.MY WIFE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I DROPPED OFF THE CAR IN EXETER NH (NOT THE SELLING DEALER..BUT A BUICK/GM DEALERSHIP THAT THEY RECOMMENDED TO HAVE CHECK IT OUT SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. AFTER INSPECTION AND A FULL DIAGNOSIS BY THE CERTIFIED GM MECHANIC, HE INFORMED ME THAT THE "TRANSMISSION WAS TOAST". THEY MADE A FULL REPAIR BY REPLACING THE EXISTING TRANSMISSION. THEY BELIEVED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO REBUILD CONSIDERING THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM. FURTHER, MY WIFE DID A THROUGH CHECK PRIOR TO MAKING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. WE KNEW THAT THIS MODEL VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HOWEVER SERVERAL BUICK /GM CERTIFIED SHOPS INDICATED THAT VERY FEW OF THESE NEWER VEHICLE HAVE TRANSMISSION FAILUE. IT WOULD BE LIKE A 1 AND 4MILLION CHANCE...WELL THAT IS OUR LUCK. IT HAPPENED TO US. *AK

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 4 BLOCKS AND WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT, SMOKE BECAME VISIBLE FROM THE HOOD, THEN A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 20-5437-956. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, CLAIM 30-V502-462. *SLC

AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK AND DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 80 TO 100 MILES, GAS GAUGE WILL READ THAT FUEL TANK IS EMPTY, AND A WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE A REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THREE YEARS AND IS REQUESTING THAT SOMEONE FIX THE PROBLEM. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND REPAIRED UNKNOWN COMPONENT IN VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

COOLANT LEAKED INTO CYLINDERS CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK UP. SERVICE BULLETIN #010601007. *AK

3 TIMES IN SHOP DUE TO CHECKE ENGINE LIGHT ON. CLAIMED IT WAS SENSOR. NEW ALTERNATOR NEEDED. NEW STRUTS NEEDED. ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT SENSOR BUT WAS DUE TO ANTIFREEZE LEAK FROM MANIFOLD GASKET. ALL FLUIDS WENT THRU ENGINE AND OUT TAILPIPE CAUSING OVER HEATING.

VEHICLE AT STOP LIGHT WHEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED. WAS IDLING ROUGHLY WHEN PULLING INTO PARKING LOT, AND THEN VEHICLE DIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT UPPER PLENTIUM MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO ENGINE. THIS CAUSED PLUGS TO BE FLOODED. PLUGS WERE PULLED AND CLEANED. *AK

ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE CAME INTO MY AUTO REPAIR SHOP WITH A VERY DANGEROUS FUEL LEAK THAT THE CUSTOMER WAS UNAWARE OF. THE PLASTIC BEAUTY COVER ON TOP OF THE GM 3800 SERIES II ENGINES MADE CONTACT WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE PLASTIC FUEL LINE GOING INTO FUEL RAIL. DUE TO HIGH MILEAGE OF THIS CAR, LINE WAS DAMAGED BY THE COVER. SINCE THEN, I HAVE SEEN 2 OTHER GM 3800'S WITH THE SAME COVER-TO-FUEL LINE CONTACT. THE POTENTIAL LEAK IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE LEAKING PLASTIC FUEL LINE RUNS FROM THE FIREWALL AREA, OVER THE RIGHT SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, INTO THE FUEL RAIL ON TOP OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. A SIMPLE INSPECTION & PAD BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND THE SHARP EDGE OF THE PLASTIC COVER WOULD BE A VERY COST-EFFECTIVE CURE FOR A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SITUATION. THIS INSPECTION & REPAIR SHOULD APPLY TO ALL GM BADGES WITH THE 3800 SERIES II ENGINES.

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 50 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION I WHICH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN GARAGE WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE MAJORITY OF CONSUMERS HOUSE, CLAIM 04-1284-911. *SLC

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER RECOMMENDED AND PERFORMED A TUNE UP, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. NLM

UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK OIL AND OIL FILTER HAD TO BE CHANGED, SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED AND CYLINDER HAD TO BE CLEANED OUT. *SLC

CAR SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO OVERDRIVE WITH LOT OF NOISE, AND WILL CHATTER A LITTLE. FROM A COLD START. IT WON'T MOVE JUST VIBRATE AND SHATTER. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS VALVE BODY THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK