2004 Buick Lesabre complaints

BATTERY EXPLODED WHEN IGNITION WAS TURNED ON. ORIGINAL BATTERY WHEN THE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN 2004. WENT BACK TO CAR DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED. NEED TO KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED. HAVE NOT GOT A STRAIGHT ANSWER. ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CHECKED OUT GOOD WHEN THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY. BATTERY IS UNDER BACK SEAT AND I'M CONCERNED WHEN I DRIVE MY GRANDCHILDREN. DO NOT KNOW THE MAKE OF THE ORIGINAL BATTERY NOR THE NEW BATTERY THAT WAS INSTALLED. JUST LOOKING FOR SOME ANSWER AS TO WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE DRIVER PRESSED ON THE CENTER OF THE STEERING COLUMN TO ACTIVATE THE HORN. THE HORN SOUNDED AND THE AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF FOR A FEW MOMENTS. UPON RESTART THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

2004 BUICK LESABRE PURCHASED WITH 1K MILES. AT ABOUT 60K MI THE GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. AT 110K THE ENGINE TEMP GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DASH LIGHTS FADED ON AND OFF. ALSO, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. NOW WITH 120K, THE TACH AND ODOMETER HAVE QUIT. ONLY REMAINING FUNCTIONING DASH INSTRUMENT IS THE SPEEDOMETER. CAR ALSO AT TIMES EXHIBITS UNPREDICTABLE ELECTRICAL BEHAVIOR, SUCH AS NOT STARTING AFTER A BRIEF INTERVAL WITH CAR OFF AND RADIO ON. MECHANICS ADVISED EARLY ON THAT ISSUE WAS A DEFECTIVE GAS GAUGE, WHICH NOW APPEARS TO BE INCORRECT. FAULTY DIGITAL INSTRUMENT PANEL APPEARS CONFIRMED. THERE IS ALSO A VERY STRANGE AND IRRITATING NOISE THAT ORIGINATES DIRECTLY IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH, LIKE SMALL ANIMALS UNDER THE DASH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED. THE FRONT WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION CASING BROKE IN HALF. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEGAN TO SLIP PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER HAD PREVIOUSLY ADJUSTED THE COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLE; YET THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THIS THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION HAD CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 118000.

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) ACCIDENT 05/02/10 ON ILLINOIS ROUTE 83 AND WASHING TO STREET IN GRAYSLAKE IL. THE INCIDENT INVOLVED A 2004 BUICK LESABRE AND A 1987 DODGE PICKUP. THE IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT WAS ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUICK AND TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN OF THE VEHICLE WAS [XXX] . THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN THE PASSENGER OF THE BUICK AND THE DRIVER OF THE PICKUP BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE LAKE FOREST HOSPITAL ON ILLINOIS RT 120 IN GRAYSLAKE FOR CHECKUP. OUR CONCERN IS THAT WITH FORCE OF THE IMPACT THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY AND IN OUR ESTIMATION THEY SHOULD HAVE. THE FEMALE PASSENGER OF THE BUICK CONTINUES TO COMPLAIN OF PAIN NEARLY 10 DAYS AFTER THE COLLISION. WE ARE NOT AWARE OF A DEFECT OTHER THAN THE BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE FORCE OF THE COLLISION WAS SUBSTANTIAL. THE MAIN IMPACT OF THE COLLISION APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER WHEEL. OUR DAUGHTER HAD A SIMILAR COLLISION WITH A FORD TAURUS WAGON IN THE 1990'S WHEREIN SHE WAS BROADSIDED ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR DEPLOYED THE AIRBAGS. ALTHOUGH INJURIES ARE MINIMAL IF THE CENTER OF THE IMPACT WAS ON THE PASSENGER DOOR, THE INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN HORRIFIC. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THERE MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM. *TR

LTR FWD (IA) RE POSSIBLE DEFECT WITH THE DASH LIGHT IN HIS 2004 BUICK LESABRE. *TGW SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DASH LIGHTS. THE DEALER DIDN'T FIND A PROBLEM UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY FOUND A BAD RELAY IN THE TRUNK AREA, WHICH COST OF$300.00. TWO YEARS LATER, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, THE DASH LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS ON THE PANEL.*JB

I OWN A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK AND IS DANGEROUS DRIVING SINCE I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS WITH BUICK TO GET THIS FIXED SINCE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME AND OTHERS. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A WHILE. *TR

SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY FAILED. *TR

SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING ON MY 2004 BUICK. IT CAN STOP AT ANY GIVEN TIME AN CAN CAUSE SPEEDING BY NOT KNOWING HOW FAST I AM RUNNING. ALSO SPEEDING IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATHS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE HE HEARD A NOISE. AFTER HE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW SMOKE, BUT WITHIN MINUTES THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FIRE DEPT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS INITIATED BY ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT NUMBER 71-787679701. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE OPEN RECALLS AND HE WILL RECEIVED A CALL BACK. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

I NOTICED MY CAR SEEMED TO BE TRAVELING SLOWER THAN MOST TRAFFIC WHEN TRAVELING AT POSTED SPEED LIMITS. EVENTUALLY WHILE DRIVING AT A REASONABLE SPEED NOTICED SPEEDOMETER READ 95MPH, NEEDLE STARTED JUMPING AHEAD TO HIGHER SPEEDS WHILE MAINTAINING NORMAL SPEED. ONCE I STOPPED THE CAR THE NEEDLE DIDN'T RETURN TO THE ZERO POSITION, BUT STAYED A 80MPH. STARTING THE CAR WOULD RESET THE NEEDLE BACKWARD 10MPH BUT IT WOULDN'T RETURN TO ZERO. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THE SAME PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING IN SIMILAR MODEL YEAR GM PICK-UPS RESULTING IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT. SHORTLY AFTER SPEEDOMETER FAILURE THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED JUMPING FORWARD AND BACKWARD. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE CAR WAS APPROACHING 80,000 MILES WHICH WAS THE LIMIT FOR COVERAGE IN THE FULL SIZE TRUCK CLASS ACTION SUIT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AT A COST OF AROUND $400, IT TOOK ABOUT A WEEK FOR THE DEALER TO OBTAIN THE PART. I SENT GM THE FORM FOR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE CLASS ACTION SUIT AND WAS CALLED BY GM AND SENT A LETTER TELLING ME THAT THE BUICK LESABRE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS PROGRAM. I HAVE ALSO DISCOVERED MY MOTHERS 2004 BUICK LESABRE WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER COMPONENTS (SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAGE) ARE INOPERATIVE. SPEEDOMETER SOMETIMES WORKS, AND SOMETIME SHOWS VERY HIGH SPEEDS. MOST OF THE TIME IT SITS ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT (ON ZERO) OR ALL THE WAY ON THE RIGHT (PAST 120). MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM GOING. THE FUEL GAGE IS COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. I USE THE DIGITAL INFO DISPLAY TO THE LEFT TO SHOW HOW MANY MILES I HAVE BEFORE I RUN OUT OF FUEL TO TELL ME IF I NEED GAS. SO FAR I HAVE NOT RUN OUT OF GAS. TACHOMETER AND WATER TEMP GAUGES WORK FINE. THIS HAS GONE ON FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING ATTEMPTED USAGE, THE HIGH BEAMS FAILED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $708.31 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 114,000 UPDATED 10/21/09*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROAD, HE ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH THE LIGHTS FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH, ONLY TO DISCOVER HE HAD NO LIGHTS AT ALL. HE WORKED THE SWITCH RAPIDLY A FEW TIMES, UNTIL THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS CAME ON. SINCE THEN, THE CONSUMER HAS NOT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. IN 2007, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BEGAN LEAKING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BACK IN 2007 AND THEY FOUND AN OPEN SEAM AT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COWL AREA. THE DEALER SEALED THE SEAM BACK INTO PLACE AT THE COST OF $650. THE CONTACT WILL CALL THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,574 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,135. UPDATED 08/28/09. *LJ UPDATED 08/31/09.*JB

2004 BUICK LESABRE HAS FRONT END VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 60 MILES PER HOUR. SEEMS VERY WOBBLY. *TR

ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE LIKE STUCK VALVE LIFTER IT KEEPS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND "FLYWHEEL CRACKED' REPLACED SAME ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER THE SAME THING OCCURRED WITH ANOTHER FLYWHEEL REPLACEMENT. SOUNDS LIKE THIS COULD BREAK APART AND POSSIBLY INJURE SOMEONE. *TR

SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AT 32,000. SPEEDOMETER WORKS SOMETIMES. GAS GAUGE REGISTERS PASSED FULL , AND IN THE 7 O'CLOCK POSITION. I NEED TO KEEP TRACK OF MY MILEAGE PER TANK FULL AT - TO NOT GO BEYOND 300 MILE RANGE BEFORE I NEED TO FILL UP THE TANK. *TR

CLUSTER INOPERATIVE. NO SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER GAUGES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND THE SPEEDOMETER DIAL DID NOT MOVE AT ALL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD INDICATE HIGHER SPEEDS THAN WHAT WERE ACTUALLY BEING DRIVEN. THE ODOMETER WAS THE ONLY GAUGE THAT OPERATED PROPERLY. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS TURNED AWAY BECAUSE THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER HIS MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WENT TO TWO OTHER DEALERS AND THEY AGREED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE UNDER WARRANTY. HE DISCOVERED THAT OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WERE INCLUDED IN A RECALL, EXCEPT FOR HIS VEHICLE. HE SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,610 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING AND TAIL LIGHTS FAIL CONSTANTLY. AS A RESULT, VISIBILITY IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AT THE COST OF $369. AS OF MARCH 20, 2009, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 12/8/09 *CN UPDATED 12/09/09

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INOPERATIVE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT SPEED THAT SHE WAS TRAVELING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $500. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE AND TACHOMETER DIAL STOPPED WORKING. THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD STILL BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 42,000. UPDATED 02/05/09 *BF UPDATED 02/09/09. *JB

AT 56,980 MILES-DRIVING AFTER A STOP FOR LUNCH.-ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL EXCEPT AIRBAG AND ABS LIGHTS WENT OFF. SHOWED 11.7 VOLTS ON DISPLAY. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM, IT WAS OK NEXT MORNING WHEN THEY LOOKED AT IT. REPLACED BATTERY WITH A HIGHER CCA RATING AT 59200 MILES TRACTION OFF, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. OK NEXT MORNING. AT 59,290 MILES, OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TRACTION OFF, ABS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. GONG SOUNDED THEN ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OFF BUT TRACTION OFF STAYED LIGHTED. UNABLE TO SWITCH TRACTION ON OR OFF. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH THE PRIMARY REASON TO PROVIDE REGULAR TRANSPORTATION TO A VA HOSPITAL TWO HOURS AWAY. CANNOT NOW TRUST THE CAR TO MAKE THE TRIP. *TR

MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE LIMITED HAD ABOUT 49,000 MILES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. IT IS MOST OFTEN PEGGED IN THE 6 O'CLOCK POSITION, WHICH ALSO IS AFFECTING THE HEAT GAUGE. I CALLED BUICK, AFTER CONFERRING WITH MY MECHANIC WHO ASSURED ME IT WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NOT THE FUEL SENSOR IN THE TANK. BUICK MADE IT SOUND AS IF THEY WERE GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM IF I JUMPED THROUGH THEIR HOOPS AND TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND PAY $85.00 TO PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A MALFUNCTIONING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AFTER WAITING A WEEK, BUICK CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS UP TO ME TO PAY THE OVER $600 TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER. I HAVE NOT DONE SO AS OF YET. NOW THE SPEEDOMETER IS TOTALLY USELESS. THE CAR NOW HAS 52,000 MILES AND ON A RECENT ROAD TRIP, THE GAUGE QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I CONSIDER IT LUCK THAT I HAVE NOT GOTTEN A TICKET YET. I CAN LIVE WITHOUT A FUEL GAUGE SINCE THE DASH COMPUTER TELLS ME HOW FAR I CAN TRAVEL BEFORE RUNNING OUT OF GAS. I CANNOT, HOWEVER, LIVE WITHOUT A SPEEDOMETER. IT HAS NOW BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. I KNOW FROM SEARCHING THE WEB, INCLUDING THIS WEB SITE, THAT BUICK IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHY THEY ARE SO TOTALLY AGAINST FIXING IT. I ONLY HAVE ONE MORE GAUGE TO GO BEFORE THE DASH IS TOTALLY INOPERABLE AND THAT IS THE TACHOMETER. I HAVE BEEN NOTICING A PULSE IN THAT RECENTLY AS WELL SO I'M SURE ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THAT GOES OUT AS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PLACING FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL GAUGE DIAL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MOVED FROM FULL TO EMPTY. THE DIAL REMAINED ON EMPTY AND WOULD NOT MOVE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO RECALL PERTAINING TO THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 12/22/08. *LJ THE POWER WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. UPDATED 12/23/08.*JB

TRAVELING FROM BUFFALO, N.Y. TO GREENSBORO, GA. ON ROUTE 77, JUST PAST BECKLEY, W. VA., I NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE CAR AND THOUGHT IT WAS A PATCH OF ROUGH ROAD AND IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A LOAD BANG AND AS I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR, I NOTICED BLACK STRIPS FLYING BEHIND ME. THE CAR BECAME SLUGGISH AND WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED UNTO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. I CHECKED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND SAW ALL THE THREAD WAS GONE AND ONLY THE BELT REMAINED AND THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. I CALLED FOR A TOW COMPANY AND THE DRIVER SHOWED ME THAT ALL THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND THE REAR BUMPER AND TIRE WELL WERE DESTROYED. I WAS TOWED TO A GM DEALER IN BECKLEY AND THEY SPLICED THE WIRES FOR A TEMPORARY FIX AND REPLACED THE TIRES SO I COULD GET HOME. ONCE HOME, I HAD MY GM DEALER ORDER THE PARTS NEEDED TO FIX THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I ALSO HAS A COLLISION REPAIR SHOP FIX THE DAMAGE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR. *TR

TETHER ON THE COSCO VANTAGE HIGHBACK IS VERY DIFFICULT TO INSTALL. INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT CLEAR, AND IT IS NOT USER FRIENDLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY HELPFUL HINTS IN HOW TO EASILY SHORTEN THE TETHER FOR INSTALLATION IN CARS PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THE EXACT MODEL IS 22560-FSM MANUFACTURED 6/15/07 WHY NOT USE THE TETHERS YOU INSTALL AND PULL TO TIGHTEN LIKE THE COSCO SCENERA 22120 FSM MANUFACTURED 6/18/07 THESE ARE MUCH EASIER TO INSTALL, VERY USER FRIENDLY. PLEASE HELP MAKE INSTRUCTIONS AND INSTALLATION EASIER FOR PARENTS. IT IS HARD ENOUGH TEACHING THEM TO USE THESE CAR SEATS CORRECTLY EVERY TIME, BUT EVEN HARDER WHEN THINGS ARE MANUFACTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT EVEN AN EXPERT CAN'T THEM FIGURE OUT. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2004, MAKE=BUICK, MODEL=LESABRE). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE CONTACT INFORMED HIM OF THE SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BE INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO BRING THEM THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,833.

SPEEDOMETER FAILED, DASH INDICATOR NOT WORKING. DEALER, DESERT BUICK IN LAS VEGAS, REFUSED TO COVER COST OF REPLACEMENT (EST. $600-$800) YET 3 WESTERN STATES HAVE SUED GM OVER THIS FAILURE, CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE. GM HAS A "CAMPAIGN" TO FIX VEHICLES WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES BUT DESERT BUICK WILL NOT FIX MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION. THREE MONTHS LATER, SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE REAR ROTORS WERE RUSTED, HAD SPLIT IN TWO, AND WERE HANGING DOWN. BETWEEN THE TWO INSPECTIONS, SHE ONLY HAS 13,00 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAS POSSESSION OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 35,600. UPDATED 04/03/08. *LJ

I HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK FILLER NECK AS IT CRACKED. MY CAR HAD 45,000 SOME MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. ($473) BUICK SAID IT WAS THE RESULT OF FREEZING/ THAWING TEMPERATURES IN WINTER. THEN MY ASHTRAY DOOR BROKE - IT WON'T STAY CLOSED ON IT'S OWN. BUICK WANTED $300 - 400 TO FIX THAT. I'M USING VELCRO. THEN MY ODOMETER NEEDLE STOPPED WORKING AND JUST HANGS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE EVERY LIGHT BULB IN THE CAR AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH HEATING/AIR PANEL AREA HAVE GONE OUT. I HAVE LESS THAN 55,000 MILES ON THE CAR NOW AND ALL THIS HAPPENED BEFORE IT HIT 50,000 MILES. THIS IS A $35,000 CAR RETAIL -COME ON BUICK - LETS DO BETTER. *TR

DRIVING MY CAR AROUND 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE BEGAN TO CLIMB WITHOUT ANY MORE ACCELERATION TO THE GAS. THE NEEDLE WENT PAST THE 140 MPH MARK AND THEN BOTTOMED OUT HANGING COMPLETELY STILL. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR IT REMAINED HANGING UNTIL A COUPLE WEEKS LATER THEN IT WOULD BEGIN TO CLIMB BUT NEVER REACHED THE CORRECT SPEED. (I HAVE THE MPH IMAGE ON MY WINDSHIELD THAT REVEALS MY SPEED-WHICH STILL WORKS). THE NEEDLE ON MY SPEEDOMETER CONTINUES TO FLUCTUATE OR REMAIN FROZEN EACH TIME I DRIVE MY CAR-IT NEVER MATCHES THE MPH IMAGE ON MY WINDSHIELD. THANKFULLY I HAVE THIS IMAGE, OR IT COULD OF CAUSED SERIOUS BRAKING OR PANIC THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS TELLING ME I WAS GOING OVER 140 WHEN I ACTUALLY I WAS NOT. *TR

NO CRASHES OR ACCIDENTS AS OF YET. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE WENT BAD RESULTING IN A NOT TRUE MPH READING CAUSING POTENTIAL SPEEDING IN SLOWER ZONES. *TR

EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF HEAT GAUGE, THEN FAILURE OF GAS GAUGE, NOW FAILURE OF SPEEDOMETER. *JB

THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ON MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE FAILED TO REGISTER AT ALL ON ONE OCCASION, AND THE TACHOMETER REGISTERED ERRONEOUSLY HIGH READINGS ON ANOTHER OCCASION. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER; SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED SOME TWO MONTHS EARLIER, IT COST ME $330 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE OLD PART WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE TO ME AT ALL. SINCE I SAW A TELEVISION NEWS REPORT JUST TODAY OF OTHER SPEEDOMETER FAILURES IN GM CARS AND TRUCKS, AND SINCE THE REPORT SUGGESTED SUBMITTING A REPORT, I DECIDED TO DO SO EVEN THOUGH MY MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR WAS NOT MENTIONED. *JB

SHIMMY IN STEERING COLUMN. RECOMMENDED TIRES BE ROTATED AND BALANCED. DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. APPOX. 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE,NOTICED ELECTRICAL ODOR WHEN HEAT BUTTON ON SEAT WAS TURNED ON. NOW SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE STICKS WHEN IT RECOILS. NOISE UNDER HOOD. UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. CLUSTER WENT OUT AND NONE OF THE GAUGES WORK EXCEPT THE ODOMETER. THIS IS A 2004 LESABRE WITH 57,000 MILES. *JB

THIS CAR LOSES ALL POWER IF IT SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR AND THE DEALER STATES THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WE HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE BECAUSE AAA CAN'T START IT WITH THEIR PORTABLE CHARGERS. WE HAVE PURCHASED OUR OWN CHARGER TO USE ON IT EACH TIME IT DIES - WHICH IT DOES IF YOU DO NOT DRIVE IT WITHIN 24 HOURS OF YOUR LAST START. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE TIRES WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AS WELL AS 75 MPH. WHEN INSPECTED BY THE SERVICE DEALER; THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS BELT SEPARATION CAUSING THE VIBRATION. THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 10 DIFFERENT TIRE REPLACEMENTS TO THE VEHICLE WITH 2 MORE REJECTED BY THE DEALER. ALSO, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE A DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTINENTAL. TIRE SIZE WAS P215/70R15.*AK THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND. UPDATED 11/21/06. *JB

THE CAR FEELS VERY UNSTABLE, IT WOBBLES AND WANDERS AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. IT IS MADE WORSE WITH WINDS OVER 10 MPH, GOING DOWN HILL, ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE, WHEN A TRUCK IS PASSING AND A SPEEDS AROUND 60-65 MPH. IF ALL THESE SYMPTOMS COME TOGETHER THE CAR IS VERY VERY UNSTABLE. THE FEELING IS VERY SIMILAR TO GOING OVER A GROOVED ROAD SURFACE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR WAS LEFT OPEN WITH THE DOME LIGHT ON; THIS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN. THE DRIVER WAS UNAWARE OF THE DEAD BATTERY UNTIL AFTER THE DOOR WAS CLOSED AND LOCKED. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH POWER TO START THE VEHICLE OR OPEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO USE THE MANUAL OVERRIDE BUTTON INSIDE THE VEHICLE TO OPEN THE LOCKS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY UNTIL THE DOORS WERE OPENED BECAUSE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT.

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE THEFT SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AND BATTERY PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *TS THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: STALLING, GAUGES DYING OUT, ENGINE LIGHT AND SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATING, HARD TIMES STARTING THE ENGINE, RATTLE IN THE MIDDLE VENTS WHEN SET ON LOW, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHT HAD GONE OUT, AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CALIBRATION. MOST OF THE PROBLEMS WERE INTERMITTENT OCCURRENCES AND WERE HARD TO DUPLICATE. *SC

SUDDEN AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY FAILURE OF BRAKE PEDAL ON 2004 BUICK LESABRE. PEDAL SNAPPED AND WENT TO FLOOR, NO BRAKES. OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I PUT CAR IN PARK TO STOP FORWARD MOTION AND AVOID HITTING MY SON'S CAR.*AK

DT: THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER LIGHTS BEGAN TO SCATTER AND ILLUMINATED WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED, THE BATTERY AND AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF. WHEN CONSUMER GOT HOME SHU OFF AENGINE AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART TO SEE IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE WAS NO POWER IN THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CALLED BUICK ROADSIDE ASSSITANCE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. A TOW TRUCK WAS SENT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BUICK DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT DEALER. BUT CONSUMER WISHEED TO FILE A COMPLAINT AT THIS TIME.*AK

DT: CONTACT STATES THERE IS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE VENT WHILE THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITION IS IN USE. THE SERVICE DEALER INSTALLED AN ELECTRONIC DEODORIZER FAN. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER TWICE SINCE THEN, AND THEY INSTALLED AN INTERIOR BOX FOR AN HOUR, AND SPRAYED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEODORIZER, AND CHECKED THE RECALL FAN.*AK

DT: THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED 5 TIRES ALREADY ON THIS VEHICLE, AND 2 MORE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY WHILE ACCELERATING. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER IS GENERAL. THE TIRE SIZE IS P215/70R15.*AK *SB

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. WHILE ACCELERATING THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, THEN IT STALLED. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BUT THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HE WAS UNSURE IF THE ENGINE WAS NEW(AS ORDERED) OR REBUILT. *BF *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED A SPLASH OF WATER FROM A TRACTOR SLASHED ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS LOCKED UP TEMPORARILY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED PREVIOUSLY BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

BUICK LESABRE 2004, PROBLEM WITH DIMMING OF THE PANEL LIGHTS. *BF THE LIGHTS WOULD DIM THEN AFTER A FEW MILES WOULD BRIGHTEN AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *NM

GENERAL TIRES, 215/70R15. CONSUMER DISCARDED THE TIRES COMPLETELY. AND THE DOT# WAS NOT AVAILABLE. WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BOUNCED ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER HAD THE TIRES BALANCED. BUT WHEN THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY REMOVED CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE PERFORMED 100% BETTER WHEN THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER BRAND OF TIRES. *AK THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AS A RESULT WHILE GOING 65 MPH. TWO TIRES WERE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, ONE OF THE NEW TIRES WERE BAD PLUS ONE OF THE GOOD TIRES HAD GONE BAD. *SC *JB

SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH A REP FROM GM MOTORS WITHOUT SUCCESS. HE JUST KEPT STRINGING ME ALONG SAYING HE WOULD CALL, AT FIRST IT WAS EVERY WEEK THEN EVERY THREE DAYS - EACH TIME SAYING HE WAS CONDUCTING AN IVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AUG 17, 2004 AND THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE "DAY ONE"! I DO NOT FEEL THE CAR IS SAFE! IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. A RE-PURCHASE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE WORKS BUT I GUESS THEY DON'T WANT THE CAR EITHER! NOT ONLY ARE THE SEAT COVERS BAD BUT THE VEHICLE KEEPS VIBRATING/WOBBLING! I HAVE ALL THE WORK ORDERS (EXCEPT FOR SOME VERBLE COMMENTS) TO SUPPORT MY COMPLAINT. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR I BELIEVE I SHOULD OWN A NEW CAR! PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS SITUATION CLEARED UP AND ME ON THE ROAD WITH A NEW CAR(SAFE) LIKE WAS PURCHASED IN THE FIRST PLACE! I WAS GOING TO RESORT TO REPORTING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BUT I'M HOPING THIS FORM WILL HELP ME OUT.*AK