2005 Buick Lesabre complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LESABRE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTS THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES BECOME HOT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $600. IN ADDITION, ONE OF THE GAUGES IS NOT REGISTERING THE CORRECT INFORMATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ENGINE THEN STOPPED RUNNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND PLACED THE GEARS IN THE CORRECT POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS DEFECT AND BELIEVES IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000. UPDATED 09/16/08 *BF UPDATED 09/24/08. *JB

AT APPROXIMATELY 24,000 MILES I STARTED FEELING A HARDER THAN NORMAL SHIFT BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. BY THE TIME THE ODOMETER REACHED 26,000 MILES THE SHIFT WAS SOMEWHAT SEVERE WITH A PAUSE BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO SUPPOSEDLY INSTALLED SOME TYPE OF "KIT" WHICH DID NOT ELIMINATE BUT GREATLY REDUCED THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE 37,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE ONCE AGAIN AS WELL AS HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND AND SOMETIMES WHEN I SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE WHILE THE CAR IS NOT MOVING. I HAVE NOT RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I AM NOW 1000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY AND THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN THE DEALER TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE ONE DAY AND KEPT IT NINE DAYS. I EMAILED BUICK WITH A COMPLAINT BUT GOT NO REPLY. *TR

I OWN A 2005 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OR GREATER, THE FRONT WHEELS, STEERING WHEEL AND THE FLOOR BOARDS SHAKE AND VIBRATE. TOOK TO DEALER AT 415 MILES AND THEY SAID TO RETURN WHEN CAR HAD 500 MILES. AT 1292 MILES DEAR REPLACED STEERING SHAFT. THE DEALER REPLACED TIRES.; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. TOOK BACK CAR AGAIN THEN WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER. THEY SAID ONE OF THE TIRES HAD A NAIL. I REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES ( NOT FROM DEALER) HOPING PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY AND IT DID NOT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BACK TO 2ND DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE FORCED BALANCED AND HAVE WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIR ($400.00); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. AS OF MAY28, 2005 THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND SAID IT WAS AN INHERENT PROBLEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,081 AND FAILURE STARTED FROM TIME CAR WAS PURCHASED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OR GREATER, THE FRONT WHEELS, STEERING WHEEL AND THE FLOOR BOARDS WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE FORCED BALANCED. THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE SUSPENSION (NHTSA ITEM #10011691). AS OF DECEMBER 5, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,244.

OUR 2005 BUICK LESABRE VIBRATES AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH OR GREATER. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2005 BUICK LESABRE WITH 20000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 15 MPH HE REACHED DOWN AND HIS ARM HIT THE GEAR SHIFT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND THE GEAR SWITCHED INTO REVERSE AND STALLED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC ,WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NORMAL OPERATIONS AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE GEARS. THE SHIFTING IN GEARS HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21463.*AK UPDATED 04/05/07. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DOWN A STEEP HILL UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A LAKE. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE FOR THE BRAKE FAILURES AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. ODI #10160493 CAN BE USED IN COMPARISON TO THIS ISSUE.

ON AUGUST 17TH, 2006, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY IN THE PASSING LANE, I FELT A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE REAR OF MY 2005 BUICK LESABRE. SOON AFTER, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD THUMPING AND BANGING ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE CAR LURCHED UPWARD. WHILE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE TREAD HAS SEPARATED FROM THE CASING AND THE SHREDDING RUBBER CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL, BUMPER, PAINT, REAR SENSORY WIRING HARNESS, AND LEVELING CONTROL TO THE LEFT REAR SHOCK. THE TIRE NEVER LOST AIR AND THERE WERE NO PUNCTURES AND THE TIRE WAS ONLY HALF WORN AND ROTATED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE TIRE WAS A GENERAL AMERI-GS60. *JB

2005 BUICK LESABRE'S BRAKES FAILED. *KB THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DANGLING USELESS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HANGING LOOSE AND WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE ROD CONNECTING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS MISALIGNED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS HAPPENED AT THE FACTORY AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE SERVICE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY REPLACING SEVERAL UNKNOWN BRAKE COMPONENTS. UPDATED 6-12-2006. THE CONSUMER REPORTED THE FAILURE TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK DUE TO A DEAD BATTERY. *NM

DAD BOUGHT A NEW 2005 BUICK LESABRE IN OCT. 2005. HE HAD AN ACCIDENT FEB. 18 THIS ACCIDENT WAS NOT HIS FAULT A CAR BACKED OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY AND HIT HIS AS HE WAS DRIVING BY. NOW HE HAS TURNED IT INTO HIS INSURANCE AND PERSON TO REPAIR. INSURANCE OK CAR TO BE FIXED FEBRUARY 21, AUTO BODY TURNED IN FOR PARTS SAME DAY OR NEXT. CONNOT FIND REAR PANEL DOOR. GM SAID IT MAY TAKE A WHILE TO FIND. SO MY DAD HAS BEEN DRIVING AROUND IN A DAMAGED CAR WHICH GM WON'T GIVE HIM A CAR TO DRIVE "EVEN THOUGH IT IS THEIR FAULT THAT HE CAN'T GET THIS PART" THE FENDER IS RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE WHEN IT TURNS CORNERS THE BELLS ARE RINGING BECAUSE DOORS ARE JAMMED AND DAMAGED. NOW HE IS 77 AND DRIVES CHURCH MEMBERS TO DOCTORS AND TO GET GROCERIES ETC. WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR COUNTRY THAT A GM DEALER WOULD PUT A SENIOR IN THIS POSITION OR FOR THAT MATTER ANYONE IN THIS COUNTRY IN THIS KIND OF POSITION AND NOT GIVE THEM A LOANER UNTIL THERE PART CAME IN TO REPAIR THIS CAR..........!!!!!!!!!! WE HAVE MADE A COMPLAINT WITH GM AND ALSO TO A DEALERSHIP IN NY WHICH HE WAS REALLY NICE BUT ALSO SAID HE COULDN'T HELP BECAUSE HE WAS JUST A DEALERSHIP IN NY "MY MISTAKE" THOUGHT IT WAS THE BIG GUY. SO HOW DOES ONE GET A CAR FIXED OR MAKE A COMPANY SUCH AS GM GIVE A PERSON A LOANER WHILE WAITING FOR HIS PART TO COME IN. HIS REPRESENTATION PERSON HASN'T EVEN CALLED HIM BACK AFTER HIS COMPLAINT WHICH HE DID CALL THE NUMBER IN THE BACK OF HIS CAR MANUAL.. SO PEOPLE, DON'T BUY A BUICK LESABRE BECAUSE IF YOU DO AND

2005 LESABRE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND COULD NOT BE BALANCED. *TS *JB

2005 BUICK LESABRE HORN REQUIRED EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO ACTIVATE AND IT ISN'T EASY TO FIND. THE CONSUMER HAS TO PUSH ALL OVER THE HORN PADDING TO FIND THE HORN BUTTON. *TS THE SUN VISOR IS POORLY POSITIONED AND BLOCKS A LARGE PART OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY DEVICE UNLOCKED MORE GM VEHICLES THAN JUST HIS OWN. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY TOLD HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPROGRAMMED THE DEVICE AND IT STILL UNLOCKED OTHER VEHICLES. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006 - *NM

THERE IS A REFLECTION OF THE VENT AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN THE WINDSHIELD. *TS *** NAR RECEIVED 9-29-05*** WHEN DRIVING IN THE SUN, THE REFLECTION WAS SO STRONG IT DISTORTED THE CONSUMERS VISION. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE IN THE DESIGN OF THE TOP OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH SLANTS TOWARDS THE WINDOW. *JB (11/16/05) *SC *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON FEBRUARY 1, 2005 THE HORN WAS DIFFICULT TO BLOW. IT TOOK TOO MUCH PRESSURE IN ORDER TO GET THE HORN TO BLOW. WHEN MAKING A TURN IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND THE CORRECT SPOT . CONSUMER STATES THEY HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. HOWEVER, THE DEALER'S TECHNICIAN STATED THEY HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS. *AK

DT: 2005 BUICK LESABRE LIMITED. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THERE ARE NO ASH TRAYS IN THE BACK OF VEHICLE. HE FEELS THAT SOMEONE MAY SIT IN THE BACK SEAT AND PUT THE ASHES IN THE PLASTIC PART OF THE DOOR. HE DOES NOT FEEL IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT SMOKERS CANNOT SIT IN THE BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THIS ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2005.*AK *JB

LEFT REAR TIRE LOST ALL TREAD AND DID SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DAMAGE. THANK GOODNESS NO INJURY OCCURED. THE TIRES WERE GENERAL TIRES. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH GENERAL TIRES. THEY ARE QUITE UNSAFE. BACK BUMPER HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS WIRING LOOM AND WHEEL WELL. THIS WAS ON 2005 BUICK LESABRE LIMITED. IT HAS BEEN IN SHOP SINCE 6 SEPT 2005 IN LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO. IT WILL BE AT LEAST TWO MORE WEEKS BEFORE I GET IT BACK. I HAVE TO MAKE A SECOND TRIP TO N. MEX. TO PICK IT UP. *JB

DT: CONSUMER STOPPED ON AN INCLINE WAITING ON A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND DISCOVERED WHEN REMOVING FOOT OFF THE BRAKES VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS AND IT STILL ROLLED BACK. THIS ONLY OCCURRED ON INCLINES. HAD NOT BEEN TO DEALER, NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. . CALLED DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. CONSUMER USED ONSTAR AND THE DIAGNOSTIC MODULE AND THEY FOUND THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE, AND INSTRUCTED CONSUMER TO CALL DEALERSHIP. HAD NOT CONTACTED MANUFACTURER.*AK *JB

TIRE AND VEHICLE VIBRATION AND NOISE PROBLEM, INCREASING AT HIGHER SPEEDS (60-70 MPH) WITH MY NEWLY PURCHASED 2005 BUICK LASABRE IN JULY 2005. *JB TWO DEALERSHIPS DID EXTENSIVE INSPECTIONS, ROAD TESTS, TIRE REBALANCING AND STABILIZER REPAIRS AND WERE NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF VIBRATION AND NOISE. THEY ADVISED CALLING GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE FOR HELP, WHO PREPARED FILE NO. 1-355945989 AS UNRESOLVED, AND RECOMMENDED I FILE THIS COMPLAINT WITH YOUR OFFICES.

DT: CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS RIDE UP HIGH; HALF IS ON THE COLLAR BONE, AND THE OTHER HALF RESTS ON THE SOFT PART OF CONSUMERS NECK. THE CONSUMER IS 5 FEET 11 INCHES TALL. HIS WIFE HASN'T DRIVEN THE CAR YET. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE CONSUMER CALLED GM AND THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING. *AK *JB

(1) STARTED AS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHEN ENGINE WAS COLD AND CAR WAS STATIONARY - STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR RESULTED IN NO MOTION FOLLOWED BY CAR LURCHING/JERKING INTO FIRST GEAR; THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE REPEATABLE OVER A THREE YEAR TIME PERIOD; JUST PRIOR TO FAILURE, THE CAR WOULD SHAKE AND MAKE NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP; AT FAILURE, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE (FORWARD OR IN REVERSE) (2) COMPLETE FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - SURPRISING BECAUSE AUTO ONLY HAD 22,300 MILES ON IT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED (3) REPLACED TRANSMISSION

HOOD MOVES UP AND DOWN, DUE TO VIBRATION, HAPPENS AT 40 MPH. ALSO, STEERING VIBRATES. TAKEN TO DEALER, TIRES CHANGED 2 TIMES. DEALER SAID NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO SINCE IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. ALSO CALLED MANUFACTURER, WHO SAID THE TIRES SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM. CAR WAS AT DEALER 6 TIMES DEALER HAS DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HELP. BUT IT WAS STILL NOT FIX. DEALER SAID ROTATION PROBLEM- DIFFERENT SIZE TIRES- CHANGED WHEEL CALIBRATION, AND ROAD TEST UNDER 40 MPH GM REPRESENTATIVE WAS WORKING WITH CONSUMER BUT THEY SAID THIS WAS THE LAST STEP. *AK *NM

AFTER BEING REAR ENDED CONSUMER STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE VERY LOOSE, AND DID NOT HOLD HIM PROPERLY. THE POLICE DID NOT REPLY.*AK *BF *NM

3/17/2005 TRAVELED TO MYRTLE BEACH, SC MOSTLY ON I-95. ON THE WAY I EXPERIENCED PERIODS OF RAIN. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED A PROBLEM WAS DURING RAIN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSED ME APPLY MY BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. WHEN I APPLIED FOOT PRESSURE IN THE NORMAL MANNER THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND PROPERLY, INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN IMMEDIATELY, I DISCOVERED I NEEDED TO APPLY AT LEAST 2-3 TIMES MORE PRESSURE (IF NOT MORE) TO GET THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. I ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP WHENEVER I WAS IN WET CONDITIONS. I DID NOT EXPERIENCE ON DRY ROADS AT ANY SPEED, AND I WAS DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 75 MPH. 3/23/2005 RETURNED TO HARRISBURG, PA. EXPERIENCED RAIN FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA/NORTH CAROLINA BORDER ALL THE WAY HOME (APPROXIMATELY 520 MILES). THE RAIN VARIED IN INTENSITY FROM A LIGHT DRIZZLE TO A DOWN-POUR. THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO NOT SLOW THE CAR IN THE NORMAL WAY (MY TOP SPEEDS VARIED FROM 55 TO 75 MPH). I CONTINUED TO HAVE TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FOOT PRESSURE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE OR EVEN GET IT TO RESPOND. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE THE RESPONSE WAS VERY SIMILAR TO DRIVING A CAR FROM THE 40'S OR 50'S EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE SHOES THAT HAS BEEN DRIVEN THROUGH A LARGE PUDDLE OF WATER AND THE BRAKE SHOES NEEDED TO BE DRIED BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DRY THEM BEFORE THEY WOULD TAKE HOLD AGAIN. AT ONE POINT I THOUGHT THE FLOOR MAT MIGHT BE THE CULPRIT AND INTERFERING WITH THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE MAT WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE BRAKE PE

A SWITCH LABELED "ENG/MET" LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSES THE SPEEDOMETER READ APPROXIMATELY DOUBLE YOUR ACTUAL SPEED. IT IS VERY EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY PRESS THIS SWITCH WHEN TURNING ON YOUR LIGHTS, WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME THE FIRST DAY I DROVE THIS RENTAL CAR. *JB