1996 Buick Lesabre

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/24/2009· POWER TRAIN

  I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME FROM A FRIENDS HOUSE AND HAD THE CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY AND IT WAS LEFT RUNNING AND IT WAS IN PARK THEN I WENT OUT TO LEAVE AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING FOR ABOUT 3 MIN SITTING THERE AND I PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE NO MATTER WHAT SO I TRIED ALL THE GEARS IT WOULDN'T WORK SO I SHUT OFF THE CAR LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 5 MIN AND STARTED IT UP THEN PUT IT INTO REVERSE AGAIN AND IT DID THEN I DROVE ABOUT 50-100 FT AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING AND THEN JUST THE OTHER DAY I WENT OUT TO START IT AND IT WAS STILL IN PARK AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A POWERSTEERING PUMP WITH NO FLUID AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG NEST OF BEES AND I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL AND THE FLUID WAS BURNT AND THERE WAS DEBRIS IN THE FLUID SO THE CAR DON'T WORK. SO MY FAMILY HAD TO GO BUY A NEW CAR WHEN WE ARE BROKE AND NOW I HAVE NO WAY TO GET TO WORK. THERE WAS NOTHING DONE TO RESOLVE THE FAILURE YET IM GOING TO GO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

• 12/22/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE SUSTAINED DAMAGE DUE TO OIL SLUDGING (GELLING). OIL PRESSURE WAS INFLATED,KNOCKING SOUND WAS NOTICED. PENZOIL 10W30 WAS BEING USED AT REGULAR INTERVALS. DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS----770781. *AK *NLM

• 12/21/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS CONTROLLER TO THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS LEAKING BECAUSE A HOLE THAT WAS RUBBED THROUGH THE LINE AT THE TRANSMISSION SIDE COVER. ALSO ABS LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. OWNER DISCOVERED THE LEAK WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM CORRECTED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

• 12/19/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  1996 BUICK LESABRE CUSTOM SUDDENLY STARTED SMOKING,OVERHEATED AND SHUT OFF ON INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH. OWNER HAD CAR TOWED AND CHECKED BY MECHANIC. CRACKED MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT WAS THE CAUSE, ENGINE BLOWN IS DIAGNOSIS. *TR

• 12/18/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE UPPER MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE.TS *JB

• 12/05/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER NOTICED ANITFREEZE ON THE DRIVEWAY UNDER THEIR VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE UPPER MANIFOLD, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK. THERE'S A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PART, THE EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE HEAT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *TS *JG *NLM

• 12/05/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES MAKE SQUEAKING AND GRINDING NOISE.

• 11/28/2000· TIRES

  THE GENERAL (TPCSPEC10T2MS) TIRES TREAD SEPARATION FROM THE SIDEWALL. *MJS

• 11/18/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE.*AK

• 11/18/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  REPORTING FAULTY BRAKE ROTORS; DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ROTORS COULD NOT BE TURNED BECAUSE OF SCALING AND PITTING / ROTORS NEVER BEEN TURNED BEFORE, AND ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. *AK

• 11/14/1996· WHEELS

  WHEEL RIMS CRACKED, CAUSING A LOSS OF AIR INTO THE TIRES. *AK

• 11/09/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCrash

  A DETERIORATING PLENUM WAS CAUSING COOLANT TO GET INTO ENGINE CYLINDERS. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK THE HEAT FROM THE EGR VALVE BURNS A HOLE INSIDE THE WALL OF PLANAM ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO SUCK COOLANT INTO CYLINDERS AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. *YH

• 11/09/1998· WHEELS

  WHEN CHECKING THE TIRE PRESSURE NOTICED WHEELS WERE RIPPED AROUND THE RIM, BIG CRACKS. *AK

• 11/07/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP DUE TO A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. INSPECTION REVEALED STEEL BRAKE TUBES SEVERELY RUSTED ONLY IN THE AREA OF THE LEAK. LEAK LOCATION IS DIRECTLY BELOW ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT IN THE LEFT FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL FOUR OUTPUT LINES FROM THE ABS SYSTEM TO THE WHEEL WERE AFFECTED. THE BALANCE OF THE BRAKE LINES ON THIS VEHICLE EXHIBIT A NORMAL LEVEL OF CORROSION. *NM

• 11/06/1996· SEATS

  HEAD RESTS ARE DESIGNED TO LOW FOR PROTECTION.

• 11/05/2002· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS *TT

• 10/29/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE DISC BRAKE PADS WORN PREMATURELY. NLM

• 10/27/1997· EQUIPMENT

  AIR CONDITIONER FAILED CAUSING LEAK.

• 10/27/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ONE CYLINDER LEFT BANK FAILED. MJS

• 10/27/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FRACTURED RESULTING IN FAILURE.

• 10/25/1999· EQUIPMENT

  DRIVER WENT TO CHANGE TIRE BY USING JACK THAT CAME EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE WHEN IT FOLDED OVER WHILE SUPPORTING VEHICLE, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJUIRES. *AK

• 10/24/2007· STRUCTURECrash

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK A POTHOLE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED THAT THE FOUR REAR WASHERS WERE RUSTED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE AND TRANSAXLE FRAME TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. AS OF OCTOBER 24, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED FOUR UPPER AND LOWER WASHERS AND ISOLATORS, IN ADDITION TO FOUR BOLTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,620 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,670. UPDATED 12/07/07

• 10/21/1996· EQUIPMENT

  AIR CONDITIONER ACCUMULATOR FAILED.

• 10/20/2000· POWER TRAIN

  DRIVING ON HIGHWAY @ 60 MPH, HEARD POPPING NOISE AND FELT THUMP UNDER CAR. AS ACCELERATED AGAIN, ENGINE REVS INCREASED W/O ANY INCREASE IN SPEED. ENGINE DID NOT SEEM TO BE ENGAGED WITH TRANSMISSION. MANUALLY DOWN SHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR. ENGINE REENGAGED WITH DRIVE TRAIN. SHIFTED BACK TO 4TH (D), LOSS OF ENGAGEMENT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, INFORMED THAT "PLANETARY GEAR" HAD FAILED, AND REPLACED TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY.

• 10/20/2000· POWER TRAIN

  I HAD A PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THIS CAR IN 1996, AFTER ABOUT 12,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENT FAILURE OCCURED AS I WAS STARTING TO GO UP A STEEP GRADE. CAR SHUDDERED, AND ENGINE REVED WITHOUT ANY INCREASE IN SPEED. THERE WAS LOSS OF DRIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN ENGINE AND WHEELS. I DOWNSHIFTED TO LOWER GEAR MANUALLY, AND MANAGED TO KEEP CAR MOVING FORWARD. AFTER REACHING TOP OF GRADE, I RESUMED DRIVING IN HIGH GEAR. AS I WOULD START ON SLIGHT UPGRADES, OR TRY TO ACCELERATE SPEED, ENGINE WOULD REV TEMPORARILY WITHOUT ACCELERATION OF CAR. AFTER STOPPING ON SIDE OF ROAD TO CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID, I RESUMED TRANVEL. PROBLEM SEEMED TO RESOLVE ITSELF, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS SOME "HUNTING" OF THE TRANSMISSION AS IT UPSHIFTED GEARS. WHEN I RETURNED TO HOME AREA, I TOOK CAR INTO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, PLANETARY GEAR HAS BROKEN OFF AND "GROUND UP" TRANSMISSION. NEED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS SECOND FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE,

• 10/19/1999· POWER TRAIN,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  WHEN TAKING IT OUT OF ANY GEAR ,ALL 3 DOORS WILL UNLOCK EXCEPT FOR FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. ,IT MUST BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED BEFORE PASSENGER CAN GET OUT. *AK

• 10/12/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HAD TO REMOVE DOME LIGHT BULBS BEAUSE IT DOESNT TURN OFF, THE LIGHTS ON THE REAR ST TIMES AND I'V JUST BOUGHT A SECOND BATTERY 3 DAYS AGO BECAUSE THE LIGHTING PROBLEM CAUES THEM TO BURN OUT. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS WILL FADE OUT. MST TIME IT DOESNT AND I CAN'T TURN THEM OFF MANUALLY EITHER. JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

• 10/06/2004· STEERING

  WHEN PARKING BOLTS SHREDDED OFF THE FRONT RACK AND PINION. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 10/04/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATING.

• 09/27/2004· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. *AK

• 09/19/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE HORN WHICH WILL NOT SOUND NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS DEPRESSED.

• 09/18/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKING POWER.*AK ABRAKE LINE RUNNING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS UNIT FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. ALL SIX STEEL BRAKE LINES WERE ALSO FOUND CORRODED. *YH

• 09/18/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  SEALS WITHIN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED.

• 09/15/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  1996 BUICK LESABRE ALARM SYSTEM GOES OFF WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE LIST OF RECALLS. *KB *JB

• 09/14/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING OH HIGHWAY VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE COMING OFF AN EXIT RAMP THE RPMS WENT UP. BUT AS CONSUMER REAPPLIED GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO. NO PRIOR WARNING. NO INDICATION OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE .TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT. *AK

• 09/13/1996· SUSPENSION

  VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT CONTINUALLY EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT WORK COMPLETED.

• 09/09/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ON 2 SEPARATE INCIDENCES, THE BATTERY LEAKED ONTO THE CABLE & LEFT ME STRANDED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS & IT HAPPENED TO ME TWICE 2 YEARS APART. THE FIRST TIME MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A DIFFERENT DEALER & THEY TRIED TO CHARGE ME EVEN THO THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MID-SUMMER AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AND THE BATTERY COMPANY SAID THAT THE DEALER WAS AT FAULT FOR THE WAY IT WAS INSTALLED. (TOO TIGHT) I WAS GIVEN A ROYAL RUN-AROUND.

• 09/09/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  COMPUTER CHIP FAILURE CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON.

• 09/08/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NAR 9-8-03. MINOR KNOCK NOISE IN ENGINE. ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN THE AMOUNT OF $4200.00 ON 71000 MILE VEHICLE. *CB

• 09/06/2008· STEERING,STRUCTURE

  THE GROMMETS AND/OR WASHERS THAT HOLD UP THE ENGINE FRAME CRADLE RUSTED OUT AND ALLOWED THIS PART TO DROP THROUGH THE RETAINING BOLTS, ONCE THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE OR 60 MPH ON A STATE HIGHWAY THIS WOULD HAVE TURNED INTO A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WAS SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT AND THE MOMENT I ACCELERATED I HEARD A VERY LOUD METALLIC THUD/SOUND, WHICH I ASSUME WAS THE CRADLE DROPPING DOWN. I'M AMAZED THAT THIS ALL HAPPENED WITH ZERO WARNING THAT THEY WERE ANY ISSUES WITH THE STEERING. THERE WAS NEVER ANY INDICATION THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, MEANING NO LOOSENESS, NO VIBRATION, NO SENSORY CHANGES IN HOW THE STEERING FELT BUT ALL IN A MATTER OF 2 SECONDS, A LOUD NOISE AND THEN I COULDN'T STEER OR GUIDE THE CAR. I HIT THE BRAKES BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO TURN RIGHT AND THE CAR WAS MOVING LEFT SO I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I LIVE IN THE MIDWEST AND I BELIEVE THAT THE CORROSION WAS ADVANCED DUE TO ALL THE SALT THAT IS PLACED ON THE ROADS TO MELT THE ICE/SNOW DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. I'M WRITING THIS IN HOPE THAT OTHERS WILL BE NOTIFIED AND POSSIBLY HAVE THE CONDITION OF THEIR CRADLES CHECKED OUT TO AVOID LOSING THEIR STEERING. *TR

• 08/30/2011· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COURTESY LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE AT ANY TIME EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO EXHIBIT A CHIMING NOISE, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

• 08/30/2000· TIRES

  PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE/ IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE # P205/P0R15/70R15 CONSUMER NOTIFIED FIRESTONE. *AK BEFORE THE TIRE WAS SEPARATED COMPLETELY, PIECE OF CHROME TRIM WAS RIPPED OFF. DOOR HANDLE ON FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WAS DAMAGED TOO. *YH

• 08/29/2011· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE, THE ENGINE DROPPED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE AND BUSHING WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

• 08/29/2002· INTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING COURTESY LIGHTS INSIDE VEHICLE WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE VISUAL PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

• 08/29/1997· VISIBILITY

  ELECTRIC WINDOW FAILED.

• 08/27/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ELECTRICAL POWER FAILURE/ BATTERY IS LEAKING ACID AND CORROSION ON BOTH CABLES.

• 08/23/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  FRONT BRAKES WARPED CAUSING FRONT BRAKES TO PULSATE WHEN APPLIED. NLM

• 08/22/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES BUT HIT OTHER VEHICLE ON RIGHT FRONT. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER WAS JAMMED IN SEAT, AND UNABLE TO GET OUT. VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AN POWDER SUBSTANCE WHICH CAUSED DRIVER'S EYES AND THROAT TO BE IRRITATED.*AK

• 08/11/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE GOT OVERHEATED AND COOLANT WENT INSIDE THE ENGINE DUE TO PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. DEALER CHANGED TWICE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK

• 07/26/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AT 30 MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK