1997 Buick Lesabre

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

• 12/31/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PARTS WHERE MADE WITH PLASTIC, WENT BAD AND MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *LA WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE ALMOST STALLED AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE PLASTIC UPPER PLENUM MANIFOLD AND GASKET. THE MECHANIC REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO A GM DEALER WITH THE SERVICE BULLETIN PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE. GM REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *PH *NM

• 12/31/2001· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 5K.RETURNED IN 30 SEC.STARTED TO EXPER. HARSH SHIFTING. DEAL. COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. AT 60K HAD TRANS TEARDOWN.FOUND MANF.PROLEM THAT CAUSED FAILURE AT 5K.GM WOULD OFFER NO ASSIST. PRE EXISTING DID NOT APPLY.TO OLD TO MANY MILES.*AK

• 12/29/2003· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END THE ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

• 12/28/1998· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEADLIGHTS FOG UP DUE TO MOISTURE LEAKING IN.

• 12/27/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT FAILED TO GO OFF. TAKEN VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND HAD THE SENSORS REPLACED. THE ENGINE PROBLEM WAS THE EGR VALVE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE SLUGGISH. TOOK TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC AND THE WIRES AND SENSORS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. VEHICLE TAKEN FOR TEST DRIVE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. RESTARTED VEHICLE AFTER TURNING IT OFF AND IT BACK FIRED. HAD CRACKED THE PLASTIC INTAKE PHEBEM, WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TS

• 12/23/2015· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ALSO DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FACIAL CUTS, BRUISES, A FRACTURED CHEEKBONE AND WHIPLASH THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

• 12/23/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

• 12/23/1997· STRUCTURE

  DOOR LOCKS DISENGAGED.

• 12/18/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. SHE SMELLED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR EMANATING FROM HER VEHICLE. THE DEALERS TECHNICIAN STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL LINES AT AN EXPENSE EXCEEDING $350.00. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. SHE WILL SPEAK WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE IF HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL#96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

• 12/16/2014· ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

• 12/16/1996· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TURN SIGNAL ARM DOES NOT RETURN TO NEUTRAL POSITION.

• 12/12/2006· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK, THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK COMING FROM THE THE PIPING ABOVE THE FUEL TANK. THE PIPES WERE ALSO OBSERVED TO BE RUSTED. A SERVICE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND BOTH THE DEALER AND THE PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT MANUFACTURER DID NOT USE THE CORRECT QUALITY PARTS.

• 12/12/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  INTERMITTENT STALLING.

• 12/12/1996· SEAT BELTS

  REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE.

• 12/11/2001· STEERING

  DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED STEERING COLUMN ASSUMES A DIFFERENT CENTER POSITION APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THE TIME, DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE STEERING MOUNTING BOLTS WAS LOOSE, AND ANOTHER MOUNTING BOLT WAS TWISTED OUT OF POSITION, DEALER REPLACED THE BOLT, AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE RACK & PINION BOLT WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN.*SLC

• 12/10/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE HESITATES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT BEING REAR ENDED. NLM

• 12/10/1997· SUSPENSION

  VEHICLE BOTTOMS OUT WITH FOUR OR MORE PASSENGERS ABOARD. *AK

• 12/10/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE SHUT DOWN UNEXPECTANTLY WHILE DRIVING.

• 12/09/2004· SEAT BELTS

  FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BROKE. IT WAS THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 96V044000. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER. HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED THE RECALL. *AK *TC

• 12/09/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  CONSUMER HEARS AN UNUSUALLY LOUD "THUMPING, GROANING AND CRUNCHING" NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ALSO STOPPING DISTANCE HAS SEEM TO INCREASE GREATLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON LIGHTLY SNOW COVERED ROADS. PH

• 12/05/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NHTSA# 7843-96-V-116-000 SINGLE MANIFOLD INTAKE. BACKFIRE DURING STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD TOOK ON FIRE AND DAMAGED THE FUEL INJECTIONS RAILS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

• 12/04/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER NOTICED PERSISTANT LOSS OF COOLANT BUT THE LEAK COULD NOT BE DISCOVERED. THE PROBLEM WAS A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT DESTROYED THE BEARINGS AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JG TS *JB

• 12/03/1998· SEAT BELTS

  WHEN RIDING IN THE VEHICLE AND TRYING TO GET THE SEAT BELTS TO STAY AROUND THE CONSUMER, THE FRONT AND THE REAR SEAT BELT STRAPS ARE TOO SHORT TO BE PULLED OUT AND TO GO AROUND THE CONSUMER. *AK

• 12/02/1998· POWER TRAIN

  TRANS SHIFT SOLONOID FAILURE.MGM

• 12/02/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY.

• 12/01/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ON11/22/2001 IN THE MORNING HOURS,I TRY TO START THE CAR WHEN I HEARD A BACKFIRE EXPLOSION AND THEN SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I DID OPEN THE HOOD TO DO A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE CAR TO SEE WHAT COULD BE WRONG, I SEEN NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR I STARTED IT AND WENT TO WORK.THE SAME DAY I WAS DRIVING FROM WORK TO MY HOME, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED JERKING UP AND HESITATING, I SAW A THICK AND WHITE CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE THE EXAUST . SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND I DID TURN OFF THE CAR TO INVESTIGATE WHAT COULD BE THE POSSIBLE CAUSE.WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE CAR, A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR CAME FROM THE ENGINE. I LET THE CAR TO COOL DOWN AND THEN I DROVE HOME. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO A BUICK DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PLENUMUPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS WARP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,FUEL REGULATOR WAS BAD AND BECAUSE OF THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULATOR WAS FLODDED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU SOME MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT ALL THE DOCUMENTS ARE AT THE DEALER AT THIS MOMENT. I'M LOOKING FOWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU.THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS. *AK

• 12/01/1998· SUSPENSION

  THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH REAR SUSPENSION. VEHICLE BOUNCES UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 12/01/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EGR VALVE STUCK IN CLOSED POSITION - BUT IF FAILS IN OPEN POSITION COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALL

• 11/30/2016· STEERING,SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  SUB FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROATED OUT ON THE BACK DRIVE. COMPLETE SAFTY HAZARD NEEDS RECALL

• 11/29/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR WHEN I WENT IN FOR AN ORDINARY OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS DONE ON JUNE 19TH AND COST US $131. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER, THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND TO REPAIR THAT PLUS THE OIL CHANGE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SERVICE THAT RAN US $764. ON OCTOBER 20TH AFTER GETTING INTO THE CAR AND STARTING IT, THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO YOUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THAT WAS THE EGR VALVE WHICH WAS $313. THEN SIX DAYS LATER ON OCTOBER 26TH THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT WHEN I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE, AFTER LETTING IT COOL WE CHECKED THE COOLANT JAR AND THERE WAS NOTHING IN IT. WE ADDED WATER THEN TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO YOUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THIS TIME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH COST US $391. IN BETWEEN THESE HAPPENING I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT BRAKES AND THE TWO ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GARAGE AND HAD THEM CHECK THEM SINCE THEY HAD ONLY BEEN REPLACED LESS THAN ONE YEAR BEFORE AND HAD LESS THAN 15,000 MILES. WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT BRAKES. WHILE ROAD TESTING THE CAR ON NOVEMBER 25TH THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED UP THE OIL PRESSURE WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN. IT WAS TAKEN STRAIGHT TO YOUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND LEFT THERE UNTIL IT WAS CHECKED ON MONDAY THE 27TH. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST WAS GOING TO BE $3,400. *AK

• 11/27/1996· PARKING BRAKE

  EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT REMAIN LOCKED, HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHOUT REMEDY. *AK

• 11/26/1997· SEAT BELTS

  REAR SEAT BELT DESIGN CAUSES OCCUPANT TO SIT ON BUCKLE, THEY ARE TOO CLOSE TO SEAT AND DIFFICULT TO FASTEN.

• 11/25/2014· AIR BAGS

  AIRBAG PUSHING AGAINST HORN BUTTON CAUSING HORN TO SOUND AT VARIOUS TIMES. CAR PURCHASED USED FROM BUICK DEALER, THEIR AIRBAG RECALL DOES NOT GO AS FAR BACK AS 1997! *TR

• 11/22/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE HORN REPEATEDLY WENT OFF AND EVENTUALLY IT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CAUSE IS UNDETERMINED. *JB

• 11/22/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE STALLED BETWEEN 25-65MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED 5-6 TIMES. DEALER HAD VEHICLE TWICE, EACH TIME FOR A WEEK. THEY COULDN'T FIX IT UNTIL IT FAILED AGAIN.*AK

• 11/20/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING COOLANT. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED. THE DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACING IT WITH A METAL INTAKE MANIFOLD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH

• 11/19/2002· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED RESULTING IN A COOLANT LEAK, ALSO RESULTING IN A REPAIR COSTING $655.00. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT GM WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT NOR OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER ELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROMOTION OF THE PETITION AND IS SIGNEE #570, BASED UPON THE FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IN THIS VEHICLE, AS WELL AS THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF FAILURE REPORTED BY OTHER GM CONSUMERS. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE, THERE APPEARS TO BE A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD WHICH MAY IMPACT THE GENERAL POPULATION. THE CONSUMER ATTACHED A COPY OF THE WARRANTY AND OWNERS ASSISTANCE MANUAL WHICH STATES THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS GUARANTEED 7 YEARS OR 70K MILES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DUE TO THE EMISSIONS STANDARDS IN THAT STATE. THE CONSUMER ADDS THAT; TO HIS BELIEF THAT BY THE VIRTUE OF THIS STATEMENT, THAT GM HAS DEFINED THE PROJECTED LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE PART REGARDLESS OF THE STATE OF RESIDENCE. (NHTSA# 96V116000) *SCC

• 11/18/2007· STEERINGFire

  CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY, WITH NO KEY AND IN PARK. MY SON HAD COME IN THE HOUSE AND SAID MOM YOUR CAR IS SMOKING. I HAD PARKED THE CAR APPROX 20 MINS BEFORE AFTER A 6 MILE TRIP, IT WAS WINTER, THANK GOD I DID NOT PARK IN THE GARAGE OR IT WOULD HAVE GONE UP IN SMOKE TOO, AS I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR THE TRUCKS TO ARRIVE. I AM GLAD I WAS NOT A YOUNG MOM WITH KIDS IN CAR SEATS WHICH TAKES ALOT OF TIME. SCARED THE CRAP OUTTA US, CAUSE THE GARAGE (TOOLS, WOOD, VEHICLES, STUFF WAS SO VERY CLOSE TO THE CAR AND GARAGE IS VERY CLOSE TO OUR HOME(KEEPSAKES, EVERYTHING). *TR

• 11/17/1997· SEAT BELTS

  PASSENGERS SEAT BELT LOCKS/TIGHTENS WHILE DRIVING, CREATING DISCOMFORT FOR PASSENGER, IS DESIGNED THIS WAY TO SECURE CHILD SEATS.

• 11/15/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR AFTER COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE STALLS, THE DEALER SCANED DATA AND CHECKED THE BATTERY, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND POSITIVE CABLE TO THE FIREWALL. *SCC

• 11/15/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER/ STALLS. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL. *AK

• 11/13/2007· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC. HIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,075. UPDATED 12/12/07

• 11/13/2006· AIR BAGS

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON NORMAL DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE 17 YEAR-OLD DRIVER SUFFERED FIRST DEGREE BURNS ON THE RIGHT FOREARM, AND WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THAT THE INFLATER MODULE MAY CORRODE, CAUSING INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB

• 11/12/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  RPMS RACE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING ON THE DASH AND VEHICLE HESITATES/ STALLS AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 11/08/2001· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  REAR BRAKES SOUND LIKE METAL RUBBING AGAINST METAL WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE CHECKING THE BALL JOINTS AGAIN AND FOUND THAT TWO OF THE BALL JOINTS, ONE ON EACH SIDE, DID NOT HAVE ANY GREASE, WHICH MEANS THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *YD

• 11/07/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP BRAKES SOUND LIKE METAL GRINDING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION.*AK

• 11/04/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE VEHICLE WAS CHECK BY A DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN. THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. MR

• 11/04/1997· PARKING BRAKE

  PARKING BRAKE RATCHET FAILED.

• 11/04/1997· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED.

• 11/04/1997· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING DIFFICULTY WHEN ENGAGING INTO REVERSE.