1997 BUICK LeSabre

THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND I SHOULD HAVE TURNED IT BACK IN. (PRETTY STUPID ON MY PART) AC/HEAT – BLOWER WOULD NOT WORK ON HIGH AND AT TIMES WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. FINALLY TOOK CAR TO INDEPENDANT MECHANIC AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT AND IT WORKS FINE NOW. ENGINE – FIRST TIME I HAD TROUBLE WITH THE ENGINE IT STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, WOULD BARELY RUN. OUT OF WARRANTY 2ND TIME – WOULD SHAKE WHEN YOU ACCELERATED AFTER 28MPH. ONLY WAY I KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT IS, IT PUTTERED. 3RD TIME IT BACKFIRED AND WOULD TRY TO CUT OFF. SMELLED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BURN UP. MANIFOLD, VALVE, GASKET KIT, GASKET, COOLANT, SPARK PLUGS, ETC. WERE ALL REPLACED. MANIFOLD CRACKED AND COOLANT WENT INTO ENGINE. I WAS LESS THAN 1/2 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THIS HAPPENED. SERVICE MANAGER SAID IF I HAD GONE MUCH FURTHER THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP. THIS COST ME OVER $1200.00. MY CAR STILL SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING. INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL COME ON FOR NO REASON, BUT OF COURSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (STILL NOT FIXED). WIPERS WILL NOT TURN ON EXCEPT WHEN PUT ON HIGH (STILL NOT FIXED). RIGHT REAR WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. PERIODICALLY, ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN CAR IS STARTED. YOU HAVE TO TURN CAR OFF AND START IT AGAIN IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHT TO GO OFF. I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THIS PIECE OF JUNK, BUT I’M SURE YOU GET THE PICTURE. I’LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CAR BY GM.

Mechanic found engine coolent leaking from the upper intake manifold, which is *plastic*. The coolent was also leaking into the engine oil. I stated that such a major deteriortion or failure after only 44,800 miles is absurd and ludicrous.

Hello,I had a problem with my car hesitating going up a small grade or sometimes just driving down the road and took it back to the dealer. They told me it was a spark plug and fixed it. The problem continued and I took it to another dealer who said I needed a new transmission. Besides a new transmission, they also replaced the intake manifold gasket and put new brakes on the front with rotors. The receipt from the garage says the Transmission had an 1870 trouble code. My car was purchased new and had 52,000 miles on it. The total cost was 4200.00. I asked the GM people for help with this expense as I am a single mother working 2 jobs and did not get a reply. I took out another loan to pay for this. Now, with almost 80,000 miles, the transmission is doing the same thing and my friend with a computer says it is the 1870 trouble code (when the check engine light comes on). I can not afford to spend another 4000.00 for another transmission.

Although recall 96V-116 was performed on computer chip to “correct” the timing problem, backfire occurred and broke the upper intake manifold. GM declines to assist with repairs “due to the age and mileage of the vehicle;” however, the $1379 repair will only address down-line effects of the problem, not the root cause.

1997 buick le sabre engine shuddered then stopped.*mr

We were driving and heard it missing and it started overheating, so we put more water in and decided to come home. so when we turned around it died 2x then the cylinders locked up and it wouldnt start. when we got home my husband found water in the intake and the oil. so we replaced the intake gasket and put it back together and it did it again, but then it made a loud noise and we found that the bar connection the piston to the crank shaft busted. the car only has 103,k miles on it.. dont understand how its even possible. the only other person that owned it was an old guy. we only put 300miles on it when this happened.

Intake manifold failed water leaked internally into combustion chamber causing hydrolocking of engine. upon researching causative actions i find that general motors is aware of this defect and has redesigned the faulty parts but disavow any culpability even though a conscientious owner who properly maintains the vehicle cannot know what is transpiring inside a composite materials intake manifold,many have been known to burst into a fire and destroy the vehicles. one would tend to believe this to be a significant safety threat that should be addressed in a recall to replace this recognized failure of significant numbers,i that would warrant manufacturers replacement to provide safe transportation. by the grace of god i noted the vehicle acting up and returned home just as the engine quit and now is hydrolocking due to coolant filling combustion cylinders.

Sub frame is completely roated out on the back drive. complete safty hazard needs recall

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. while reversing the vehicle at approximately 10 mph into the driveway, the contact noticed an abnormal cracking noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. the contact stopped and looked underneath the vehicle. he noticed that the a-frame on the passenger side was hanging down without warning and the front subframe bushing was fractured. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the dealer was not contacted. the manufacturer was notified and did not assist. the failure mileage was approximately 130,000. *bf *js

The horn will sound without pressing the horn button(s) when the car is in motion or unoccupied. this occurs when the weather is cold. i have researched this online and it is apparently an issue for many owners. part of the air bag contracts during the winter months pressing on part of the horn button. the only way to shut it off is to pull the horn fuse. i am concerned this may lead to an electrical fire if the horn sounds for too long or an air bag malfunction. also, the vehicle has to be driven without the ability to use the horn.

Transmission shudders between 30 to 40 mph. also at 50 mph on the highway. have been told may need transmission. car only has 56,000 miles. transmission fluid has been drained. did not help. please advise

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. while driving unknown speeds, the driver side door latch failed to hook and lock, which caused the door to open. the door ajar warning indicator illuminated. the local dealer was not contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 90,000. *tt updated 8/1/18*jb

The sub frame bushing is completely rotted. day it was sold to me passed inspection but on car fax it failed safety inspection? it cracks and creaks when turning left.

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.

While entering the interstate highway, car started losing power at 50mph. after getting car up to a safe speed, got the car home where it then stopped running and would not re-start. mechanic checked and found that the head gasket failed at 130,000 miles. this car has always been well maintained. nearly caused me to be rear-ended as i was on a70mph interstate highway! also, your website keeps telling me i have an "invalid vin number!" this is the only one ever issued for this vehicle. what's with this?

Tl* the contact owned a 1997 buick lesabre. while driving approximately 50 mph, the contact crashed into another vehicle and the rear driver side seat belt webbing tightened independently around the child's body. the occupant sustained a fractured back and torn spine. in addition, there was injury to the abdomen. the injuries required medical attention. a police report was filed. the vehicle was destroyed and towed to the dealer. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 45,000. the vin was unavailable.

I own a 1997 buick le sabre custom (3.8) the car will shutdown when i am driving it.also it drains the battery.the date is the year that i purchased the car.

My check ingine light wont go off and i was told i have mass air flow and now when i start it it misfires,my air conditioning doesnt work and the speedometer is reading crazy

I was driving the car slowing down for an intersection and the driver side airbag deployed without warning. the horn began to blow and while looking for a spot to safely pull over, the passenger side airbag deployed. *tr

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.

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

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, an abnormal sound emitted from the front end of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. the technician diagnosed that the upper intake manifold needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired and the failure recurred. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 130,000.

Has a 1997 buick lesabre and having problems with ignition and i can be driving and it just like it don,t get no juice from engine then when tried to start up it don,t catch in ignition switch. i have spend over 2,000 in this car but every one i take it to says it in the ignition it sounds like it wants to start sometimes it takes up to 6 hours before it starts. *tr

Was driving car and it started steering hard drove home approx 35 miles to find the k frame washers had rusted off and the engine was not being support. has it fixed and same thing happened again going less than 5 mph and steering went out and on inspection the front and lower frame mounts had fallen and car has been parked every since because i can not find parts that are reasonably priced! i was on the interstate doing 70 mph 10 mins prior to the last incident could have been a bad result. have read about these problems in a forum someone started on google, cant believe there was never a recall! *tr

While accelerating up to speed from a stop, all of a sudden there was a noticeable thump, the steering was erratic, the car vibrated and shook. the power steering was inoperable. we slowly drove the car home (2 miles) and upon examination, we discovered the engine cradle frame was hanging down, only a few inches from the ground. the engine cradle mounting washers (2 on each side) had rusted thru, allowing the rear of the cradle to drop. i also noticed the right side sway bar was broken off at the mount on the lower control arm. the entire front suspension and wheel assemblies are fastened to this cradle, so that's why the steering became erratic - there was no longer any solid attachment to the car. after carefully examining the attachment points, it is obvious that this is a serious safety and structural design flaw. these cars should be recalled for the safety of the public. we were lucky that we were on a straight road at a slow speed when this happened. i noticed there are many, many complaints on the nhtsa website of this exact same issue. *tr

The brakes make a strange sound sometimes & stall;gas leak;undercarriage is weak. *tr

My boyfriend was driving my car. i was in the passenger's seat. we had just pulled away from the curb and were going about 20 mph. for no reason, the passenger's side airbag deployed. we didn't hit anything, and nothing hit us. we pulled over and got out. the car was filled with smoke. i had pain in my abdomen and couldn't hear out of my right ear. the windshield on my side of the car(passenger's side) was broken from the impact. he took me to the local er to be checked out and i was examined and released with contusions of right knee, abdomen and right ear. it was a terrifying experience and scared us both very much. i reported this to my insurance carrier the next morning. my boyfriend was not injured. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. the contact was driving approximately 35 mph and the vehicle began to shake in a continuous jerking motion. the contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the retainer washer and the body mount was disengaged on the passenger's side, causing the engine cradle to collapse on the rear driver's side. the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 142,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick lasabre. the contact stated that the intake manifold was cracked causing the oil to leak into the radiator. the engine ran rough and backfired. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated the upper intake manifold was cracked and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified who stated there was a recall nhtsa campaign number: 96v116000 (fuel system, gasoline) but the vin was not included. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 46,000 and the current mileage was 49,000.

My car jerks like a fish tugging on your line at different speeds and when coming up an incline. it also has a very strong odor that i smell when running the a/c. i smell it outside the car and occasionally i smell it inside the car. *tr

I have not seen a fire yet but it has been smoking in the front of the car since 2010 when i brought the car used for 2800.00 at jims towing service in elizabeth new jersey and every time the car broke down whether it was electrical or what he had gotten mad at me for not bringing it to him and then the check engine kept on coming on and come to find out last month and the car cost me 2000.00 dollars to fix and the month before that the garage i went to navarro's had fixed the horn because that was going on and off again and sometimes the lights flicker and other things and now the security alarm does not work and yesterday while shopping i asked my daughter what that sound was it was my horn again shorting and disconnected it again it has done that too many times and i cannot afford a new car with 6 people living in my house and iam the only one working right now and does any mechanic know what they are doing anymore and i need the car to get back and forth i don't know what to do anymore and when i said that the car cost me 2000.00 to fix there was a crack in the block of the engine and for awhile now i have manually do the locks on my doors and cannot replace the passenger side electric switch because no one has it anymore help don't need car to catch on fire and it has been smoking alot lately with the horn connected it is not connected now. when the new incident happened it was parked in the parking lot and security officer came. *js

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick lasabre. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, he began to turn to the right, and the front end of the vehicle collapsed to the ground. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the washers, which were bolted to the frame, were severely corroded. the manufacturer was notified and offered to cover a portion of the repair costs. the vehicle was not repaired, because the contact thought the manufacturer should cover all costs. the failure mileage was 129,000. updated 08/31/2011 *ln

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. while starting the vehicle, it suddenly backfired and would not start. the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. the contact called the dealer and referenced recall 96v116000 (fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system) but was told that there was no record of the recall. the manufacturer also stated there was no recall. the vehicle had not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were 146,874.

September 15th driving my 1997 buick lesabre heard and felt a loud banging noise. lost all steering. car taken to garage where it was discovered that all four rear subframe cradle mount retainers had failed. entire engine and cradle fell disengaging the steering completely. i have since learned that there are thousands of lesabre owners who have had this same thing occur. gm did a recall on the regals for the same problem. was there ever a recall on the lesabres and if not...why not. this is an obviously very serious design failure which is potentially fatal. fortunately no one was injured in my case or the lawyers would be hard at work. my buick is well cared for...serviced and inspected regularly and this still occurred. has only 87,700 miles on it. it cost me over $1000 to repair the problem and make the car safe to drive again. is there any way i can get gm to step up and assume responsibility for this? can nhtsa help? *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. while traveling 15 mph the contact noticed a loud thump noise coming from the front end, seconds later the vehicle lost all steering power. the vehicle had not been diagnosed and there were no prior warnings. the current and failure mileages were 120000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a coolant leak. an authorized dealer stated that they needed to remove the engine in order to repair the coolant leak. the vehicle was repaired by the dealer. the contact stated that the failure recurred and began to stall only in the morning. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure after two attempts. the vehicle was take to a local mechanic who stated that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. the contact paid $850 to have the vehicle repaired and was still experiencing the failure. the contact also had the vehicle inspected by a third mechanic who also stated that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 56,844. the current mileage was 58,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. when the contact started the vehicle, he heard a loud noise. after examining the vehicle, he discovered that the intake manifold failed. the contact called the dealer who stated that there were no related recalls. the contact called the manufacturer and filed a complaint. the manufacturer confirmed that the vehicle was not included in recall 96v116000 (fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system) and that they would not offer any assistance with the expenses. the vehicle will be repaired when the complaint was filed. the current and failure mileages were 66,212.

Engine cradle support washers rust out causing the support to fall down when leaving the vehicle undriveable. *tr

1997 buick lesabre hood became unlatched and blew back. *bf ohio traffic crash report #10-0306-90 updated 05/03/10 *bf

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. while driving at speeds of 30 mph, the horn began to sound. the horn continued to sound until the vehicle was stopped and the hood was lifted. upon closing the hood the horn began to sound again and would not stop until pressure was applied to the center of the steering wheel. the failure continued intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an independent vehicle care center and the horn was disabled. the failure mileage was 173,130 updated 06/25/10 updated 07/16/10*jb

I was driving to work early in the morning on a paved town road when the driver's side air bag suddenly deployed. a few seconds later, the passenger's side air bag also suddenly deployed. the air bags obstructed my vision both in front and on the side. i was able to pull the car off the road without getting into an accident, but this could have caused a crash because of my obstructed vision there was no injury involved. the car had passed a maine safety inspection in may 2009, so there was no indication that a problem existed at the time that i purchased the car in june 2009 from a friend. the deployment of the air bags tore up the middle of the steering wheel and the dashboard on the passenger's side. the local dealership did nothing to correct the failure, but said the car should not be driven. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. while attempting to start the vehicle, it exhibited a no-start condition. she replaced the battery and then smoke engulfed the front-end of the vehicle. a mechanic concluded that the intake manifold failed. she was in the process of having the vehicle repaired. the dealer was notified, yet no assistance was provided. the failure and current mileages were 99773. updated 11/3/09 *cn updated 11/06/09.*jb

This will be 4th time intake manifold gasket is being replaced. by far the worst & most expensive used car ever to own. gm's black eye. *tr

The car accelerated itself in reverse and i was unable to stop it even though i had the brake pedal depressed as far as it would go. i had started the car, depressed the brake pedal (the brake must be engaged in order to put the car in gear) and the car shot back and would not stop. i was rather panicked as i was leaving a convenience store and was trying to avoid hitting the gas pumps, other vehicles and pedestrians. i managed to back the car into the street and attempted to put it in park so it would stop. the gear shift went into the park position, but the car did not stop. it proceeded across a busy street through a controlled intersection at approx.20-30 mph. at it started across the street, i shut the car off. the brakes would still not stop it. it finally came to a stop after rolling into a curb. i had absolutely no control over the car other than to steer it. i have known this to happen with several other gm cars, but always in a forward gear. i own a 1986 pontiac trans am that has done this on occasion. i have had that car looked at by several mechanics, and none can find anything wrong with it. gm does not appear to be aware of this problem as i can find no records of recalls for any of their cars for spontaneous acceleration. part of the problem may be that when it happens to someone, no one believes them. everyone assumes they had their foot on the gas and the brake at the same time. i have tried to put my foot on both pedals (with the car in park) to see if that could be what happened, but i can't do it as the gas pedal is recessed further back than the brake pedal. at no time are they level with each other. by some miracle, no one was hurt and there was no property damage. i am going to check with various buick dealerships and other mechanics to see if they have ever heard of this problem, but i fear it will be the same as with the trans am where i will get no answers. *tr

This car has horn problems. the horn starts blowing for no reason and the mechanic said that the sensor is defective and that to replace it would cost several hundred dollars. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. when the contact started the vehicle, it sputtered, jumped, backfired, and shut off. the vehicle emitted a large amount of fumes and smelled of gasoline. she noticed that the catalytic converter was orange and had the vehicle towed to a repair shop. the mechanic stated that the ignition module needed to be replaced. the module was replaced, but only lasted five days. the failure recurred and the mechanic towed her vehicle to the shop. the manufacturer stated that her vin was not included in a recall; therefore, the contact would be responsible for the repairs. the failure mileage was 172,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. the contact smelled a very strong odor of gasoline. in addition, the steering wheel would shake while driving at any speed. while performing a routine inspection of the vehicle, the contact noticed that half of the radiator fluid was missing. he added more radiator fluid and noticed that fluid continue to disappear in the vehicle every four days. after numerous refills of radiator fluid, he took the vehicle to a dealer and was informed that the upper intake manifold needed to be replaced. in addition, the water pump needed to be replaced and the main gas line was leaking, which caused the strong odor. the manufacturer stated that the vin was excluded from nhtsa campaign id number 96v116000 (fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system). the contact believes that the vehicle should be included in the recall. the vehicle is currently at the dealer and has not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were 153,000.

Car clouded up. obstructing vision. mechanic replaced heater core with gm part. same thing happened in days. replaced with another...same thing happened again. supplier to mechanic indicated a common fault with that part. a third part (aftermarket) has been installed. if these gm parts were known by supplier to be faulty, why have they not been recalled and why did he not inform mechanic before the installation? mechanic has installed part three times, and only been paid once. i was almost in an accident, hit a curb to avoid being hit. and lost a perfectly good tire as a result of loss of visibility. i have no complaint with the original part...the car has high mileage (buick lesabe, 1997,) just the two replacement parts that were pressure tested and failed within days of usage. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. when the contact placed the key into the ignition and attempted to start the vehicle, the engine exploded with a very loud noise. he shut off the vehicle and checked the engine. when he opened the hood, he noticed that the intake manifold and the engine cover were shattered into many pieces. the vehicle was towed to a repair shop and the mechanic stated that he never saw a vehicle with this type of defect. the manufacturer stated that the vin was excluded from nhtsa campaign id number 96v116000 (fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system). the contact believes that the vehicle should be included in the recall since the failures are identical. the vehicle is still at the shop and has not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were 13,000.

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.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. while making a right turn, the contact heard a noise and felt the steering wheel continue to turn in her hand. the vehicle was towed to a mechanic and they stated that the vehicle's engine cradle washers rotted; therefore, the vehicle could not be steered. the gm manufacturer was called and they stated that they would make a note and wait for others to call about the failure. the failure mileage was 139,623. updated 04-17-09 updated 04/20/09.*jb

When applying brakes brake pedal pushes up against foot and car vibrates making a chattering noise which seems to be coming from the front of the car. it seems the abs was trying to work even though the pavement is dry. *tr

While driving down the highway doing 75, my car made a loud pop sound and when i looked in my rearview mirror, there was a trail of smoke. all of a sudden my car spun out of control and ran off the highway. the back tire had caught fire and spun me out of control there were 170,000 on my 1987 buick lesabre. i also hit a car and some trees. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. the contact attempted to start the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. the vehicle was towed to a local repair shop and the mechanic stated that anti-freeze was leaking on the upper intake manifold. the manufacturer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 96v116000 (fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system), although the failures were identical. the contact would be responsible for the repair costs. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 115,366.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start and no warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. when the vehicle finally started, it backfired. once the contact arrived home, he looked under the hood and noticed that the coolant was low. the dealer stated that the repair would cost approximately $600 and that the vin was not included in the recall. the vehicle has not been repaired. the recall number was unknown. the failure mileage was 93,500 and current mileage was 93,525.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. while approaching a stop, the contact smelled antifreeze and noticed that the temperature gauge on the instrument panel was becoming hotter. he then noticed steam under the hood, which eventually led to the vehicle shutting off. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. the current and failure mileages were 99,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. the driver noticed that the vehicle started to smoke. the fire department was notified. the vehicle was consumed with fire and was totaled. the contact believed that the fire originated under the hood. there were no injuries. the purchase date was not available. the current and failure mileages were about 95,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. when the contact attempted to start the vehicle, it would not start. he also noticed a strong odor of gasoline. he inspected the vehicle and noticed a large puddle of gasoline underneath the front end of the vehicle. while attempting to start the vehicle, more gasoline leaked. he notified the dealer and they stated that although he was experiencing the same failure, his vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 96v116000 (fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system). he would have to pay for the repairs on his vehicle. the vehicle is currently being repaired. the contact filed a formal complaint with the manufacturer. the failure and current mileages were 60,000.

I turned the ignition to start my car on 1/17/2008 at approximately 8:30a and heard a very loud pop and smoke started coming out from under the hood. i looked under the hood and found that the engine cover and intake manifold were both shattered. i researched online and found a recall pertaining to this exact issue, recall number 96v116000; additionally, i found another recall pertaining to faulty safety belts, recall number 96v044000. i am currently looking into repair costs because i was told by the buick corporation that there is a recall but my vin is not included for some unexplained reason. *tr

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

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. while driving at any speed, the vehicle shuts off and has to be restarted. the contact also stated that the vehicle caught fire under the hood. all passengers exited the vehicle safely and without injury. the vehicle has been to a service station on two separate occasions, but the failure still persists. the vehicle is no longer able to be driven. the purchase date was unknown. the current mileage was 177,339 and failure mileage was 173,384. updated 02-01-08. *kb updated 02/01/08 *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. while driving 60 mph, the contact heard a rattling noise coming from the engine compartment. as time progressed, the rattling noise gradually intensified. the oil pressure began to decrease and increase randomly and fluctuate from low to no pressure. the mechanic stated that the oil pump failed and is a common occurrence. the current and failure mileages were 162,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. while driving 10 mph, the contact heard a noise and lost control of the steering. there were no warning indicators. the vehicle was towed and the dealer stated that the cause of failure was due to the engine mounting carriage disassembling from the vehicle. the manufacturer will not perform the repair free of charge due to the vehicle's age and mileage. the purchase date and engine size were unknown. the current and failure mileages were 167,000.

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.

I have discovered a brake fluid leak from the abs modulator assembly in my 1997 buick lesabre. there is a recall (#00v114000) for this very same problem in 2000 lesabres. this can cause the braking system to malfunction! the recall should be extended to cover earlier years. in the mean time i am going to purchase a new abs modulator assembly. i fear the new valve assembly will develop the same problem. *nm

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

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 60 mph on the highway, the vehicle overheated and was maneuvered off the road on two occasions on the same day. the vehicle was turned off to cool down, while water and anti-freeze was added to the radiator. after the second occurrence, the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop who replaced the plenum.

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle back fired causing an explosion when an attempt was made to turn vehicle on. the vehicle was rendered un-drivable and was towed to dealers for service. the dealers determined that a leaky fuel regulator caused the back fire that destroyed upper intake of manifold, which could also lead to fires. the dealers replaced the fuel regulator and upper intake manifold. the manufacturer was also contacted to see if vehicle was part of a recall. the manufacturers determined the vehicle was not a part of the recall. *jb

Two complete sets of brakes since october 2005 intake manifold leaks, both very costly. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the engine would not start. the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop for inspection. the mechanic determined there was a hole in the intake manifold. there is a nhtsa recall campaign id # 96v116000 regarding the fuel system. the vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however is not included in the recall due to the vin. *ak

Dt*: the contact stated the speedometer and odometer failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. they were unable to duplicate the problem and no repairs were made. the manufacturer was alerted.

Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, there was a loud back fire heard which appeared to be near the intake manifold. the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop for inspection. the mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem. although the dealership was alerted, no repairs were made.

Hearing a thumbing sound while driving the car, i went to investigate the were abouts of the noise. i could not see the problem but, when my wife said that there was a loud thumbing noise that occurs only while driving. two days later the right rear tire was flat. i took the tire off the car and noticed that the tire was separated from the tire and a piece was missing. approx 6-8 inches of rubber was gone. firestone tire p205-70r15 95s. can you explain the circumstance of this tire? this is my third set of tires at 85232 original miles on the 1997 buick lesabre custom car. can you help. *nm

Started car heard loud pop, white smoke, then flames - car caught fire - total loss. *jb

Dt: the contact stated the indicator light on the dashboard for the transmission illuminated. the vehicle has been to the dealer, and they completed a diagnostic test which showed transmission slippage. the dealer replaced two solenoid valves. the indicator light was working properly. the vehicle would not pass emissions testing with this light illuminating. *ak

Speedometer is not accurate; needle bounces erratically; cannot determine speed. part replaced by dealer in 9/1998; problem recurred in 9/2001; part replaced by dealer; problem recurred in 10/2005. speedometer in this vehicle is defective; replacement parts are defective; manufacturer will not full warranty parts & labor. *nm

Dt: the consumer stated the horn will not stop blowing, and the air bag assembly is making a noise. the sound is coming out of the steering wheel. when driving the horn just starts blowing out of nowhere, it just starts blowing, specifically states the consumer. when pressing the horn pad it will stop sometimes. one has to press in a certain spot. the car is a 1997 buick lesabre. the consumer is going to call and see what gm can do. this has been happening for two weeks.*ak

Dt: while driving 30 mph the check engine light came and the engine overheated. this was the first incident of this type. the contact owns a buick lesabre that has a plastic intake called a plenum. this device cracked and allowed engine coolant to be mixed with the oil. this caused a vapor lock. now, two of the cylinders show zero compression, and a third shows a pressure of 60 pounds. the engine was totaled and must be replaced. vehicle was towed to an automobile repair shop, and the mechanic made these terminations. the contact was referred to a buick dealer, who said they do not feel that this was a manufacturing defect. at this time, no repairs or corrections have been made. *ak

Dt: the consumer's 1997 buick lesabre had blown a piston. the consumer was driving the vehicle at 30-35 mph. the vehicle had been regularly maintained with oil changes. the vehicle had not been repaired. the consumer planned on taking the vehicle to an independent repair shop. *sc *ak

Dt: consumer owns a 1997 buick lesabre. consumer was driving when vehicle shut off. she was able to coast a little but not enough to get completely out of traffic. she was stuck in vehicle because everything on vehicle shut down due to the ground cable coming loose, not loose from the motor block. vehicle has been worked on, she did no feel that cable coming loose was due to a defect. she was more concerned that when vehicle lost power she was stuck in vehicle with no way to escape. the door locked and power windows did not work. the biggest concern was that there was no manual lock that could be used to unlock the door when power failed. she was stuck in vehicle with vehicle in the road and in danger of oncoming traffic. she stayed in vehicle one hour on a very hot day until she was able to contact a friend on cell phone, and he came to help her. *ak

Dt: the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre custom. the rocker panels rusted. the dealership and the manufacturer stated that the contact lived in a state where this happened because of the weather. he first began to notice this problem a couple of months ago. this was not interfering with the doors opening or closing, but there was a possibility of this in the future. this was occurring on the passenger's side and driver's side. *ak

1997 buick lesabre backfires at startup, engine light illuminates, and the vehicle stalls without warning. *mr there was a whining noise when the vehicle was started and rear brake noise was intermittent. the consumer requested info in reference to warranties related to his make/model. *sc *jb

Dt: consumer states that on july 1, 2005 vehicle would not start and he thought the battery was dead. when he tried to get a jump and start it the vehicle made a loud backfire noise. at that point, he took the vehicle to an independent repair man, and was told there was recall 96v116000. he went to the dealership and asked about the recall, dealership then checked with general motors, and was told the recall was for canada., and because consumer's vehicle was manufactured in the u.s. it would not included in recall. consumer then called buick and was told the same information. *ak

While driving 5 mph accelerator pedal sticks. consumer is able to decelerate the vehicle. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak consumer stated it was an unintended acceleration. *bf

There was an intake back fire when starting the engine. when taken to get serviced it was determined that the fire was caused by intake manifold.*ak recall campaign 96v116000:intake backfire during starting. turned the ignition to start the car and heard a load noise. then turned the ignition off and did not try again. mechanic said luckily the car did not burn because there was gas on the engine. mechanic called buick, but they denied there was a problem and said the car was not covered. *bf

I have a 1997 buick lesabre. i had to have over $1600 in repairs done on the upper intake manifold, which a 1998 lesabre has a recall on. why, when the same problem exists on 1997 is it not recalled as well? it's a recurring problem to the point that they redesigned the manifolds (which caused me to have to replace the lower manifold). two dealers mentioned this to be a common problem. i don't understand why the same problem is covered for a 1998 and not a 1997. my car only has 76,000 miles on it, work was preformed by a buick/gmc dealer. is there any way the recall can extend to one prior year?*ak

Gasket and egr tube failure causing plenum and upper intake leakaage causing "hydro-lock'. *ak

I was rear ended while stopped at a red light and then pushed into the car stopped in front of me and transported to emergency room. the safety belt on my 1997 buick lesabre ltd did not hold me back during the collision and i was thrown face first into my steering wheel. this resulted in a severely broken nose, severe facial contusions and bruises. i am told by buick dealer repair personnel that a buick lesabre must be traveling at 25 mph in order for seat belts to lock and hold the driver back. the seat belts on both the driver and the passenger side of my car can be pulled out and almost reach the windshield while the car is stopped and while driving it. i have also discussed the accident with several persons who have been involved in similar accidents in different make cars. they stated that their seat belts did hold them back and that they did not sustain any injuries. the seat belt on my 1997 buick is defective and allowed me to receive severe facial injuries. i believe the seat belts should be recalled and properly reinstalled so that they will work in an accident such as mine. the car has been repaired but i am afraid to drive it. i have searched through the complaints sent to your organization and noticed that an almost exact accident happened to a 1997 buick lesabre ltd in 1998. the person involved in the accident wrote to you complaining about the seat belts not working properly and allowing the person to sustain many injuries. when will the nhtsa notice that there is a problem with this auto safety belt and order a recall so that injuries such as mine and the persons in 1998 do not continue to occur? *nm

The horn repeatedly went off and eventually it became inoperable. the cause is undetermined. *jb

The hood came unlatched and hit the windshield while driving.. the vehicle will be taken to a dealership to have the hood assembly inspected. *jb

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

I have a gasoline leak at the joint where the fuel line from the fuel tank sending unit join the fuel line that connects the fuel filtering front of the right side rear wheel. after discovering the odor of gasolione coming from the rear of the car, the only action i have taken is to take my vehicle to a buick dealer for diagnosis. even though the fuel line shows significate corrosion, buick has denied responsibility because of the mileage on this car. i have requested relief from buick thru general buick customer assistance only to be denied again,today, 10/19/2004. i have been told by buick that i am responsible for the cost of this repair (value between $400-$750). in my opinion, fuel leaks of any nature should not present an issue to the consumer for life of automobile. i am reqesting that the above information be added to your database in the event that this is not an isolated complaint.*ak

Vehicle failed to start due to problems described in recall notice. *bf the problem was due to a cracked intake manifold that caused engine coolant to leak into the cylinder heads. recall# 96v116000. *sc the consumer never received a recall letter. the consumer is requesting reimbursement. *jb

The mechanic noticed fuel leaking from under the fuel tank while changing the consumers oil. *jb the consumer noticed a strong smell of gas for two days. two small children in child safety seats were overwelmed by fumes. *tc

Consumer notice d white smoke and loss of coolant while driving 30 mph. vehicle was taken to a repair shop, and mechanic determined a blown head gasket. dealer was not notified. *ak

While driving the intake manifold and gasket failed which caused the vehicle to stop running. *nm the consumer believed the failure was clearly an inferior designed part. *jb

While driving vehicle commenced to run roughly. vehicle was pulled over, and found coolant missing because of design defect in part caused fluid to be drawn into engine. this caused the 3engine to seize and an overhaul to be needed. possible recall scrapped because problem was not a saftey issue. vehicle was towed to the dealer, who informed consumer that the upper manifold needed to be replaced.*ak *tc

1997 buick le sabre engine shuddered then stopped.*mr

Had this plastic maifold warp at highway speed with fluid coming out on to the road and belt failure possibly because of rupture ,you have a safety hazard. *ak *jb

While driving vehicle stalled. consumer tried to restart vehicle, but was unable to do so. consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic could not duplicate the problem. *ak

Hello, i had a problem with my car hesitating going up a small grade or sometimes just driving down the road and took it back to the dealer. they told me it was a spark plug and fixed it. the problem continued and i took it to another dealer who said i needed a new transmission. besides a new transmission, they also replaced the intake manifold gasket and put new brakes on the front with rotors. the receipt from the garage says the transmission had an 1870 trouble code. my car was purchased new and had 52,000 miles on it. the total cost was 4200.00. i asked the gm people for help with this expense as i am a single mother working 2 jobs and did not get a reply. i took out another loan to pay for this. now, with almost 80,000 miles, the transmission is doing the same thing and my friend with a computer says it is the 1870 trouble code (when the check engine light comes on). i can not afford to spend another 4000.00 for another transmission.

Mechanic found engine coolent leaking from the upper intake manifold, which is *plastic*. the coolent was also leaking into the engine oil. i stated that such a major deteriortion or failure after only 44,800 miles is absurd and ludicrous.

When consumer starting the vehicle there was a huge explosion, then fire broke out under the hood. when the fire department arrived the battery was still smoking, and the engine and wires were burnt. recall 96v116000 was issued for the fuel carburetor manifold intake. but this vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin. *ak *la

I can't give names yet b/cause of legal reasons. but, a close family member was in an accident in 08-2003, went off steep cliff speed was 5-10 miles an hr. rolled the 1997 lasabre, was wearing seatbelt and for some reason air bag went off. anyhow he is now a quadraplegic b/cause the room collapsed on him. thanks 2 the weak design.*ak

While driving consumer's vehicle was hit on the passenger's side and the front air bags inadvertently deployed. driver's side air bag caught on fire after the driver was evacuated. the interior of the vehicle was consumed by the fire. driver sustained minor injuries, and was transported to the hospital. fire department confirmed that the fire started from driver's side air bag. *ak

The mechanic noticed a leak in the upper plenum manifold. upon performing a routine service, the upper plenum manifold was leaking antifreeze into the engine. the antifreeze was mixing with the engine oil. this would have resulted in the engine seizing up if the leaked had gone unnoticed. the dealership is going to replace the plenum manifold with a newer designed manifold. the engine is a 3800 series. *jb

Coolant leak at upper intake plenum on 1997 buick at 68000 miles dealer stated that gm is aware of this problem but are not helping with cost of repairs.$633.64. *ak

While attempting to start the vehicle there was a loud popping noise when turning the ignition. smoke began to come from under the dash. *ak

I had to replace the intake manifold on my buick lesabre, at a cost of $264.80 with labor another $180. this has been an ongoing problem as i understand it with gm and they are quite aware of it but have failed to correct the problem. *jb

Coolant was leaking from the head gasket. an independent dealer replaced the intake manifold. please provide further information. *jb

While driving the vehicle it reached high temperatures due to the intake manifold failure. coolant seeped inside the engine. the dealer indicated it will cost over $1.000,00. the independent shop will replace the intake manifold for half of the price. *ak the consumer was in traffic when the vehicle ran rough and started missing. the service dealer diagnosed the problem as the egr (exhaust gas recirculation) valve/control solenoid. when the part was replaced, the service dealer found cracks in the intake manifold. following this problem, the oxygen sensor that had previously been replaced, failed again. the consumer request that gm cover the repair costs. recall# pe02050. *sc

Headlights went off without warning while driving at 65 mph. consumer had to put there hazard lights on, and use the light of the motorist in the front of him to see. in an attempt to correct the problem the dealership replaced the headlight switch and other components. however, dealership was not sure that this would correct the problem. *ak *mr

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

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

When making a left hand turn vehicle lost power steering. dealerships mechanic was notified, but did not resolve the problem.*ak

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

While starting and without prior warning vehicle blew up due to the plastic manifold attached to the top of the engine, overheating., smoke was visible inside the car. there were no injuries nor fatalities to report. dealer was aware of the problem. *ak

Failure of the upper intake manifold permitted coolant to mix with engine lubricant and caused engine to seize. engine must be replaced. *ak

1997 buick lesabre leaking coolant. the first incident was two years ago. plenum was replaced and same problem occurring again. had intake gasket replaced but coolant still leaking. will damage engine if not corrected. too expensive to have to correct every two years. *jb

I would like to complain about the fact that the nhtsa has so little concern for safety that you charge $38.73 per hour and other fees to obtain recall or service bulletins about ones vehicle. i am sure that this charge does exactly as desired by consumers just giving up. your work load must be near zero which i am sure was the desire. if safety was the desire the information would be available for one to search for free. is that not what the government web sites are for. i hope homeland security does not take after your site. it would appear that the vehicle cooling leaked into the engine due to a plastic intake manifold failure. hard to believe a company would make it from plastic. i also believe if i had access to the infomation i would find that many other vehicles had the same failure and the manufacturer should bear responsibility.*ak

The engine was shut off and parked for about five minutes. consumer noticed smoke coming from the hood. the consumer was unable to extinguish the fire. by the time the fire department arrived, the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames. *ak when the vehicle caught fire, it also damaged another vehicle that was parked beside it. *ph *jb

Engine stalled and then started "using" antifreeze and overheated. the upper and lower intake manifolds were cracked and the local gm dealer couldn't diagnose. an independent mechanic referred to recall#97-c-02 gm (nhtsa #96v116000), and went right to the problem. gm denies a defect or prior knowledge of problems. see complaint #758801, this is addressed in the recall and personal injury warning given to gm mechanics. public not warned or reimbursed. *jb

Vehicle exploded and burned at start up. *mr ph

The vehicle leaked oil in the consumers garage. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic who stated the shield was made of plastic. he also stated he read these things were made of plastic and could catch fire if the vehicle became hot enough. *nlm *ts *jb

I have replaced the instrument cluster panel (dashboard) in my car twice within the last 2 1/2 years. each time i had to order a replacement and lost the use of my car for an extended period of time. *jb

Component: emergency parking brake. the park brake pedal is not setting correctly & releasing prematurely. *jb

At start up, the vehicle engine exploded and caught on fire. *mr when the hood was opened, red flames were shooting from a hole that burned on a gray cover in the engine. *scc

Sever inner rust/rotted area in the rear passenger side trunk back seat, wheel housing. not visible rust to the naked eye, or no surface rust. caused water to leak in and cause extensive damage to seat, carpet, padding. leaked to under front passenger seat,shorting out sensor and deployed air bag without impact. g.m. is unhelpful. they responded with "even if it was a factory defect i had exceeded my 6 year/100,000 mile warranty. i cannot see how this could fall to the consumers responsibility! i am hopeful that you may have an answer that could be of some help. i also am dumbfounded that an air bag will go off with out impact. everything i have researched on them reports only on crashes, even on the g.m.web page for air bags there is nothing that says shorting out of a sensor due to water or anything else can deploy them. so i ask what if a child spilled a drink and it went under the seat? what if my wife or i purchased a gallon of milk or water, sat it on the back floor and it leaked? should there not be a sensor or something to tell the air bag not to deploy due to the fact the auto wasn't in an accident? thank you, brian and lisa heuring. *jb

There was a smell of gas in the truck area of the automobile, the dealer informed consumer the fuel sending unit needed to be replaced. *jb

Erratic engine performance and occasional "check engine" light reported several weeks ago when vehicle was in for minor repair. independent delco garage owner indicated stored codes were for "o2 sensor" - however it appeared to be functioning normally at that time. on friday 4/11/03, erratic engine performance (missing, loss of performance) caused me to head towards garage for further investigation. en route, vehicle stalled out, and refused to restart (at one point, a back fire occurred during restart attempt. had vehicle towed to garage, and during subsequent inspection, it was discovered the heat from the "egr" pipe from the lower intake manifold had damaged the upper composite manifold, causing a coolant leak into the intake. stored codes at this time indicated o2 sensor, misfire and catalytic converter. owner indicated these readings were consistent with his experience, and informed me that they have replaced at least a dozen to 18 upper intakes in past 18 months. quoting him "we're just a small garage". i have also been told that when he called local gm dealership (to inquire on availability of parts) he was told "we have so many of these in stock that we can't even put them up on the shelves they are stacked in the aisle." what is most disconcerting is when i called buick division general motors corp customer assistance center i was told by kevin dam (sp?) and darlene vega (sp?) that there was no known complaints, investigations or recalls regarding this problem. after reviewing this site and your investigation(s) - someone is grossly misinformed! and it appeared the manufacturer may even be participating in denial and/or misrepresentation in this matter. my inquiry (complaint or whatever they call it) was given the number 1-89860067. it seems to me that we all have a ticking bomb on our hands ... unfortunately, i drive it to work each day! can you help me?. *jb

Malfunctioning air bag. we hit a deer and the impact deployed both front air bags. the passenger air bag came out at an angle so as to hit my husband,(who was in the passenger seat) in the groin area. the air bag ruptured his right testicle and he had to have surgery. this has caused us to owe some extensive medical bills at this point. we had insurance, but it will not pay all of the bills. i feel that we should not be responsible for any medical bills for this type of accident,since it was caused by the air bag not deploying as it should have. *jb

Battery sulfates from post damaged electrical cables and caused the vehicle to stall. scc *nlm

Rear wheel cylinders made a weeping sound, and brake dust had a paste-like consistency. brake performance was significantly reduced.*jb....*ak

Upper intake manifold fractured. this is the second one in five years. the first was replaced under a recall per buick rep okeesha smith. *nlm

Airbag deployment caused dislocated broken thumb and possible permanent injury. on second passenger, severe tinnintus possibly from air bag explosion.

The upper and lower intake manifold cracked. *ak *nlm

Upper intake manifold cracked resulting in coolant leak into cylinders. coolant leak caused motor to hydro-lock making vehicle inoperable. both upper & lower intake manifolds were replaced.*jb

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

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

While driving lost function of brakes. dealer diagnosed that the brake lines rusted through and bursted. ph *ts

While driving 65mph vehicle experienced tread separation on front right tire. please provide any additional information.*jb..*ak

Consumer stated that the water pump failed.*jb

Consumer stated that the power steering was leaking along with the steering rack and the brake cylinder. ts

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

Transmissing surged when climbing hills, replace the throttle sensor, know the check engine light comes on. surging getting worse, then buick sent a letter on the bolt in the transmission, that fixed it.

The vehicle was check by a dealership technician. the engine coolant was leaking from underneath the vehicle. mr

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

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

Windshield wipers have to work on high speed for a while before they can operate on normal speed. vehicle been to dealer on four occasions, and problem still occurring. feel free to provide any further information.*ak

While at a stop engine locked up. dealer stated this was caused by intake manifold. *ak consumer stated the intake manifold gasket failed.*jb

Consumer states that while driving the trunk will open. button inside the car work and the key works for truck on the outside. truck come open on its own. cause is unknown. please provide any further informaton. nlm

Consumer states that while driving without warning the air bag inadvertently deployed. dealer notified. *mr

When driving at over 35 mph transmission will start to jump out of gear or will start surging. contacted dealer. *ak

Vehicle is losing anti freeze into the vehicle because there is never a puddle of anti freeze on the floor. contacted dealer, and they were not willing to do anything.*ak

While driving 65-70 mph on rough pavement, vehicle was skipping lanes which resulted in loss of control.*ak consumer stated as he was driving and went through a rough section of the road, the vehicle's rear end began going up and down forcing consumer to lightly apply the brakes, this action caused the vehicle to veer slightly from side to side, consumer relased the brake pedal and was able to bring the vehicle under control, consumer was informed that this is normal for the type of suspension the vehicle has.*jb

Driver's side seat belt buckle ,plastic part, fell apart when fastening together. please describe details. *aki

While driving at 70mph engine died. contact dealer who replaced engine, in which a connect rod had broken.*ak consumer stated that the connect rod broke and destroyed the engine, crankshaft and a/c compressor. *yh

Horn stopped working on vehicle. owner took vehicle into dealership to get horn repaired. he was shocked when told by dealership that his air bag was inoperative. owner expresses concern due to him not knowing how long his air bag was non-functional. please describe details.*jb

Vehicle vibrates severely when driving 60 mph, and it pulls to the right. dealer was not notified at this time. feel free to provide any further infromation.*ak

Antifreeze gauge indicates that it is low. driver feels there is a leak. took to vehicle to dealer, and they stated that upper/lower intake manifolds needed to be replaced. please provide any further information.*ak

Intermittently horn doesn't blow. dealer diagnosed air bag as the cause. dealer was notified. *ak *yh

Front windshield leaks water, dealer has not been contacted. please provide any further information.*ak

While driving engine check light keeps coming on. this happens intermittently. took vehicle to dealer, and had vehicle repaired, but problem still exists. *ak oxygen sensor failed due to antifreeze in intake system. the upper intake plenium was leaking because it had cracked and was replaced. *yh

While driving at 70 mph, the left front tire separated. there was a minimal damage to the vehicle. mounted on a 1997, buick lesabre, 30000 miles, original equipment.*ak. consumer was also informed that the remaining tires needed to be replaced as well.*jb

Vehicle would not crank earlier in the day, vehicle was parked for a few hours when a fire started in the engine area, claim 42-1218-296. *slc

Consumer started vehicle, there was a loud pop and then flames came out from under the hood, the origin of the fire and explosion is inside the intake manifold and the engine, the cause of the fire is a back fire within the engine compartment, claim 17-9112-605.. *slc

Vehicle was difficult to start, then, after starting it would stall right away. dealer has replaced upper and lower intake gaskets, and fuel pressure regulator. *al

Consumer had parked vehicle and it exploded as consumer was exiting vehicle , adjuster stated possible internal engine intake manifold to be cause, claim 05-4442-741. *slc

Regulator leaked onto the manifold and caused explosion while consumer was starting vehicle, claim 23-1276-311. *slc

Vehicle experienced fire, the cause of the fire was accidental, part failure, malfunction, the fire originated at the engines fueling system on the intake housing side, claim 53-c681-096. *slc

Engine exploded when vehicle was started, claim 38-j616-719. *slc

Vehicle would not crank early in the day, it was taken home and parked for a few hours when a fire started, claim 42-1218-296. *slc

Consumer started vehicle and heard a loud pop, flames came out from under the hood, the origin of the fire and explosion was inside the intake manifold of the engine, the cause of the fire was a backfire within the engine compartment, claim 17-9112-605. *slc

Transmission bangs as it shifts gears. *ak

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

Engine exploded as consumer was getting out of vehicle, claim 05-4442-741. *slc

Consumer was starting vehicle when a broken gas line caused a fire, the adjuster stated that the regulator leaked onto the manifold and caused an explosion, claim 23-1276-311. *slc

Motor burned, cause of fire origninated at the engines fueling system on the intake housing side, claim 53-c681-096. *slc

Engine exploded when vehicle was started, claim 38-j616-719. *slc referenced in ea02-030

Engine exploded when vehicle was started, claim 38-j616-719. *slc

After months of dealing with no start of my vehicle know my manifold needs replaced i've contacted buick and they say my vin is not with the vin included with the recall i don't under stand im lost i've tried getting help with this situation and i will write buick and everything but this is a manufacturers default that has not been corrected on my vehicle. *tr

I was in my driveway and put the shift in reverse, but it did not stay there. instead it went back to drive and the accelerator was stuck on my 1997 buick lesabre traveled about 4 feet at high speed and struck a small tree. my insurance company totaled the car. my insurance premium went up for an accident that was not my fault. can you give me the web site of a similar car and year in an accident in 2003 in california? thank you, nikolaos (nick) caravasos *tr

Front suspension, when driving at speed 40 to 70mph, vibration in the front, causing loss of control of vehicle. *ak

Engine coolant destroyed engine due to the degradation of upper intake mainifold materials around the egr stove pipe. without warning(no warning lights went on) while on the road coolant entered the pistons through the degradated upper intake manifold and caused engine failure. this could have caused a major accident as power was lost and speed dramatically dropped. seems to be obvious engine design flaw in 3800 v-6 engines produced by gm in buick lasabres, riveras, regals, oldsmobile 98s, 88s. intrigue, pontiac bonnevilles, grand prix, & chevrolet luminas, monte carlos over a period of years dating from 1995-1998 when they changed the manifold design. a service bulletin by gm #01-06-01-007a in july 18, 2001 indicated the gm is aware of defect and has since produced a different manifold to replace and repair problem but will not stand behind these engines when they fail without warning. gm has been uncooperative in this matter. all repairs to this car are documented with biliings, etc by certified gm service dept. including oil changes and preventitive maintenance. this was a well maintained vehicle with a service history that can be documented. i have pictures of the inside of the engine where damage occurred.the gm service dept. that replaced damaged engine indicated that they had 3 other vehicles with the same engine damaged because of coolant leak through the degradation of the intake manifold in that one month time frame. this is a small dealership and they indicated that this was a indicator of a major problem with this component. *ak

The rear seat belts are to short to go around a child seat or a person. please describe. *ak

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

When coming to a complete stop brakes sound like metal grinding. please provide any furhter information.*ak

Abs warning light and traction control light stay on while driving. *ak *slc

Engine caught on fire while trying to start vehicle , vehicle was a total loss, and manufacturer was unable to detect orgin of fire.*ak aaa detected a hot spot in the manifold and the fuel line runs along the manifold, also vehicle had an intake manifold leak, fire possibly fuel related. *slc

Water pump stopped working for no reason. please provide any additional information.*ak

Intake manifold needs to be replaced. recall on this component, but per buick this vehicle was not affected by recall. *ak the intake manifold failure allowed antifreeze into the engine. *yh

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

While driving at 25 mph vehicle will stall. then, consumer could start car again. about 4 days later, it stalled again, and would not start for about 5 minutes. took to dealer , and they could not duplicate the problem. if on the highway, there would have been an accident.*ak

Intake manifold malfunctioned, causing vehicle to stall at high speeds. vehicle has been repaired by a private mechanic. dealer will be notified.*ak

While driving at 20 mph front driver's side and passenger's side air bags deployed. dealer has been contacted.*ak

Had taken vehicle in for routine maintenance at independent mechanic. was informed that a bolt to rack and pinion steering had broken , and bushings had worn out. bolt nut was sitting there, looked like it was welded. *ak

Consumer was traveling 30mph on road and another vehicle stalled in the middle of the road. consumer was trying to avoid hitting the stalled vehicle. but, hit the other vehicle. upon impact, airbags did not deploy, there was 1 injury and one fatality. *ak

While driving at highway speed engine will stall out on this vehicle, but vehicle will start right back up. dealer has been contacted.*ak

When driving and upon acceleration vehicle was hard to shift. , consumer contacted dealer, dealer did not correct the problem under atsb. however, problem still occurs. consumer has contacted an indepdent dealer, dealer noted that transmission needed replacing. *ak

While driving on highway noticed vehicle was surging up and down on its own. took it to a local mechanic they found out that vehicle indeed surged, replaced control valve body assembly. also had to have transmission rebuilt at owner's cost. *ak *ml

Anti-freeze was leaking into motor and causing it to be sluggish & hesitate. also, there was a foul smell coming into vehicle. dealer said there was a defect within the part. *ak

Consumer was involved in a collision in which the passenger's side of the vehicle was totaled. also, passenger's side air bag did not deploy, cause unknown. *ak *ml

While driving slow went to apply brakes and heard a groaning noise, the lining was glazed by the weeping. took vehicle in to be serviced by mechanic. mechanic noticed that wheel cylinders are weeping and he thinks that they are defective.*ak

Consumer's vehicle bumped another vehicle at 5 mph and caused both air bags to deploy. driver's hand received minor abrasins. dealer / manufacturer notified. feel free to provide any further details. *ak

While driving driver let go off the gas pedal nd vehicle continued to accelerate which may cause a crash. dealer could not determine the cause of the problem. please provide further information. *ak

Front brake rotors rusted. the dealer has turned down the rotors; however, the problem has reoccurred. manufacturer ha been notified. *ak

At any speed consumer would feel slackness in the steering column. dealer said shaft was worn out. dealer replaced bottom and top steering. dealer claimed that eventually it would have caused consumer to lose control. *ak *ml

Unintended and sudden acceleration. when reaching 40 mph engine raised like it was kicking out of gear. consumer took vehicle to mechanic, and he recognized the problem as unintended and sudden acceleration. *ak

Consumer was traveling approximately 35-45mph and vehicle was hit on the passenger's side, and passenger's side air bag didn't deploy, drivers side did. *ak

Vehicle backfires during start up. this could lead to an engine compartment fire. *ak referenced in ea02-030

Consumer put the key in the ignition and turned it to start up, and vehicle exploded into flames. manufacturer was contacted, and said they had no responsiblity in the case. consumer had bumper to bumper warranty with aproximately 22.200 miles on vehicle warranty. *ak

Consumer was involved in a frontal collision in which driver's air bag did not deploy. cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak

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

Head restraints on driver's and passenger's sides will not come up high enough to provide sufficient head protection which could result in injuries. *ak

Front right side stablizer bar bushing came apart/fell off onto road which could have caused loss of vehicle control. *ak

Windshield wipers do not work properly on high, obstucting view of the driver. the dealer has been notified. *ak

The consumer has been experiencing problems with rear suspension. vehicle bounces up and down while driving. the manufacturer has been contacted. *ak

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

Consumer went to park vehicle ,going less 5 mph and accidently crashed into a wall. no damage to vehicle . dual airbags deployed, causing face injuries. *ak

Rearview mirror, while driving, is loose and tilts very often. needs to be adjusted, it will dangle, go back and forth, it is still attached to the wire and swings. can eventually hit the driver in the head. dealer contacted and cannot repair the mirror. accident occurred and mirror hit windshield,and the windshield was shattered. *ak

Traveling 75-80mph when the vehicle started to vibrate. while it was vibrating, it started to make noises. had taken vehicle to dealership to have it checked out. was informed by mechanic that it was characteristic of the vehicle & not a problem with the suspension or axle. *ak

The motor mount on the right is defective. dealer replaced the motor mount because it was missing the rubber bushings that were never installed into the motor mount. dealer cannot duplicate the problem. *ak

While driving and passing the vehicle downshifted. stepped on gas pedal and the car maintained speed, kept on up to 6000 rpm. put it into neutral, then back into drive and it kept on going. the dealer cannot duplicate the problem. *ak

When using the windshield wiper fluid the blades do not move, making it hard to see out ahead on the road. dealer can't fix problem. *ak *slc

Every now and then when turning on the windshield wipers they do not come on. reported to dealer in september of 97. dealer not able to duplicate the problem. in march the circuit board was replaced, but the prolbem still continued. vehicle taken to dealer again on may 8th. dealer could not detect the problem with vehicle. *ak

Going 35mph & started to slow down to avoid vehicle in front which stopped suddenly. had to hit brakes & nothing happened. rearended vehicle in front. took to dealer , told no problem was found. *ak

Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and the airbags did not deploy. the windshield broke and the glass flew in the driver's face. the manufacturer has been notified. *ak

Consumer complained of brake pedal going too far to the floor before the vehicle comes to a stop. vehicle was taken in on two occasions for repairs, condition still exists. dealer notified. *ak

While driving down the street about 25 mph a truck smashed the consumer's vehicle front and air bag did not deploy. the comsumer refused go to hospital. *ak

Was driving at approximately 55-60 mph on interstate, attempting to slow down when brake pedal became stuck, pedal did not move, causing the consumer to rearend vehicle in front. had to downshift and use emergency brake in order to stop. 2 days prior to incident, consumer did experience brake pedal getting stuck, but only for 1 second but then release itself. dealer cannot determine problem. *ak

While driving the door locks are constantly locking and unlocking. the dealer has replaced the module two times on the vehicle. the dealer is currently aware of the problem. *ak

While driving the vehicle will stall without indications. dealer has been contacted. dealer also replaced battry/alternator/ignition and computer. however, vehicle continued to stall. *ak

Rattling noise in steering column, also rubbing sound. several diagnosis; reset front camber/insufficient lubrication etc. *ak

While driving vehicle the steering wheel pulls to the right and there is a lot of vibration in the steering. *ak the vehicle was at the dealer four times but the problem still exists. the vehicle was lemon. *yh

Driving down the highway when there was sudden loss of power/loss of brake/power steering. everything shut down, but the radio continued to play. managed to pull vehicle over to the side of highway. put in park and the vehicle started up like nothing was wrong. *ak

Seat belt design problem; the buckle part of the seat belt is so short that it is extremely difficult for an adult to buckle the belt. *ak

While driving vehicle at night the headlights go dim for no reason. owner has taken vehicle to dealer, and was told its the design of vehicle. owner further notes that this problem has almost caused accidents. *ak ses light illuminated. when there is not even 300 pounds in vehicle and going over bumps, it bottoms out, dealer replaced rear springs and weak coil springs. consumer had to wiggle key to get it out of the door, dealer filed key and lubricated the lock cylinder. *slc

Consumer was traveling 45mph, applied abs brakes suddenly vehicle continued to move, resulting in extended stopping distance and pedal fading away. *ak

When making a left hand turn the vehicle's engine shuts down, causing the vehicle to stall. please describe details. *ak

Consumer was involved in a frontal collision, hitting a deer in which the driver's and passenger's air bags deployed, causing injuries to the occupants. *ak

Vehicle's electrical system malfuctioned when coming from a descending or stopping position. the vehicle's front headlights dimmed/flickered, causing extreme visibility difficulties. *ak

Rear seat belt buckles located under the passengers on outside seating, making it almost impossible to buckle by persons using them. *ak

Abs brake failure, in cold weather below 0 degrees, for a very short period when backing out and applying the brakes, loss of effectiveness and pumping the system regains pressure. *ak

While driving, upon lowering both rear windows, experiences violent vibration which becomes worse as vehicle accelerates, requires excessive effort to maintain controlof vehicle, not fixed. *ak

Owner states that he was driving down the highway his trunk lid came open, was told by dealer that his computer module was bad. *ak

While driving, heard noise/clicking sound when making short turns, checked by dealer, steering short gear broke, no accident.*ak

Emergency brake does not remain locked, has been replaced twice without remedy. *ak

When applying abs brakes in damp weather, the vehicle's brakes lock up. please describe.*ak

While driving vehicle, tried to shift from one gear to the next, lost 3rd and 4th gears, lost power. had to stop and rest vehicle before starting again, going about 80 mph.*ak

From time to time when slowing down the vehicle loses power/ stalls. please describe in detail. *ak

Failure on the steering wheel and column, consumer was making a left turn and the consumer lost control of the vehicle and the lights on the dash did not indicate the vehicle was off.*ak *jb

Suspension system had problems, gm replaced the struts because the vehicle bottomed out while hitting small bumps. *et

Emergency brake malfunctioned.

Upon starting the vehicle it backfired and broke the intake manifold into several pieces. i found a recall indicating what had happened due to the powertrain control module. i gave this info to the dealer at gambacorta buick at 427 w. seventh st. new castle, delaware 19720 tel. no 302 323 3026. they diagnosed it as a fuel pressure regulator leak causing the intake to crack. i have photos showing the intake manifold broken in two end to end about an inch wide. this seems to be more than a crack. when this happened it was an explosion. it was very loud inside the car.*ak referenced in ea02-030

A hole was created in the upper plenum manifold emission system by the egr valve. so i was told. is this covered under the government emissions systems warranty? buick said only the catalitic (sp) converter is covered under this warranty. *ak

Defective intake manifold assembly made of composite material can degrade and allow coolant to enter the cylinders to cause engine failure. the repair is replacement of the composite intake manifold with a metal one, implying a defect in the original design. the repair costs over $900, and involves the vin k- rpo l36 engine used in hundreds of thousands of buicks, pontiacs, chevrolets and oldsmobiles from 1995 to 1998. i believe a recall is warranted for this dangerous problem. please note: the dealer listed is not the original seller of my vehicle, but they performed the recommended repairs as specified in gm tsb #01-06-01-007a promptly and to my satisfaction.

Power steering pump fell off the mount. one of three bolts was backed off and the other two bolts were severed.*ak

This 1997 buick le sabre , in very good condition , exploded with a fireball and sending plastic "shrapnel" and engine cover parts out to a radius of 24 feet. thank god none of the three people trying to start the car with the hood up were standing over the engine bay. the resulting repairs were $700 and my long time extremely competent group of mechanics were all baffled and could not explain why or how such a thing was even possible on such a system (i.e. late model fuel injection , starting a cold engine. *ak referenced in ea02-030

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

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

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

I had taken this vehicle back to the buick dealership where i purchased it at 34k miles and told them it had a "miss" and that it "hesitated" driving down the road. they said it was a spark plug and replaced one. the last time i took it to another buick dealer it needed 4,200.00 to make it road worthy including a new water pump, new transmission, new brakes and rotors. the service code on the car should have indicated failure of these parts when i took it to the first dealer.

Never complete failure, but transmissions surge,d, and more dangerously, apparently slipped into neutral randomly with no warning. *ak

This problem, factory installed on all vehicles in doc# 538154, ser.notes. no safety defect mentioned. *ak

Veicle was in for transmission repair at local dealer/ serviceman was test driving vehicle after repair when vehicle caught fire underneath between transmissiom and gas tank, dealer claims not responsible, vehicle burned completely. has there been any problems comparable to this situation ?

Boomershiner failed to pay for the repair and the rental and still has not done anything with the damaged behind the wheel. nosafety defect. *ak (tiresize: 70)( dot number: tire size: 70 )

Intake manifold replaced. recall on this component for 1997 buick lesabre, but per buick this vehicle was not affected by recall.*ak

Low speed shutter, torque converter locking up at 30 mi./hr. it is like starting a standard trans. in 3rd or 4th gear. g.m. says this is a normal thing for this model year. i say bull_ *ak

Is there a problem with the in engine manifold warping and causing over heating and premature engine failure?*ak

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

On wednesday, august 02, 2000, i was making a trip to jacksonville, fl. to my sisters with my 79 year old mother and 75 year old father. right outside of tallahassee, fl. the rear passenger tire had approximately a 10" in length and 7" wide piece of rubber seperate from the tire. i was able to control the car and stop. i had to follow a policeman from interstate 10 to a back highway to get back to tallahasse to get my tire replaced. when the goodyear mechanic got the car up on the rack he called me and my father out to look at the other three tires. all of the tires were beginning to seperate in the middle. i chose to relace all four tires beacuse i was afraid the rest would do the same thing and i did not want to chance injury. i had my son do a visual check of the tires before i left on the trip and he said i should have another 10,000 to 15,000 miles left on the tires however, we could not visually see the seperation in the middle. i wanted to keep the tires and bring them back to pascagoula with me but i could not keep the tires because i did not have any room in my car. i heard on the news a few days ago that there is also a problem with general tires. i feel i should let someone know about this incident because i do not want to see anyone get injured or killed. i have called the dealer to try and find out about the tires but was unable to get any information. my current milage is 46,060 not what i listed at the top part of your form. sholud you need additional information please feel free to call me. thanking you in advance for any help that you may provide in the research of this incident.

Right front tires seperated while on freeway - city of peoria, arizona.( dot number: acmodbi037 tire size: p205/70r15 )

Windshield wipers fail and will not work on delay when turned on. *ak

Attaching bolt (drivers side) holding the power steering rack and pinion to the cradle broke, allowing the rackand pinion steering to shift in the right side mouning bracket. bolt showed no stretching or shear force causing it to fail. bolt hardened to 10.9 (on head of bolt) bolt is unavailible until middle of may due to number changes. (tells me something is wrong somewhere ! ). *ak

Since i bought the vehicle, the car has gotten horrendous gas mileage, the horn intermittently does not work and the transmission has slipped. the car was taken back to the dealer and nothing was done. i was told "we were unable to find a problem." the horn issue nearly resulted in a car accident lastnight as the horn, again, decided to take the night off. this is not right!!

Car is cutting out. no warning. i could be going 65 miles an hour or completely stopped at the red light. car will restart in about five minutes. i have had it to the dealership [two different ones] three times and it has not been fixed to date. i feel this car in dangerous and would like to get some help.

Not my vehicle. vehicle was involved in a traffic collision and the driver's airbag deployed. a fire broke out in the steering column after deployment. there was no apparent damage to the passenger section of the vehicle from the mild to moderate crash. driver escaped apparent injury. this is the first fire resulting from an airbag deployment of which i am aware. this is an important life safety issue. l.a.co.f.d. incident report # 00-055018. *ak

Windshield wipers occsaionally fail to operate at low speed or single swipe mode due to wiper sticking on windshield and motor horsepower/torque insufficient to break "seal."

Car stalls while driving. also, steering wheel often tightens up.

Egr valve stuck in closed position - but if fails in open position could cause engine stall

Right rear seat belt retractor mechanism failed, rear buckles do not latch properly. mjs

Remote keyless entry failed on two occasions. mjs

Battery failed. mjs

Transmission slipped out of gear while going uphill while in cruise control. mjs

Transmission failed. yh

The design of front seat headrest is not high enough. yh

Transmission failed. yh

Emergency brake failed. *yc

Cruise control failed. yh

Parking brake replaced.

Engine--oil gasket leak.

Tire. dot 0288100 goodyear p215/60r16.

Automatic door openers. air bag lights.

Car surged forward when pulling into a parking space, airbags did not deploy.

Seat belt failed. nm

Oxygen sensor failed. yh

Brake cylinder failed resulting in leakage. mjs

Battery positive post was deformed and narrow at a position within the battery housing causing it to separated and result in an open circuit. nlm

Trunk lock failed. yh

Tire exploded (failed). nlm

Exhaust system failed. nlm

Engine continually stalling.

Air bag deployment was violent, causing injuries to the driver: cuts on throat, chin and mouth, bruises on chest, left arm and hand, broken right finger.

Transmission failed.

Broken bolt caused power steering and belt failures. yh

Driver seat belt failed. *yc

Tire failure, due to cupping. ( general tires e0432) *yc

Transmission failed twice. *yc

Window inoperative. *yc

Roof leak. *yc

Transmission failed. yh

Catalytic converter system failed. *yc

Trunk lock failed.

Ventillation system fails at full capacity.

Possible engine failure, check engine light illuminating.

Windshield wiper unit replaced due to failure. *yc

Trans shift solonoid failure.mgm

General tires failed prematurely. mjs

Ignition would not start. *yc

Transmission failed. *yc

Battery leaking. *yc

While attemping to parallel park, right front tire struck a misaligned concrete curb, tearing sidewall of tire. *yc (goodyear eagle ga p215/60r16).

On two occasions the ignition failed to start. *yc

Heater blower motor failed. nlm

Tire treads wore off. nlm

Power window motor failed

Blower motor failed.

Steering column anti-theft alarm controller failed.

Transmission gear makes noise.

A/c compressor failed.

Seat belt failed.

Faulty computer chip caused car to stall in the middle of a busy intersection.

Remote keyless entry failed after four repair attempts.

Parking brake ratchet failed.

Ecm failed.

Exhaust system seal failed.

Seat belt buckles failed.

Engine backfires upon start up. referenced in ea02-030

Seat belt buckle failed.

High pressure leak in wheel.

Location of rear seat belts make it impossible to buckle.

Air conditioner condenser noise due to 2 wires incompatible.

Parking brakes are hard to engage and hard to release.

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

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

Consumer stated that the vehicle was dangerous to drive on the highway because the struts were very bad, consumer was finding it very difficult to keep the vehicle on the road.*yh

Consumer states, since purchase of vehicle, it has sporadically stalled out 10 times. 2 dealerships diagnosed via computer but advised that they cannot diagnose the problem without being able to duplicate it. consumer is concerned that the problem could potentially cause a rear-end collision. *tt *scc

There is a bar in the front windows, this bar requires mounting of the rear view mirror in a foward position, which consumer believes is too close to the driver, which creates a blind spot for the driver.*jb

The wire that had shoreted out causing the vehicle's computer,the battery needle and the rpms to malfunction. the consumer feels unsafe to drive the vehicle. *yh

The button to open the trunk inside the car stopped working. *yh

The vehicle stalled without warning while driving due to a blown head gasket, a few months later vehicle stalled again, vehicle was towed to a body shop and mechanice stated that head gasket had blown again and that the motor would need replaced, water pump also failed and was replaced on four occasions. *yh

The fuel gauge stopped working. *yh

Taillight went bad. *yh

While attempting to start the vehicle the engine caught fire totally destroying the car. nlm there was recall on the upper intake manifold.*jb an investigator stated that the fire originated within the ignition of vapors of gasoline in the engine compartment of the vehicle, they stated that it should be noted that the conditions described at the time of the fire are in line with the recall regarding the upper intake manifold. *slc referenced in ea02-030

The egr valve failed, the customer request reimbursement because he believes the original valve was defective and it should have had a lifetime warranty. nlm

Wheel cylinders leaking causing a grunting noise to occur as the car was placed in reverse. nlm

Alternator failed prematurely. nlm

One of the two lines between the abs system and master cylinder ruptured leaving the consumer with only 10%-20% of normal braking ability. nlm

Brakes failed. nlm

Engine plenum failed causing coolant to leak into the engine causing damage to the engine. *mjs

Steering wheel paint coming off, replacement of the steering wheel necessary. *mjs

Driver side air bag failed during collision. yh

The integration of the air bag system to the horn failed causing the horn to sound very loudly continuously. yh

Vehicle stalls intermittently without warning while in motion. nlm

Windshield wipers continually failing, several repair attempts however continued to experience intermittent failure. mjs

Engine continually experiencing clunking noise. mjs

Noise heard in the rear trunk area due to loose heat shield. mjs

Multi function alarm module for lighting and lock failed. mjs

Power window switch failed. mjs

Remote transmitter failed. mjs

Crack in tread caused flat tire while driving. (gheneral tire)

Vehicle omits fumes and ordor from ventillation system causing occupant to become ill.

Headlights fog up due to moisture leaking in.

Noise heard in the front end suspension.

Turn signal bulbs replaced two times.

Stop and tail light bulbs replaced.

Engine continually stalling.

Headlights fogged causing poor vsibility.

When driving at 65 mph or over, vehicle vibrates.

Front headlight lenses take in water. they were replaced in june 1998; however, the new lenses also show signs of taking in water.

Windshield wipers will not operate in the wash/mist/delay or low speed mode until they are switched to high speed mode.after the windshield wipers ar eplaced in the high speed mode the other modes will operate correctly. also, intermittent howling sound when brakes are used.

Seat belt did not restrain properly during accident, causing injury.

Anti lock brakes make noise.

Front end misalignment, causing vehicle to pull to the right and premature wear of tires. also, battery leaked acid, and terminal was worn out to the point of being broken.

Engine stalls intermittently

Windshield is very difficult to see through due to reflection of the dash from inside vehicle.

No failure specified.

No failure specified.

Engine failure intermittently.

Engine shut down unexpectantly while driving.

Cruise control failed several times.

Door locks disengaged.

Vehicle bottoms out with four or more passengers aboard. *ak

The security alarm horn and lights blinked and blew out without being activated at all times of day/night- without warning. *ak

Rear seat belt design causes occupant to sit on buckle, they are too close to seat and difficult to fasten.

Passengers seat belt locks/tightens while driving, creating discomfort for passenger, is designed this way to secure child seats.

When the sun is on the dashboard it reflects onto the windshield creating poor visibility.

Rear seat belts will not extend far enough to fit people over 100 pounds.

Engine vibrates upon acceleration.

Outside rear view mirrors are very small, causing blind spots.

Strut failed.

Consumer complains that outside rear view mirror positioned too far back, causing loss of visibility.

Air noise coming around the doors both on left and right sides of the vehicle. *ak

Plastic part of buckle came off when trying to buckle up.

Windshield wiper system must be used on a regular basis otherwise when used certain features such as the 'delay' feature will not work.

Tread separation of general tires caused flapping noise around the rear axle.

When going up a hill, the engine has a skip.

Turn signal arm does not return to neutral position.

Intermittent stalling.

Intermittent vibration. cruise control failure.

Throttle sticks, causing high rpm's.

Defective ecm causes vehicle to backfire.

Brakes operate improperly.

Steering stiffens.

Computer failure.

Engine failure.

Vehicle experiencing sudden steering difficulty followed by a complete shut down of all systems.

Consumer sits too close to steering column to be able to use the air bag safely.concern about air bag (other than short person). added on 09-07-1999. *ak

When vehicle hydroplaned and hit a concrete barrier there was no deployment of the driver's side or passenger's side air bags. vehicle has been totalled. please provide any further information.*ak

Pe00 020; consumer was traveling on highway on her way home. when she got home rear passenger tire air pressure was low. so she took the vehicle to a tire place. and the attendant there told her that tire couldn't be repaired. the tire was no good. the firestone p20575r15, there were no injuries.*ak the customer still has 3 tires on the vehicle and does not feel safe to drive. *yh

Rear suspension poor resulting in vehicle bottoming out while driving, struts replaced with kit to prohibit bottoming out however failed.

Rear seat belt buckles inoperative.

Right front door lock failed. yh

Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with gm¿s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm¿s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold ruptures and related fires in other my 1995-2002 gm passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.for additional information, see the attached closing report.

Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with gm¿s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm¿s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold ruptures and related fires in other my 1995-2002 gm passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.for additional information, see the attached closing report.

Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with gm¿s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm¿s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold ruptures and related fires in other my 1995-2002 gm passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.for additional information, see the attached closing report.