2003 BUICK LESABRE Complaints

THIS INCIDENT IS REGARDING A SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A 2003 BUICK LESABRE, PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2003. IN JANUARY OF 2008, WITH 47,692 MILES ON THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE INCIDENT - THE VEHICLE LURCHED, BUCKED, RAPIDLY PICKED UP SPEED AND RAPIDLY LOST SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS SITUATION WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS TO BOTH MYSELF, PASSENGERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS. MY REMEDY WAS TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE VEHICLE REPAIR CENTER EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH POST-1997 BUICKS, IN WHICH THERE IS A TYPICALLY FAULTY TRANSMISSION. HE CITED THAT HE MAY SEE CLOSE TO 100 SIMILAR CASES PER YEAR. IN FACT, WHILE I WAS DISCUSSING MY CAR WITH HIM ANOTHER POST-1997 BUICK CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT A CHRONIC MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT EXISTS THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER WITH A PRODUCT RECALL OR WARRANTY CONCESSION FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER WINDOW ON MY 2003 BUICK LESABRE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR ASSEMBLY. IT SEEMS THAT THE CABLE WHICH RAISES AND LOWERS THE WINDOW IS ATTACHED TO A PLASTIC PART, WHICH FAILS. POOR QUALITY CONSTRUCTION. *TR

I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER WINDOWS ON 2003 BUICK LESABRE. I HAVE REPLACE 2 WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR ASSEMBLIES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CABLE WHICH RAISES AND LOWERS THE WINDOW IS ATTACHED TO A PLASTIC PART, WHICH FAILS. *JB UPDATED 09/27/07. *JB

NOISE HAD OCCURRED UPON SLOWING AND BRAKING, SO I TOOK IT TO A DEALER. A PERSON FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT RODE WITH ME BUT THE PROBLEM DID NOT HAPPEN (PERHAPS DUE TO THE LIGHT RAIN). TWO DAYS LATER I MADE A TRIP INTO ATLANTA. THE FRONT BRAKES SOUNDED AS THOUGH THEY WERE GRINDING AT ALL SPEEDS. A TIRE DEALER IN DECATUR (NEAREST MY LOCATION AT THE TIME) REPLACED BOTH FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS (36,000 MILES). THE PROBLEM IS BACK. EXAMINATION OF ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS SHOWS NO GOUGING OF THE ROTOR AND PLENTY OF PAD REMAINING ON ALL 8 PADS; THEY APPEAR TO BE PRACTICALLY NEW (48,000 MILES). *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INFLATER DEVICE IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE STATED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. SHE HAS HAD THE PART REPLACED, BUT BUICK DOES NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CONTACT HEARS AN OCCASIONAL SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT COVERED IN GE AUTO WARRANTY SERVICES 4 STAR PLUS CONTRACT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER OF WHICH I PURCHASED IT FROM AND FOUND OUT IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY CRASH SENSOR BUT NOT COVERED, COST WAS $95 FOR A 5 MIN DIAGNOSTIC, ERROR CODE READING TAKEN OFF THE CONTROL COMPUTER FOR THE AIRBAG. SAFETY FEATURE FAILURE IS NOT COVERED BY MANUFACTURER, DEALER OR WARRANTY. HAVE NOT AT THIS TIME CORRECTED FAILURE, PRICE FOR REPAIR WAS $300 ON TOP OF $95 DIAGNOSTIC. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FEELS AS IF IT IS SLIPPING WHEN CHANGING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. HE FEELS A SHUDDER WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A TWO-CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 50,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,200. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIM AND BRIGHTENED, DASH REPLACED AND CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKED ALL BY ITSELF WHILE CAR WAS PARKED WITH NO ONE INSIDE, ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKS. *AK

DASHBOARD LIGHTS INTERMITTENT ON / OFF. HEADLIGHT FAILURES AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME FAILURE AS NOTED IN DEFECT INVESTIGATION ACTION # EA02030. THIS FAILURE RELATED TO THE LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT SMELLED ANTIFREEZE WHEN HE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND THE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKED OUT FREQUENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,350. *AK