2004 BUICK LESABRE Complaints

THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ON MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE FAILED TO REGISTER AT ALL ON ONE OCCASION, AND THE TACHOMETER REGISTERED ERRONEOUSLY HIGH READINGS ON ANOTHER OCCASION. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER; SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED SOME TWO MONTHS EARLIER, IT COST ME $330 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE OLD PART WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE TO ME AT ALL. SINCE I SAW A TELEVISION NEWS REPORT JUST TODAY OF OTHER SPEEDOMETER FAILURES IN GM CARS AND TRUCKS, AND SINCE THE REPORT SUGGESTED SUBMITTING A REPORT, I DECIDED TO DO SO EVEN THOUGH MY MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR WAS NOT MENTIONED. *JB

SHIMMY IN STEERING COLUMN. RECOMMENDED TIRES BE ROTATED AND BALANCED. DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. APPOX. 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE,NOTICED ELECTRICAL ODOR WHEN HEAT BUTTON ON SEAT WAS TURNED ON. NOW SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE STICKS WHEN IT RECOILS. NOISE UNDER HOOD. UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. CLUSTER WENT OUT AND NONE OF THE GAUGES WORK EXCEPT THE ODOMETER. THIS IS A 2004 LESABRE WITH 57,000 MILES. *JB

THIS CAR LOSES ALL POWER IF IT SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR AND THE DEALER STATES THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WE HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE BECAUSE AAA CAN'T START IT WITH THEIR PORTABLE CHARGERS. WE HAVE PURCHASED OUR OWN CHARGER TO USE ON IT EACH TIME IT DIES - WHICH IT DOES IF YOU DO NOT DRIVE IT WITHIN 24 HOURS OF YOUR LAST START. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE TIRES WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AS WELL AS 75 MPH. WHEN INSPECTED BY THE SERVICE DEALER; THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS BELT SEPARATION CAUSING THE VIBRATION. THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 10 DIFFERENT TIRE REPLACEMENTS TO THE VEHICLE WITH 2 MORE REJECTED BY THE DEALER. ALSO, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE A DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTINENTAL. TIRE SIZE WAS P215/70R15.*AK THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND. UPDATED 11/21/06. *JB

THE CAR FEELS VERY UNSTABLE, IT WOBBLES AND WANDERS AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. IT IS MADE WORSE WITH WINDS OVER 10 MPH, GOING DOWN HILL, ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE, WHEN A TRUCK IS PASSING AND A SPEEDS AROUND 60-65 MPH. IF ALL THESE SYMPTOMS COME TOGETHER THE CAR IS VERY VERY UNSTABLE. THE FEELING IS VERY SIMILAR TO GOING OVER A GROOVED ROAD SURFACE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR WAS LEFT OPEN WITH THE DOME LIGHT ON; THIS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN. THE DRIVER WAS UNAWARE OF THE DEAD BATTERY UNTIL AFTER THE DOOR WAS CLOSED AND LOCKED. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH POWER TO START THE VEHICLE OR OPEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO USE THE MANUAL OVERRIDE BUTTON INSIDE THE VEHICLE TO OPEN THE LOCKS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY UNTIL THE DOORS WERE OPENED BECAUSE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT.

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE THEFT SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AND BATTERY PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *TS THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: STALLING, GAUGES DYING OUT, ENGINE LIGHT AND SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATING, HARD TIMES STARTING THE ENGINE, RATTLE IN THE MIDDLE VENTS WHEN SET ON LOW, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHT HAD GONE OUT, AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CALIBRATION. MOST OF THE PROBLEMS WERE INTERMITTENT OCCURRENCES AND WERE HARD TO DUPLICATE. *SC

SUDDEN AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY FAILURE OF BRAKE PEDAL ON 2004 BUICK LESABRE. PEDAL SNAPPED AND WENT TO FLOOR, NO BRAKES. OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I PUT CAR IN PARK TO STOP FORWARD MOTION AND AVOID HITTING MY SON'S CAR.*AK

DT: THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER LIGHTS BEGAN TO SCATTER AND ILLUMINATED WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED, THE BATTERY AND AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF. WHEN CONSUMER GOT HOME SHU OFF AENGINE AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART TO SEE IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE WAS NO POWER IN THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CALLED BUICK ROADSIDE ASSSITANCE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. A TOW TRUCK WAS SENT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BUICK DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT DEALER. BUT CONSUMER WISHEED TO FILE A COMPLAINT AT THIS TIME.*AK

DT: CONTACT STATES THERE IS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE VENT WHILE THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITION IS IN USE. THE SERVICE DEALER INSTALLED AN ELECTRONIC DEODORIZER FAN. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER TWICE SINCE THEN, AND THEY INSTALLED AN INTERIOR BOX FOR AN HOUR, AND SPRAYED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEODORIZER, AND CHECKED THE RECALL FAN.*AK