1999 BUICK LESABRE Complaints

THE COMPANY/MANUFACTURER FAILED TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AFTER THE DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A MISHAP. YH

BRAKES ARE SPONGY; PARTIALLY DUE TO A RACING ENGINE, IT TAKES MORE PRESSURE TO APPLY THE BRAKES FOR WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A ROUTINE STOP. THE ENGINE HAS 'AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL' WHICH DISTORTS NORMAL DRIVING SENSORS. I DROVE A SIMILAR BUICK FOR A DAY AND IT DIDN'T REQUIRE ME TO BRAKE FREQUENTLY TO AVOID EXCEEDING OUR CONDO AREA'S SPEED LIMIT. *AK

RENTAL CAR: NHTSA RECALL 99V08900 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99011. STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN IN A PARKING LOT, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, CONSUMER GOT OUT, AND LEFT WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. VEHICLE HAD ROLLED DOWN THE HILL. TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER WAS IN THE REVERSE POSITION. *AK *ML

VEHICLE BEING REPORTED OWNED BY AVIS CORPORATION. DRIVER/PATIENT WAS OPERATING A BUICK LA SABRE, RENTED FROM AVIS. DRIVER STATES HE WAS APPROACHING INTERSECTION, DURING A LIGHT RAIN STORM, AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP OR CONTROL THE BUICK. THE BUICK CONTACT A MID 80'S NISSAN PICKUP TRUCK WHICH WAS IN THE INTERSECTION. THE BUICK APPEARS TO HAVE CONTACT THE FRONT LEFT TIRED, RIDING UP ONTO THE LEFT FENDER AND HOOD OF THE PICKUP. THE PICKUP BODY HAD MODERATE DAMAGE SUGGESTIVE OF CONTACT SPEED BETWEEN 10-20 MPH. BODY DAMAGE TO THE BUICK APPEARS TO BE PRIMARILY ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE LEFT FENDER HAD MINIMUM DAMAGE. THE FRONT BUMPER AND UNDERCARRIAGE APPEARED TO HAVE MODERATE DAMAGE. ALL THE TRANSMISSION OIL FROM THE TRANSAXLE WAS RELEASED ONTO THE PAVEMENT DO TO DAMAGE TO THE TRANSAXLE HOUSING. . BOTH DRIVERS WERE WEARING LAP/SHOULDER HARNESSES AND DID NOT REPORT ANY INJURIES. THE AIRBAGS ON THE BUICK LA SABRE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER OF THE BUICK WAS SITTING WELL BACK FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALSO HAD A CORRECTLY ADJUSTED HEAD RESTRAINT. GIVEN THE APPARENTLY VOLICITY OF THE BUICK I AM UNCLEAR WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

INITIALLY WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT. THE CONSUMER HAS TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WILL GO INTO REVERSE.

A THUMPING NOISE COMES FROM THE REAR AXLE AREA OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CAUSE IS NOT FOUND. YH

VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED OUT. PRIOR TO STALLING, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

BUICK DEALER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR TRANSMISSION. BUT CONSUMER NEEDED TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER TO SEND RECALL NOTICE. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT DEALER SHOULD MAIL THE RECALL NOTICE. NO ONE EVER MAILED CONSUMER THE RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE 6 TIMES. THE DEALER IS MIDPOINT BUICK, 17801 VIRGIL GOODE HIGHWAY, PO BOX 887 ROCKY MOUNT, VA 24151 540-483-5860. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP ALL OVER THE ROAD *AK CONSUMER FIRST NOTICED THAT VEHICLE LEANED SEVERELY ON CURVES, THIS WOULD ALMOST CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AT TIMES, THE BACK SHOCKS WOULD BOTTOM OUT, CONSUMER HAD THE REAR SPRINGS REPLACED. RECENTLY, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, OVERCORRECTED, AND VEHICLE OVERTURNED, CONSUMER WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT, HIS WIFE WAS ALSO INJURED. VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A RATTLE IN THE DASHBOARD, THE DEALER PULLED THE DASH FORWARD TO SECURE IT BETTER, HOWEVER THE RATTLE RETURNED, SO CONSUMER FIXED PROBLEM HIMSELF. *SLC

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED/REPAIRS MADE BY DEALER ON EIGHT OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING.