1997 BUICK LESABRE Complaints

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

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 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

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

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

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

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.

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.