My intake manifold gasket was made of plastic and my engine locked up, I was informed from my mechanic that GM was aware of this problem and came out with a better one made of metal. This a costly mistake leading to 850 dollars of repair, that could have been prevented if GM would have stepped up with this in the first place and been fixed with the new gasket instead of causing more damage then needed.

- Mansfield, OH, USA

The engine light came on. The car was not running hot nor did any other light come on. The engine was running as smooth as it always has. I pulled into a parking lot and let the engine cool. I saw the water was low so I went inside and got water to put in it. I tried to start the car and the engine would not start. White smoke came from the exhaust. I had the car towed to a dealer. They knew what was wrong before they checked the car because they had had other customers with the same problem. After replacing the manifold, gaskets, spark plugs, dexcool, pipe asm, seals, thermostat, starter, oil filter, oil, the car ran again. Of course, I was out $1049.27. That was 12 days ago. Tonight the car began clattering and tomorrow the car will go back to the dealer for more repair. It sounds like the lifters need to be replaced. I believe this should have been recalled and repaired before all the trouble began. I want my money back.

- Fairfield, IL, USA

Intermittent small leak of anti-freeze/coolant that shows up on the garage floor. Have traced that it emanates from the top of the engine near the throttle mounting and then drips down the side of the engine over the engine mounts and onto the floor. Was advised by a GM mechanic that there was a recall on throttle mounting bolts that may relate to this leakage. Local Buick dealer indicated that my VIN was not affected. Nonetheless, I have that problem of coolant leakage from that area of the engine. I replaced the thermostat gasket and there is absolutely no leakage from the thermostat or the radiator hose.

- Toms River, NJ, USA

1998 Lesabre burned a hole in the intake manifold causing vehicle not to start. ** the consumer inspected the vehicle and determined that the egr valve was located in such a position that the hot exhaust gases were vented to closely to the intake manifold.

- Wisconsin Rapids, WI, USA

Consumer states that vehicle has a plastic intake manifold and after about 80,000 miles it failed, causing engine to lock up. He took vehicle to an independent service department and then called General Motors to be reimbursed but because it was not taken to an authorized dealer they will not pay for the work done. Consumer noticed the problem when he tried to start the vehicle and it would not star. Smelled antifreeze. Then, consumer's son examined vehicle and found out it was intake manifold.

- Roebuck, SC, USA

Consumer dissatisfied with the reimbursement of the intake manifold repair kit and nothing else. (nar) the consumer was only partially reimbursed for repairs made prior to receiving the recall notification on the faulty intake manifold. The consumer also had to replace the vehicle's starter.

- Jackson, NJ, USA

Info copy of let to GM, inquiring if there is anything more to do to stop the unnecessary task of writing multiple ltrs for reimbursemt from GM referencing engine coolant leak on Buick vehicles. Ref ES03-006044 /S/brenner 9/23/03. Nar

- Jackson, NJ, USA

Complaint against General Motors Corp concerning an unsatisfactory transaction. While driving the ses light illuminated. A few days later the vehicle stalled while being driven and had to be towed to the dealer. The dealer determined that the coolant passage in the upper intake manifold was leaking into the lower intake. The dealer replaced the upper and lower intake manifolds. Shortly after the repairs were made the consumer received a recall notice. The consumer submitted all paperwork for reimbursement but hasn't received it yet.

- Madison, WI, USA

Problems with fuel pressure regulator on 1998 Buick Lesabre. The fuel pressure regulator was replaced in accordance with recall V1082. While driving the vehicle stalled and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to the service dealer where it was deterrmined that the upper intake manifold had failed and coolant was flowing into the cylinders. The consumer feels the manifold should have been recalled and request reimbursement.

- Swansboro, NC, USA

Problems with antifreeze leaking into the vehicle's engine. The consumer was told that he would be responsible for purchase the small copper piece that would not allow the plastic to become overheated. The consumer would like to know if a recall has been issued for this problem. (1998 Buick).

- Arkadelphia, AR, USA

While driving service engine light came on. Then, vehicle decelerated followed by heat and ventilation failures. This was due to engine intake manifold malfunctioning. The manifold wasn't designed correctly by the factory engineer, which caused the engine to misfire. Dealership diagnostic test showed coolant leaking. Cylinder replaced, and lower intake manifold improved design, per bulletin 010601007A. Also, coolant and fluid plugs were replaced.

- Vicksburg, MI, USA

Coolant consumption, or an engine coolant leak near or under the throttle body area of the upper intake manifold on a 98 Buick le sabre custom four door.

- Levittown, PA, USA

Coolant leak from manifold

- Toms River, NJ, USA

Temperature light illuminated. Consumer stopped and put in coolant. Next, check engine light illuminated, and engine died. Vehicle was towed to dealer. The upper and lower manifolds needed replacement. The dealer also installed a new thermostat and gasket and replaced all six spark plugs.

- Pittsburg, PA, USA

Intake manifold melting. Loss of coolant. Replace plastic intake, plugs, starter, oil and filter, PCV valve, coolant. Plus towing bill and shop labor. GM defect. GM knows it, GM should reimburse for repair cost.

- Tell City, IN, USA

I had been losing coolant (2 quarts in 4~6 weeks) without seeing any spots on ground or coolant about engine / radiator. While driving, experienced relatively sudden loss of power, mil light came on, could not drive greater than 60 mph, very poor operation and acceleration. Dealer (superior Buick, dearborn Michigan) diagnosed problem as blown headgasket. I subsequently had engine remanufactured under dealer premise of head gasket, only to find that the upper intake manifold had failed and allowed coolant to pass into intake passages (reference GM service bulletin 010601007, and ~7A). I was never informed of these bulletins by the dealership, but they are 2 years old.

- Riverview, MI, USA

The vehicle overheated due to an inoperative plastic intake manifold. The manifold was replaced and the coolant system was flushed.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

First we would like to report our dissatisfaction with stillwater motors in that they added bogus charges on to the invoice then later, after we questioned and insisted on seeing these new parts and the old parts, they adjusted the invoice by crediting us $400. The car was brought in due to the engine running rough, overheating and an increased usage of coolant. The dealership diagnosed the problem as being a defect in the upper manifold resulting in leakage of coolant onto the sparkplugs. In the end, the upper manifold, 4 gaskets, the oil filter, and thermostat had been replaced and had the fuel/emission system flushed. We were quite astounded to see so many issues with this very same problem we had and we are hoping that there is some relief given to all Buick Lesabre owners who have had to incur these repair costs.

- Osceola, WI, USA

Consumer states that while driving, the vehicle would stall and it will be hard for the consumer to control the vehicle. Dealer notified. The vehicle started to loose speed pulled into gas station. The vehicle start again. GM was aware of the problem. The consumers friend had experienced the same problem with the replacement of the manifold gaskets. The consumer requested to be reimbursed for the manifold and the starter.

- Burt, MI, USA

After owning this car for less than 3 months I noticed coolant tank empty, took it to dealer who charged me $342 for new water pump, still loosing coolant. Come to find out after a sludge was found in engine that intake plenum was cracked allowing coolant into cylinders, damaging the bearings and now am paying for a new motor. GM denies problems exist. This car has only 50,000M miles.

- Sedro Woolley, WA, USA