This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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.
Reimbursement request for 1998 Buick Lesabre recall. The consumer received a recall letter for their vehicle July 2, 2004. Recall #(04V090000 ) regarding fuel pressure regulators. The consumer believed that the repairs done on the vehicle was related to the recall. The consumer reported that when the vehicle was started a grinding noise was heard. Dealer replaced starter assembly.
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.
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
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Consumer states that starter is defective. When starting vehicle it makes a "popping" noise then car cuts off. Dealer replaced "no. 3" spark plug wire. Problem was resolved temporarily, but now is occurring again.
GM made their intake manifolds out of a plastic resin on the Buick 3800 V6 engine. They routed the egr valve through it which causes a heat build up that wraps the intake manifold allowing coolant to go into the engine. My repair bill was $803.76 plus one starter $189 that broke when the engine siezed. From reading on the internet this is a common problem with the engines with the plastic manifold. The dealer that fixed my car aid yes it was a design problem and that he had another car of the same make and model as mine in the same morning as mine. Same problem and that he had one the week before. In my case the engine did not lock up as I as going down the highway but this could be a dangerous problem for someone going down the highway and thier engine locks up.
Dealership advised intake manifold was cracked and starter was bad. I had just parked this vehicle two hours prior to attempting to start it again and it would not crank. I question why they are allowed to use a plastic intake manifold as this is an area that gets very hot at times. I used to be a mechanic for several years and think that Buick made an error by producing engines with plastic manifolds. I have purchased new Buick on and off for the past 35 years and this is the first problem I have ever had with an engine. Referenced in EA02-030
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- Jackson, NJ, USA