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.
My 1998 Buick Lesabre started to smell of anti-freeze earlier in the day on 4/27/04. The car was parked for most of the day, quick trips to the store at most. When I got home that night, the car was shacking and pouring exhaust vapors out of the exhaust pipe. In the morning on April 28T, . it started just fine. So, I drove it to my mechanic. The car ran smoothly for about 200 yards, then it progressively got worse, until I was practicly coasting when I reached my mechanics. After they looked into the issue, they concluded that the intake manifold was cracked and had spewed water into my engine. This left water in my oil and no coolant. My mechanic flushed my oil, flushed my coolant, replace the manifold with the factory part, and replaced the gasket with the factory part. My mechanic told me that this was a common issue and that all of the 3.8L GM engines had plastic intake manifolds. I then began to research on line this issue, and apparently many people have had the same problem. I called Buick 3 times trying to plead my case. Each time I was told there is no recall for this car, but the model 2 years prior had the same issue and the part was recalled. I have found a notice that NHTSA is trying to have the replacing the "delphi fuel pressure regulators" replace, which can cause the intake manifold to crack. NHTSA recall campaign number: 04V090000
My 1998 Buick Lesabre had a ruptured manifold in June 2003, causing engine to cease and smoke and minor fire. The smoke made myself and my infant son very ill. This was reported to Buick but they refused to reimburse for repair since vehicle was just out of warranty. They told me that the following recall was not in effect: NHTSA recall no. 03V473/GM recall no. 03054 and that my vehicle had no recall. A few months later the engine ceased to start again and it was determined at the Buick dealership that it was a faulty fuel pressue regulator which was replaced. Buick again refused reimbursement although I brought their attention to the current recall on my vehicle. I called again today as the recall for 98 Buick Lesabre with V6 engines was again posted but Buick told me that their system has no such recall and they refused to reimburse me for over $1000 of repairs for the faulty fuel pressue regulator and manifold. NHTSA recall no. 04V090/GM recall no. 03054B.
While driving 35 mph vehicle stalled. The driver was able to drift to the side of the road. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership for inspection, and mechanic determined that intake manifold failed. Consumer had the mechanic replace the intake manifold.
Plastic upper intake manifold melted causing the engine coolant to flood into the crankcase. Engine subsequently locked up and had to be towed to a dealer. $1500 in damages on a car with 50,000 miles on it.
1998 Buick lasabre...with plastic intake developed a crack and allow all coolant to pass thru engine and out exhaust...was stranded 100 miles from home...to get towed and replace this design flaw cost me over $600 dollars.
- Parkersburg, WV, USA
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I am upset that the GM recall # 03054B does not include the 1998 Buick Lesabre, only the Park Avenue, according to the customer service dept. For Buick. My Lesabre did the same thing as described on the recall results for the Office Of Defects Investigation found on the internet. However, your office did list it using NHTSA campaign id number: 04V090000. Please E-mail me @ johnbillips@hotmail.com or leave a message for me @ 850-482-8156, if my vehicle (1998 Buick Lesabre, custom) can be added to this recall. After looking at the reviews for this vehicle it seems there are a few complaints. Thanks
While driving engine check light came on. Prior to this, there was an anti freeze odor within the cabin of the vehicle. Upon inspection of the vehicle by the dealership they noticed that the upper and the lower intake manifold melted. Consumer believed this defect could cause the engine to stall, creating a dangerous situation.
While driving white smoke came from the rear. Vehicle was taken to a repair shop, where the mechanic determined that intake manifold leaked coolant onto the engine, and engine needed to be replaced.
Vehicle was leaking antifreeze. Intake manifold was replaced to stop the leak as well as the transmission was replaced. Dealer, on a previous occasions, repaired a hole in the radiator.
While driving reached high temperatures due to intake manifold failure. Coolant leaked inside the engine. Dealer notified. Sorry no recall, and would cost $ 1,400 to fix it. Consumer took vehicle to an independent shop, and would cost $ 700 for consumer to fix it.
1998 Buick Lesabre - engine backfire upon starting - blew off vacume hose at intake manifold, cracked plastic intake manifold. Engine hydrolocked, sucking coolant into all 6 cylinders. Fuel pressure regulator replaced along with a new plastic intake manifold.
The check engine indicator light illuminated. While driving the vehicle engine stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and they replaced the plastic intake manifold at owner's expense of $985.
Consumer had manifold system repairs done on 98 Buick Lesabre. The manifold system was replaced twice. After the second repair, consumer became aware of the recalls for the same make and model with 3.8 V6 engine. General Motors were contacted but the consumer didn't receive a response.
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.
Water was leaking from the intake manifold into the engine. This could cause the engine to blow out. Intake manifold was deteriorating due to the leakage.
Engine coolant leak, into the engine manifold, of my vehicle, resulted from defective upper intake manifold composite material degrading around the egr stove pipe. Buick motor division of General Motors corporation has issued a service bulletin, #01-06-01-007A-(07/18/2001), document id#812024, pertaining to this exact type of engine manifold defect in 1998 Buick Lesabre automobiles. On September 3, 2003, the egr stove pipe failed in my 1998 Buick Lesabre, allowing engine coolant to enter the engine manfold. I formally request that your Agency immediately begin an investigation into this defect, in order to proceed toward ordering a recall of this vehicle.
Intake manifold failed on my 1998 Buick Lesabre at 77,000 miles. Plastic manifold perforated due to exhaust gas impinging from egr tube, flooding engine with coolant and causing engine to stall with subsequent loss of power steering and brakes on interstate highway.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Arlington, TX, USA