1994 Buick Lesabre Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND DROVE OVER A MEDIAN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOUSE. THE ENGINE SUBFRAME MOTOR MOUNTS FRACTURED AND THE ENGINE FELL TO THE GROUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIR BY THE CONTACT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10887402

Incident

Dec 14, 2015

Mileage

96,000 mi

WHILE MERGING ONTO I95 NORTH MY CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING TRAFFIC. I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT WAS OFF UNTIL MY LITTLE GIRL ASKED ME TO TURN THE RADIO BACK AND MY SPEED BEGIN TO DECREASE. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER SUCH A HUGE TANK LIKE MY LESABRE WHEN THE POWER STEERING GIVES. IT CRANKS RIGHT UP AFTER SHUTTING OFF AS IF NOTHING IS EVEN WRONG, BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED ALWAYS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. IT BOTHERS ME BECAUSE MY CAR IS ALL I HAVE AND IT'S THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION THAT I HAVE FOR TRAVELING WITH MY LITTLE GIRL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10562310

Incident

Jan 28, 2014

Mileage

98,000 mi

BUICK LASABRE DIES ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING. LOOSES ALL POWER CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO TRY TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHILE UNDER NO POWER. NO BRAKES, POWER STEERING . HAPPENS ABOUT 8 TO 12 TIMES A DAY. I DRIVE 47 MILES TO WORK. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED 8 TIMES, HAD TO MAKE UNSAFE TURNS TO KEEP FROM HAVING A DEAD CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO GET TOTALED. REPLACED COIL PACKS PER DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDATION. STILL DIES. NOT EVEN THE DEALERSHIP CAN DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. SEEMS ALL MECHANICS WANT TO PICK A PART TO REPLACE AT RANDOM TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE ISSUE. THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY HERE. ALOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE DRIVE THESE VEHICLES AND THEY CAN'T NEGOTIATE THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHEN THIS BEGINS TO HAPPEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES THEN SPUTTERS AND DIES. WHEN THIS STARTS, IF YOU KEEP PATTING THE ACCELERATOR IT SOMETIMES HELPS TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING BUT NOT ALWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10353894

Incident

Aug 30, 2010

Mileage

104,522 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK LESABRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JULY OF 2008 AND CONTINUES TO STALL WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH OR LESS. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DRY. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL BECAUSE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKING ABILITY. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE TAKES LONGER THAN A MINUTE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER, BUT THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 12/12/08 *CN UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10249138

Incident

Jul 23, 2008

Mileage

125,000 mi

I AM A MECHANIC AND WORK ON CARS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE GM CARS OF THE EARLY TO MID 90'S LIKE THE BUICK LE SABRE CLASS ARE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATER ENCLOSURE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR THE PLASTIC ENCLOSURES ARE CRACKING AND PIECES OF IT ARE FALLING OFF, AND IF YOU TOUCH THE PLASTIC, IS WILL CRUMBLE APART. I FEE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARD, AS THIS WILL ALLOW THE FUMES FROM THE ENGINE LIKE EXHAUST,GAS AND OIL TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THEN THE OCCUPANTS WILL BE BREATHING THE FUMES. I FEEL THAT GM NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224268

Incident

Apr 12, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

WIFE STRANDED WHEN CAR OVERHEATED. UPON INSPECTION OF ENGINE I FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC FITTING IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD BROKEN OFF LETTING ALL COOLANT RUN OUT. WE HAVE BEEN LOOSING COOLANT FOR SOME TIME. (A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I REPLACED PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND SERPENTINE BELT WHILE TRAVELING, BUT ALWAYS HAD A LOSS OF COOLANT THAT I COULD NOT FIND. WHEN I CALLED TO GET A NEW FITTING, THE ATTENDANT TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BEFORE I COULD TELL HIM. HE SAID THIS HAPPENS A LOT AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS NOW MADE OUT OF METAL. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH DAMAGE THAT THIS HAS CAUSED MY ENGINE. YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE FITTING WITHOUT A MIRROR. WHAT A LOUSY DESIGN TO USE A PLASTIC FITTING! IT HAS CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR US. *JB

NHTSA ID

10102730

Incident

Dec 11, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD NOT HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED, EXCEPT FOR THE OIL BEING CHANGED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10097853

Incident

Oct 26, 2004

Mileage

128,338 mi

SMELL OF GASOLINE AROUND THE CAR. A CHECK UNDER THE HOOD SHOW DROPS OF GASOLINE COMING FROM AROUND A SMALL CLIP IN FUEL LINE (TOP OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE FIREWALL). THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME FOR ME! LAST TIME THE FUEL WAS COMING OUT OF THE CLIP AT A FASTER RATE. LAST TIME I WASN'T ABLE TO REPLACE THE CLIP WITHOUT BUYING AN UNRELATED REPAIR KIT (DISCARDING OTHER PARTS) . I CONSIDER THE CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LEAK BECOMES MORE SERIOUS AND DRIVING THE CAR FOR A WHILE, AS VERY SERIOUS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10046827

Incident

Nov 11, 2003

THE VEHICLE LEAKED COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10019665

CONSUMER STATES A TWO YEAR OLD BOY (UNATTENDED) STARTED THE VEHICLE PUT AND GEAR AND DROVE THE CAR, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND HIT A POLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ID

8020750

Incident

Oct 11, 2002

THE TOP PART OF THE STEERING WHEEL LIFTED UP (DAUGHTER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF HER MOTHER). THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER HAD A NEW STARTER INSTALLED. *YD *NM

NHTSA ID

566022

Incident

Dec 13, 2001

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO MECHANIC FOR A CHECK UP. WAS INFORMED THAT POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. *AK COOLANT PUMP WAS NOISY, DEALER REPLACED. POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING, DEALER REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

899416

Incident

May 4, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE SERPINTINE BELT NEEDE TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE WATER PUMP HUB SEPARATED FROM THE SHAFT WELD.*JB

NHTSA ID

562529

VEHICLE WILL JUST CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

886177

Incident

Apr 13, 2001

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS DUE TO SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, THE IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA ID

785255

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

HEATER HOSE ADAPTER FAILED DUE TO POOR DESIGN (PLASTIC) CONSUMER REPLACED ADAPTER WITH METAL. *MJS

NHTSA ID

552096

Incident

Jul 12, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS, BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

859571

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR WILL DIE WHILE DRIVING AND I HAVE TO COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND STOP. THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART AND I HAVE TO WAIT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES (TWICE DURING THE WEEK OF 3/13/00). I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I AM STILL DRIVING THE CAR BUT I FEEL IT IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AS A VERY BAD ACCIDENT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR STALLS OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK

NHTSA ID

720168

Incident

Mar 14, 2000

ENGINE DIES WHILE DRIVING. HAS TO SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL TO RESTART VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

719700

Incident

Jan 12, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35-40 MPH VEHICLE WOULD DOWNSHIFT THEN UPSHIFT FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, AND FINALLY STALL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE WAS ROAD TESTED THREE TIMES . DEALER MADE SOME REPAIRS, AND STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS FINE . VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AFTER PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS CHANGED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE STOPPED AT INTERSECTION AND RESTARTS SURGING DUE TO UPPER INTAKE GASKET AND THROTTLE BODY GASKET FAIURES. PCM FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ID

856017

Incident

Jan 20, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE VENTS, AND CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A GAS STATION. SOMEONE PUT WATER ON THE FIRE AND THE FIRE WENT OUT. ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED DUE TO BAD BEARINGS AND DID NOT STOP SMOKING UNTIL BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED.

NHTSA ID

848549

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

ENGINE QUIT/SEIZED AS VEHICLE WAS TURNING INTO BANK PARKING LOT. NO INDICATIONS/LIGHTS PRIOR TO FAILURE TO INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE YET TO LET ME KNOW WHAT FAILED. BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (36/36000), HAD TO PAY FOR NEW ENGINE, $3700.

NHTSA ID

711693

Incident

Jul 7, 1999

WHILE DRIVING A VEHICLE ON AN INCLINE THE VEHICLE STARTS BUCKING AND THEN THE ENGINE STALLS OUT. DLR HAS SEEN BEFORE AND TRIED TO FIX, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

846938

THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAS TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS, ONE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BACKFIRE EACH TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN AT APPROIXMATELY 35 MILLES PER HOUR. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS; EVERY TIME THE THE VEHICLE IS STARTED THERE IS A POPPING SOUND FROM THE FUEL TANK AREA. OR EACH TIME YOU STOP YOU TEMPORARLY THRE FUEL TANK WILL POP. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO REPAIRS ARE AVAILABLE CONCERNING THE ENGINE BACKFIRING, OR INTHE CASE OF THE FUEL TANK POPPING THE MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT GM HAS CHANGED THE TYPE OF METAL /MATERIAL THAT USED TO MAKE FUEL TANKS SINCE 1996 BECAUSE OF THE FUEL TANK POPPING. BUYERS GUIDE , 1998, ADDRESSED TH BACKFIRING PROBLEM BUT, GM HAS NEVER SENT A NOTICE TO ME TO INFORM ME OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION THAT IS PREFORMED BY THE DEALERS OR GM. I AM CONCERED OF A POSSIBLE EXHAUST PROBLEM OR THE FUEL TANK MIGHT RUPUTER PLEASE ADVISE ME IF THERE IS AN ONGOING FIX THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED ABOUT. THANK YOU. P.L. KING.

NHTSA ID

708753

Incident

Aug 8, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITHIN THE COOLING SYSTEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD THERE IS STEAM COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THERE IS AN ODOR IN VEHICLE. ALSO, THROTTLE BODY SEAL MAY BNOT BE SUFFICIENTLY COMPRESSED TO PREVENT COOLINT FROM LEAKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

833064

Incident

Dec 22, 1998