1996 Buick Lesabre Brakes Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND MADE A CONSTANT BEEPING NOISE. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND HAD AAA TOW IT TO THE DEALER. SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER IN SEPTEMBER OF 2008 AND NOW SHE NEEDS NEW BRAKES. WITHIN TWO HOURS, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $400. SHE WAS VERY SKEPTICAL OF THE REPAIRS AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CLOGGED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/09/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10262031

Incident

Jan 5, 2009

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. ONE YEAR AGO, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND ON THE VEHICLE WHILE LEAVING THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND STRUCK ANOTHER ONE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS SPLIT IN HALF DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE LINES AND INSTALLED NEW ONES. RECENTLY, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION AGAIN. THE DRIVER STRUCK THE CURB AT 10 MPH IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT MADE THE REPAIRS HIMSELF. HE HAS NOT YET NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10259696

Incident

Feb 15, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP DUE TO A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. INSPECTION REVEALED STEEL BRAKE TUBES SEVERELY RUSTED ONLY IN THE AREA OF THE LEAK. LEAK LOCATION IS DIRECTLY BELOW ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT IN THE LEFT FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL FOUR OUTPUT LINES FROM THE ABS SYSTEM TO THE WHEEL WERE AFFECTED. THE BALANCE OF THE BRAKE LINES ON THIS VEHICLE EXHIBIT A NORMAL LEVEL OF CORROSION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10141990

Incident

Nov 6, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY 1996 BUICK LESABRE ABS WARNING LIGHT DID NOT LET ME KNOW THAT THE ABS WERE NOT WORKING, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10060212

Incident

Feb 26, 2004

Mileage

103,920 mi

ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES BUT HIT OTHER VEHICLE ON RIGHT FRONT. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER WAS JAMMED IN SEAT, AND UNABLE TO GET OUT. VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AN POWDER SUBSTANCE WHICH CAUSED DRIVER'S EYES AND THROAT TO BE IRRITATED.*AK

NHTSA ID

894949

Incident

Jul 11, 2001

BRAKE LINE RUBBING AGAINST TRANSFER CASE, CAUSING A HOLE IN STEEL LINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

742387

Incident

Mar 13, 2001

BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKING POWER.*AK ABRAKE LINE RUNNING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS UNIT FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. ALL SIX STEEL BRAKE LINES WERE ALSO FOUND CORRODED. *YH

NHTSA ID

870748

Incident

Sep 15, 2000

FRONT BRAKES WARPED CAUSING FRONT BRAKES TO PULSATE WHEN APPLIED. NLM

NHTSA ID

553962

Incident

Apr 22, 1998

BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS CONTROLLER TO THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS LEAKING BECAUSE A HOLE THAT WAS RUBBED THROUGH THE LINE AT THE TRANSMISSION SIDE COVER. ALSO ABS LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. OWNER DISCOVERED THE LEAK WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM CORRECTED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

853546

Incident

Nov 28, 1999

REPORTING FAULTY BRAKE ROTORS; DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ROTORS COULD NOT BE TURNED BECAUSE OF SCALING AND PITTING / ROTORS NEVER BEEN TURNED BEFORE, AND ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

851300

Incident

Oct 12, 1999

THE DISC BRAKE PADS WORN PREMATURELY. NLM

NHTSA ID

549425

BRAKES MAKE SQUEAKING AND GRINDING NOISE.

NHTSA ID

525764

Incident

Dec 1, 1995

ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LOCKED UP AND MADE LOUD GRINDING NOISE SEVERAL TIMES. CAR ALSO ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND DID NOT SLOW DOWN WITH APPLICATION OF BRAKE.

NHTSA ID

515153

Incident

Oct 1, 1996