1997 Buick Lesabre Airbags Problems

THE HORN WILL SOUND WITHOUT PRESSING THE HORN BUTTON(S) WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR UNOCCUPIED. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND IT IS APPARENTLY AN ISSUE FOR MANY OWNERS. PART OF THE AIR BAG CONTRACTS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS PRESSING ON PART OF THE HORN BUTTON. THE ONLY WAY TO SHUT IT OFF IS TO PULL THE HORN FUSE. I AM CONCERNED THIS MAY LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IF THE HORN SOUNDS FOR TOO LONG OR AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO USE THE HORN.

NHTSA ID

11121343

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ALSO DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FACIAL CUTS, BRUISES, A FRACTURED CHEEKBONE AND WHIPLASH THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10811861

Incident

Dec 22, 2015

Mileage

197,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR SLOWING DOWN FOR AN INTERSECTION AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE HORN BEGAN TO BLOW AND WHILE LOOKING FOR A SPOT TO SAFELY PULL OVER, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702132

Incident

Mar 26, 2015

Mileage

235,550 mi

AIRBAG PUSHING AGAINST HORN BUTTON CAUSING HORN TO SOUND AT VARIOUS TIMES. CAR PURCHASED USED FROM BUICK DEALER, THEIR AIRBAG RECALL DOES NOT GO AS FAR BACK AS 1997! *TR

NHTSA ID

10660809

Incident

Nov 4, 2014

Mileage

56,000 mi

MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR. I WAS IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. WE HAD JUST PULLED AWAY FROM THE CURB AND WERE GOING ABOUT 20 MPH. FOR NO REASON, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. WE DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING, AND NOTHING HIT US. WE PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT. THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. I HAD PAIN IN MY ABDOMEN AND COULDN'T HEAR OUT OF MY RIGHT EAR. THE WINDSHIELD ON MY SIDE OF THE CAR(PASSENGER'S SIDE) WAS BROKEN FROM THE IMPACT. HE TOOK ME TO THE LOCAL ER TO BE CHECKED OUT AND I WAS EXAMINED AND RELEASED WITH CONTUSIONS OF RIGHT KNEE, ABDOMEN AND RIGHT EAR. IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AND SCARED US BOTH VERY MUCH. I REPORTED THIS TO MY INSURANCE CARRIER THE NEXT MORNING. MY BOYFRIEND WAS NOT INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514485

Incident

May 29, 2013

Mileage

159,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING ON A PAVED TOWN ROAD WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG ALSO SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAGS OBSTRUCTED MY VISION BOTH IN FRONT AND ON THE SIDE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT, BUT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH BECAUSE OF MY OBSTRUCTED VISION THERE WAS NO INJURY INVOLVED. THE CAR HAD PASSED A MAINE SAFETY INSPECTION IN MAY 2009, SO THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED AT THE TIME THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JUNE 2009 FROM A FRIEND. THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS TORE UP THE MIDDLE OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP DID NOTHING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, BUT SAID THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310074

Incident

Dec 30, 2009

Mileage

168,702 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON NORMAL DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE 17 YEAR-OLD DRIVER SUFFERED FIRST DEGREE BURNS ON THE RIGHT FOREARM, AND WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THAT THE INFLATER MODULE MAY CORRODE, CAUSING INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173335

Incident

Oct 29, 2006

Mileage

138,500 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE HORN WILL NOT STOP BLOWING, AND THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY IS MAKING A NOISE. THE SOUND IS COMING OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN DRIVING THE HORN JUST STARTS BLOWING OUT OF NOWHERE, IT JUST STARTS BLOWING, SPECIFICALLY STATES THE CONSUMER. WHEN PRESSING THE HORN PAD IT WILL STOP SOMETIMES. ONE HAS TO PRESS IN A CERTAIN SPOT. THE CAR IS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONSUMER IS GOING TO CALL AND SEE WHAT GM CAN DO. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR TWO WEEKS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10137067

Incident

Sep 1, 2005

Mileage

77,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER THE DRIVER WAS EVACUATED. THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. FIRE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063246

Mileage

115,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END THE ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10052052

Incident

Oct 21, 2003

MALFUNCTIONING AIR BAG. WE HIT A DEER AND THE IMPACT DEPLOYED BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG CAME OUT AT AN ANGLE SO AS TO HIT MY HUSBAND,(WHO WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT) IN THE GROIN AREA. THE AIR BAG RUPTURED HIS RIGHT TESTICLE AND HE HAD TO HAVE SURGERY. THIS HAS CAUSED US TO OWE SOME EXTENSIVE MEDICAL BILLS AT THIS POINT. WE HAD INSURANCE, BUT IT WILL NOT PAY ALL OF THE BILLS. I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MEDICAL BILLS FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT,SINCE IT WAS CAUSED BY THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING AS IT SHOULD HAVE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010701

Incident

Feb 11, 2003

Mileage

103,418 mi

AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED DISLOCATED BROKEN THUMB AND POSSIBLE PERMANENT INJURY. ON SECOND PASSENGER, SEVERE TINNINTUS POSSIBLY FROM AIR BAG EXPLOSION.

NHTSA ID

10007979

Incident

Feb 10, 2003

Mileage

115,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR

NHTSA ID

8019658

Incident

Sep 3, 2002

HORN STOPPED WORKING ON VEHICLE. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP TO GET HORN REPAIRED. HE WAS SHOCKED WHEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT HIS AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. OWNER EXPRESSES CONCERN DUE TO HIM NOT KNOWING HOW LONG HIS AIR BAG WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*JB

NHTSA ID

8014781

INTERMITTENTLY HORN DOESN'T BLOW. DEALER DIAGNOSED AIR BAG AS THE CAUSE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8006189

Incident

Feb 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

873990

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30MPH ON ROAD AND ANOTHER VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO AVOID HITTING THE STALLED VEHICLE. BUT, HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THERE WAS 1 INJURY AND ONE FATALITY. *AK

NHTSA ID

867764

Incident

Apr 18, 2000

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BUMPED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 5 MPH AND CAUSED BOTH AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. DRIVER'S HAND RECEIVED MINOR ABRASINS. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

866201

Incident

Aug 4, 1998

WHEN VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

865100

Incident

Jun 19, 2000

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

861650

Incident

Mar 17, 2000

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

860664

DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED DURING COLLISION. YH

NHTSA ID

551749

Incident

Mar 28, 1997

NOT MY VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC COLLISION AND THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE STEERING COLUMN AFTER DEPLOYMENT. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SECTION OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE MILD TO MODERATE CRASH. DRIVER ESCAPED APPARENT INJURY. THIS IS THE FIRST FIRE RESULTING FROM AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT OF WHICH I AM AWARE. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. L.A.CO.F.D. INCIDENT REPORT # 00-055018. *AK

NHTSA ID

720901

Incident

Mar 31, 2000

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35-45MPH AND VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, DRIVERS SIDE DID. *AK

NHTSA ID

859315

Incident

Mar 17, 2000

THE INTEGRATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TO THE HORN FAILED CAUSING THE HORN TO SOUND VERY LOUDLY CONTINUOUSLY. YH

NHTSA ID

550188

Incident

Dec 20, 1999