1997 Buick Lesabre Electrical 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

I OWN A 1997 BUICK LE SABRE CUSTOM (3.8) THE CAR WILL SHUTDOWN WHEN I AM DRIVING IT.ALSO IT DRAINS THE BATTERY.THE DATE IS THE YEAR THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10730788

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

12,344 mi

HAS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE AND HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION AND I CAN BE DRIVING AND IT JUST LIKE IT DON,T GET NO JUICE FROM ENGINE THEN WHEN TRIED TO START UP IT DON,T CATCH IN IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE SPEND OVER 2,000 IN THIS CAR BUT EVERY ONE I TAKE IT TO SAYS IT IN THE IGNITION IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WANTS TO START SOMETIMES IT TAKES UP TO 6 HOURS BEFORE IT STARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10626597

Incident

Aug 1, 2012

I HAVE NOT SEEN A FIRE YET BUT IT HAS BEEN SMOKING IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR SINCE 2010 WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR USED FOR 2800.00 AT JIMS TOWING SERVICE IN ELIZABETH NEW JERSEY AND EVERY TIME THE CAR BROKE DOWN WHETHER IT WAS ELECTRICAL OR WHAT HE HAD GOTTEN MAD AT ME FOR NOT BRINGING IT TO HIM AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE KEPT ON COMING ON AND COME TO FIND OUT LAST MONTH AND THE CAR COST ME 2000.00 DOLLARS TO FIX AND THE MONTH BEFORE THAT THE GARAGE I WENT TO NAVARRO'S HAD FIXED THE HORN BECAUSE THAT WAS GOING ON AND OFF AGAIN AND SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS FLICKER AND OTHER THINGS AND NOW THE SECURITY ALARM DOES NOT WORK AND YESTERDAY WHILE SHOPPING I ASKED MY DAUGHTER WHAT THAT SOUND WAS IT WAS MY HORN AGAIN SHORTING AND DISCONNECTED IT AGAIN IT HAS DONE THAT TOO MANY TIMES AND I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR WITH 6 PEOPLE LIVING IN MY HOUSE AND IAM THE ONLY ONE WORKING RIGHT NOW AND DOES ANY MECHANIC KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING ANYMORE AND I NEED THE CAR TO GET BACK AND FORTH I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE AND WHEN I SAID THAT THE CAR COST ME 2000.00 TO FIX THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE AND FOR AWHILE NOW I HAVE MANUALLY DO THE LOCKS ON MY DOORS AND CANNOT REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRIC SWITCH BECAUSE NO ONE HAS IT ANYMORE HELP DON'T NEED CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE AND IT HAS BEEN SMOKING ALOT LATELY WITH THE HORN CONNECTED IT IS NOT CONNECTED NOW. WHEN THE NEW INCIDENT HAPPENED IT WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AND SECURITY OFFICER CAME. *JS

NHTSA ID

10455468

Incident

Sep 6, 2011

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND. THE HORN CONTINUED TO SOUND UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE HOOD WAS LIFTED. UPON CLOSING THE HOOD THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND AGAIN AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT VEHICLE CARE CENTER AND THE HORN WAS DISABLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,130 UPDATED 06/25/10 UPDATED 07/16/10*JB

NHTSA ID

10323726

Incident

Mar 31, 2010

Mileage

173,130 mi

THIS CAR HAS HORN PROBLEMS. THE HORN STARTS BLOWING FOR NO REASON AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND THAT TO REPLACE IT WOULD COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280561

Incident

Jul 29, 2009

Mileage

30,000 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

DT: CONSUMER OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST A LITTLE BUT NOT ENOUGH TO GET COMPLETELY OUT OF TRAFFIC. SHE WAS STUCK IN VEHICLE BECAUSE EVERYTHING ON VEHICLE SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE GROUND CABLE COMING LOOSE, NOT LOOSE FROM THE MOTOR BLOCK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WORKED ON, SHE DID NO FEEL THAT CABLE COMING LOOSE WAS DUE TO A DEFECT. SHE WAS MORE CONCERNED THAT WHEN VEHICLE LOST POWER SHE WAS STUCK IN VEHICLE WITH NO WAY TO ESCAPE. THE DOOR LOCKED AND POWER WINDOWS DID NOT WORK. THE BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THAT THERE WAS NO MANUAL LOCK THAT COULD BE USED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WHEN POWER FAILED. SHE WAS STUCK IN VEHICLE WITH VEHICLE IN THE ROAD AND IN DANGER OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SHE STAYED IN VEHICLE ONE HOUR ON A VERY HOT DAY UNTIL SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTACT A FRIEND ON CELL PHONE, AND HE CAME TO HELP HER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10132637

Incident

Aug 11, 2005

THE HORN REPEATEDLY WENT OFF AND EVENTUALLY IT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CAUSE IS UNDETERMINED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10101472

Incident

Nov 22, 2003

I HAVE REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL (DASHBOARD) IN MY CAR TWICE WITHIN THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS. EACH TIME I HAD TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT AND LOST THE USE OF MY CAR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. *JB

NHTSA ID

10018770

Incident

May 15, 2003

Mileage

106,000 mi

BATTERY SULFATES FROM POST DAMAGED ELECTRICAL CABLES AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID

10009095

Incident

Jul 7, 2000

WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR AFTER COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE STALLS, THE DEALER SCANED DATA AND CHECKED THE BATTERY, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND POSITIVE CABLE TO THE FIREWALL. *SCC

NHTSA ID

568291

Incident

Jul 7, 2000

ON11/22/2001 IN THE MORNING HOURS,I TRY TO START THE CAR WHEN I HEARD A BACKFIRE EXPLOSION AND THEN SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I DID OPEN THE HOOD TO DO A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE CAR TO SEE WHAT COULD BE WRONG, I SEEN NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR I STARTED IT AND WENT TO WORK.THE SAME DAY I WAS DRIVING FROM WORK TO MY HOME, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED JERKING UP AND HESITATING, I SAW A THICK AND WHITE CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE THE EXAUST . SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND I DID TURN OFF THE CAR TO INVESTIGATE WHAT COULD BE THE POSSIBLE CAUSE.WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE CAR, A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR CAME FROM THE ENGINE. I LET THE CAR TO COOL DOWN AND THEN I DROVE HOME. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO A BUICK DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PLENUMUPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS WARP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,FUEL REGULATOR WAS BAD AND BECAUSE OF THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULATOR WAS FLODDED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU SOME MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT ALL THE DOCUMENTS ARE AT THE DEALER AT THIS MOMENT. I'M LOOKING FOWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU.THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS. *AK

NHTSA ID

755147

Incident

Nov 22, 2001

I HAD TAKEN THIS VEHICLE BACK TO THE BUICK DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AT 34K MILES AND TOLD THEM IT HAD A "MISS" AND THAT IT "HESITATED" DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THEY SAID IT WAS A SPARK PLUG AND REPLACED ONE. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER BUICK DEALER IT NEEDED 4,200.00 TO MAKE IT ROAD WORTHY INCLUDING A NEW WATER PUMP, NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS. THE SERVICE CODE ON THE CAR SHOULD HAVE INDICATED FAILURE OF THESE PARTS WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE FIRST DEALER.

NHTSA ID

750591

Incident

Jul 28, 2001

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, A FEW MONTHS LATER VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND MECHANICE STATED THAT HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AGAIN AND THAT THE MOTOR WOULD NEED REPLACED, WATER PUMP ALSO FAILED AND WAS REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. *YH

NHTSA ID

561669

VEICLE WAS IN FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR AT LOCAL DEALER/ SERVICEMAN WAS TEST DRIVING VEHICLE AFTER REPAIR WHEN VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH BETWEEN TRANSMISSIOM AND GAS TANK, DEALER CLAIMS NOT RESPONSIBLE, VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY. HAS THERE BEEN ANY PROBLEMS COMPARABLE TO THIS SITUATION ?

NHTSA ID

746618

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE TRYING TO START VEHICLE , VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS, AND MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO DETECT ORGIN OF FIRE.*AK AAA DETECTED A HOT SPOT IN THE MANIFOLD AND THE FUEL LINE RUNS ALONG THE MANIFOLD, ALSO VEHICLE HAD AN INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK, FIRE POSSIBLY FUEL RELATED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

884652

Incident

Feb 18, 2001

ALTERNATOR FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM

NHTSA ID

558777

VEHICLE STALLED BETWEEN 25-65MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED 5-6 TIMES. DEALER HAD VEHICLE TWICE, EACH TIME FOR A WEEK. THEY COULDN'T FIX IT UNTIL IT FAILED AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

875426

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH VEHICLE WILL STALL. THEN, CONSUMER COULD START CAR AGAIN. ABOUT 4 DAYS LATER, IT STALLED AGAIN, AND WOULD NOT START FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. TOOK TO DEALER , AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IF ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

873829

Incident

Oct 19, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ENGINE WILL STALL OUT ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT VEHICLE WILL START RIGHT BACK UP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

873158

SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, THE CAR HAS GOTTEN HORRENDOUS GAS MILEAGE, THE HORN INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT WORK AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND NOTHING WAS DONE. I WAS TOLD "WE WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM." THE HORN ISSUE NEARLY RESULTED IN A CAR ACCIDENT LASTNIGHT AS THE HORN, AGAIN, DECIDED TO TAKE THE NIGHT OFF. THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!

NHTSA ID

721236

Incident

Jul 31, 1999

CONSUMER PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED IT TO START UP, AND VEHICLE EXPLODED INTO FLAMES. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND SAID THEY HAD NO RESPONSIBLITY IN THE CASE. CONSUMER HAD BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY WITH APROXIMATELY 22.200 MILES ON VEHICLE WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

859666

Incident

Feb 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

POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ID

547494

Incident

Jun 15, 1999