1997 Buick Lesabre Engine Problems

The contact's friend owns a 1997 Buick LeSabre The contact stated that the hood was difficult to open and close. The latch was in the correct location. The contact stated that while her roommate was driving at 45 MPH, the hood opened and detached. The driver pulled over, and a 2012 Chevrolet crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. There were no reported injuries. The air bags did not deploy, and there was no fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was drivable. The contact called the dealer, who informed them that there were no recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 196,400.

NHTSA ID

11574509

Incident

Feb 20, 2024

Mileage

196,400 mi

WE WERE DRIVING AND HEARD IT MISSING AND IT STARTED OVERHEATING, SO WE PUT MORE WATER IN AND DECIDED TO COME HOME. SO WHEN WE TURNED AROUND IT DIED 2X THEN THE CYLINDERS LOCKED UP AND IT WOULDNT START. WHEN WE GOT HOME MY HUSBAND FOUND WATER IN THE INTAKE AND THE OIL. SO WE REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AND IT DID IT AGAIN, BUT THEN IT MADE A LOUD NOISE AND WE FOUND THAT THE BAR CONNECTION THE PISTON TO THE CRANK SHAFT BUSTED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 103,K MILES ON IT.. DONT UNDERSTAND HOW ITS EVEN POSSIBLE. THE ONLY OTHER PERSON THAT OWNED IT WAS AN OLD GUY. WE ONLY PUT 300MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

11010873

Incident

Jul 23, 2017

Mileage

103,000 mi

WHILE ENTERING THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, CAR STARTED LOSING POWER AT 50MPH. AFTER GETTING CAR UP TO A SAFE SPEED, GOT THE CAR HOME WHERE IT THEN STOPPED RUNNING AND WOULD NOT RE-START. MECHANIC CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 130,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. NEARLY CAUSED ME TO BE REAR-ENDED AS I WAS ON A70MPH INTERSTATE HIGHWAY! ALSO, YOUR WEBSITE KEEPS TELLING ME I HAVE AN "INVALID VIN NUMBER!" THIS IS THE ONLY ONE EVER ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE. WHAT'S WITH THIS?

NHTSA ID

10781951

Incident

Oct 10, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

MY CHECK INGINE LIGHT WONT GO OFF AND I WAS TOLD I HAVE MASS AIR FLOW AND NOW WHEN I START IT IT MISFIRES,MY AIR CONDITIONING DOESNT WORK AND THE SPEEDOMETER IS READING CRAZY

NHTSA ID

10727001

Incident

Oct 14, 2014

Mileage

620,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10664529

Incident

Aug 28, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10651641

Incident

Jun 15, 2014

Mileage

130,000 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

WAS DRIVING CAR AND IT STARTED STEERING HARD DROVE HOME APPROX 35 MILES TO FIND THE K FRAME WASHERS HAD RUSTED OFF AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT BEING SUPPORT. HAS IT FIXED AND SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND STEERING WENT OUT AND ON INSPECTION THE FRONT AND LOWER FRAME MOUNTS HAD FALLEN AND CAR HAS BEEN PARKED EVERY SINCE BECAUSE I CAN NOT FIND PARTS THAT ARE REASONABLY PRICED! I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE DOING 70 MPH 10 MINS PRIOR TO THE LAST INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD RESULT. HAVE READ ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS IN A FORUM SOMEONE STARTED ON GOOGLE, CANT BELIEVE THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL! *TR

NHTSA ID

10578934

Incident

Mar 5, 2014

Mileage

143,381 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE IN A CONTINUOUS JERKING MOTION. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE RETAINER WASHER AND THE BODY MOUNT WAS DISENGAGED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, CAUSING THE ENGINE CRADLE TO COLLAPSE ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

NHTSA ID

10502683

Incident

Mar 5, 2013

Mileage

142,000 mi

MY CAR JERKS LIKE A FISH TUGGING ON YOUR LINE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND WHEN COMING UP AN INCLINE. IT ALSO HAS A VERY STRONG ODOR THAT I SMELL WHEN RUNNING THE A/C. I SMELL IT OUTSIDE THE CAR AND OCCASIONALLY I SMELL IT INSIDE THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10465202

Incident

May 5, 2010

Mileage

97,000 mi

THIS WILL BE 4TH TIME INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS BEING REPLACED. BY FAR THE WORST & MOST EXPENSIVE USED CAR EVER TO OWN. GM'S BLACK EYE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10288861

Incident

Aug 28, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT EXHIBITED A NO-START CONDITION. SHE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THEN SMOKE ENGULFED THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, YET NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99773. UPDATED 11/3/09 *CN UPDATED 11/06/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10287204

Incident

Oct 11, 2009

Mileage

99,773 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT SPUTTERED, JUMPED, BACKFIRED, AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUMES AND SMELLED OF GASOLINE. SHE NOTICED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS ORANGE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED, BUT ONLY LASTED FIVE DAYS. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE MECHANIC TOWED HER VEHICLE TO THE SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.

NHTSA ID

10272539

Incident

Apr 1, 2009

Mileage

172,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT SMELLED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. WHILE PERFORMING A ROUTINE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HALF OF THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS MISSING. HE ADDED MORE RADIATOR FLUID AND NOTICED THAT FLUID CONTINUE TO DISAPPEAR IN THE VEHICLE EVERY FOUR DAYS. AFTER NUMEROUS REFILLS OF RADIATOR FLUID, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE MAIN GAS LINE WAS LEAKING, WHICH CAUSED THE STRONG ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 153,000.

NHTSA ID

10260930

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

153,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE EXPLODED WITH A VERY LOUD NOISE. HE SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED THE ENGINE. WHEN HE OPENED THE HOOD, HE NOTICED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE COVER WERE SHATTERED INTO MANY PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE NEVER SAW A VEHICLE WITH THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE THE FAILURES ARE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE SHOP AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000.

NHTSA ID

10256316

Incident

Jan 23, 2009

Mileage

13,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED, IT BACKFIRED. ONCE THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME, HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT WAS LOW. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $600 AND THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,525.

NHTSA ID

10233046

Incident

Jul 1, 2008

Mileage

93,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING ON THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,366.

NHTSA ID

10232943

Incident

Jul 1, 2008

Mileage

115,366 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE CONTACT SMELLED ANTIFREEZE AND NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS BECOMING HOTTER. HE THEN NOTICED STEAM UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 99,000.

NHTSA ID

10228350

Incident

May 20, 2008

Mileage

99,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMED WITH FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE ABOUT 95,000.

NHTSA ID

10221467

Incident

Feb 24, 2008

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND HAS TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. ALL PASSENGERS EXITED THE VEHICLE SAFELY AND WITHOUT INJURY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO A SERVICE STATION ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,339 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,384. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10197796

Incident

Jun 24, 2006

Mileage

173,384 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE MOUNTING CARRIAGE DISASSEMBLING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S AGE AND MILEAGE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 167,000.

NHTSA ID

10191482

Incident

May 18, 2007

Mileage

167,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD ON TWO OCCASIONS ON THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF TO COOL DOWN, WHILE WATER AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS ADDED TO THE RADIATOR. AFTER THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED THE PLENUM.

NHTSA ID

10170959

Incident

Oct 3, 2006

Mileage

155,483 mi

TWO COMPLETE SETS OF BRAKES SINCE OCTOBER 2005 INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS, BOTH VERY COSTLY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10158895

Incident

Apr 10, 2006

Mileage

57,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A LOUD BACK FIRE HEARD WHICH APPEARED TO BE NEAR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

NHTSA ID

10150746

Incident

Feb 19, 2006

Mileage

25,000 mi

STARTED CAR HEARD LOUD POP, WHITE SMOKE, THEN FLAMES - CAR CAUGHT FIRE - TOTAL LOSS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10141085

Incident

Apr 21, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi