1997 Buick Lesabre Steering Problems

SUB FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROATED OUT ON THE BACK DRIVE. COMPLETE SAFTY HAZARD NEEDS RECALL

NHTSA ID

10928836

Incident

Nov 30, 2016

Mileage

190,000 mi

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

WHILE ACCELERATING UP TO SPEED FROM A STOP, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE THUMP, THE STEERING WAS ERRATIC, THE CAR VIBRATED AND SHOOK. THE POWER STEERING WAS INOPERABLE. WE SLOWLY DROVE THE CAR HOME (2 MILES) AND UPON EXAMINATION, WE DISCOVERED THE ENGINE CRADLE FRAME WAS HANGING DOWN, ONLY A FEW INCHES FROM THE GROUND. THE ENGINE CRADLE MOUNTING WASHERS (2 ON EACH SIDE) HAD RUSTED THRU, ALLOWING THE REAR OF THE CRADLE TO DROP. I ALSO NOTICED THE RIGHT SIDE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN OFF AT THE MOUNT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION AND WHEEL ASSEMBLIES ARE FASTENED TO THIS CRADLE, SO THAT'S WHY THE STEERING BECAME ERRATIC - THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY SOLID ATTACHMENT TO THE CAR. AFTER CAREFULLY EXAMINING THE ATTACHMENT POINTS, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY AND STRUCTURAL DESIGN FLAW. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE WERE ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AT A SLOW SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I NOTICED THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE OF THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576046

Incident

Mar 14, 2014

Mileage

157,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD THUMP NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END, SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING POWER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120000.

NHTSA ID

10354661

Incident

Aug 21, 2010

Mileage

120,000 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. 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. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND FELT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUE TO TURN IN HER HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE CRADLE WASHERS ROTTED; THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STEERED. THE GM MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD MAKE A NOTE AND WAIT FOR OTHERS TO CALL ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,623. UPDATED 04-17-09 UPDATED 04/20/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10254363

Incident

Sep 19, 2008

Mileage

139,623 mi

WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10053892

Incident

Jan 4, 2004

Mileage

124,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING ALONG WITH THE STEERING RACK AND THE BRAKE CYLINDER. TS

NHTSA ID

10003951

Incident

Oct 21, 2002

POWER STEERING PUMP FELL OFF THE MOUNT. ONE OF THREE BOLTS WAS BACKED OFF AND THE OTHER TWO BOLTS WERE SEVERED.*AK

NHTSA ID

758753

Incident

Feb 24, 2002

BOOMERSHINER FAILED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND THE RENTAL AND STILL HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH THE DAMAGED BEHIND THE WHEEL. NOSAFETY DEFECT. *AK (TIRESIZE: 70)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 70 )

NHTSA ID

742874

Incident

May 28, 2000

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WAS INFORMED THAT A BOLT TO RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD BROKEN , AND BUSHINGS HAD WORN OUT. BOLT NUT WAS SITTING THERE, LOOKED LIKE IT WAS WELDED. *AK

NHTSA ID

879759

Incident

Oct 20, 2000

WHILKE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THEN THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH ONLY DAMAGE TO THE WIRING, CLAIM # 15-3024-211. NLM

NHTSA ID

6900710

Incident

Oct 1, 1999

ATTACHING BOLT (DRIVERS SIDE) HOLDING THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION TO THE CRADLE BROKE, ALLOWING THE RACKAND PINION STEERING TO SHIFT IN THE RIGHT SIDE MOUNING BRACKET. BOLT SHOWED NO STRETCHING OR SHEAR FORCE CAUSING IT TO FAIL. BOLT HARDENED TO 10.9 (ON HEAD OF BOLT) BOLT IS UNAVAILIBLE UNTIL MIDDLE OF MAY DUE TO NUMBER CHANGES. (TELLS ME SOMETHING IS WRONG SOMEWHERE ! ). *AK

NHTSA ID

722223

Incident

Apr 28, 2000

STEERING WHEEL PAINT COMING OFF, REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL NECESSARY. *MJS

NHTSA ID

552072

Incident

Feb 22, 2000

AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER WOULD FEEL SLACKNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER SAID SHAFT WAS WORN OUT. DEALER REPLACED BOTTOM AND TOP STEERING. DEALER CLAIMED THAT EVENTUALLY IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

857339

Incident

Feb 22, 1998

BROKEN BOLT CAUSED POWER STEERING AND BELT FAILURES. YH

NHTSA ID

607247

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL OFTEN TIGHTENS UP.

NHTSA ID

701061

Incident

Dec 15, 1997

THE SECURITY ALARM HORN AND LIGHTS BLINKED AND BLEW OUT WITHOUT BEING ACTIVATED AT ALL TIMES OF DAY/NIGHT- WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID

526291

A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID

603869

Incident

Jul 19, 1996

RATTLING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, ALSO RUBBING SOUND. SEVERAL DIAGNOSIS; RESET FRONT CAMBER/INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION ETC. *AK

NHTSA ID

814259

Incident

Jun 16, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND THERE IS A LOT OF VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOUR TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS LEMON. *YH

NHTSA ID

813525

Incident

May 3, 1997

WHILE DRIVING, HEARD NOISE/CLICKING SOUND WHEN MAKING SHORT TURNS, CHECKED BY DEALER, STEERING SHORT GEAR BROKE, NO ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

802450

Incident

Sep 13, 1996

FAILURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN, CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH DID NOT INDICATE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID

803071

Incident

Oct 1, 1996

ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

507514