1999 Buick Lesabre Electrical Problems

1999 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH- ANTI THEFT WIRING ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE ANTI-THEFT WIRES WAS BROKEN AND THE SECOND WIRE HAD THE PROTECTIVE INSULATION COATING CRACKED THROUGH TO THE COPPER WIRE. IT APPEARED THAT ROTATION OF THE CYLINDER HAD CHAFED OVER TIME AND COMPROMISED THE INTEGRITY OF BOTH WIRES AND THE CAUSE THE SECURITY DASH LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. *JB

NHTSA ID

10682285

Incident

Dec 5, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,927.

NHTSA ID

10653847

Incident

Nov 8, 2014

Mileage

98,927 mi

TRAVELING ABOUT 65 - 70 MPH I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER WENT 'WACKY', MEANING IT WENT DOWN TO 0 - 20 MPH AND BACK UP AGAIN TO THE SPEED I WAS TRAVELING. NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED. THE NEXT TIME, MAYBE A WEEK TO A COUPLE WEEKS LATER IT DID I IT AGAIN, ONLY I HEARD THE DOORS UNLOCK AND IT HAD DIED. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO START IT RIGHT BACK UP. I CAN BE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN TOWN. I USUALLY PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, START IT AND KEEP GOING. IT HAS HAPPENED AS MANY TIMES AS 3 TIMES A DAY, OR IT WON'T DIE FOR 3-4 DAYS. I DID HAVE ONE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH A SEMI-TRAILER TRUCK BEHIND ME ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE JUST DIED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10637715

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

190,000 mi

BATTERY WENT DOWN WHEN CLOCK LEFT ON BECAUSE IGNITION WAS LOOSE OR FAULTY. SO NOW I MAKE SURE CLOCK IS OFF WHEN I SHUT IT DOWN. CAR STARTED UP FINE - DROVE IT 6 MILES - CAME BACK OUT TO START IT AFTER AN HOUR AND NOTHING-NO SOUND NOTHING-ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER I TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. THERE HAS BEEN A GRINDING SOUND N CASSETTE PLAYER WITH NO CASSETTE IN IT AT ONE TIME. DASH LIGHTS LIT UP WHILE DRIVING SO AUTOMATICALLY THOUGHT THERE IS SHORT IN DASH BOARD. SECOND TIME I PUT KEY IN AND NOTHING HAPPENED-NO SOUND-NOTHING, WHEN IT FINALLY DECIDED TO START THIS TIME I TOOK TO AUTO ZONE. FIRST THEY SAID BATTERY, BUT BATTERY IS PRETTY NEW, THEN ANOTHER MAN SAID ALTERNATOR. GOT ALTERNATOR FROM SHOP THAT REBUILDS ALTERNATORS AND THEY DON'T THINK IT IS ALTERNATOR. REAR DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK AND FOR SOME REASON I THINK SHORT OR PROBLEM COULD BE HERE, BUT NOT SURE. I'VE DRIVEN IT MANY TIMES WITH DASH LIGHTS ON, KNOWING THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH CAR. OIL IS GOOD, COOLING GOOD, TRANSMISSION GOOD. IT HAS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. ALTERNATOR BELT IS NOT LOOSE. TODATE, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. I EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS KEY, SO GOT SECOND KEY AND TRIED IT - NOT THE KEY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10633247

Incident

Sep 5, 2014

Mileage

187,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED FOR AN OIL LEAK, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CABLE WAS FRACTURED CAUSING THE SECURITY SYSTEM AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND IN SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC PART IN THE IGNITION WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10622460

Incident

Aug 17, 2012

Mileage

140,000 mi

IN APPROX 2010 MY BUICK LESABRE HAD ISSUES STARTING AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY STOP OPERATING DURING TRAVEL. ALL IGNITION FUNCTIONS WOULD CEASE TO WORK. TOWED TO BUICK DEALERSHIP TO RESOLVE AND REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. THIS YEAR A SIMILAR ACTION HAPPENED WHERE THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AGAIN AT THE DEALERSHIP THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. IS THIS IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE INCLUDED IN THE GM RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID

10618484

Incident

Jun 25, 2014

Mileage

164,000 mi

WIRE IN STEERING COLUMN OPENS. CAR WON'T START. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610230

Incident

Jul 7, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

RE: ACCIDENT MAY, 27, 2014, NCIC 9245, OFFICER ID 17604 THE ABOVE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE BUICK LE SABRE, 1999, LICENSE # [XXX]. NOT DRIVER ERROR. LEAVING HIGHWAY 193 TURNING ONTO HWY 49, (GOING TOWARD AUBURN) BEING A 2 LANE NARROW WINDING ROAD, THE ENGINE OF THE ABOVE VEHICLE DIED, LOCKED UP THE STEERING, AND HAD NO BRAKES. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP OR CONTROL THE CAR. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS A LOSS OF BRAKES. IN TRYING TO CONTROL THE CAR IT CAUSED ME TO VEER OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. UPON LEAVING THE ROAD AND CRASHING THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE VERIFIED BY WITNESSES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LOSS OF BRAKES. PASSENGER IN CAR ON TRIP FROM FRESNO TO AUBURN, IN MARCH OF 2013, (MECHANICAL FAILURE OF CAR ENGINE, DIED, NO STEERING), THIS HAPPENED TWICE, ON SAME DAY. CSAA WAS CALLED TO TOW CAR. CONTACT: [XXX] CAR BEING DRIVEN BY [XXX]., (MECHANICAL FAILURE OF CAR, ENGINE DIED, NO STEERAGE), ON HWY 49 AND LONESTAR ROAD. CALLED CSAA. [XXX] THE ENGINE TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING HAD HAPPENED ON OTHER OCCASIONS AND THERE WAS DIFFICULTY IN THE CAR STARTING DURING COLD WEATHER. THE BUICK LESABRE HAS HAD REGULAR SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE. RECORDS OF SERVICE AND REPAIRS CAN BE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST. THE IGNITION KEYS FOR THE BUICK HAD EXTRA KEYS ATTACHED TO IT. THERE WERE 4 ADDITIONAL KEYS, PLUS KEY LIGHT. LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

NHTSA ID

10598192

Incident

May 27, 2014

Mileage

240,000 mi

THE EVENT LEADING TO THE INCIDENT INVOLVED TURNING ON THE REAR DEFROSTER. AFTER TURNING ON THE REAR DEFROSTER I SMELT SMOKE AND BURNT ELECTRONICS. THE REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT DEFROST. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND PULLED OFF THE PANEL NEAR THE WIRE RUNNING TO THE REAR WINDSHIELD AND DISCOVERED THE "POWER RADIO AMPLIFIER" HAD MELTED AND CAUGHT FIRE, RESULTING IN BURNS TO THE PANEL AND COMPLETE LOSS OF RADIO AND REAR DEFROSTER. THIS OF COURSE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFROST THE REAR WINDSHIELD. A REPLACEMENT PART WAS BOUGHT AND INSTALLED BY MYSELF (THE WIRING HARNESSES AND CABLES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO SEVERE BURNING AS WELL). I STILL OWN THE OLD BURNT PART. *TT

NHTSA ID

10414645

Incident

Dec 10, 2010

Mileage

140,000 mi

IN DEC 2010 I TURNED ON MY REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ON MY 1999 BUICK LESABRE. IT DID NOT WORK. AFTER CHECKING REPAIR OPTIONS IN THE AUTO MANUALS AND ON LINE, I STILL COULD NOT GET IT WORKING. WHEN MY SON CAME IN FOR THE HOLIDAYS, WE DECIDED TO CHECK THE WIRES AT THE REAR WINDOW. WE DISCOVERED A SQUARE UNIT ATTACHED TO THE BODY UNDER THE ROOF PANEL. THIS UNIT HAD AN ENTRY PLUG WHICH WAS BURNED AND AN OUTLET PLUG LEADING TO THE GRIDS ON THE REAR WINDOW. IT ALSO HAD THE RADIO ANTENNA LEADING INTO IT. THE UNIT AND THE ENTRY PLUG WERE BURNED. MY WIFE AND I BOTH SMELLED SOMETHING LIKE A ELECTRICAL AT ONE TIME BUT DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM. WHAT I AM ASKING IS THAT: COULD THIS UNIT CAUSE A FIRE OR BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL? I KNOW IT IS IN OTHER GM CARS AS WELL AS OUR BUICK. THE PART IN QUESTION IS GM 25623688. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED MY UNIT AND REPAIRED THE WIRING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION! *TR

NHTSA ID

10374807

Incident

Dec 20, 2010

Mileage

91,620 mi

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR A NEW STARTER ASSEMBLY. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. THE MECHANIC SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK WHEN THE NEW STARTED WAS BEING TESTED THE MANIFOLD BLEW UP. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10115276

Incident

Mar 16, 2005

Mileage

47,000 mi

DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BATTERY CABLES WERE NOT GETTING ENOUGH CHARGE TO START THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE QUIT RUNNING AFTER SHIMMYING ALL OVER THE ROAD. *SC

NHTSA ID

10081564

Incident

Jun 14, 2004

Mileage

48,000 mi

CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD BOOM. THEN FLAMES CAME FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE, SAID A WITNESS. CONSUMER GOT OUT AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK IN JUNE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE WHICH EXPLAINED THE FAILURE THAT SHE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL MONTHS EARLIER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10067232

Incident

Jan 8, 2004

Mileage

44,161 mi

CONSUMER WAS COMING TO A STOP WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM, AND SPARKS BEGAN TO COME FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067264

Incident

Jan 8, 2004

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, THEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10065345

Mileage

20,000 mi

AIR BAG DESIGN FLAW - A LIFE THREATENING DESIGN FLAW. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 BUICK LESABRE CUSTOM (PURCHASED AT THE END OF THE MODEL YEAR). THE CAR OFTEN SPENDS TIME IN THE BRIGHT FLORIDA SUN. ALTHOUGH I USE A REFLECTIVE WINDSHIELD SUN SCREEN, THE CAR STILL GETS HOT INSIDE (AS DO MOST FLORIDA CARS). RECENTLY, THE HORN BEGAN TO HONK CONTINUOUSLY. I TOOK IT INTO THE ORANGE BUICK AND GMC DEALER IN ORLANDO FL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE AIR BAG HAS SWOLEN UP AND COMPRESSED THE HORN RELAY. THE AIR BAG IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS APPARENTLY A FLAWED AIR BAG DESIGN, WHICH MUST ALSO ENDANGE PEOPLE WITH THIS STEERING WHEEL/AIR BAG DESIGN, LIVING THROUGHOUT THE HOT SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. THE COST TO REPLACE THE POORLY DESIGNED AIR BAG (WITH ANOTHER ONE HAVING THE SAME POOR DESIGN) IS OVER $700 (DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DO SINCE I RECENTLY LOST MY JOB, WHICH HAS MOVED OFF SHORE TO INDIA). IT SEEMS THAT THE BUICK MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CORRECT THEIR LIFE-THREATENING FLAWED AIR BAG DESIGN. I HOPE TO HEAR BACK FROM THE D.O.T. ABOUT THIS LIFE-THREATENING SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10062638

Incident

Mar 15, 2004

Mileage

47,500 mi

FAILURE OF CAR TO START WHEN IGNITION KEY TURNED. STILL HAD LIGHTS & DASHBOARD. THIS OCCURED 9:00 AT NIGHT AND COULD HAVE LEFT ME STRANDED. AS IT WAS, I HAD BEEN WITH A GROUP OF FOLKS AND SOMEONE WAITED TO FOLLOW ME. NEXT DAY MECHANIC TOWED CAR TO SHOP, UNABLE TO FIX BECAUSE HE NOT SET UP FOR DIAGNOSTICS. REFERRED ME THE GM DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THEFT DETERRANT MODULE SHOT. ONCE FIXED, TWO DAYS LATER, SECURITY LIGHT SHOWING ON DASH. NOW WE NEED A NEW KEY LOCK IGNITION CYLANDER SWITCH AND KEY. MY COMPLAINT IS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SITUATION WHERE I COULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED INSIDE MY CAR WITHOUT A WAY TO GET OUT! THIS, IN MY MIND, IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THESE PARTS NEED TO BE RECALLED! I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND IT IS NOT OLD. THEREFORE I SEE NO GOOD REASON FOR THESE PARTS TO FAIL. MY BILL WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $700.00 PER THE GARAGE ESTIMATE. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARANTY, BUT THESE PARTS NOT COVERED, NATURALLY. I GUESS THEY WEREN'T EXPECTED TO FAIL. (MILEAGE I SUBMITTED IS AN ESTIMATE AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT OEM MEANS, SO I LET IT DEFAULT TO NO.)

NHTSA ID

10060398

Incident

Feb 24, 2004

Mileage

63,700 mi

THE OWNER WENT OUT TO THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HE THEN CONTACTED THE AUTO CLUB AND THEY CAME OUT AND ATTACHED JUMPER CABLES. WHEN THE OWNER TURNED THE IGNITION AS INSTRUCTED BY THE MECHANIC HE IMMEDIATELY HEARD A "BANG" FOLLOWED BY A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10055845

Mileage

33,225 mi

CONSUMER BOUGHT NEW BUICK, LASABRA IN 1999, WITHIN 4 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, BATTERY DIED AND WAS REPLACED TWICE. AVERAGE BATTERY LIFE WAS 5 YEARS OR 60 MONTHS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10045426

Incident

Nov 3, 2003

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD.*JB *TS

NHTSA ID

10007105

Incident

Jan 21, 2003

Mileage

52,000 mi

HORN BLE WOUT INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015376

Incident

May 31, 2002

WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE IN THE MORNING, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, FOLLOWED BY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD, AND THERE WAS A FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

754102

Incident

Oct 6, 2001

WHEN DRIVING SUSPENSION IS ROUGH. WHEN APPLING PRESSURE VEHICLE SHAKES. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE THE SHOCKS. AIR CONDITIONER LEAK, DEALER REPLACED COMPRESSOR SHAFT SEAL. PRESSURE OCNTROL SOLENOID REPLACED, CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THERE IS A SHUDDER FELT AT TIMES, DEALER REPLACED THE TURBINE SHAFT SEAL BECAUSE IT WAS WORN AND AGAIN THE VEHICLE JUMPS WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR AS IF GEAR IS NOT ENGAGING, DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. ENGINE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. FRONT ROTORS WARPED CAUSING VIBRATION. TURN SIGNALS INOPERABLE, DEALER FOUND WIRE OUT OF TERMINAL. *SLC

NHTSA ID

892383

Incident

Apr 24, 2000

AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP OR WHEN MAKING A VERY SLOW TURN, VEHICLE WILL STALL.DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES OVER LAST YEAR, AND REPLACED COMPUTER. HOWEVER IT DID NOT REMEDY DEFECT. *AK OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE DRIVER WAS IN LINE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE ENGINE QUIT IN THE MIDST OF THE TURN. *YH

NHTSA ID

890019

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING 35MPH VEHICLE STALLS FOR NO REASON UNDER VARIABLE CONDITIONS. THIS INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAS RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

877680

Incident

May 1, 1998