1999 Buick Lesabre Steering Problems

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE ENGINE THEN SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP BOLTS SEPARATED AND FELL INTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE BOLTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,700. *UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED IF THE BOLTS COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM ENGINE BLOCK THEN THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $749.00. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10205486

Incident

Sep 25, 2007

Mileage

50,700 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUD. THE HOOD WAS LIFTED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS OFF. A PASSERBY DETERMINED THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD SHEERED OFF, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE; IT HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 4/19/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10154175

Incident

Mar 30, 2006

Mileage

81,000 mi

WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE, HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND LOST POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING PUMP DETACHED FROM WHERE IT WAS ANCHORED. THE TWO BOLTS THAT SECURED THE PUMP WERE SEVERED WHICH CAUSED THE SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF. THE TWO BOLTS WERE SEVERED AS IF THEY HAD BEEN CUT WITH A SAW. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032680

Incident

Aug 9, 2003

WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A TURN, THE STEERING SHAFT MADE A STRANGE NOISE. *JB PH

NHTSA ID

10017340

Incident

Apr 22, 2003

Mileage

32,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN MOUNTAIN & HAD DOWNSHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. ENGINE HAD STALLED OUT. HAD NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. POWER BRAKES & POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

872263

Incident

Aug 15, 2000

BRAKES ARE SPONGY; PARTIALLY DUE TO A RACING ENGINE, IT TAKES MORE PRESSURE TO APPLY THE BRAKES FOR WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A ROUTINE STOP. THE ENGINE HAS 'AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL' WHICH DISTORTS NORMAL DRIVING SENSORS. I DROVE A SIMILAR BUICK FOR A DAY AND IT DIDN'T REQUIRE ME TO BRAKE FREQUENTLY TO AVOID EXCEEDING OUR CONDO AREA'S SPEED LIMIT. *AK

NHTSA ID

723099

TRANSMISSION IS GOING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER GEAR, AND THEY AREN'T SHIFTING PROPERLY. ALSO, NOISY GEAR BOX. *AK

NHTSA ID

838681

Incident

Mar 29, 1999