2003 Buick Lesabre Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Buick LeSabre. The contact stated that their trunk failed to remain in the open position when needed. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD INADVERTENTLY BECOME UNGLUED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALL WAS ASSOCIATED WITH HE VIN. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE DASH IS SEPARATING FROM THE FIREWALL OF THE MOTOR. THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DASH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Buick LeSabre. The contact stated that after his friend drove the vehicle to his residence, there was a burning oil odor detected. The contact opened the hood and there was smoke coming from the engine. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic as a valve cover gasket leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was concerned that the failure could lead to an engine compartment fire. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was 136,776.

"DEFECTIVE GASKETS FIRE HAZARD" OIL DRIPPING FROM VALVE COVER CAUGHT FIRE BURNING PLUG WIRES AND 3800 V6 ENGINE SHROUD'. I HAD PARKED THE VEHICLE IN MY DRIVE. I WENT INSIDE HOME FOR 2 MINUTES. I CAME BACK OUTSIDE TO RETRIEVE A SODA WHEN I DISCOVERED SMOKE BILLOWING FROM UNDER HOOD. WHEN I RELEASED HOOD LATCH AND RAISED HOOD FLAMES SHOT OUT DRIVING ME TO THE GROUND. I QUICKLY GOT A WASH BUCKET NEARBY AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT FIRE. I DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE. I FOUND OUT THAT OVER 1300 GM VEHICLES HAVE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO BUICK AND WAS TOLD A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CONTACT ME WITHIN 24 HOURS. 2 DAYS PASS NO CALL AND CAR SITS IN DRIVE. I'M LUCKY I CAUGHT IT AS IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A HOUSE FIRE AS WELL.

FIRST ELECTRICAL... MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING BAD RAIN RIGHT AFTER COMING OUT THE TUNNEL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC NO ACCIDENT I KNEW ROAD ENOUGH TO PULL OVER.. GOT FIXED REPLACED WIPER MOTOR 3 TIMES AND THE WIPER SWITCH WIPERS STILL GO WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON... THEN MY DASH KEEPS GETTING DIM AND MY ABS,TRACTION ,AND BRAKE LIGHTSARE ON AND I'VE HAD THAT FIXED STILL KEEPS STAYING LIT.... I GET REGULAR OIL CHANGES AT WALMART EVERY 3000 MILES THERES FLUID LEAKING FROM VALVE COVER THAT I HAD REPLACED ...THINGS I REPLACED ON CAR SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN INSPECTED.. MY DASH WAS LIFTED WHEN I PURCHASED VEHICLE USED ALSO SAID IT WAS FINE MVA MADE THEM REINSPECT CAR N ITS STILL LIFTED I ALSO KNOW IT WONT PASS INSPECTION LIFTED

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE REAR DRIVERS DOOR WAS CLOSED, THE GLASS WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED. THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. ADDITIONALLY, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WINDOWS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

FIRST ELECTRICAL... MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING BAD RAIN RIGHT AFTER COMING OUT THE TUNNEL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC NO ACCIDENT I KNEW ROAD ENOUGH TO PULL OVER.. GOT FIXED REPLACED WIPER MOTOR 3 TIMES AND THE WIPER SWITCH WIPERS STILL GO WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON... THEN MY DASH KEEPS GETTING DIM AND MY ABS,TRACTION ,AND BRAKE LIGHTSARE ON AND I'VE HAD THAT FIXED STILL KEEPS STAYING LIT.... I GET REGULAR OIL CHANGES AT WALMART EVERY 3000 MILES THERES FLUID LEAKING FROM VALVE COVER THAT I HAD REPLACED ...THINGS I REPLACED ON CAR SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN INSPECTED.. MY DASH WAS LIFTED WHEN I PURCHASED VEHICLE USED ALSO SAID IT WAS FINE MVA MADE THEM REINSPECT CAR N ITS STILL LIFTED I ALSO KNOW IT WONT PASS INSPECTION LIFTED

BATTERY GOES DEAD OVER NIGHT, TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC HE SAID THE FUSE BOX UNDERBACK SEAT IS SHORTING OUT

BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED & WAS REPLACED. *TR

I NOTICED THE DASHBOARD WAS COMING APART FROM THE WINDSHIELD TOWARDS THE DRIVERSIDE..I ALSO STARTED EXPERIENCING MY CAR CUTTING OFF,,&A WEIRD NOISE WHEN I PRESS MY BRAKES..MY CAR ALSO GETS HOT&SMELLS LIKE SOMETHINGS BURNING..I'VE REPLACED NUMEROUS THINGS,,BUT YET TO COME TO A RESOLUTION..I REALLY NEED HELP BECAUSE THIS IS SCARY..I'VE TALKED TO BUICK&YOU ALL WANNA CHARGE ME JUST TO LOOK AT MY CAR??THAT'S NOT HELP AT ALL... *TR

The transmission doesn't shift correctly even after it's warmed up it is erratic and rough while connecting the transmission gears and jerks very hard at most times. The power steering is not working correctly and makes it difficult to drive at all with the combined issues I'm very concerned about my and my family safely

WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS WARMER DURING TRANSIT, THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO SLIP. IT GETS WORSE AND THE DURATION OF THE SLIP BEGINS TO. LAST LONGER.

215/70R15 98T Tire purchased 10 days prior blew-out , resulting in total loss of vehicle.

MY '03 BUICK LESABRE HAD A STABILITY PROBLEM. WHILE IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA, I TOOK IT TO PAT CLARK BUICK AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT TWO OF MY TIRES WERE SEPARATED. THE REMAINING TWO HAD BUBBLES PROTRUDING FROM THE TREAD. THE TIRES HAD 49,993 MILES ON THEM AND THESE TIRES WERE ON THE TIRES WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN '03. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC NOTICED ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SPRING SUSPENSION WAS CORRODED THROUGH. IN ADDITION DUE TO THE CORROSION ON THE TOP OF THE SPRING, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE SUPPORT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB PION BUICK GMC DEALER, (333 MEMORIAL DR, CHICOPEE, MA 01020, (413) 598-8377) WHERE THEY NOTICED THE CORROSION BUT DID NOT RECOMMEND TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RUST UNDERNEATH WERE PRISTINE AND THE SPRING LEANING ON THE FRAME PUSHING THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST ALL SUPPORT, THE SPRING WAS PRE-FLOATING AT THE TOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140.000.

2003 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 2009 WITH 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. FOUR AND A HALF YEARS LATER, THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AGAIN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.. ALSO, THE LEVEL RIDE COMPRESSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH A FAULTY WITH THE GAS CAP. THE ALERT I RECEIVE ON THE CAR STATES THAT THE GAS CAP IS LOOSE, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE THOROUGHLY CHECKED OUT BY MY MECHANIC AND HE IS STUMPED AS TO HOW TO FIX THIS. WE HAVE REPLACED THE GAS CAP SEVERAL TIMES, HE HAS PERFORMED NUMEROUS CHECKS TO SEE IF THERE IS A LEAK IN THE GAS TANK OR FUEL LINES, ALL TO NO AVAIL. HE CANNOT DETECT A LEAK. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNFIXED AND WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT AND FAULT ACTIVE, THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT PASS STATE SMOG. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEAKED ON OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 09/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL LEAKED FROM THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD OVER THE ENGINE. THE ENTIRE LINE FROM THE INJECTION ENTRY TO THE FIREWALL WAS REPLACED WITH HIGH PRESSURE RUBBER FUEL HOSES. UPDATED 09/05/12

WHILE DRIVING ON I95 IN GEORGIA ON THE WAY TO FLORIDA 12-28-08 MY 2003 BUICK LESABRE TRANSMISSION STARTED BUCKING AND JOLTING CAR AS IT SHIFTED. TOOK TO GARAGE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP, THIS CAR HAD THE TRANSMISSION OIL REPLACED AT RECOMMENDED 50,000 MILES, BESIDES THE 2200 DOLLARS TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION WE HAD TO GET HOTEL ROOM, MEALS AND A RENTAL CAR TO CONTINUE TRIP AS THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE DELIVERED RIGHT AWAY. *TR

THIS INCIDENT IS REGARDING A SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A 2003 BUICK LESABRE, PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2003. IN JANUARY OF 2008, WITH 47,692 MILES ON THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE INCIDENT - THE VEHICLE LURCHED, BUCKED, RAPIDLY PICKED UP SPEED AND RAPIDLY LOST SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS SITUATION WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS TO BOTH MYSELF, PASSENGERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS. MY REMEDY WAS TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE VEHICLE REPAIR CENTER EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH POST-1997 BUICKS, IN WHICH THERE IS A TYPICALLY FAULTY TRANSMISSION. HE CITED THAT HE MAY SEE CLOSE TO 100 SIMILAR CASES PER YEAR. IN FACT, WHILE I WAS DISCUSSING MY CAR WITH HIM ANOTHER POST-1997 BUICK CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT A CHRONIC MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT EXISTS THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER WITH A PRODUCT RECALL OR WARRANTY CONCESSION FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. AFTER CRASHING INTO A TREE STUMP, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE AND MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, FOOT, CHEST, NECK, BACK AND KNEE INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MIDDLE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRAIN AND KNEE INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

STOPPED CAR IN PARKING LOT, TURNED OFF ENGINE. RETURNED TO CAR, STARTED ENGINE AND PUT IN REVERSE. CAR TOOK OFF WHEN THROTTLE BODY STUCK WIDE OPEN. CAR MADE WIDE CIRCLE'S, I TRIED TO STOP BY PUSHING ON BRAKE PEDAL, AFTER HITTING SEVERAL CEMENT PARKING CURBS AND THEN STRIKING ANOTHER CAR I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR STOPPED AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. *TR

DASHBOARD LIGHTS INTERMITTENT ON / OFF. HEADLIGHT FAILURES AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIM OR BRIGHTEN THE LIGHTS THEY INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WERE THE DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED THE DIMMER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 02/13/06. *JB

The transmission doesn't shift correctly even after it's warmed up it is erratic and rough while connecting the transmission gears and jerks very hard at most times. The power steering is not working correctly and makes it difficult to drive at all with the combined issues I'm very concerned about my and my family safely

On [XXX] original Steering Rack and Pinion was replaced at 138974 miles by established reputable garage with NAPA part which was remanufactured. That part failed [XXX] at 141443 miles. That part failed [XXX] at 145999 miles and was replaced with NAPA part which was remanufactured. That part failed and was replaced at [XXX] at 157999 miles with another NAPA remanufactured part. That part failed about July 2023 and has not been replaced . The repair garage that had been replacing this rack and pinion stated they will no longer replace it since the outcome would be the same. The problem in all instances is that the hydraulic fluid leaks out of the unit through the rack and pinion which in turn affects the steering. The leak starts slowly and eventually increases to the point where the fluid will leak from the unit even when the car is not in use. I reported the problem to NAPA in writing [XXX] and received a telephonic request for documentation [XXX] which was furnished along with a statement that this matter was being looked into. I am not interested in any monetary refund but am only concerned about the safety of parts sold as "remanufactured" . The automobile repair shop is aware of my concern and supports my complaint. Both the repair shop and myself have documentation. I believe that based upon the number of times this part has failed indicates a potential problem in at the remanufactured automobile parts industry for at least this particular part and possibly others. I am willing to furnish any information I have. Thank you -- [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIM AND BRIGHTENED, DASH REPLACED AND CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKED ALL BY ITSELF WHILE CAR WAS PARKED WITH NO ONE INSIDE, ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKS. *AK

SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE MOTION OF LHF SEAT, L & R, OCCURS ON TURNS. ANOISE CAN ALSO BE HEARD. THE CONDITION APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE, BOTH THE DETECTED MOTION AND NOISE HAVE INCREASED.*AK

ON THREE SEPARATED OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE HEAD REST MOVED UP ON IT'S OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE HEAD REST NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT THREE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AT THIS TIME. *JB