I had to replace the intake manifold on my buick lesabre, at a cost of $264.80 with labor another $180. This has been an ongoing problem as I understand it with gm and they are quite aware of it but have failed to correct the problem.
1997 Buick Lesabre engine complaints
Page 3 of 5: complaints 41 to 70 of 120, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Coolant was leaking from the head gasket. An independent dealer replaced the intake manifold. Please provide further information.
Mechanic found engine coolent leaking from the upper intake manifold, which is *plastic*. The coolent was also leaking into the engine oil. I stated that such a major deteriortion or failure after only 44,800 miles is absurd and ludicrous.
Parts where made with plastic, went bad and manufacturer is aware of problem. *la when pulling into traffic the vehicle almost stalled and almost caused an accident. The problem was with the plastic upper plenum manifold and gasket. The mechanic referred the consumer to a gm dealer with the service bulletin pertaining to the failure. Gm refused to do anything about the problem. *ph
The vehicle is leaking coolant. The dealer determined that upper intake manifold was fractured. The dealer recommends replacing it with a metal intake manifold. Please provide further details.
While starting and without prior warning vehicle blew up due to the plastic manifold attached to the top of the engine, overheating., smoke was visible inside the car. There were no injuries nor fatalities to report. Dealer was aware of the problem.
1997 buick lesabre leaking coolant. The first incident was two years ago. Plenum was replaced and same problem occurring again. Had intake gasket replaced but coolant still leaking. Will damage engine if not corrected. Too expensive to have to correct every two years.
Failure of the upper intake manifold permitted coolant to mix with engine lubricant and caused engine to seize. Engine must be replaced.
The engine was shut off and parked for about five minutes. Consumer noticed smoke coming from the hood. The consumer was unable to extinguish the fire. By the time the fire department arrived, the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames. *ak when the vehicle caught fire, it also damaged another vehicle that was parked beside it. *ph
I would like to complain about the fact that the federal safety agency has so little concern for safety that you charge $38.73 per hour and other fees to obtain recall or service bulletins about ones vehicle. I am sure that this charge does exactly as desired by consumers just giving up. Your work load must be near zero which I am sure was the desire. If safety was the desire the information would be available for one to search for free. Is that not what the government web sites are for. I hope homeland security does not take after your site. It would appear that the vehicle cooling leaked into the engine due to a plastic intake manifold failure. Hard to believe a company would make it from plastic. I also believe if I had access to the infomation I would find that many other vehicles had the same failure and the manufacturer should bear responsibility.
The vehicle leaked oil in the consumers garage. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who stated the shield was made of plastic. He also stated he read these things were made of plastic and could catch fire if the vehicle became hot enough. *nlm *ts
Vehicle exploded and burned at start up. *mr ph
Engine coolant destroyed engine due to the degradation of upper intake mainifold materials around the egr stove pipe. Without warning(no warning lights went on) while on the road coolant entered the pistons through the degradated upper intake manifold and caused engine failure. This could have caused a major accident as power was lost and speed dramatically dropped. Seems to be obvious engine design flaw in 3800 v-6 engines produced by gm in buick lasabres, riveras, regals, oldsmobile 98s, 88s. Intrigue, pontiac bonnevilles, grand prix, & chevrolet luminas, monte carlos over a period of years dating from 1995-1998 when they changed the manifold design. A service bulletin by gm #01-06-01-007a in july 18, 2001 indicated the gm is aware of defect and has since produced a different manifold to replace and repair problem but will not stand behind these engines when they fail without warning. Gm has been uncooperative in this matter. All repairs to this car are documented with biliings, etc by certified gm service dept. Including oil changes and preventitive maintenance. This was a well maintained vehicle with a service history that can be documented. I have pictures of the inside of the engine where damage occurred.the gm service dept. That replaced damaged engine indicated that they had 3 other vehicles with the same engine damaged because of coolant leak through the degradation of the intake manifold in that one month time frame. This is a small dealership and they indicated that this was a indicator of a major problem with this component.
At start up, the vehicle engine exploded and caught on fire. *mr when the hood was opened, red flames were shooting from a hole that burned on a gray cover in the engine.
Erratic engine performance and occasional "check engine" light reported several weeks ago when vehicle was in for minor repair. Independent delco garage owner indicated stored codes were for "o2 sensor" - however it appeared to be functioning normally at that time. On friday 4/11/03, erratic engine performance (missing, loss of performance) caused me to head towards garage for further investigation. En route, vehicle stalled out, and refused to restart (at one point, a back fire occurred during restart attempt. Had vehicle towed to garage, and during subsequent inspection, it was discovered the heat from the "egr" pipe from the lower intake manifold had damaged the upper composite manifold, causing a coolant leak into the intake. Stored codes at this time indicated o2 sensor, misfire and catalytic converter. Owner indicated these readings were consistent with his experience, and informed me that they have replaced at least a dozen to 18 upper intakes in past 18 months. Quoting him "we're just a small garage". I have also been told that when he called local gm dealership (to inquire on availability of parts) he was told "we have so many of these in stock that we can't even put them up on the shelves they are stacked in the aisle." what is most disconcerting is when I called buick division general motors corp customer assistance center I was told by kevin dam (sp?) and darlene vega (sp?) that there was no known complaints, investigations or recalls regarding this problem. After reviewing this site and your investigation(s) - someone is grossly misinformed! And it appeared the manufacturer may even be participating in denial and/or misrepresentation in this matter. My inquiry (complaint or whatever they call it) was given the number 1-89860067. It seems to me that we all have a ticking bomb on our hands ... Unfortunately, I drive it to work each day! Can you help me?.
The upper and lower intake manifold cracked. *ak
Upper intake manifold fractured. This is the second one in five years. The first was replaced under a recall per buick rep okeesha smith.
Upper intake manifold cracked resulting in coolant leak into cylinders. Coolant leak caused motor to hydro-lock making vehicle inoperable. Both upper & lower intake manifolds were replaced.
Consumer stated that the water pump failed.
While driving vehicle, the check engine light came on. It failed to go off. Taken vehicle to a mechanic and had the sensors replaced. The engine problem was the egr valve which caused the vehicle to be sluggish. Took to a different mechanic and the wires and sensors were replaced again. Vehicle taken for test drive and check engine light came on. Restarted vehicle after turning it off and it back fired. Had cracked the plastic intake phebem, which needs to be replaced. Ts
Consumer stated that while driving at any speed the engine light comes on and will stay on the remainder of the time the vehicle is being operated. Dealer notified. Ts
The federal safety agency# 7843-96-v-116-000 single manifold intake. Backfire during starting can cause breakage of the upper intake manifold. Consumer states while driving the vehicle the plastic manifold took on fire and damaged the fuel injections rails. Please provide further information. Ts
Consumer noticed persistant loss of coolant but the leak could not be discovered. The problem was a cracked intake manifold that destroyed the bearings and the engine had to be replaced. *jg ts
The vehicle was check by a dealership technician. The engine coolant was leaking from underneath the vehicle. Mr
Consumer states, since purchase of vehicle, it has sporadically stalled out 10 times. 2 dealerships diagnosed via computer but advised that they cannot diagnose the problem without being able to duplicate it. Consumer is concerned that the problem could potentially cause a rear-end collision. *tt
While at a stop engine locked up. Dealer stated this was caused by intake manifold. *ak consumer stated the intake manifold gasket failed.
Vehicle is losing anti freeze into the vehicle because there is never a puddle of anti freeze on the floor. Contacted dealer, and they were not willing to do anything.
While driving at 70mph engine died. Contact dealer who replaced engine, in which a connect rod had broken.*ak consumer stated that the connect rod broke and destroyed the engine, crankshaft and A/C compressor.
A hole was created in the upper plenum manifold emission system by the egr valve. So I was told. Is this covered under the government emissions systems warranty? Buick said only the catalitic (sp) converter is covered under this warranty.
While driving engine check light keeps coming on. This happens intermittently. Took vehicle to dealer, and had vehicle repaired, but problem still exists. *ak oxygen sensor failed due to antifreeze in intake system. The upper intake plenium was leaking because it had cracked and was replaced.
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