The plastic intake manifold melted inside the engine. *jb the vehicle was missing and was smoking. New manifold and plug wires were added.
1998 Buick Lesabre engine complaints
Page 4 of 8: complaints 71 to 100 of 204, newest first, as owners wrote them.
This is a engine problem with what I believe was a bad part design. The part is failure of intake plenum. The egr pipe from the engine comes through the plastic intake. There is a lot of heat generated at this point. Over a period of time a hole is burned through the intake. This floods the engine with coolant. I bought the vehicle new. The first time the problem occured at 59,000 miles. I had the vehicle repaired at a cost of $1100.00. I asked the dealer about this. The reponse was . Yes we know there is a problem with the k engine but the factory has not called for a recall. At 113,577 miles the problem occured again. I again had the engine repaired at a cost of $1140.93. Again I asked the dealer about this. I was told that a service bulletin was sent out in 1996. This stated that if a owner complained of a coolent leak around the intake. Not only should the plastic intake plenum be replace but also the aluminum intake should be repalced becaused the factory had replaced the egr pipe with a smaller pipe. This would keep the heat from burning a hole in the plastic plenum. The cost of this repair is to be paid by the owner. I checked out the service bulletin and found the problem covered all gm 3800 series engines form 1995 - 1998 my engine VIN # is 1g4hr52k3wh51080. I was told by the gm service tech. That this problem occured so often that any owner of a 3800 series engine and the new design intake has not been installed you are guaranteed the engine will fail. Again I feel this was a design problem.
When attempting to start the vehicle engine produced a loud bang, then caught on fire. No injuries were reported.
My 1998 buick lesabre started to smell of anti-freeze earlier in the day on 4/27/04. The car was parked for most of the day, quick trips to the store at most. When I got home that night, the car was shacking and pouring exhaust vapors out of the exhaust pipe. In the morning on april 28t,. It started just fine. So, I drove it to my mechanic. The car ran smoothly for about 200 yards, then it progressively got worse, until I was practicly coasting when I reached my mechanics. After they looked into the issue, they concluded that the intake manifold was cracked and had spewed water into my engine. This left water in my oil and no coolant. My mechanic flushed my oil, flushed my coolant, replace the manifold with the factory part, and replaced the gasket with the factory part. My mechanic told me that this was a common issue and that all of the 3.8l gm engines had plastic intake manifolds. I then began to research on line this issue, and apparently many people have had the same problem. I called buick 3 times trying to plead my case. Each time I was told there is no recall for this car, but the model 2 years prior had the same issue and the part was recalled. I have found a notice that the federal safety agency is trying to have the replacing the "delphi fuel pressure regulators" replace, which can cause the intake manifold to crack. The federal safety agency recall campaign number: 04v090000
While driving engine check light came on. Prior to this, there was an anti freeze odor within the cabin of the vehicle. Upon inspection of the vehicle by the dealership they noticed that the upper and the lower intake manifold melted. *ak consumer believed this defect could cause the engine to stall, creating a dangerous situation.
While driving 35 MPH vehicle stalled. The driver was able to drift to the side of the road. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership for inspection, and mechanic determined that intake manifold failed. Consumer had the mechanic replace the intake manifold.
Plastic upper intake manifold melted causing the engine coolant to flood into the crankcase. Engine subsequently locked up and had to be towed to a dealer. $1500 in damages on a car with 50,000 miles on it.
While parking, the consumer noticed coolant leaking from underneath the vehicle. The consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and the mechanic determined that the radiator needed to be replaced. *ak the input manifold cracked/split and the engine coolant leaked into the engine. The coolant reservoir kept on going down but the consumer never saw any coolant on the driveway or in the oil. The consumer requested that gm cover the cost of repair. *sc
Vehicles stalled at highway speed. *ak
1998 buick lesabre stalled at a stoplight and wouldn't start. After having the problem diagnosed and the intake manifold removed, water was discovered in the intake and in the cylinders.
1998 buick lasabre...with plastic intake developed a crack and allow all coolant to pass thru engine and out exhaust...was stranded 100 miles from home...to get towed and replace this design flaw cost me over 600.00 dollars.
I am upset that the gm recall # 03054b does not include the 1998 buick lesabre, only the park avenue, according to the customer service dept. For buick. *ak my lesabre did the same thing as described on the recall results for the office of defects investigation found on the internet. However, your office did list it using the federal safety agency campaign id number: 04v090000. Please e-mail me @ [email protected] or leave a message for me @ 850‑482‑8156, if my vehicle (1998 buick lesabre, custom) can be added to this recall. After looking at the reviews for this vehicle it seems there are a few complaints. Thanks
Info copy of let to gm, inquiring if there is anything more to do to stop the unnecessary task of writing multiple ltrs for reimbursemt from gm referencing engine coolant leak on buick vehicles. Ref es03-006044 /s/brenner 9/23/03. *ph *mjj nar
Consumer dissatisfied with the reimbursement of the intake manifold repair kit and nothing else. (nar) *ph the consumer was only partially reimbursed for repairs made prior to receiving the recall notification on the faulty intake manifold. The consumer also had to replace the vehicle's starter.
While driving white smoke came from the rear . Vehicle was taken to a repair shop, where the mechanic determined that intake manifold leaked coolant onto the engine, and engine needed to be replaced.
The manifold warped, which caused coolant to spill into the engine. As a result the engine needed to be replaced. Please provide additional information. *jb
While driving anti freeze leaked from engine head gasket.
Purchased new, this well maintained, garage kept vehicle failed with 44,500 miles. I changed the oil & filter after the first 500 mile break-in period & every 1k miles. On 2/12/04, there was a rough unexpected engine knock upon startup. Placed in reverse, there was a shaking sensation & the check engine lamp eventually lit. I drove to the dealer. I was told that the radiator coollant leaked into the oil portion of the engine. It was an unpleasant situation, however, a decision had to be made & I opted to replace the vehicle with a 2004 lesabre. I drove it off the lot the same day and tried to put my 1998 problem behind me. I have owned lesabres in the past, a park avenue & other gm products where I clocked over 250,000 miles each on most of them. Two days after the purchase of my 2004, the burning question was why my 1998 bit the dust? I felt drawn to my computer & searched: "buick lesabre plenum failures" to see what I might find. I viewed several hundred complaints at this site and many others describing the very same problem. All I could help but wonder, was if this same defect prone part was in the car I just purchased? I called gm and spoke to a rep. I told herabout my 1998 model and then asked if she could let me know if it had been changed on my new 2004 model? Yes, my 2004 has the same defective intake manifold, so without any warning, the same situation will arise in the future. What will they do for me about my new car? Nothing. Beware the ticking time bomb if your gm vehicle has the 3800 series ii. A loud pop, followed by hesitation & by the time the ser engine light glows -- it is already too late. Many fires have been reported along with this problem. Sources indicate that it is on approximately 35 mill assorted gm cars manufactured from circa 1994 to present.
When accelerating, the vehicle stalled. The driver stated that the vehicle has a design flaw in the engine manifold upper intake valve. *jb (manifold and gaskets malfunctioned) the oil pan and valve cove was replaced. There was also a fuel injector problem. The dealer found the #4 cylinder misfiring with no fuel drop.
Coolant consumption, or an engine coolant leak near or under the throttle body area of the upper intake manifold on a 98 buick le sabre custom four door.
Vehicle made a grinding noise when in motion. The vehicles vacuum hose, power steering pressure and intake manifold failed.
Plastic intake manifold warped allowing coolant to leak through engine block and hydrolocked engine. Call to local buick dealer comfirms this is not isolated defect. The engine shut down as I was entering the highway. Manufacturer refused to admit responsibility for defective part. My cost $879.98. Possible future engine damage.
Consumer inquired as to why the recall on park avenue with 3800 v6 engines extended to the lesabre as well. *ph the buick park avenue and buick lesabre are equipped with the same engine. The consumer saw recall 03v473000 for the park avenue and wondered why the lesabre is not included in the recall.
Coolant leak from manifold
The consumer took the vehicle to be inspected. The mechanic noticed that the plastic intake manifold was cracked and leaking fluid onto the engine.
Gentlemen: I have a 1998 buick lesabre with 31,258 miles on it. Last weekend, I turned the key and heard a loud bang. The starter motor case had cracked. My independent garage put in a new starter to the tune of $526.00. When they tried to start the car, the same thing happen to the new starter. The garage then discovered that the 3.8l v6 engine was frozen due to a leak in the intake manifold which allowed coolant to enter the cylinders. They said the leak was caused by the gm "5 year" coolant rotting the manifold away. They estimated the repair at $2,000.00, including the starter. I called buick customer service; they are vague about any problem or liability. They did ask that I take the car to a buick dealer for diagnosis. I took it to fields buick. The dealer confirmed the problem and the cause. They want $2,300.00 to fix it, excluding the starter. Gm refuses to do anything. I have discovered a gm technical service bulletin (01-06-01-007a) indicating that gm has known about this problem since at least july, 2001. The problem affects several makes and models. A catastrophic engine failure at 31,000 miles is absurd.
Steering related problems involving major part replacement. I already contacted an the federal safety agency rep about a different issue, the ubiquitous upper intake manifold problem which we have spent thousands on. And I discussed problems with stalling too. After that, I searched the internet; I see that the manifold problem is more prevalent than I suspected. I also stumbled onto discussions of stalling, steering, and engine fire problems. When I called gm 2 years ago about the upper intake manifold, they denied the problem existed even though my dealer and other shops told me everybody knew about it. I called gm again a few weeks ago after having more gasket problems and although they finally admitted to the manifold and gasket problems, they could not help me with my expenses, they were unable to locate my previous complaint, and the rep was obsessed with having me say that I was satisfied with my call to him. I tried telling him that I was unsatisfied with gm but satisfied with him as a person, but he kept talking to me until I agreed that I was mostly satisfied with my call. I wonder if manufacturers have different obligations in recording and reporting their complaints to authorities depending on whether customers are satisfied or not.
The vehicle stalled while driving at 30-MPH without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local garage and they found that the intake manifold was cracked and caused coolant to leak inside the engine. *ph when the vehicle stopped, the consumer was unable to restart it, the engine was hydrostatic locked due to the coolant leaks. *sc
Vehicle was leaking antifreeze. Intake manifold was replaced to stop the leak as well as the transmission was replaced. Dealer, on a previous occasions, repaired a hole in the radiator. *ak
Ltr fm andrew hunt (nj) concerned classification of engine coolant leakage as safety problem & defective intake manifold problems suggest the federal safety agency recall all gm model yrs 1995-1998. *mr there was no advance warning when the engine would stop if the coolant leaks. The consumer was reimbursed the cost of the repair kit, but not the balance of the repairs. The starter failed when aaa attempted to start the vehicle, but the vehicle was full of coolant in the engine. *scc
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