1998 Buick Lesabre: engine stalls while driving

Filed May 4, 2011 · Electrical · 83,000 miles · NY · crash

1998 buick lesabre crashed at low speed causing property damage, engine cut out while driving at low speed. Car was declared a total loss, leaving me with bills of over $10,000 for lost car, repairs, insurance. Problem had arisen on and off since acquiring car at 65,000 miles..twice taken in to gm dealership for this problem. Could not find anything wrong. Problem would disappear for months and then reappear. Numerous mechanics checked and could not find source of problem. After car was declared a total, news story ran about toyota cars stalling out due to defective engine control modules (the federal safety agency report #pe09054). The defective part was made by delphi..which was owned by general motors..makers of the buick lesabre. I contacted gm headquarters to ask if the control module in my part was made by gm/delphi. They refused to answer me, saying that as no recall had been issued and my car was gone,they could do nothing for me. Meanwhile, it turns out that gm did own delphi in 1998, did manufacture those modules, which had to have been in the buick lesabres,and were years later causing identical engine failures in toyotas. Those parts are out there today, waiting for something horrible to happen. Among the 12 summaries you have on your site for electrical problems with buick lesabres, one is even worse than mine "report #9001048 "complete electrical failure on a major highway with a tragedy barely avoided, transmission failure". When I purchased the car at 65,000 miles it had a serious transmission problem as well, which was found and fixed. The electrical problem persisted until the engine cut out while driving at low speed in the middle of the afternoon, on a busy local road. When the engine failed, the brakes failed. I could not stop the car. Quick thinking put me up against a telephone pole so no lives were lost. Many of your other complaints mention complete electrical failure with this car. Investigation anyone?

Filed Jul 25, 2007 · Engine · 82,000 miles · MI

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 buick lesabre. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle sputtered out of control and stalled. The mechanic stated that the vehicle would need a new engine due to an oil leak. The current and failure mileages were 82,000.

Filed Apr 20, 2006 · Engine · 75,000 miles · TN

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 60mph, the vehicle stalled and the heat indicator gauge dropped to zero. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop for inspection. The mechanic determined the plastic intake manifold needed to be replaced.

Filed Sep 7, 2005 · Fuel system · MI

Ltr fwd fm cpsc complaint re his 1998 buick lesabre, he took car in for a recall, and now the car is more dangerous than before gm "repaired" it.*mr after the vehicles recall repairs were made it leaked fuel vapors and stalled.

Filed Aug 29, 2005 · Fuel system, Lights · 111,000 miles · MI

Dt: the contact took h car to dealer for a recall 04v090000 repairs almost one year ago in august, 2004. He received the recall notice in june, 2004, and the car was repaired on 9-28-04. They damaged the car on the outside and also under the hood. The rear tail light was broken and there was a scratch under the front left headlight. They put red tape over the headlight. The accelerator stuck and the car stalled. This problem immediately followed the recall repairs within one day. The dealer denied anything wrong was done. The recall was in regard to a fuel regulator. As soon as the car returned to the contact it shut off. Recently, the accelerator stuck, and the contact smelled a fuel/exhaust odor that was very strong. The check engine light stayed on n. . He talked to gm on 11-12-04, and they informed him that they had notified the dealer about the damage, and for him to take the car to dealer for repairs. When he took the car to dealer the dealer was mad and refused to fix the car.

Filed Jun 7, 2005 · Electrical, Fuel system · 85,000 miles · KY

No injuries. Engine stops or stalls at various times. Nothing has been done to correct the problem.

Filed May 21, 2005 · Electrical · 92,000 miles · TX

1. It stalled out many time while driving. No engine check light comes on after restarting. 2. This is a dangerous situation while driving on busy big city freeway at rush hour. 3. The problem was fixed by replacing the crank position sensor

Filed May 13, 2005 · Electrical · 48,111 miles · CA

Betwen 47,111 and 49817 miles engine has stall three times and after complete stop I re-started engine right away, there no warning lights during stall at control panel.

Filed Mar 30, 2005 · Engine · 71,000 miles · AL

Vehicle stalled. Driver pulled over. Driver was unable to restart vehicle, and had it towed to dealer, and mechanic determined that engine needed to be replaced. *ak the chevrolet dealer told the consumer that water got into the engine block and locked it up. They removed and replaced the(manifold) plenum with all new gaskets, new oil, anti freeze and new spark plugs. *bf

Filed Feb 17, 2005 · Engine, Fuel system · 86,500 miles · WI

Loss of coolant. The plastic intake plenum got a hole in it. This filled the engine with coolant thus causing the car to stall on the highway. I had the defective part replaced at a cost of 900 dollars. I still have the defective part. I'm retired, so this put a strain on our budget. Thank you.

Filed Dec 3, 2004 · Fuel system · 69,269 miles · CA

Replaced upper intake plenum seals and gaskets, engine oil and filter, spark plugs and wire set. Installed fuel filter, starter would not turn off (stuck on), replaced it. *bf the vehicle stalled in heavy traffic. The problem was determined to be a ruptured intake manifold that caused water to flood the engine. The consumer requested reimbursement. Recall# 04v090000. *sc

Filed Nov 17, 2004 · Engine · HI

While placing the vehicle in reverse a loud popping noise was heard coming from the rear. Then, vehicle stalled. Consumer was unable to restart vehicle, and had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection. Mechanic determined that the intake exhaust manifold system, and a head gasket needed to be replaced. *ak. Also, exhaust manifold cover blew off.