Buick Lesabre engine failure problems

Filed Jul 16, 2018 · Electrical, Fuel system · 98,000 miles · CT

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 buick lesabre. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle lost power and would not restart. In addition, the low fuel indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact was unaware of the mechanic's diagnosis. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 98,000. *tt consumer stated it would happen at any speed and had nothing to do with fuel gauge. Car was fixed replaced the engine harness connector. Updated 11/20/18

Filed Jun 13, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 240,000 miles · CA · crash

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)

Filed Jun 11, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 76,000 miles · VA

Intake manifold gaskets (both lower and upper) have failed resulting in coolant loss. Poorly designed plastic gaskets are no longer used but this should be a recall as it results in safety issue if coolant is completely depleted on the highway resulting in failure of vehicle to drive due to engine failure.

Filed Jan 6, 2012 · Engine · 169,000 miles · TX

Noticed lots of white smoke coming out tail pipe while driving. Very unusual. Car then stopped on freeway. Had to get pushed by another car to side if freeway. Towed car home to driveway. Tried to crank engine and heard real loud pop coming from under hood. Car did not turn on. Tried to start 5 more times but each time it just sounded like a real short crank type sound like as if engine is having a hard time turning. After fifth time, engine started and this time the smoke coming out tail pipe was white/bluish and lots of it. Engine stopped. Also noticed that all the coolant was gone from coolant container and there is a high burning smell of coolant coming from engine. This might be a cracked upper intake or lower intake. These are made of real cheap hard plastic which could be the primary reason of engine failure. Car is now parked in my backyard.

Filed Aug 29, 2011 · Engine · 140,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 buick lesabre. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, he heard a loud clunking noise, the engine dropped, and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop, where they diagnosed that the engine cradle and bushing were corroded and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 140,000.

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 Apr 19, 2009 · Engine · 62,000 miles · MI

Here's what happened, the car started consuming dexcool antifreeze, but none was noticed leaking external to the engine. The upper intake manifold made of plastic apparently warped, and/or a hole burned in near the egr stove pipe, thus dumping antifreeze into the engine and hydrolocking the engine. Major problem, complete engine failure would not start or run. This car had been well maintained with both regular oil and coolant changes, the car has been adult driving . Cost to repair $450.00 for just upper intake, add another $450 for the lower intake as well.

Filed Jan 2, 2009 · Engine · 68,628 miles · NY

Engine seized and wouldn't start. Found the intake manifold full of antifreeze. Caused by a faulty intake manifold. Replaced manifold, changed oil and antifreeze and replaced cracked starter.

Filed Dec 19, 2008 · Engine · 227,000 miles · VA

1996 buick lesabre custom suddenly started smoking,overheated and shut off on interstate at 60 MPH. Owner had car towed and checked by mechanic. Cracked manifold leaking coolant was the cause, engine blown is diagnosis.

Filed Oct 3, 2007 · Engine · AZ

1999 buick lesabre with a air flow sensor malfunction within the emissions system. Customer states that the check engine light illuminated sporadically. Then the engine failed completely.