2000 Buick LESABRE: complaints, problems and recalls

LEAKING COOLANT LED TO REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE MANIFORD ON 2000 BUICK LESABRE WITH 3.8L ENGINE COSTING $540. NEWSPAPER ARTICLE REPORTING THAT NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM ON GM 3.8L ENGINES OF SPECIFIC YEARS(1991-2000). CONVERSATIONS WITH SALESMAN AND MEACHANICS AT GM DEALERSHIP LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SERIOUS AND WIDESPREAD.

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000074 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001964 at NHTSA ↗

THE DRIVERS SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR REGULATOR WENT OUT. CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO ROLL WINDOW UP OR DOWN. TOOK TO BUICK AND THEY REPLACED THE REGULATORS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002031 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER INTO A GUARD RAIL. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: DRIVERS SIDE AND REAR WINDOWS ARE INOPERATIVE, CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IS INOPERATIVE AND AFTER IT RAINS THERE IS A WATER PUDDLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR. *SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 20,611 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002093 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING HEAD LIGHT WOULD FLICK OFF AND ON. PH. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002132 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. TS PRIOR TO FIRE VEHICLE LOST ELECTRIC POWER AND WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH FLASHED ON. AIR TEMP SENSOR, AIR INTAKE DUCT, INNER AND OUTER AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY REPLACED. WASHER RESERVOIR REPLACED. PCM REPGORAMMED. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002257 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM THE BRAKE PEDAL ROD RETAINER HAD LOOSENED. *SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 39,987 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002472 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED, THE PEDAL WOULD GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002587 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-04-17 (April 17, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKS IN THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT.

Consequence: WHEN THE REAR BRAKE PROPORTIONING, ANTILOCK BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, OR STABILITY CONTROL FEATURE IS ACTIVATED IN SOME DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE FEATURE MAY NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULATOR UNIT AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC MODULATOR.

Reported: 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.

Consequence: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Reported: 1999-08-27 (August 27, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO PEDAL ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENT NUTS MAY BE LOOSE.

Consequence: IF THESE NUTS ARE LOOSE, THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY BE LOW, THE ASSEMBLY MAY BE LOOSE, THE BRAKES MAY NOT RELEASE, AND IF THE NUTS BACK COMPLETELY OFF, BRAKING MAY BE LOST. ALSO FUME AND WATER INTRUSION TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAN OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MISSING BRAKE BOOSTER TO BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY NUTS AND TIGHTEN ALL FOUR (4) NUTS TO SPECIFIED TORQUE.

Reported: 1999-10-29 (October 29, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE INNER TIE ROD NUTS ARE LOOSE AND CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF A TIE ROD.

Consequence: SEPARATION OF A TIE ROD CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED STEERING INPUT INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK AND ADJUST THE VEHICLE TOE-IN AND TIGHTEN THE INNER TIE ROD NUTS TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE.

Reported: 1999-12-17 (December 17, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE HEAD LAMP ADJUSTMENT DEVICE HORIZONTAL ADJUSTER MAY NOT MOVE THE HEAD LAMP REFLECTOR WHEN THE SHAFT IS ROTATED IN A NORMAL MANNER DURING AIMING.

Consequence: DRIVER VISIBILITY MAY BE IMPAIRED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: AN INSERT CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPTICALLY AIMING THE HEADLAMPS WILL BE PROVIDED TO OWNERS FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL. OWNERS SHOULD FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE IN THE INSERT FOR HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT, RATHER THAN USING THE HORIZONTAL VHAD INDICATOR.