1994 Buick Lesabre engine problems

ENGINE

WHILE MERGING ONTO I95 NORTH MY CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING TRAFFIC. I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT WAS OFF UNTIL MY LITTLE GIRL ASKED ME TO TURN THE RADIO BACK AND MY SPEED BEGIN TO DECREASE. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER SUCH A HUGE TANK LIKE MY LESABRE WHEN THE POWER STEERING GIVES. IT CRANKS RIGHT UP AFTER SHUTTING OFF AS IF NOTHING IS EVEN WRONG, BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED ALWAYS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. IT BOTHERS ME BECAUSE MY CAR IS ALL I HAVE AND IT'S THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION THAT I HAVE FOR TRAVELING WITH MY LITTLE GIRL.

NHTSA complaint #10562310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BUICK LASABRE DIES ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING. LOOSES ALL POWER CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO TRY TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHILE UNDER NO POWER. NO BRAKES, POWER STEERING . HAPPENS ABOUT 8 TO 12 TIMES A DAY. I DRIVE 47 MILES TO WORK. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED 8 TIMES, HAD TO MAKE UNSAFE TURNS TO KEEP FROM HAVING A DEAD CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO GET TOTALED. REPLACED COIL PACKS PER DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDATION. STILL DIES. NOT EVEN THE DEALERSHIP CAN DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. SEEMS ALL MECHANICS WANT TO PICK A PART TO REPLACE AT RANDOM TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE ISSUE. THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY HERE. ALOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE DRIVE THESE VEHICLES AND THEY CAN'T NEGOTIATE THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHEN THIS BEGINS TO HAPPEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES THEN SPUTTERS AND DIES. WHEN THIS STARTS, IF YOU KEEP PATTING THE ACCELERATOR IT SOMETIMES HELPS TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING BUT NOT ALWAYS.

NHTSA complaint #10353894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK LESABRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JULY OF 2008 AND CONTINUES TO STALL WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH OR LESS. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DRY. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL BECAUSE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKING ABILITY. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE TAKES LONGER THAN A MINUTE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER, BUT THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 12/12/08 *CN UPDATED 12/15/08.

NHTSA complaint #10249138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I AM A MECHANIC AND WORK ON CARS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE GM CARS OF THE EARLY TO MID 90'S LIKE THE BUICK LE SABRE CLASS ARE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATER ENCLOSURE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR THE PLASTIC ENCLOSURES ARE CRACKING AND PIECES OF IT ARE FALLING OFF, AND IF YOU TOUCH THE PLASTIC, IS WILL CRUMBLE APART. I FEE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARD, AS THIS WILL ALLOW THE FUMES FROM THE ENGINE LIKE EXHAUST,GAS AND OIL TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THEN THE OCCUPANTS WILL BE BREATHING THE FUMES. I FEEL THAT GM NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10224268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

WIFE STRANDED WHEN CAR OVERHEATED. UPON INSPECTION OF ENGINE I FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC FITTING IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD BROKEN OFF LETTING ALL COOLANT RUN OUT. WE HAVE BEEN LOOSING COOLANT FOR SOME TIME. (A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I REPLACED PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND SERPENTINE BELT WHILE TRAVELING, BUT ALWAYS HAD A LOSS OF COOLANT THAT I COULD NOT FIND. WHEN I CALLED TO GET A NEW FITTING, THE ATTENDANT TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BEFORE I COULD TELL HIM. HE SAID THIS HAPPENS A LOT AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS NOW MADE OUT OF METAL. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH DAMAGE THAT THIS HAS CAUSED MY ENGINE. YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE FITTING WITHOUT A MIRROR. WHAT A LOUSY DESIGN TO USE A PLASTIC FITTING! IT HAS CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR US.

NHTSA complaint #10102730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD NOT HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED, EXCEPT FOR THE OIL BEING CHANGED.

NHTSA complaint #10097853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SMELL OF GASOLINE AROUND THE CAR. A CHECK UNDER THE HOOD SHOW DROPS OF GASOLINE COMING FROM AROUND A SMALL CLIP IN FUEL LINE (TOP OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE FIREWALL). THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME FOR ME! LAST TIME THE FUEL WAS COMING OUT OF THE CLIP AT A FASTER RATE. LAST TIME I WASN'T ABLE TO REPLACE THE CLIP WITHOUT BUYING AN UNRELATED REPAIR KIT (DISCARDING OTHER PARTS) . I CONSIDER THE CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LEAK BECOMES MORE SERIOUS AND DRIVING THE CAR FOR A WHILE, AS VERY SERIOUS.

NHTSA complaint #10046827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VEHICLE LEAKED COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10019665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 10 MPH, LATER VEHICLE ALSO STALLED.(ANGELA PERESTLY, P.O.BOX 3835, OAK PARK, IL 60303, (718) 383-4353 IS WRITING ON BEHALF OF HER MOTHER).

NHTSA complaint #566022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO MECHANIC FOR A CHECK UP. WAS INFORMED THAT POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. *AK COOLANT PUMP WAS NOISY, DEALER REPLACED. POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING, DEALER REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #899416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE SERPINTINE BELT NEEDE TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE WATER PUMP HUB SEPARATED FROM THE SHAFT WELD.

NHTSA complaint #562529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE WILL JUST CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #886177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS DUE TO SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, THE IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #785255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

REPAIRED TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #552096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

REPAIRED TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #552096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS, BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #859571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR WILL DIE WHILE DRIVING AND I HAVE TO COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND STOP. THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART AND I HAVE TO WAIT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES (TWICE DURING THE WEEK OF 3/13/00). I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I AM STILL DRIVING THE CAR BUT I FEEL IT IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AS A VERY BAD ACCIDENT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR STALLS OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA complaint #720168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE DIES WHILE DRIVING. HAS TO SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL TO RESTART VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #719700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35-40 MPH VEHICLE WOULD DOWNSHIFT THEN UPSHIFT FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, AND FINALLY STALL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE WAS ROAD TESTED THREE TIMES . DEALER MADE SOME REPAIRS, AND STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS FINE . VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AFTER PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS CHANGED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE STOPPED AT INTERSECTION AND RESTARTS SURGING DUE TO UPPER INTAKE GASKET AND THROTTLE BODY GASKET FAIURES. PCM FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #856017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE QUIT/SEIZED AS VEHICLE WAS TURNING INTO BANK PARKING LOT. NO INDICATIONS/LIGHTS PRIOR TO FAILURE TO INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE YET TO LET ME KNOW WHAT FAILED. BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (36/36000), HAD TO PAY FOR NEW ENGINE, $3700.

NHTSA complaint #711693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING A VEHICLE ON AN INCLINE THE VEHICLE STARTS BUCKING AND THEN THE ENGINE STALLS OUT. DLR HAS SEEN BEFORE AND TRIED TO FIX, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #846938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAS TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS, ONE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BACKFIRE EACH TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN AT APPROIXMATELY 35 MILLES PER HOUR. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS; EVERY TIME THE THE VEHICLE IS STARTED THERE IS A POPPING SOUND FROM THE FUEL TANK AREA. OR EACH TIME YOU STOP YOU TEMPORARLY THRE FUEL TANK WILL POP. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO REPAIRS ARE AVAILABLE CONCERNING THE ENGINE BACKFIRING, OR INTHE CASE OF THE FUEL TANK POPPING THE MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT GM HAS CHANGED THE TYPE OF METAL /MATERIAL THAT USED TO MAKE FUEL TANKS SINCE 1996 BECAUSE OF THE FUEL TANK POPPING. BUYERS GUIDE , 1998, ADDRESSED TH BACKFIRING PROBLEM BUT, GM HAS NEVER SENT A NOTICE TO ME TO INFORM ME OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION THAT IS PREFORMED BY THE DEALERS OR GM. I AM CONCERED OF A POSSIBLE EXHAUST PROBLEM OR THE FUEL TANK MIGHT RUPUTER PLEASE ADVISE ME IF THERE IS AN ONGOING FIX THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED ABOUT. THANK YOU. P.L. KING.

NHTSA complaint #708753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITHIN THE COOLING SYSTEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD THERE IS STEAM COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THERE IS AN ODOR IN VEHICLE. ALSO, THROTTLE BODY SEAL MAY BNOT BE SUFFICIENTLY COMPRESSED TO PREVENT COOLINT FROM LEAKING.

NHTSA complaint #833064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED COMPUTER. CONSUMER HAS CONSTANTLY TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR ENGINE SHUTDOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #836141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED COMPUTER, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #836155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EXHAUST PIPE FELL DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #543481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.