FaultScore

1997 Buick Lesabre door lock problems

11 of the 514 complaints about the 1997 Buick Lesabre are about the doors, latches and locks — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 140,000 miles.

B

11

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Latch 5 45.5%
Latch 3 27.3%
Lock 3 27.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 196,400 miles Troy, NC Crash

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

The contact's friend owns a 1997 Buick LeSabre The contact stated that the hood was difficult to open and close. The latch was in the correct location. The contact stated that while her roommate was driving at 45 MPH, the hood opened and detached. The driver pulled over, and a 2012 Chevrolet crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. There were no reported injuries. The air bags did not deploy, and there was no fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was drivable. The contact called the dealer, who informed them that there were no recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 196,400.

NHTSA complaint #11574509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Honomu, HI

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED TO HOOK AND LOCK, WHICH CAUSED THE DOOR TO OPEN. THE DOOR AJAR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TT UPDATED 8/1/18

NHTSA complaint #11034699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Ridgeville, OH

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

1997 BUICK LESABRE HOOD BECAME UNLATCHED AND BLEW BACK. *BF OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0306-90 UPDATED 05/03/10

NHTSA complaint #10321941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Goodlettsville, TN

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

DT: CONSUMER OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST A LITTLE BUT NOT ENOUGH TO GET COMPLETELY OUT OF TRAFFIC. SHE WAS STUCK IN VEHICLE BECAUSE EVERYTHING ON VEHICLE SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE GROUND CABLE COMING LOOSE, NOT LOOSE FROM THE MOTOR BLOCK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WORKED ON, SHE DID NO FEEL THAT CABLE COMING LOOSE WAS DUE TO A DEFECT. SHE WAS MORE CONCERNED THAT WHEN VEHICLE LOST POWER SHE WAS STUCK IN VEHICLE WITH NO WAY TO ESCAPE. THE DOOR LOCKED AND POWER WINDOWS DID NOT WORK. THE BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THAT THERE WAS NO MANUAL LOCK THAT COULD BE USED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WHEN POWER FAILED. SHE WAS STUCK IN VEHICLE WITH VEHICLE IN THE ROAD AND IN DANGER OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SHE STAYED IN VEHICLE ONE HOUR ON A VERY HOT DAY UNTIL SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTACT A FRIEND ON CELL PHONE, AND HE CAME TO HELP HER.

NHTSA complaint #10132637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles OAK Park, MI

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

THE HOOD CAME UNLATCHED AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING.. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE HOOD ASSEMBLY INSPECTED.

NHTSA complaint #10099199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flint, MI

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE TRUNK WILL OPEN. BUTTON INSIDE THE CAR WORK AND THE KEY WORKS FOR TRUCK ON THE OUTSIDE. TRUCK COME OPEN ON ITS OWN. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATON. NLM

NHTSA complaint #8019776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arcadia, CA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK

TRUNK LOCK FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #606547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nuevo, CA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

RIGHT FRONT DOOR LOCK FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #607200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fontana, CA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENERS. AIR BAG LIGHTS.

NHTSA complaint #609626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Montclair, CA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK

TRUNK LOCK FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lincoln, CA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR LOCKS ARE CONSTANTLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE MODULE TWO TIMES ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #822095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Buick Lesabre problems

← Full 1997 Buick Lesabre report