23 of the
514 complaints about the 1997 Buick Lesabre are about the
seat belts — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
51,500 miles.
D
23
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Anchorage
834.8%
Buckle Assembly
834.8%
Seat Belts
313.0%
Front
28.7%
Retractor
14.3%
Rear/Other
14.3%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 45,000 milesMahomet, ILCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WEBBING TIGHTENED INDEPENDENTLY AROUND THE CHILD'S BODY. THE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED BACK AND TORN SPINE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS INJURY TO THE ABDOMEN. THE INJURIES REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10779283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 177,364 milesAustin, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
I TURNED THE IGNITION TO START MY CAR ON 1/17/2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30A AND HEARD A VERY LOUD POP AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE COVER AND INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE BOTH SHATTERED. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND A RECALL PERTAINING TO THIS EXACT ISSUE, RECALL NUMBER 96V116000; ADDITIONALLY, I FOUND ANOTHER RECALL PERTAINING TO FAULTY SAFETY BELTS, RECALL NUMBER 96V044000. I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY THE BUICK CORPORATION THAT THERE IS A RECALL BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED FOR SOME UNEXPLAINED REASON.
NHTSA complaint #10215239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 58,000 milesEllisville, MOCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
I WAS REAR ENDED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN PUSHED INTO THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND TRANSPORTED TO EMERGENCY ROOM. THE SAFETY BELT ON MY 1997 BUICK LESABRE LTD DID NOT HOLD ME BACK DURING THE COLLISION AND I WAS THROWN FACE FIRST INTO MY STEERING WHEEL. THIS RESULTED IN A SEVERELY BROKEN NOSE, SEVERE FACIAL CONTUSIONS AND BRUISES. I AM TOLD BY BUICK DEALER REPAIR PERSONNEL THAT A BUICK LESABRE MUST BE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH IN ORDER FOR SEAT BELTS TO LOCK AND HOLD THE DRIVER BACK. THE SEAT BELTS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR CAN BE PULLED OUT AND ALMOST REACH THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND WHILE DRIVING IT. I HAVE ALSO DISCUSSED THE ACCIDENT WITH SEVERAL PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SIMILAR ACCIDENTS IN DIFFERENT MAKE CARS. THEY STATED THAT THEIR SEAT BELTS DID HOLD THEM BACK AND THAT THEY DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE SEAT BELT ON MY 1997 BUICK IS DEFECTIVE AND ALLOWED ME TO RECEIVE SEVERE FACIAL INJURIES. I BELIEVE THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND PROPERLY REINSTALLED SO THAT THEY WILL WORK IN AN ACCIDENT SUCH AS MINE. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE SEARCHED THROUGH THE COMPLAINTS SENT TO YOUR ORGANIZATION AND NOTICED THAT AN ALMOST EXACT ACCIDENT HAPPENED TO A 1997 BUICK LESABRE LTD IN 1998. THE PERSON INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WROTE TO YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SEAT BELTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND ALLOWING THE PERSON TO SUSTAIN MANY INJURIES. WHEN WILL THE NHTSA NOTICE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS AUTO SAFETY BELT AND ORDER A RECALL SO THAT INJURIES SUCH AS MINE AND THE PERSONS IN 1998 DO NOT CONTINUE TO OCCUR?
NHTSA complaint #10107882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 42,033 milesSouthington, CT
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BROKE. IT WAS THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 96V044000. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER. HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED THE RECALL. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10099677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ,PLASTIC PART, FELL APART WHEN FASTENING TOGETHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AKI
NHTSA complaint #8014930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntington, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MECHANISM FAILED, REAR BUCKLES DO NOT LATCH PROPERLY. MJS
NHTSA complaint #608044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntington, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MECHANISM FAILED, REAR BUCKLES DO NOT LATCH PROPERLY. MJS
NHTSA complaint #608044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Blythe, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVER SEAT BELT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #607477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Corona, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED. NM
NHTSA complaint #608120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lantana, FL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
PASSENGERS SEAT BELT LOCKS/TIGHTENS WHILE DRIVING, CREATING DISCOMFORT FOR PASSENGER, IS DESIGNED THIS WAY TO SECURE CHILD SEATS.
NHTSA complaint #524874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa ANN, CA
SEAT BELTS
WHEN RIDING IN THE VEHICLE AND TRYING TO GET THE SEAT BELTS TO STAY AROUND THE CONSUMER, THE FRONT AND THE REAR SEAT BELT STRAPS ARE TOO SHORT TO BE PULLED OUT AND TO GO AROUND THE CONSUMER.
NHTSA complaint #831754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Culver CIT, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Flushing, MI1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #537414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Decatur, GA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
REAR SEAT BELT DESIGN CAUSES OCCUPANT TO SIT ON BUCKLE, THEY ARE TOO CLOSE TO SEAT AND DIFFICULT TO FASTEN.
NHTSA complaint #525465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT EXTEND FAR ENOUGH TO FIT PEOPLE OVER 100 POUNDS.
NHTSA complaint #523119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arcadia, CA
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #603869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alloway, NJ
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT DESIGN PROBLEM; THE BUCKLE PART OF THE SEAT BELT IS SO SHORT THAT IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR AN ADULT TO BUCKLE THE BELT.
NHTSA complaint #814579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fairless H, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
PLASTIC PART OF BUCKLE CAME OFF WHEN TRYING TO BUCKLE UP.
NHTSA complaint #516213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Covina, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #602999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hemet, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
LOCATION OF REAR SEAT BELTS MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BUCKLE.
NHTSA complaint #602831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palatine, IL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #512600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Prescott VAL, AZ
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE TO SHORT TO GO AROUND A CHILD SEAT OR A PERSON. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #984993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Berlin, WI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGERS ON OUTSIDE SEATING, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BUCKLE BY PERSONS USING THEM.
NHTSA complaint #809037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.