25 of the 514 complaints about the 1997 Buick Lesabre are about the steering — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 141,502 miles.
25
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STEERING
SUB FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROATED OUT ON THE BACK DRIVE. COMPLETE SAFTY HAZARD NEEDS RECALL
NHTSA complaint #10928836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WAS DRIVING CAR AND IT STARTED STEERING HARD DROVE HOME APPROX 35 MILES TO FIND THE K FRAME WASHERS HAD RUSTED OFF AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT BEING SUPPORT. HAS IT FIXED AND SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND STEERING WENT OUT AND ON INSPECTION THE FRONT AND LOWER FRAME MOUNTS HAD FALLEN AND CAR HAS BEEN PARKED EVERY SINCE BECAUSE I CAN NOT FIND PARTS THAT ARE REASONABLY PRICED! I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE DOING 70 MPH 10 MINS PRIOR TO THE LAST INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD RESULT. HAVE READ ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS IN A FORUM SOMEONE STARTED ON GOOGLE, CANT BELIEVE THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL!
NHTSA complaint #10578934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE ACCELERATING UP TO SPEED FROM A STOP, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE THUMP, THE STEERING WAS ERRATIC, THE CAR VIBRATED AND SHOOK. THE POWER STEERING WAS INOPERABLE. WE SLOWLY DROVE THE CAR HOME (2 MILES) AND UPON EXAMINATION, WE DISCOVERED THE ENGINE CRADLE FRAME WAS HANGING DOWN, ONLY A FEW INCHES FROM THE GROUND. THE ENGINE CRADLE MOUNTING WASHERS (2 ON EACH SIDE) HAD RUSTED THRU, ALLOWING THE REAR OF THE CRADLE TO DROP. I ALSO NOTICED THE RIGHT SIDE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN OFF AT THE MOUNT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION AND WHEEL ASSEMBLIES ARE FASTENED TO THIS CRADLE, SO THAT'S WHY THE STEERING BECAME ERRATIC - THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY SOLID ATTACHMENT TO THE CAR. AFTER CAREFULLY EXAMINING THE ATTACHMENT POINTS, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY AND STRUCTURAL DESIGN FLAW. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE WERE ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AT A SLOW SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I NOTICED THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE OF THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10576046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD THUMP NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END, SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING POWER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120000.
NHTSA complaint #10354661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THIS WILL BE 4TH TIME INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS BEING REPLACED. BY FAR THE WORST & MOST EXPENSIVE USED CAR EVER TO OWN. GM'S BLACK EYE.
NHTSA complaint #10288861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT SMELLED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. WHILE PERFORMING A ROUTINE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HALF OF THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS MISSING. HE ADDED MORE RADIATOR FLUID AND NOTICED THAT FLUID CONTINUE TO DISAPPEAR IN THE VEHICLE EVERY FOUR DAYS. AFTER NUMEROUS REFILLS OF RADIATOR FLUID, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE MAIN GAS LINE WAS LEAKING, WHICH CAUSED THE STRONG ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 153,000.
NHTSA complaint #10260930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND FELT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUE TO TURN IN HER HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE CRADLE WASHERS ROTTED; THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STEERED. THE GM MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD MAKE A NOTE AND WAIT FOR OTHERS TO CALL ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,623. UPDATED 04-17-09 UPDATED 04/20/09.
NHTSA complaint #10254363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10053892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING ALONG WITH THE STEERING RACK AND THE BRAKE CYLINDER. TS
NHTSA complaint #10003951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING PUMP FELL OFF THE MOUNT. ONE OF THREE BOLTS WAS BACKED OFF AND THE OTHER TWO BOLTS WERE SEVERED.
NHTSA complaint #758753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED STEERING COLUMN ASSUMES A DIFFERENT CENTER POSITION APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THE TIME, DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE STEERING MOUNTING BOLTS WAS LOOSE, AND ANOTHER MOUNTING BOLT WAS TWISTED OUT OF POSITION, DEALER REPLACED THE BOLT, AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE RACK & PINION BOLT WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN.*SLC
NHTSA complaint #6900710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES
BOOMERSHINER FAILED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND THE RENTAL AND STILL HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH THE DAMAGED BEHIND THE WHEEL. NOSAFETY DEFECT. *AK (TIRESIZE: 70)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 70 )
NHTSA complaint #742874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
HAD TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WAS INFORMED THAT A BOLT TO RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD BROKEN , AND BUSHINGS HAD WORN OUT. BOLT NUT WAS SITTING THERE, LOOKED LIKE IT WAS WELDED.
NHTSA complaint #879759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL PAINT COMING OFF, REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL NECESSARY. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #552072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
ATTACHING BOLT (DRIVERS SIDE) HOLDING THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION TO THE CRADLE BROKE, ALLOWING THE RACKAND PINION STEERING TO SHIFT IN THE RIGHT SIDE MOUNING BRACKET. BOLT SHOWED NO STRETCHING OR SHEAR FORCE CAUSING IT TO FAIL. BOLT HARDENED TO 10.9 (ON HEAD OF BOLT) BOLT IS UNAVAILIBLE UNTIL MIDDLE OF MAY DUE TO NUMBER CHANGES. (TELLS ME SOMETHING IS WRONG SOMEWHERE ! ).
NHTSA complaint #722223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER WOULD FEEL SLACKNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER SAID SHAFT WAS WORN OUT. DEALER REPLACED BOTTOM AND TOP STEERING. DEALER CLAIMED THAT EVENTUALLY IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK
NHTSA complaint #857339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
BROKEN BOLT CAUSED POWER STEERING AND BELT FAILURES. YH
NHTSA complaint #607247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL OFTEN TIGHTENS UP.
NHTSA complaint #701061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
THE SECURITY ALARM HORN AND LIGHTS BLINKED AND BLEW OUT WITHOUT BEING ACTIVATED AT ALL TIMES OF DAY/NIGHT- WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #526291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
STEERING COLUMN ANTI-THEFT ALARM CONTROLLER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #603869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
RATTLING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, ALSO RUBBING SOUND. SEVERAL DIAGNOSIS; RESET FRONT CAMBER/INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION ETC.
NHTSA complaint #814259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
STEERING STIFFENS.
NHTSA complaint #507514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND THERE IS A LOT OF VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOUR TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS LEMON.
NHTSA complaint #813525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
WHILE DRIVING, HEARD NOISE/CLICKING SOUND WHEN MAKING SHORT TURNS, CHECKED BY DEALER, STEERING SHORT GEAR BROKE, NO ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #802450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
FAILURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN, CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH DID NOT INDICATE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF.*AK
NHTSA complaint #803071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.