2001 Buick Lesabre problems

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Turned the key in ignition just past click and heard a loud bang in engine under hood. I looked under the car and seen flames. Within 18 minutes the whole car was in totally on fire. The volunteer fire department came and put it out. We did a search on the internet and discovered we are not the only ones to experience this.

NHTSA complaint #11451015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The contact owned a 2001 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled upon the depression of the accelerator without warning. The contact stated that a black smoke began to emit from the engine as he was able to pull into an independent mechanic shop. The contact immediately exited the vehicle as flames began to emit from the vehicle's engine. Employees from the independent mechanic attempted to assist with the fire as the fire department was called to the scene. Police and fire arrived at the scene as the fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed and the contact was given a police report number(#C221CR384628). No injuries were reported and no medical assistance was needed. The vehicle remained in the possession of the independent mechanic where it was deemed a total loss. The vehicle was eventually towed to an independent junk yard and destroyed. The dealer nor the manufacturer have yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 191,900.

NHTSA complaint #11437748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE SAW SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WAS UP IN FLAMES. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR INJURIES DUE TO THE FIRE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND COULD EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTIFIED A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #11400037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HER HUSBAND TURNED THE IGNITION ON, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACTS HUSBAND NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WHEN HE LIFT THE HOOD, IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACTS HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FRACTURED AND THAT THE COVER HAD BLOWN OFF DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,060.*DT

NHTSA complaint #11388857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT'S FATHER OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS, WHEN HIS FATHER WAS ATTEMPTING TO JUMP START THE BATTERY WHEN ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT AND HIS FATHER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED NO ONE WAS INJURED. A DEALER HAD NOT BEEN AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,348.

NHTSA complaint #11322142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE IGNITED WITHOUT WARNING UNDER THE HOOD AFTER THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COVER FOR THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND FUEL SYSTEM HAD FLOWN OFF. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA02030 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURES AS THE RECALL AND NHTSA INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TT

NHTSA complaint #11181805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE IGNITED WITHOUT WARNING UNDER THE HOOD AFTER THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COVER FOR THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND FUEL SYSTEM HAD FLOWN OFF. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA02030 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURES AS THE RECALL AND NHTSA INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TT

NHTSA complaint #11181805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THE CAR WAS OFF AND PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. WHEN THE KEY WAS PUT IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED ON, A LARGE EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD OCCURRED. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, SAW THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE SO PUT IT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. REALLY HEAVY GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CAR TODAY (1 DAY LATER)

NHTSA complaint #11060995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS EQUIPPED WITH THE 3800 SERIES ENGINE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE STARTING THE ENGINE. FAMILY MEMBER OWNED A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA WITH IDENTICAL ENGINE WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE HE WAS DRIVING HOME FOR WORK. GM SETTLED WITH THEM FOR A RECALL THAT WAS PLACED ON THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #11039561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR TO GO TO WORK AND I HEARD A BACKFIRE, MY HUSBAND CAME OUT WONDERING WHAT THAT BANG WAS. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD. HE POPPED THE HOOD TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND FLAMES CAME SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE CLOSED THE HOOD TO SMOTHER THE FIRE, WE HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT' TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. NOW WE ARE WITHOUT A CAR. NOW WHAT!!!! THIS CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND GREAT WORKING ORDER BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #10968566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. WHEN THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE IT MADE A POPPING SOUND AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. MOMENTARILY THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03/16/17*LJ UPDATED 08/11/2017

NHTSA complaint #10943899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THERE WAS AN OIL SMELL WHILE MY CAR WAS RUNNING AND THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DEFROST STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF OIL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE AND IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL THIS LEAK WAS FIXED. I LEFT THE CAR AT HIS SHOP WHILE THE PARTS WERE ORDERED. I LEARNED OF THE GM RECALL OF THE 3800 SERIES ENGINE (OIL SEEPING THROUGH VALVE COVER GASKETS AND CAUSING ENGINE FIRES) AND ASKED MY MECHANIC IF THIS WAS THE SAME OIL LEAKING PROBLEM AND WHY WASN'T THE MODEL, THE 2001 BUICK LESABRE, PUT ON THE RECALL LIST BECAUSE IT HAS THE 3800 SERIES ENGINE IN IT. HE DID NOT KNOW, SO I CALLED GM AND ASK WHY THIS MODEL WASN'T LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE GM SUPPORT STAFF SEARCHED MY VIN NUMBER AND SAID THAT THIS MODEL IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I DECIDED TO CONTINUE WITH THE REPAIR OF THE OIL LEAK, AND MY MECHANIC ORDERED NEW VALVE COVER AND GASKET PARTS. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER DUE TO THE RECALL AND THERE WOULD BE A WAITING PERIOD. AFTER A FEW WEEKS MY MECHANIC CALLED AND SAID THAT THE PARTS WERE IN AND THAT HE WOULD START THE WORK THE NEXT DAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY MECHANIC THAT AS THEY STARTED THE CAR TO MOVE IT FROM PARKING LOT INTO THE WORK BAY THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THEY LIFTED THE HOOD, THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE SO THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH FIRE SUPPRESSION IMMEDIATELY AND NOTIFIED ME. I CALLED THE GM SUPPORT STAFF BACK TO LET THEM KNOW THAT MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT OF AN OIL LEAK HAD PROGRESSED TO AN ENGINE FIRE WHILE WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO ARRIVE AND THE REPAIR TO BEGIN. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, STATIONARY IN THE PARKING LOT PRIOR TO STARTING IT BEFORE THE POP-SOUND AND FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10924380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

OUR BUICK HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE, BUT WENT TO MOVE IT ONE MORNING. WITH A COLD ENGINE, AS SOON AS WE HIT THE STARTER, THE ENGINE EXPLODED VERY LOUDLY AND STARTED BURNING. AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE INTAKE MANIFOLD, ALONG WITH THE FUEL LINES HAD EXPLODED IN MANY PIECES. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR HAD A RECALL FOR VEHICLE YEARS '98-'00, WHICH THESE MODELS HAD THE SAME CONDITION. HAD I HAD THE HOOD OPEN AT THE TIME, I'D PROBABLY BEEN HURT BY FLYING CHUNKS FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION WHICH COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED BODILY HARM, EVEN FROM FIRE TO THE PASSENGERS INSIDE.

NHTSA complaint #10836872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

OUR BUICK HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE, BUT WENT TO MOVE IT ONE MORNING. WITH A COLD ENGINE, AS SOON AS WE HIT THE STARTER, THE ENGINE EXPLODED VERY LOUDLY AND STARTED BURNING. AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE INTAKE MANIFOLD, ALONG WITH THE FUEL LINES HAD EXPLODED IN MANY PIECES. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR HAD A RECALL FOR VEHICLE YEARS '98-'00, WHICH THESE MODELS HAD THE SAME CONDITION. HAD I HAD THE HOOD OPEN AT THE TIME, I'D PROBABLY BEEN HURT BY FLYING CHUNKS FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION WHICH COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED BODILY HARM, EVEN FROM FIRE TO THE PASSENGERS INSIDE.

NHTSA complaint #10836872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.