CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR A NEW STARTER ASSEMBLY. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. THE MECHANIC SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK WHEN THE NEW STARTED WAS BEING TESTED THE MANIFOLD B…
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CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR A NEW STARTER ASSEMBLY. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. THE MECHANIC SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK WHEN THE NEW STARTED WAS BEING TESTED THE MANIFOLD BLEW UP. *JB *NM
NHTSA ODI #10115276
48,000 miles · Sep 13, 2004
Electrical System
DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BATTERY CABLES WERE NOT GETTING ENOUGH CHARGE TO START THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE QUIT RUNNING AFTER SHIMMYING ALL OVER THE ROAD. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10081564
44,161 miles · Aug 4, 2004
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFire
CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD BOOM. THEN FLAMES CAME FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE, SAID A WITNESS. CONSUMER GOT OUT AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK IN JUNE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE WHICH EXPLAINED THE FAILURE THAT SHE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL MONTHS EARLIER. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10067232
Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2004
Electrical System
CONSUMER WAS COMING TO A STOP WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM, AND SPARKS BEGAN TO COME FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10067264
20,000 miles · Mar 31, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, THEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10065345
47,500 miles · Mar 19, 2004
Air BagsElectrical System
AIR BAG DESIGN FLAW - A LIFE THREATENING DESIGN FLAW. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 BUICK LESABRE CUSTOM (PURCHASED AT THE END OF THE MODEL YEAR). THE CAR OFTEN SPENDS TIME IN THE BRIGHT FLORIDA SUN. ALTHOUGH I USE A REFLECTIVE WINDSHIELD SUN SCREEN, THE CAR STILL GETS HOT INSIDE (AS DO MOST FLORIDA CARS). RECENTLY, THE HOR…
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AIR BAG DESIGN FLAW - A LIFE THREATENING DESIGN FLAW. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 BUICK LESABRE CUSTOM (PURCHASED AT THE END OF THE MODEL YEAR). THE CAR OFTEN SPENDS TIME IN THE BRIGHT FLORIDA SUN. ALTHOUGH I USE A REFLECTIVE WINDSHIELD SUN SCREEN, THE CAR STILL GETS HOT INSIDE (AS DO MOST FLORIDA CARS). RECENTLY, THE HORN BEGAN TO HONK CONTINUOUSLY. I TOOK IT INTO THE ORANGE BUICK AND GMC DEALER IN ORLANDO FL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE AIR BAG HAS SWOLEN UP AND COMPRESSED THE HORN RELAY. THE AIR BAG IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS APPARENTLY A FLAWED AIR BAG DESIGN, WHICH MUST ALSO ENDANGE PEOPLE WITH THIS STEERING WHEEL/AIR BAG DESIGN, LIVING THROUGHOUT THE HOT SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. THE COST TO REPLACE THE POORLY DESIGNED AIR BAG (WITH ANOTHER ONE HAVING THE SAME POOR DESIGN) IS OVER $700 (DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DO SINCE I RECENTLY LOST MY JOB, WHICH HAS MOVED OFF SHORE TO INDIA). IT SEEMS THAT THE BUICK MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CORRECT THEIR LIFE-THREATENING FLAWED AIR BAG DESIGN. I HOPE TO HEAR BACK FROM THE D.O.T. ABOUT THIS LIFE-THREATENING SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10062638
63,700 miles · Mar 4, 2004
Electrical System
FAILURE OF CAR TO START WHEN IGNITION KEY TURNED. STILL HAD LIGHTS & DASHBOARD. THIS OCCURED 9:00 AT NIGHT AND COULD HAVE LEFT ME STRANDED. AS IT WAS, I HAD BEEN WITH A GROUP OF FOLKS AND SOMEONE WAITED TO FOLLOW ME. NEXT DAY MECHANIC TOWED CAR TO SHOP, UNABLE TO FIX BECAUSE HE NOT SET UP FOR DIAGNOSTICS. REFERRED ME THE GM DE…
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FAILURE OF CAR TO START WHEN IGNITION KEY TURNED. STILL HAD LIGHTS & DASHBOARD. THIS OCCURED 9:00 AT NIGHT AND COULD HAVE LEFT ME STRANDED. AS IT WAS, I HAD BEEN WITH A GROUP OF FOLKS AND SOMEONE WAITED TO FOLLOW ME. NEXT DAY MECHANIC TOWED CAR TO SHOP, UNABLE TO FIX BECAUSE HE NOT SET UP FOR DIAGNOSTICS. REFERRED ME THE GM DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THEFT DETERRANT MODULE SHOT. ONCE FIXED, TWO DAYS LATER, SECURITY LIGHT SHOWING ON DASH. NOW WE NEED A NEW KEY LOCK IGNITION CYLANDER SWITCH AND KEY. MY COMPLAINT IS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SITUATION WHERE I COULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED INSIDE MY CAR WITHOUT A WAY TO GET OUT! THIS, IN MY MIND, IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THESE PARTS NEED TO BE RECALLED! I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND IT IS NOT OLD. THEREFORE I SEE NO GOOD REASON FOR THESE PARTS TO FAIL. MY BILL WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $700.00 PER THE GARAGE ESTIMATE. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARANTY, BUT THESE PARTS NOT COVERED, NATURALLY. I GUESS THEY WEREN'T EXPECTED TO FAIL. (MILEAGE I SUBMITTED IS AN ESTIMATE AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT OEM MEANS, SO I LET IT DEFAULT TO NO.)
NHTSA ODI #10060398
33,225 miles · Jan 26, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
THE OWNER WENT OUT TO THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HE THEN CONTACTED THE AUTO CLUB AND THEY CAME OUT AND ATTACHED JUMPER CABLES. WHEN THE OWNER TURNED THE IGNITION AS INSTRUCTED BY THE MECHANIC HE IMMEDIATELY HEARD A "BANG" FOLLOWED BY A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10055845
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2003
Electrical System
CONSUMER BOUGHT NEW BUICK, LASABRA IN 1999, WITHIN 4 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, BATTERY DIED AND WAS REPLACED TWICE. AVERAGE BATTERY LIFE WAS 5 YEARS OR 60 MONTHS.*AK
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4T65E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE." A RETAINING CLIP, WHICH SECURES THE MANUAL VALVE TO THE LINKAGE OF THE TRANSMISSION DETENT LEVER, CAN BECOME LOOSE UNDER A COMBINATION OF POSSIBLE DRIVER SHIFTING MANEUVERS AND ALLOW THE LINK TO BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE MANUAL VALVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LINK DISCONNECTS, THE DRIVER'S INDICATED PRNDL STATE MAY DIFFER FROM THE HYDRAULIC STATE OF THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE DRIVER SELECTS 'DRIVE' AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTUALLY IN 'REVERSE', A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL VALVE/LINK ASSEMBLY WITH A REPLACEMENT MANUAL VALVE/LINK KIT, FEATURING A SPRING-TYPE FASTENER.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3
EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
PE02050 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jun 13, 2002 · Closed Oct 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
RQ99007 · Transmission Shift Lever Sequence
Opened May 26, 1999 · Closed Feb 8, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
No summary supplied.
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