1999 Buick Lesabre

A FIRE IGNITED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND VEHICLE EXPLODED. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A RUPTURED INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN STARTED THE TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SHE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY SMOKE A FLAME COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD AND SHUTTERED WHEN IN OVERDRIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CONVERTER ASSEMBLY, VALVE BODY, PRESSURE CONTROL AND REPROGRAMMED THE POWER TRAIN CONTROLLER. *NM

WHILE PARKING CONSUMER NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STARTED UP THE VEHICLE, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT VALVE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WORN OUT PART. *AK

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

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.)

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT A LEAK DEVELOPED AND LEAKED FLUID ONTO THE ENGINE. ANTIFREEZE WAS GONE. HAD THROTTLE BODY HOUSING REPLACED ON 8/27/03 BECAUSE OF OIL LEAKAGE. HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. CONSUMER NOTICED A RECALL ON 2000-2003 BUICKS BECAUSE OF PLASTIC BODY HOUSING MELTING.*AK