NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
16 reportsClear category filter200,000 miles · Jan 15, 2021
EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THE ENGINE VALVE COVER WAS FAULTY AND OIL HAD LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE LOCAL DE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THE ENGINE VALVE COVER WAS FAULTY AND OIL HAD LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE LOCAL DEALER WALLINGFORD BUICK LOCATED AT 1122 OLD NORTH COLONY RD, WALLINGFORD, CT 06492 AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA ODI #11388356
Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemStructureFire
WAS DRIVING AND AS I PULLED TO REDLIGHT VEHICLE SMELLED OF GAS BUT BURST INTO FLAMES FROM THE MOTOR
NHTSA ODI #11156500
900,000 miles · Jun 11, 2018
EngineFire
DROVE CAR 0.2 MILES PARKED CAR WENT INTO WALMART CAR WAS SEEN SMOKING IN PARKING LOT ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE FIRE DEPT CAME TALKED TO AUTO SHOP THEY SAID IT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE MANY TIMES DUE TO A MANUFACTURER ISSUE
NHTSA ODI #11101186
108,000 miles · Dec 7, 2016
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LEAKED OIL AND COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LEAKED OIL AND COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 01/23/2017*CT *CN
NHTSA ODI #10933628
178,000 miles · Feb 1, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemFire
I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE'S OIL LEAKING THEN BURNING/SMOKING OFF MY CAR. THIS ISSUE IS ON MY ENGINE'S MANIFOLD & HASN'T BEEN RECALLED EVEN THOUGH THE SAME ENGINE IS RECALLED ON OTHER GM MODELS. THE ENGINE ON MY LESABRE IS THE SAME 3.8 LITER V6 3800 ENGINE THAT WAS RECALLED TWICE BY GM IN THE PAST 6 YEARS. MY ENGINE HAD M…
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I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE'S OIL LEAKING THEN BURNING/SMOKING OFF MY CAR. THIS ISSUE IS ON MY ENGINE'S MANIFOLD & HASN'T BEEN RECALLED EVEN THOUGH THE SAME ENGINE IS RECALLED ON OTHER GM MODELS. THE ENGINE ON MY LESABRE IS THE SAME 3.8 LITER V6 3800 ENGINE THAT WAS RECALLED TWICE BY GM IN THE PAST 6 YEARS. MY ENGINE HAD MINIMAL FIRE IN THE INCIDENTS I EXPERIENCED BUT QUITE A BIT OF SMOKE FROM THE AREA THE OIL LEAKS. ONCE I KILL THE ENGINE THE SMOKE STOPS. GM WANTS TO CHARGE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK & WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE ON THE VERY SAME ENGINE, VIEWING IT AS JUST A VEHICLE NOT RECALLED EVEN IF IT HAS THE SAME FAULTY PART. IT CAUSED MY CAR'S CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO FAIL AS IT BURNED THROUGH. A FIX IS COSTLY, SO I WENT TO MY OWN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO SAVE MYSELF MONEY SINCE GM DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF ISSUES THAT THEY RECALLED. BELOW ARE THE 2 RECALLS THAT SHOULD APPLY TO MY CAR & ALSO THE PONTIAC BONNEVILLE AS WELL SINCE THEY ARE BOTH BUILT ON THE SAME CHASSIS, PREMISE, & ENGINE AS THE OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE. BOTH LESABRES & BONNEVILLES HAVE THE 3.8 V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED 3800 ENGINE THAT RUNS IN THE RECALLED INTRIGUE. ENGINE OIL DRIPPING ON MANIFOLD MAY CAUSE FIRE NTHSA RECALL NUMBER: 15V701000 REPORT RECEIVED DATE: 10/26/2015 GENERAL MOTORS LLC (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-1999 CHEVROLET LUMINA AND OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, 1997-2004 BUICK REGAL AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, 2000-2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA, AND 1998-2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO VEHICLES. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE NTHSA RECALL NUMBER: 09V116000 DATE OWNER NOTIFIED BY MANUFACTURER: 04/09/2009 REPORT RECEIVED DATE: 04/08/2009 GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE.
NHTSA ODI #10823619
43,000 miles · Nov 30, 2015
Engine
THE 2002 BUICK LESABRE HAS THE SAME ENGINE AS THE 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, WHICH IS COVERED IN THE RECENT RECALL 15V701. THIS RECALL COVERS OIL LEAKING FROM THE MANIFOLD ONTO THE REST OF THE ENGINE, LEADING TO A RISK OF FIRE. THE 2002 BUICK LESABRE IS, HOWEVER, NOT OFFICIALLY COVERED IN RECALL 15V701, EVEN THOUGH MINE DEFINITE…
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THE 2002 BUICK LESABRE HAS THE SAME ENGINE AS THE 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, WHICH IS COVERED IN THE RECENT RECALL 15V701. THIS RECALL COVERS OIL LEAKING FROM THE MANIFOLD ONTO THE REST OF THE ENGINE, LEADING TO A RISK OF FIRE. THE 2002 BUICK LESABRE IS, HOWEVER, NOT OFFICIALLY COVERED IN RECALL 15V701, EVEN THOUGH MINE DEFINITELY SHOWS ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL. I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP ONCE TO TRY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE 2002 BUICK LESABRE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. IF NOT, PLEASE OUTLINE WHY. ALSO, WHAT IS THE EXACT FIX FOR THE OTHER CARS THAT ARE COVERED (BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION WHEN I TAKE THE CAR TO THE SHOP AGAIN TO TRY TO CORRECT THE ISSUE; I AGAIN HAVE OIL LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE)?
NHTSA ODI #10807365
100,000 miles · Nov 1, 2015
EngineFire
VALVE COVERS ARE LEAKING OIL RIGHT ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED A SMALL FIRE THIS ENGINE WAS RECALLED IN OTHER CARS FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT BUICK LESABRE
NHTSA ODI #10787515
230,711 miles · Oct 8, 2015
EngineService BrakesSteering
BEGINNING ABOUT AUGUST OF 2015 UNTIL NOW, OCT 2015, THE ENGINE OF MY BUICK LE SABRE HAS BEGUN TO STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THAT OCCURS I LOSE MY POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. TONIGHT (OCT 7, 2015) IT HAPPENED FOUR TIMES ON THE WAY HOME. I MADE IT HOME SAFELY FORTUNATELY BUT I WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN UNTIL IT IS FI…
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BEGINNING ABOUT AUGUST OF 2015 UNTIL NOW, OCT 2015, THE ENGINE OF MY BUICK LE SABRE HAS BEGUN TO STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THAT OCCURS I LOSE MY POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. TONIGHT (OCT 7, 2015) IT HAPPENED FOUR TIMES ON THE WAY HOME. I MADE IT HOME SAFELY FORTUNATELY BUT I WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN UNTIL IT IS FIXED. LAST WEEK I HAD BOTH A MOBILE MECHANIC AND AN AUTO SHOP (PURCELL) LOOK AT IT AND THEY CAN NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY CALL IT AN INTERMITTENT DEFECT. WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPERIENCE OF THE AUTOMOBILES THAT GM HAS RECALLED, ALTHOUGH MY YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL ARE NOT ON THE LIST THAT I FOUND ON THE INTERNET. MY EXPERIENCE IS SO SIMILAR THAT I WANT MY IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED BY GM BEFORE I WILL DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS.
NHTSA ODI #10780703
7,200 miles · Mar 15, 2015
Air BagsEngineSteering
THE ENGINE KEEPS STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF IN TRAFFIC AFTER LURCHING FORWARD. DEFECTIVE ENGINE BURNED PART OF ENGINE HOOD, AND SEVERED ABS BRAKE LINES BURNED OFF BY HEAT, GM MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10694387
136,000 miles · Feb 20, 2015
EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE VALVE DID NOT CLOSE A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE VALVE DID NOT CLOSE AND IGNITED THE FUEL GOING INTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
NHTSA ODI #10689617