buick lesabre Problems

buick lesabre 2004 Complaints

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

while driving in a rain storm windshield wipers failed intermittently. dealer stated that the windshield wiper module malfunctioned. *ak

Reported in: WOODBRIDGE VA || Crash: N || VIN #:

SEATS

the riders seat and the rear seats are the most uncomfortable seats i have ever sat in. they are hard and make you feel like you will slide right off of them. if i go any amount of time in the seats i get a very bad back ache. i never had that problem with my olds 88. * cb

Reported in: MANKATO MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K544

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

when driving the vehicle at night it was very difficult to see the road. consumer contacted dealership, and mechanic determined that the headlights wore out prematurely. *ak

Reported in: GUN BARREL CITY TX || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

consumer's vehicle vibrated when stopping or backing up. the consumer stated it was worse when putting the vehicle in reverse. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer 2-3 times and the last time he was told that manufacturing engineers were investigating the problem. the engine felt like it was skipping. *ak the vibration could be felt in the steering wheel, seat's and floor boards. when in reverse, the vehicle would shutter. the rear seat middle arm rest cup holder had come apart. *sc *jb

Reported in: EDGEWOOD CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54KX4U

SUSPENSION

i purchased a used 2004 buick lesabre with 18000 miles. i can feel a vibration in my feet, seat, and the steering wheel at speeds above 60mph. the dealer checked the tires and replaced the right front tire saying it was out of round and that all the other tires were in balance and within spec.s. i have driven it for severals day now and i can't discern any improvement. i called the service dept. back this morning and they recommended i purchase a $566 set of new tires! i think the problem is in the drivetrain but they won't even discuss that possibility.*ak

Reported in: MARTIN KY || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

car stalls out when put into reverse, this has happened 25-30 times in the 5 months since the car was purchased new. this creates a safety hazard especially when making u-turns or backing out into traffic.*ak

Reported in: WOODBINE MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K444

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

during the day light hours dashboard reflects off the windshield. dealer suggested that the consumer place a black cover on the dashboard. consumer claimed that if a black cover was used it would disable the heads up display. *ak

Reported in: UNION MILLS IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K14U

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

while driving, both frontal air bags deployed when tapping the bumper in front at 5 mph. this caused the driver to sustain minor injuries. the vehicle was towed to a garage. *ak the dashboard collapsed and the windshield shattered in two places and caused abrasions on both of the consumer's wife's arms due to the deployment. *sc *jb

Reported in: CROFTON MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K24U

AIR BAGS

the vehicle's air bags deployed, dashboard collapsed and windshield shattered in two places after tapping another vehicle.*mr the consumer indicated that the damage to both vehicle's was minimal. the driver sustained abrasion on her arm from the air bag/air bag gases. *nm

Reported in: CROFTON MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K24U

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

Reported in: CROFTON MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K24U

STRUCTURE

Reported in: CROFTON MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K24U

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

while driving a loud clanking noise was heard coming from the front. consumer pulled into a parking lot and parked the vehicle. while accelerating the noise got louder and louder. the next day consumer started the vehicle, then it stalled. consumer was not able to restart vehicle, and had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection. *ak the engine was replaced by the dealer but the consumer indicated that he was unsure if the engine was new(as ordered) or rebuilt. *bf *nm

Reported in: GEORGETOWN TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K34U

SEATS

sept.3,2004 my wife and i bought a 2004 buick lasabre new,.with about 90 miles on the car at interstate speed i noticed the car had a slight viberation and a slight pulling to the right,the drivers seat as well as the passenger seat also became vary uncomfortable,i felt like i was fighting the car the whole trip to fla.the futher we drove the worse all problems got,we got as far as daytona beach,fl. when these conditions got so bad i stopped the trip and called roadside asst.after talking to the dealerin florida (not the selling dealer) i was informed that the right front and left rear tires where out of spec, and all tires where out of balance,when i as if the tires where replaced they said no,reason was they claimed that the tire maker was on strike and they would not replace the tires but said they did balance all 4 tires,they said that would take care of the viberation,but they didn't know why the car was pulling so hard to the right all the time,when i ask the dealer if there was a chance of the tires braking up on my trip back to ky, i was told 50/50 .on the way back home not only these problems got worse but then the drivers seat broke,then the front passenger seat broke,these new problems happened before we ever got to the florida state line,after a long painfull trip home leaving me and my wife with bad pain in both legs from the knee down (and pain still exsisting) i took the buick back to the dealer where i bought it and traded it in on another car (not buick) even after i told the dealer about how unsafe this car was to drive i still had to take a 5,000.loss to get rid of it.this car is again for sale at the dealer, between evansville in,and owensboro ky this car is silver last 5 numbers of the vin is 66948 do not this car never should have passed quality control and got out of the factory,buick has not replied to my complaint,they have also not offered to pay for our trip interuption or our pain and suffering.*ak

Reported in: MACEO KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K844

TIRES

Reported in: MACEO KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K844

STEERING

Reported in: MACEO KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K844

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

fax inquiring what actions take place once a defect problem is posted and referenced with nhtsa, defective airbag deployed in his 2004 buick lesabre injuring his wife. *mr the consumer's wife sustained sever abrasions on both arms and a nervous breakdown that still persist today when riding in the vehicle. *nm *sc *jb

Reported in: MCDANIEL MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K24U

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

the rotors were defective. consumer experienced the same problem with another buick with low mileage. consumer stated the rotors needed to be replaced, and the dealer wanted only grind them.*ak

Reported in: BROADVIEW HEIGHTS OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

general tires, 215/70r15. consumer discarded the tires completely. and the dot# was not available. when driving, the vehicle bounced all over the road. the consumer had the tires balanced. but when the tires were completely removed consumer noticed that the vehicle performed 100% better when the tires were replaced with another brand of tires. *ak the consumer experienced a total loss of steering control as a result while going 65 mph. two tires were replaced. according to the dealer, one of the new tires were bad plus one of the good tires had gone bad. *sc *jb

Reported in: LAKEWOOD CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K444

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

while driving at low speed a splash of water from a tractor slashed on the front windshield and windshield wipers locked up temporarily. dealership was notified previously but did not resolve the problem. *ak *nm

Reported in: MARLBOROUGH NH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K84U

SUSPENSION

several attempts were made to correct a problem with my 2004 buick lesabre. i have been dealing with a rep from gm motors without success. he just kept stringing me along saying he would call, at first it was every week then every three days - each time saying he was conducting an ivestigation into the problem. the car was purchased aug 17, 2004 and the problem has existed since "day one"! i do not feel the car is safe! it has been back to the dealer several times. a re-purchase was supposed to be in the works but i guess they don't want the car either! not only are the seat covers bad but the vehicle keeps vibrating/wobbling! i have all the work orders (except for some verble comments) to support my complaint. i bought a new car i believe i should own a new car! please help me get this situation cleared up and me on the road with a new car(safe) like was purchased in the first place! i was going to resort to reporting to the attorney general but i'm hoping this form will help me out.*ak

Reported in: HUDSON FALLS NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K644

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

buick lesabre 2004, problem with dimming of the panel lights. *bf the lights would dim then after a few miles would brighten again. the vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to find anything wrong. the consumer believes it's an electrical problem. *nm

Reported in: BETHLEHEM PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K24U

TIRES

dt: the consumer has replaced 5 tires already on this vehicle, and 2 more tires need to be replaced. the tires on the vehicle will pull to the left or to the right while driving, especially while accelerating. the tire manufacturer is general. the tire size is p215/70r15.*ak *sb

Reported in: SUMTER SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K944

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

dt: contact states there is an odor coming from the vent while the heat or air condition is in use. the service dealer installed an electronic deodorizer fan. this did not fix the problem. the vehicle has been to dealer twice since then, and they installed an interior box for an hour, and sprayed the vehicle with a deodorizer, and checked the recall fan.*ak

Reported in: TURLOCK CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K244

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY

dt: the instrument panel cluster lights began to scatter and illuminated when the engine started, the battery and air bag light continued to stay on while driving for about a mile and a half. when consumer got home shu off aengine and then tried to restart to see if this would happen again. there was no power in the car. the vehicle would not start. called buick roadside asssitance because the car was still under warranty. a tow truck was sent. the car was towed to buick dealership. the dealership did not determine what was wrong because the vehicle was still at dealer. but consumer wisheed to file a complaint at this time.*ak

Reported in: EMPORIUM PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K544

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

Reported in: EMPORIUM PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K544

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

Reported in: EMPORIUM PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K544

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

sudden and potentially deadly failure of brake pedal on 2004 buick lesabre. pedal snapped and went to floor, no brakes. occurred in my driveway. i put car in park to stop forward motion and avoid hitting my son's car.*ak

Reported in: COLUMBIA TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K34U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

the vehicle would not start, the theft system was replaced and battery problem still occurs. *ts the consumer experienced the following: stalling, gauges dying out, engine light and security light illuminating, hard times starting the engine, rattle in the middle vents when set on low, the gear shift indicator light had gone out, and the vehicle was out of calibration. most of the problems were intermittent occurrences and were hard to duplicate. *sc

Reported in: KAPOLEI HI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K94U

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Reported in: KAPOLEI HI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K94U

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:HEATER CORE

Reported in: KAPOLEI HI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K94U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY

dt*: the contact stated the door was left open with the dome light on; this caused the battery to run down. the driver was unaware of the dead battery until after the door was closed and locked. there was not enough power to start the vehicle or open the automatic door locks. the local dealer was contacted and instructed the contact to use the manual override button inside the vehicle to open the locks. the contact was unable to charge the battery until the doors were opened because the battery is located under the passenger side back seat.

Reported in: SHEPHERDSVILLE KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K54U

SUSPENSION

the car feels very unstable, it wobbles and wanders at speeds over 40 mph. it is made worse with winds over 10 mph, going down hill, on an uneven surface, when a truck is passing and a speeds around 60-65 mph. if all these symptoms come together the car is very very unstable. the feeling is very similar to going over a grooved road surface. *nm

Reported in: COLUMBIA MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K144

STEERING

Reported in: COLUMBIA MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K144

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

dt*: the contact stated there was a vibration coming from the tires while driving 50 mph as well as 75 mph. when inspected by the service dealer; the problem was identified as belt separation causing the vibration. there was a total of 10 different tire replacements to the vehicle with 2 more rejected by the dealer. also, the dealer refused to provide a different brand of tire. the manufacturer was notified. the tire manufacturer was continental. tire size was p215/70r15.*ak the tires were replaced with a different brand. updated 11/21/06. *jb

Reported in: FORT WALTON BEACH FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K244

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY

this car loses all power if it sits in the driveway for more than 24 hours. we have replaced the battery twice in the past year and the dealer states they can find nothing wrong with the electrical system. we have had it towed to the dealership twice because aaa can't start it with their portable chargers. we have purchased our own charger to use on it each time it dies - which it does if you do not drive it within 24 hours of your last start. *nm

Reported in: ARCADIA FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K44U

SEAT BELTS

shimmy in steering column. recommended tires be rotated and balanced. did not correct problem. appox. 6 months after purchase,noticed electrical odor when heat button on seat was turned on. now seat belt on driver's side sticks when it recoils. noise under hood. unable to determine cause. cluster went out and none of the gauges work except the odometer. this is a 2004 lesabre with 57,000 miles. *jb

Reported in: MILLBROOK AL || Crash: N || VIN #:

SUSPENSION

Reported in: MILLBROOK AL || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

Reported in: MILLBROOK AL || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

the speedometer and tachometer on my 2004 buick lesabre failed to register at all on one occasion, and the tachometer registered erroneously high readings on another occasion. the instrument cluster was replaced at the dealer; since the warranty had expired some two months earlier, it cost me $330 for the replacement. the old part was not made available to me at all. since i saw a television news report just today of other speedometer failures in gm cars and trucks, and since the report suggested submitting a report, i decided to do so even though my make and model of car was not mentioned. *jb

Reported in: POCATELLO ID || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

experienced failure of heat gauge, then failure of gas gauge, now failure of speedometer. *jb

Reported in: CEDAR PARK TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K144

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

no crashes or accidents as of yet. the instrument cluster on my 2004 buick lesabre went bad resulting in a not true mph reading causing potential speeding in slower zones.

Reported in: LITTLE ROCK AR || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K744

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

driving my car around 45 miles per hour when the speedometer needle began to climb without any more acceleration to the gas. the needle went past the 140 mph mark and then bottomed out hanging completely still. after turning off the car it remained hanging until a couple weeks later then it would begin to climb but never reached the correct speed. (i have the mph image on my windshield that reveals my speed-which still works). the needle on my speedometer continues to fluctuate or remain frozen each time i drive my car-it never matches the mph image on my windshield. thankfully i have this image, or it could of caused serious braking or panic the first time this happened and the speedometer was telling me i was going over 140 when i actually i was not.

Reported in: CANTON SD || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

tl*the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact stated that her vehicle passed inspection. three months later, she took her vehicle to the dealer for a routine inspection and they stated that the rear rotors were rusted, had split in two, and were hanging down. between the two inspections, she only has 13,00 miles on the vehicle. the rotors and brake pads were replaced. the contact has possession of the failed component. the manufacturer would not provide any assistance. the current and failure mileages were 35,600. updated 04/03/08. *lj

Reported in: SOUTH DUNCANSVILLE PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K444

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

Reported in: SOUTH DUNCANSVILLE PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K444

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

i have several complaints. my car has never been in an accident. i have had to replace the gas tank filler neck as it cracked. my car had 45,000 some miles on it at the time. ($473) buick said it was the result of freezing/ thawing temperatures in winter. then my ashtray door broke - it won't stay closed on it's own. buick wanted $300 - 400 to fix that. i'm using velcro. then my odometer needle stopped working and just hangs. i have had to replace every light bulb in the car and the lights on the dash heating/air panel area have gone out. i have less than 55,000 miles on the car now and all this happened before it hit 50,000 miles. this is a $35,000 car retail -come on buick - lets do better.

Reported in: LENXA KS || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

Reported in: LENXA KS || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

speedometer failed, dash indicator not working. dealer, desert buick in las vegas, refused to cover cost of replacement (est. $600-$800) yet 3 western states have sued gm over this failure, certainly a safety issue. gm has a "campaign" to fix vehicles with less than 70,000 miles but desert buick will not fix my vehicle.

Reported in: LAS VEGAS NV || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K44U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

tl*the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact noticed that the speedometer failed. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic for an oil change and the contact informed him of the speedometer failure. the mechanic stated that the vehicle may be included in a recall. the contact called the dealer and they advised him to bring them the vehicle. no repairs have been made. the failure mileage was 45,500 and current mileage was 47,833.

Reported in: WEBESTER NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K34U

CHILD SEAT

tether on the cosco vantage highback is very difficult to install. instructions are not clear, and it is not user friendly. if you have any helpful hints in how to easily shorten the tether for installation in cars please let me know. the exact model is 22560-fsm manufactured 6/15/07 why not use the tethers you install and pull to tighten like the cosco scenera 22120 fsm manufactured 6/18/07 these are much easier to install, very user friendly. please help make instructions and installation easier for parents. it is hard enough teaching them to use these car seats correctly every time, but even harder when things are manufactured in such a way that even an expert can't them figure out. (related vehicle information: model year=2004, make=buick, model=lesabre).

Reported in: TITUSVILLE FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

traveling from buffalo, n.y. to greensboro, ga. on route 77, just past beckley, w. va., i noticed a vibration in the car and thought it was a patch of rough road and immediately, there was a load bang and as i looked in my rear view mirror, i noticed black strips flying behind me. the car became sluggish and was pulling to the right. i immediately pulled unto the shoulder and stopped. i checked the right rear tire and saw all the thread was gone and only the belt remained and the tire was still inflated. i called for a tow company and the driver showed me that all the electrical connections and the rear bumper and tire well were destroyed. i was towed to a gm dealer in beckley and they spliced the wires for a temporary fix and replaced the tires so i could get home. once home, i had my gm dealer order the parts needed to fix the electrical problems. i also has a collision repair shop fix the damage to the exterior of the car.

Reported in: GREENSBORO GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K444

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

tl*the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. while the contact was placing fuel into the vehicle, the fuel gauge dial on the instrument panel moved from full to empty. the dial remained on empty and would not move. while driving 70 mph, the entire instrument panel failed without warning. the dealer stated that the entire instrument panel needed to be replaced. there was no recall pertaining to this failure. the failure mileage was 92,000. updated 12/22/08. *lj the power windows stopped working. updated 12/23/08.*jb

Reported in: BOONVILLE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K244

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

Reported in: BOONVILLE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K244

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

my 2004 buick lesabre limited had about 49,000 miles when all of a sudden the gas gauge stopped working. it is most often pegged in the 6 o'clock position, which also is affecting the heat gauge. i called buick, after conferring with my mechanic who assured me it was the instrument cluster and not the fuel sensor in the tank. buick made it sound as if they were going to fix the problem if i jumped through their hoops and take it to a dealer and pay $85.00 to put it on the computer. the computer confirmed that it was a malfunctioning instrument cluster, after waiting a week, buick called me back and said they were not going to fix the problem and that it was up to me to pay the over $600 to replace the cluster. i have not done so as of yet. now the speedometer is totally useless. the car now has 52,000 miles and on a recent road trip, the gauge quit working all together. i consider it luck that i have not gotten a ticket yet. i can live without a fuel gauge since the dash computer tells me how far i can travel before running out of gas. i cannot, however, live without a speedometer. it has now become a safety issue. i know from searching the web, including this web site, that buick is aware of the problem. i just don't know why they are so totally against fixing it. i only have one more gauge to go before the dash is totally inoperable and that is the tachometer. i have been noticing a pulse in that recently as well so i'm sure its just a matter of time before that goes out as well.

Reported in: YOUNGSTOWN OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K144

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

at 56,980 miles-driving after a stop for lunch.-all instrument panel except airbag and abs lights went off. showed 11.7 volts on display. took to dealer who said they could find no problem, it was ok next morning when they looked at it. replaced battery with a higher cca rating at 59200 miles traction off, abs and brake lights came on while driving. ok next morning. at 59,290 miles, occurred at highway speed. traction off, abs, and brake lights came on while driving. gong sounded then abs and brake lights went off but traction off stayed lighted. unable to switch traction on or off. vehicle was purchased with the primary reason to provide regular transportation to a va hospital two hours away. cannot now trust the car to make the trip.

Reported in: GEORGETOWN DE || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54KX44

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

tl*the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. while driving 50 mph, the contact noticed that the fuel gauge and tachometer dial stopped working. the entire instrument panel failed. the dealer stated that the vehicle could still be driven. the contact stated that it was a safety hazard not knowing how much fuel is in the vehicle while driving. the failure and current mileages were 42,000. updated 02/05/09 *bf updated 02/09/09. *jb

Reported in: CLIFTON PARK NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K54U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl*the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. while driving at an unknown speed, the contact noticed that the speedometer was inoperative. she was unable to determine the exact speed that she was traveling. she took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the speedometer needed to be replaced at the cost of $500. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 30,000.

Reported in: TUCSON AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K74U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl*the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact stated that the instrument panel lighting and tail lights fail constantly. as a result, visibility is significantly reduced. the dealer stated that he would have to replace the instrument cluster at the cost of $369. as of march 20, 2009, the vehicle has not been repaired. the manufacturer did not assist. the failure mileage was 44,000 and current mileage was 51,000. updated 12/8/09 *cn updated 12/09/09

Reported in: BLOOMINGTON IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K84U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

Reported in: BLOOMINGTON IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K84U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl*the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact stated that the instrument panel failed and the speedometer dial did not move at all. prior to the failure, the speedometer would indicate higher speeds than what were actually being driven. the odometer was the only gauge that operated properly. he took his vehicle to the dealer, but was turned away because the warranty did not cover his model vehicle. the contact went to two other dealers and they agreed that they could not repair the failure under warranty. he discovered that other models with the same instrument cluster were included in a recall, except for his vehicle. he spoke with the manufacturer, but they could not assist. the vehicle has not been repaired. the current mileage was 30,610 and failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

Reported in: SANTEE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K744

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

cluster inoperative. no speedometer and other gauges.

Reported in: SANTEE CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

speedometer and gas gauge stopped working at 32,000. speedometer works sometimes. gas gauge registers passed full , and in the 7 o'clock position. i need to keep track of my mileage per tank full at - to not go beyond 300 mile range before i need to fill up the tank.

Reported in: KINGS PARK NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: KINGS PARK NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

engine started to make noise like stuck valve lifter it keeps getting louder and louder dealer checked and found "flywheel cracked' replaced same about two years later the same thing occurred with another flywheel replacement. sounds like this could break apart and possibly injure someone.

Reported in: NEEDHAM MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K44U

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

2004 buick lesabre has front end vibration when driving above 60 miles per hour. seems very wobbly.

Reported in: LODI WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K144

STEERING

2004 buick lesabre has front end vibration when driving above 60 miles per hour. seems very wobbly.

Reported in: LODI WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K144

STRUCTURE

tl*the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. in 2007, the front windshield began leaking on the driver's side of the vehicle. currently, the front passenger side is leaking. the vehicle was taken to the dealer back in 2007 and they found an open seam at the front driver's side cowl area. the dealer sealed the seam back into place at the cost of $650. the contact will call the dealer and manufacturer to see if they will repair the vehicle again. the failure mileage was 6,574 and current mileage was 9,135. updated 08/28/09. *lj updated 08/31/09.*jb

Reported in: HAMMONTON NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K54U

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact stated that during attempted usage, the high beams failed while driving 55 mph. the contact was responsible for paying $708.31 to repair the vehicle. the current mileage is 114,000 updated 10/21/09*lj the consumer stated while driving on a two lane road, he attempted to switch the lights from low beam to high, only to discover he had no lights at all. he worked the switch rapidly a few times, until the low beam lights came on. since then, the consumer has not attempted to use the high beam lights. the problem was diagnosed as the multi-function switch located in the steering column.

Reported in: FORTSON GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K24U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

instrument panel cluster components (speedometer and fuel gage) are inoperative. speedometer sometimes works, and sometime shows very high speeds. most of the time it sits all the way to the left (on zero) or all the way on the right (past 120). most of the time i have no idea how fast i am going. the fuel gage is completely inoperative. i use the digital info display to the left to show how many miles i have before i run out of fuel to tell me if i need gas. so far i have not run out of gas. tachometer and water temp gauges work fine. this has gone on for about 2 years.

Reported in: CONCORD NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K244

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

i noticed my car seemed to be traveling slower than most traffic when traveling at posted speed limits. eventually while driving at a reasonable speed noticed speedometer read 95mph, needle started jumping ahead to higher speeds while maintaining normal speed. once i stopped the car the needle didn't return to the zero position, but stayed a 80mph. starting the car would reset the needle backward 10mph but it wouldn't return to zero. i researched the problem and discovered the same problem was occurring in similar model year gm pick-ups resulting in a class action suit. shortly after speedometer failure the fuel gauge failed jumping forward and backward. i brought the vehicle to the dealership because the car was approaching 80,000 miles which was the limit for coverage in the full size truck class action suit. the dealer replaced the instrument cluster at a cost of around $400, it took about a week for the dealer to obtain the part. i sent gm the form for instrument cluster failure class action suit and was called by gm and sent a letter telling me that the buick lesabre is not covered under this program. i have also discovered my mothers 2004 buick lesabre with similar mileage has the exact same problem.

Reported in: ROCKFORD MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K44U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. while attempting to start the vehicle he heard a noise. after he opened the hood and saw smoke, but within minutes the vehicle was on fire. the fire department report number was not available. the fire dept stated that the fire was initiated by electrical failure. the manufacturer took a report number 71-787679701. the manufacture stated the vehicle did not have open recalls and he will received a call back. the failure and the current mileages were 150,000.

Reported in: DETROIT MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K044

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

speedometer stops working on my 2004 buick. it can stop at any given time an can cause speeding by not knowing how fast i am running. also speeding is the number one cause of deaths.

Reported in: HICKORY KY || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

speedometer suddenly failed.

Reported in: WHEATON IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K94U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

i own a 2004 buick lesabre. the speedometer and gas gauge doesn't work and is dangerous driving since i don't know how fast i am going. are there any recalls with buick to get this fixed since it is a safety hazard to me and others. i have had this problem for a while.

Reported in: STONY POINT NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K244

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

ltr fwd (ia) re possible defect with the dash light in his 2004 buick lesabre. *tgw shortly after purchasing the vehicle, the consumer began having problems with the dash lights. the dealer didn't find a problem until the warranty expired. the consumer went to another dealer and they found a bad relay in the trunk area, which cost of$300.00. two years later, the problem returned. when the lights were turned on, the dash lights did not come on. the consumer was unable to read the speedometer and other instruments on the panel.*jb

Reported in: CEDAR RAPIDS IA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K64U

AIR BAGS

information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) accident 05/02/10 on illinois route 83 and washing to street in grayslake il. the incident involved a 2004 buick lesabre and a 1987 dodge pickup. the impact of the accident was on the front right side of the buick and totaled the vehicle. the vin of the vehicle was [xxx] . the accident resulted in the passenger of the buick and the driver of the pickup being transported to the lake forest hospital on illinois rt 120 in grayslake for checkup. our concern is that with force of the impact the airbags in the vehicle did not deploy and in our estimation they should have. the female passenger of the buick continues to complain of pain nearly 10 days after the collision. we are not aware of a defect other than the bags failed to deploy and the force of the collision was substantial. the main impact of the collision appears to have been the front right passenger wheel. our daughter had a similar collision with a ford taurus wagon in the 1990's wherein she was broadsided on the rear passenger door deployed the airbags. although injuries are minimal if the center of the impact was on the passenger door, the injuries would have been horrific. our concern is that there may be a defect in the airbag deployment system.

Reported in: GRAYSLAKE IL || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1G4HP54K244

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

tl*the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. while driving 20 mph the transmission locked. the front wheel of the vehicle and the transmission casing broke in half. the transmission had began to slip prior to the failure. the dealer had previously adjusted the computer on the vehicle; yet that did not correct the failure. the dealer stated this the failure was caused by the mileage on the vehicle. the contact stated that the design of the transmission had caused the failure to occur. the failure and current mileages were 118000.

Reported in: HACIENDA HEIGHTS CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K544

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

2004 buick lesabre purchased with 1k miles. at about 60k mi the gas gauge malfunctioned. at 110k the engine temp gauge malfunctioned and the dash lights faded on and off. also, air bag warning light goes on and off randomly. now with 120k, the tach and odometer have quit. only remaining functioning dash instrument is the speedometer. car also at times exhibits unpredictable electrical behavior, such as not starting after a brief interval with car off and radio on. mechanics advised early on that issue was a defective gas gauge, which now appears to be incorrect. faulty digital instrument panel appears confirmed. there is also a very strange and irritating noise that originates directly in the center of the dash, like small animals under the dash.

Reported in: LAS VEGAS NV || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K944

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

Reported in: LAS VEGAS NV || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K944

AIR BAGS

tl*the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. pressure was applied to the brake pedal and the driver pressed on the center of the steering column to activate the horn. the horn sounded and the air bag service light began illuminating on the dashboard. the vehicle was pulled over and shut off for a few moments. upon restart the light was no longer illuminated. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the failure and current mileages were 115,000.

Reported in: COLCHESTER CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K94U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

battery exploded when ignition was turned on. original battery when the car was bought in 2004. went back to car dealer and had it repaired. need to know why this happened. have not got a straight answer. all electrical systems checked out good when the dealer replaced the battery. battery is under back seat and i'm concerned when i drive my grandchildren. do not know the make of the original battery nor the new battery that was installed. just looking for some answer as to why this has happened.

Reported in: LIBERT TOWNSHIP OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K74U

SUSPENSION:FRONT

my 2004 buick lesabre has had front vibration since it was new. tires have been replace twice, two wheels have been replaced due to slight imperfections, wheels have been balance numerous time. the dealer did some extensive testing and eventually the vibration was within manufacturer's tolerance. they refused to take further action. the front end continues to vibrate and the car now has 33,000 miles.

Reported in: VALRICO FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54KX44

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

while traveling on vacation at different elevations above sea level. the speedometer was either showing a speed faster or slower than the actual speed (checked w/ a gps device). it first appeared when driving downhill on a curvy road. the speedometer was showing 20-25, but we were actually going about 65. we were able to control the speed and slow down. another day, the speedometer was showing 120 mph and we were driving 70.

Reported in: LIVERMORE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K644

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact was driving 5 mph and exiting a parking space when the contact noticed an abnormally strong odor of gasoline fuel. the following day, the contact stated that the failure recurred. he then inspected the vehicle and discovered that the plastic fitting had become moist on the engine. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and the contact was advised that the o-ring would need to be replaced. the mechanic advised that the only other option of repairing the failure was to replace the entire fuel line. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 61,000. updated 02/09/11*lj updated 04/29/11

Reported in: ST. LOUIS MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K24U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

my 2004 buick lesabre with 58500 miles is showing initial signs of failure of the instrument cluster. this has started with the tachometer failing to register correctly and the fuel gauge pegging beyond the full position. i understand that the next component failure will likely be the speedometer. should this occur, the vehicle will not be safe to operate. this electrical system problem represents another serious safety design flaw by general motors that must be corrected by gm before it contributes to an accident. consumers should not have to incur charges to have this obvious problem corrected. the nhtsa should issue a product recall and hold gm responsible for correcting this problem at gm's expense.

Reported in: DEWITT MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K544

SEAT BELTS

2004 buick lasabre - noticed the front seat belts are attached to the seat rather than the frame of the car. driver and passenger are therefore only belted to the seat which can become dislodged during an accident. there needs to be a recall and corrective action taken.

Reported in: COLUMBUS OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K744

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

the tachometer and temperature gauges on my 2004 buick lesabre have failed. the needles have become stuck in the red zones of their respective gauges. this began approximately one year ago when my car had less than 50,000 miles on it. the speedometer has recently shown signs of sporadic sticking, so i cannot be certain my vehicle is traveling at the correct speed. based on similar postings on this site as well as numerous internet sites, it is obvious that a manufacturer defect exists, therefore buick should be ordered to make necessary repairs at their cost. a buick dealer told me this would cost over $300 to repair.

Reported in: MOUNT LAUREL NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K34U

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact was driving 65 mph when the exterior headlights failed. the contact stated that the failure would occur intermittently. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic and the contact was advised that she would need to replace the directional switch. the vehicle was repaired yet the failure recurred within 7,000 miles. the dealer was contacted and offered no assistance. the vehicle was not further repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 100,400. updated 5/2/11 *cn updated 05/13/11

Reported in: GILLETT WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K344

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact stated that the passenger side heated seat would overheat. the manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was offered. the failure and current mileage was 63,000. updated 05/04/11 *bf the vehicle was taken to the dealer. however, they refused to inspect the vehicle without the consumer first paying a non-refundable charge of $55 to $100.

Reported in: ARDEN HILLS MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K044

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

the speedometer and the rest of the instrument cluster on the dash has begun to malfunction apparently this is a big problem since there are lots of questions about these online where people have complaints.. not knowing how fast you are going big issue.. not knowing how much gas you have, big issue. and not knowing he running temperature of the vehicle is a even bigger issue.. buick has known about this problem for some time and should have already taken action. instead they stopped building the replacement parts and now it costs even more for them to fix the problem.

Reported in: ELDON MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K444

AIR BAGS

my brother was driving my 2004 buick lesabre custom and crashed into iron gate and the air bag did not deploy.

Reported in: CHICAGO IL || Crash: Y || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact stated that the fuel gauge and the speedometer failed. the fuel level gauge would constantly display an empty reading. the dealer was contacted and they advised him that he needed to replace the entire instrumental panel. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Reported in: DALTON MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K64U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

my 2004 buick lesabre started having speedometer trouble in jan. 2011. it started showing the car going slower then it actually is. it doesn't do it right away but after awhile on a long drive. it gets worse the longer you drive it. it can show it going up to 30 mph slower then it is. also the gas gauge started fluctuating and being erratic and now also the engine temperature gauge also shows running hot when it is not. the car presently has less then 25,000 miles since new. how safe can this be when you can't trust the speedometer. going too fast or too slow? always unsure, always looking at the gauges? second guessing your driving decisions! the gas gauge and temperature gauge give a different reading each time you drive it. nothing has been done as of yet. i will be stopping at the racine, wi. buick dealer where it was purchased new to see if they will warranty the problem this coming week 6/22/2011.

Reported in: RACINE WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K844

STRUCTURE

re: 2004 buick lesabre custom issue: dashboard buckling, warped and coming undone from other components. took to gm authorized dealership which recommended the dashboard be replaced. quoted $750 for part and $500 labor. i was told it should be replaced soon because it could trigger the airbag in the passenger seat.

Reported in: MONROE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52KX4U

SUSPENSION:FRONT

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact stated while driving, the vehicle was making a loud noise. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that both front wheel bearings failed due to corrosion, as a result both wheel hub bearings needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 60,000.

Reported in: PINE CITY MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K14U

STRUCTURE

dash pad separating to point where vision could be affected and possible deployment of air bag affected.

Reported in: AIKEN SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K144

STRUCTURE

dash board separating front driver's side and passenger side, possible air bag inflation if failure of dash occurs.

Reported in: JONESBORO AR || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K144

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i bought this car may 2010 from gregory automotive group in new castle de. i immediately had a propblem with the speedometer the day i bought it, took it back to the dealership and was told that it wasnt a big deal, this problem was covered by by warranty and i would just need to pay a $100.00 deductible. i took it to my local buick dealership and they told me that it isn't covered under the warranty i bought from the dealer and i would have to pay out of pocket for the repairs. my next issue is the gas gauge started to mess up; wrong readings and gas levels left me out of gas and very upset. i will be taking this back to buick to see if i am at all eligible to recieve recall benefits or something because the amount to fix these issues are greater than i can afford within the year and some change of owning the veh. and i also want to say i did research and do a carfax on the car and it came back with accurate mileage, one owner and no accidents and i jumped on it, only to have a nice car without a working speedometer and gas gauge. i thought buicks were good solid cars...... *tt

Reported in: WILMINGTON DE || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: WILMINGTON DE || Crash: N || VIN #:

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Reported in: WILMINGTON DE || Crash: N || VIN #:

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

i went to good year 3594 rt 31 baldwinsville,ny today around 4:00pm for a oil change they moved the milage from 44,000 to 71,000 and messed with the speed thing that tells you how fast your going.when you take your car some where for what you need done you dont expect them to act like kids and play with things like that.if any thing else goes wrong i will believe it was them and expect them to pay for what ever needs to be fixed i had the car for few months now never had a problem.they where in the garge laughing and saying do you think he will find out what we did if this cost money to fix it will be paid by them and i want my oil change money back and i want those guys in the garage to be drug tested.the manager that day was joseph d and tech was patrick w.theres also the sticker for the next oil change to proof what they did.thier phone number 315-652-6673.thank you. *kb

Reported in: FULTON NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

the lights on my heater console began to go out, one by one over a one week period. obviously all these bulbs were manufactured at the same tine to the very same specs! after finding out from y service shop that i would have to replace the whole unit (at a cost of over $600 just for the part), i found some bulbs from radio shack that i soldered in myself (through fixya.com - so many people had the same problem). shortly thereafter, more bulbs on other switches (window controls, steering wheel controls, radio) also went out. this could be a very dangerous situation if you have drivers hunting in the dark for controls as they are driving. texting is bad enough, but fumbling in the dark for your own car's controls and trying to correct a button you pushed inadvertently can cause a major accident.

Reported in: WISCONSIN RAPIDS WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K844

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Reported in: WISCONSIN RAPIDS WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K844

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

as we were traveling down a back road at about 35mph, i noticed that my dash speedometer was reading 85mph. it seemed like the gauge would go up, but would not come back down. luckily, i have a heads-up display that has always shown the correct speed. later, most of the rest of my dash gauges began randomly doing the same thing -- they'd go up, but not come back down. the only gauge that seemed unaffected was my fuel gauge -- until last week. it, too, is doing the same thing. i'm seeing lots of web ads to fix this problem, which means that many people are having this same problem. this can be dangerous, since, if i run out of gas on a major road during icy weather (which we have much of the year here in wisconsin), it could cause a major accident. if that many people are having the same problem, it's not a random chance failure -- it's a defect in design, materials or "workmanship" (which includes automated processes). please address this problem!

Reported in: WISCONSIN RAPIDS WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K844

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

i first noticed the problem with the speedometer a couple of years ago, in 2009. the weather was cold, and i attributed it's disfunction to the cold. then the other gauges started to show malfunction. when it got to the point that none of the gauges were correct, i went to two gm dealers and received no concern from either of them. they did not even acknowledge that they knew of a problem. i had to pay $400 to replace the dash cluster. about this time i received a letter from chevrolet regarding the relay resistor or wiring connector on my silverado, saying they could overheat and the hvac blower might not function. i was given 10 years from date of purchase or 150,000 miles, whichever occurred first, to have this corrected if necessary. i called gm and asked why they would extend the warranty on the truck but would not even acknowledge the problem with the buick. again, no concern was shown. the person i spoke to was in the philippines! why would she care? we're askedto buy american, but we have to talk to someone in the philippines when there's a problem! also, i've had nothing but problems with the lights, all of them, inside and out. couldn't tell you how many i've had to change! at the present time, we have no radio and heater lights. goodbye gm, hello honda!

Reported in: GRANITE CITY IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K24U

AIR BAGS

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. while driving 60 miles per hour during slippery weather conditions the contact lost control of the vehicle, crashed into a ditch and a tree. the air bags did not deploy and the vehicle was destroyed. the driver and passenger were injured and transported to the hospital. a police report was filed. the manufacturer and dealer were notified of the failure, but denied any assistance with repairing the failure. the failure and current mileage was 75,000.

Reported in: JASPER TX || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1G4HR54K84U

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact stated that while driving 50 mph, there was a burning odor in the vehicle. two hours later, the contact discovered a burned hole on the rear of the front driver's seat. the vehicle was then taken to an authorized dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed as the wires from the heated seat warmer being faulty. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 120,000. updated 4/2/12 *cn the consumer stated the vehicle has been repaired. 04/16/12

Reported in: HARBOR BEACH MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K54U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. while driving approximately 30 mph, the contact noticed that the speedometer was functioning erratically. the failure recurred intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics where the mechanic advised the contact that the instrument cluster would have to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 98,000. updated 06/05/12*lj the consumer stated the problem happened again on may 11, 2012. according to the invoice, the transmission cooler lines were leaking. updated 06/06/12. *jb

Reported in: LAPEER MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K344

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

Reported in: LAPEER MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K344

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

the car leaks on the left side. water will stand in the floorboards. under the back seat water will be under the battery and fuse box. the left side of the trunk is always wet and water stands in the spare tire well. it is not leaking from the windshield.the back above the back seat is not wet. water gushes from front to back when going up and down hills. no one can find where the water is coming from. its a boat. *js

Reported in: GREENEVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K244

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. while driving approximately 55 mph, the contact activated the high beam headlights and noticed that the headlights and the interior lights on the instrument panel suddenly stopped illuminating. the failure occurred intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a diagnostic test. the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. the headlights also stopped functioning suddenly two different times while depressing the brake pedal. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

Reported in: EDENTON NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K644

STRUCTURE:BODY

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact stated that the dashboard was cracking over top of the instrument panel. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that there was no warranty for the dashboard. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 93,000.

Reported in: ABERDEEN MS || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K74U

STRUCTURE:BODY

we noticed around mid-june that our 2004 buick lasabre had a warped dashboard and is pulling away from the vent area. i was told that this can and probably will continue to spread and endanger our lives by the airbag deploying while driving. this is a definite safely hazard and a defect and i am aware that this is happening to many buicks and the company is unwilling to correct the situation.

Reported in: BOWLING GREEN KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K84U

STRUCTURE

i have a 2004 buick lesabre limited that the dash pad has started raising up between the steering wheel and windshield. based on the amount of information found on the internet concerning this problem, this could be a issue of safety. i feel that gm should be forced to issue a recall for this defect before someone is injured or killed.

Reported in: NASHVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K644

STRUCTURE

dashboard has buckled and separated from chassis in front of driver's field of vision and spreads across middle area and towards passenger side. fear of setting off air bags and also further impairment of vision as condition worsens. seems to be a defective design by manufacturer. numerous similar cases in buick lesabre models 2000-2005.

Reported in: NORTH FORT MYERS FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K24U

STRUCTURE

i own the lasabre custom. dashboard has buckled 1/2 way between the front of the dashboard to the chassis in front of driver's side and spread across to the passenger side. dashboard has separated away from the chassis and is now 90% free-floating across the entire dashboard and will be completely disengaged soon. this will likely deploy the passenger side airbag and upon deployment the driver's airbag will release while the car is in movement. injury or death to both passenger and driver is eminent, as well as the safety to oncoming traffic. considering the hundreds of complaints from other 2000-2005 buick lasabre customers going back 4 years to current, there is clear evidence that this is a manufacturer's defect and a recall is in order. should there be a death before this is validated?

Reported in: ORLANDO FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K94U

AIR BAGS

dashboard cover started lifting and pulling out from under windshield cowling about june 2012 and is traveling across to the passenger side where there is an airbag. i am now concerned that the lifting and creasing in front of the driver is a safety distraction and that if it continues to the passenger airbag that airbag may get set off unexpectedly, another safety hazard. it is definitely a manufacturer's defect and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of complaints of this on the internet. is there, or will there be, a recall to fix this problem? thank you.

Reported in: CARNEGIE PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K944

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Reported in: CARNEGIE PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K944

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

speedometer reading intermittently at least 20 mph lower than actual vehicle speed on highway.

Reported in: PALMDALE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K444

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

owner purchased a 2004 buick lesabre, vin [xxx] (?buick?), which was manufactured by general motors. on october 14, 2010, owner drove the buick from the grocery store, returned to her home, and parked the buick in the attached garage of her home and proceeded to retrieve her groceries from the trunk of the buick. after she retrieved her groceries from the trunk of the buick, owner noticed a fire at the front of the buick. the fire spread from the buick to the owner's home, and it caused extensive damage to the buick and to the home. the fire originated from the engine compartment of the buick. on march 12, 2008, general motors issued a recall, identified by nhtsa campaign id number 08v118000, in response to the potential for an engine compartment fire to occur in 207,542 automobiles manufactured by general motors from 1997 to 2003 and contained a 3.8l engine (?2008 recall?). owner's buick was not included in the 2008 recall. on april 21, 2009, general motors issued another recall, identified by nhtsa campaign id number 09v116000, in response to the potential of engine compartment fires in 1,497,516 automobiles manufactured by general motors from 1997 to 2003 (?2009 recall?). owner?s buick was not included in the 2009 recall. a defective rocker cover gasket in the buick allowed engine oil to leak onto the exhaust manifold, and the heat of the exhaust manifold was sufficient to ignite the oil and cause the fire. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Reported in: COLUMBIA SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K54U

ENGINE

Reported in: COLUMBIA SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K54U

STRUCTURE

february was the first time i noticed that the top of the dash was bulging upward and separating from the main dash (only easily seen from outside the vehicle). the separation is propagating past the half way point and i fear it could interfere with the passenger side air bag, or in the case of air bag deployment the whole upper dash could be projected into the occupants of the vehicle causing injury or death. this is a recurring problem with buick lesabre cars from 2000 thru 2005. same design, never changed. i have filed a complaint with gm to no avail. the dealer told them the dash pad was peeling, witch is untrue. the entire upper section, about a quarter of an inch thick, is deforming and separating from the dash. i have photos if you are interested. my gm report number is: [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Reported in: ORANGE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K34U

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

parked car, turned off engine and locked car. smoke started coming from under the hood, then a small explosion and a raging fire. car was totaled in 5-8 minutes. fire engines called and put out fire.

Reported in: ROCKVILLE MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K444

STRUCTURE

top of dash board (mat,pad) is bowing up into the field of driving vision and is separating from the front part of the dashboard. the separation is creeping in the direction of the passenger airbag and there is concern that both air bags may deploy. gm refuses to recognize this issue as a defective dash problem and will do nothing to help repair/replace the part. to get a good feel for the prevalence of this issue, go to cargurus.com/cars/discussion-c5295_ds45613 and read about the problems and frustrations of dealing with gm. i have even seen other buicks driving with this problem. why won't they admit to the problem and get them fixed??

Reported in: HARRISBURG NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K04U

AIR BAGS

Reported in: HARRISBURG NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K04U

STRUCTURE

the dashboard has separated more than half way across, and has raised over one inch in some areas. i am very concerned that this will affect the airbags,either rendering them ineffective or allowing them to deploy while i am driving without warning.

Reported in: DEPAUW IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K84U

STRUCTURE

safety concerns about my mother. dashboard cover started lifting and pulling out from under windshield cowling about june 2009 and is traveling across to the passenger side where there is an airbag. i am now concerned that the lifting and creasing in front of the driver is a safety distraction and that if it continues to the passenger airbag that airbag may get set off unexpectedly, another safety hazard. it is definitely a manufacturer's defect and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of complaints of this on the internet. is there, or will there be, a recall to fix this problem? i am really concerned about my mothers safety while she is driving this car. thank you.

Reported in: JACKSONVILLE FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K34U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

my speedometer or rpm or fuel gauges do not work this is not safe for me and my family what can we do to fix this?

Reported in: NICHOLASVILLE KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K94U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

while driving my recently purchased 2004 buick lesabre limited at 60 mph, my speedometer suddenly went to 95 mph and tachometer went to 1500 and will not move.. even when vehicle is turned off the speedometer and tachometer stays at 95 mph and 1500 rpm respectively. did a little research and discovered a major problem with clusters and stepper motors. my car has less than 80k miles, but i have read where this problem has occured at as little as 20k miles. completely unfair that gm makes you rely on heads up display for a speed.. very unsafe i feel because this draws your eyes from road constantly. *js

Reported in: MOUNT OLIVET KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K24U

STRUCTURE

dash board pad popped up above the gage panel approx. 14" was reported to buick service center and was told no warranty. this vehicle is garage kept except when in transit. i have owned quite a number of general motors vehicles and never witnessed this problem. i am 73 years of age. my other car is a toyota in 2015 i will buy my third prius. my brothers are all toyota owners. never another american car.

Reported in: RIVERVIEW FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K644

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the speedometer and fuel gauge displayed inaccurate readings. the failure recurred intermittently. the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 55,500.

Reported in: WESTLAND MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K84U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i purchased my 2004 lesabre in 2005. approximately 3 years ago, the speedometer would register 120 when i was moving or when the car was stopped or parked. i spoke to my mechanic and he told me that it was an expensive repair. i am a very conservative driver but am very concerned about the speedometer and the gas gauge not functioning. i have a debilitating disease and cannot even pump my own gas. what would happen if i had to try and walk to a gas station. i do not understand why this is not a recall!! how many complaints does it take?? i love my car but may have to spend a lot of money to fix a problem that is gm's responsibility. i am shocked at the amount of complaints about this very problem. i am also sure that there are many more not reported. please do something!!

Reported in: HEMPSTEAD NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact stated that the instrument panel malfunctioned, which prevented her from seeing any of the gauges. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 145,000. the current mileage was 150,000.

Reported in: NORTH HAMPTON PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K64U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled numerous times while turning or when a road bump was driven over. the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failure where a diagnostic was performed. the dealer advised that the anti-theft system was causing the failure. the dealer replaced the anti-theft module and the key was reprogrammed however, the failure was not corrected. the manufacturer advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number:14v047000 (air bags, electrical system). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 23,744 and the approximate current mileage was 25,000.

Reported in: MOBILE AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K144

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lasabre. the contact stated that the fuel gauge would not register fthe correct amoounts of fuel. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 49,000.

Reported in: PLAINFIELD IA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2004 buick lesabre. the contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the the entire instrument panel became inoperable. the vehicle was taken to a an independent mechanic who stated that the stepper motors needed to be replaced to repair the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage 87,300.

Reported in: TOLEDO OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K84U

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

while driving approximately 45 mph, speedometer would increase to as high as 90 mph with no increase from driver. this has been repeated several times over last year of operation. also gas gauge info has maxed or bottomed out. i can fix this problem by removing and reinstalling the instrument panel fuse under the back seat. when this is done you can hear something under the instrument panel reset. depending on the local temperature i might be able to go up to 3 months before having to repeat this sequence. now the a/c is putting out cool air on the passenger side vents only.

Reported in: CRESTVIEW FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

in may of 2012 the dashboard covering began to start buckling up in an area from the center of the driver side to the center of the windshield. this has gotten noticeably worse as time has gone on. the obvious cause of the problem is that there is a manufacture defect in the way this covering was constructed and attached to the dash. the continual raising of the dash cover poses a reduced visibility issue with the driver when operating the vehicle. research i have done indicates this is not a problem unique to my personal vehicle but rather a well documented defect affecting many vehicles such as mine. there has also been concerns raised that this issue could cause the premature activation of the passenger side air bags. because of the safety concerns with this defect and because so many vehicles have experienced the same issue, this is a problem that i believe needs to be addressed with the manufacturer.

Reported in: COLLINSVILLE VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K744

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

2004 silverado & 2004 buick. consumer writes in regards to both vehicles need a new cluster and the needle on the mile indicator is at 120. *smd the consumer stated the gas gauge has not worked for two years. also, he had no idea how fast he was driving. the consumer stated having both vehicles repaired, would cost $1000.00 *jb

Reported in: BAYFIELD WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K444

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

at approximitly 80,000 miles my fuel gage stopped working. it will either say full or empty no inbetween. it is not accurate nor is the low fuel light. to get it fixed i had it estimated at around $600..... just another reason not to buy a american made vehicle.

Reported in: MORENCI MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

while driving at approximately 45 mph, the speedometer shows 90. sometimes stays on 0 no matter what speed i am driving. i spoke to a dealer and he indicated that it may be the gauge cluster and would cost about $400 to $500. with all the complaints on this situation, why is there not a recall.

Reported in: CHRISTAINBURG VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K24U

STEERING

upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel remained locked. turned the car off and then back on to unlock the steering wheel. this has happened 6 times in the last 5 or 6 weeks.

Reported in: BLOOMINGTON MN || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

very common know problem of the 4t65e transmission equipped in these cars is a pressure control solenoid and/or the shift solenoids fail prematurely due to a poorly constructed parts. a service bulletin has been issued by manufacturer warning of the problem and to use a much more superior part to replace the bad ones. this happens across a number of vehicles and gm refuses to recall said part even after knowing it is a failed part. the problem it causes is the transmission goes into high pressure mode and causes hard up shifts. there is a unofficial work around that involves installing after market parts to stop the hard shifts.gm has been made aware of the problem and has personally told me they will not issue a recall due to cost of recalling and repairing. especially in cars that this has caused premature failure of the transmission. and they say they are under no obligation to do so. the sad thing is i just asked for the updated part so i could personally install it because i do better work than their garages and wouldn't trust them to change a tire let alone touch a transmission. i am capable of installing the parts i just want the updated one for free since it is a problem that should have been corrected on their part to begin with. this problem is much like the coolant problem gm claims didn't exist until they were sued for it.

Reported in: ROME NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

the dashboard on the vehicle has come loose from the grill under the window and is rising up. it has released almost all the way across the windshield and makes it difficult to see out the windshield. also it has exposed the passenger side airbag.

Reported in: GOOSE CREEK SC || Crash: N || VIN #:

AIR BAGS

Reported in: GOOSE CREEK SC || Crash: N || VIN #:

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE

Reported in: GOOSE CREEK SC || Crash: N || VIN #:

SEAT BELTS

for the past 6 months, after starting, then attempting to put on seat belt, the belt often locks up and i cannot pull it out to hook it up. after several tries, it finally unlocks so i can put it on. this happens approx. 1-4 times per week (i usually drive daily). sometimes only the first time in a day when i start the car. it is frustrating, and causes me to worry that sometime it may not unlock and i will be forced to drive without the belt onl.

Reported in: BAGLEY MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HR54K94U

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

dash has started to buckle up in front of driver side of the vehicle. this is a safety issue as it impacts the visibility of the driver and might impair (or cause) the improper deployment of the airbag.

Reported in: LAKELAND FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP54K744

WHEELS

when stopping on dry pavement the anti-lock brake sensor failed. after that the anti-lock breaks would not engage. every time i applied my breaks the car would shimmie and was dangerous to controll, i paid for the repair but it has happened four time since then making it dangerous to stop.

Reported in: CLINTON NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K54U

SERVICE BRAKES

Reported in: CLINTON NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 1G4HP52K54U

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