2003 Buick Lesabre

WHILE DRIVING ON I95 IN GEORGIA ON THE WAY TO FLORIDA 12-28-08 MY 2003 BUICK LESABRE TRANSMISSION STARTED BUCKING AND JOLTING CAR AS IT SHIFTED. TOOK TO GARAGE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP, THIS CAR HAD THE TRANSMISSION OIL REPLACED AT RECOMMENDED 50,000 MILES, BESIDES THE 2200 DOLLARS TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION WE HAD TO GET HOTEL ROOM, MEALS AND A RENTAL CAR TO CONTINUE TRIP AS THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE DELIVERED RIGHT AWAY. *TR

THIS INCIDENT IS REGARDING A SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A 2003 BUICK LESABRE, PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2003. IN JANUARY OF 2008, WITH 47,692 MILES ON THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE INCIDENT - THE VEHICLE LURCHED, BUCKED, RAPIDLY PICKED UP SPEED AND RAPIDLY LOST SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS SITUATION WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS TO BOTH MYSELF, PASSENGERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS. MY REMEDY WAS TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE VEHICLE REPAIR CENTER EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH POST-1997 BUICKS, IN WHICH THERE IS A TYPICALLY FAULTY TRANSMISSION. HE CITED THAT HE MAY SEE CLOSE TO 100 SIMILAR CASES PER YEAR. IN FACT, WHILE I WAS DISCUSSING MY CAR WITH HIM ANOTHER POST-1997 BUICK CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT A CHRONIC MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT EXISTS THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER WITH A PRODUCT RECALL OR WARRANTY CONCESSION FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FEELS AS IF IT IS SLIPPING WHEN CHANGING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. HE FEELS A SHUDDER WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A TWO-CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 50,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,200. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS NOTICED AROUND THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE FUEL LINE ON THE ENGINE RUBBED TOGETHER WITH THE TRANSMISSION CABLE CAUSING A HOLE IN ONE OF THE HOSES, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION CABLE RUBBED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE , WHICH CAUSED GAS TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, GOING 10-15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY ACCELERATED; SOMETIMES TAKING 15-30 SECONDS AND UP TO FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP RAN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND THE TESTS FAILED TO SHOW ANY CODES TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. UPDATED 08/28/06. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CONSUMER FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SEAT. AFTER SEVEN VISITS TO THE DEALERS, THEY REPLACED THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE TIRES BALANCED 8 TIMES AND HAS BOUGHT 7 NEW TIRES. *JB THE VIBRATING CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAD A DRIVELINE SHIMMY AT HIGHER SPEED THAT WAS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS OUT OF BALANCE AND THE FRONT LEFT REAR WHEEL WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND WAS CORRECTED, VIBRATIONS WERE STILL EVIDENT DURING SUBSEQUENT ROAD TEST AND THREE TIRES WERE FOUND OUT OF BALANCE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES AND WHEELS WEREN'T THE PROBLEM. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A DRIVELINE SHIMMY AT A HIGHER SPEED. *JB