2004 Buick Lesabre

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

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. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

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.