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Steering, suspension, structure
03/14/2014
WHILE ACCELERATING UP TO SPEED FROM A STOP, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE THUMP, THE STEERING WAS ERRATIC, THE CAR VIBRATED AND SHOOK. THE POWER STEERING WAS INOPERABLE. WE SLOWLY DROVE THE CAR HOME (2 MILES) AND UPON EXAMINATION, WE DISCOVERED THE ENGINE CRADLE FRAME WAS HANGING DOWN, ONLY A FEW INCHES FROM THE GROUND. THE ENGINE CRADLE MOUNTING WASHERS (2 ON EACH SIDE) HAD RUSTED THRU, ALLOWING THE REAR OF THE CRADLE TO DROP. I ALSO NOTICED THE RIGHT SIDE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN OFF AT THE MOUNT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION AND WHEEL ASSEMBLIES ARE FASTENED TO THIS CRADLE, SO THAT'S WHY THE STEERING BECAME ERRATIC - THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY SOLID ATTACHMENT TO THE CAR. AFTER CAREFULLY EXAMINING THE ATTACHMENT POINTS, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY AND STRUCTURAL DESIGN FLAW. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE WERE ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AT A SLOW SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I NOTICED THERE ARE...
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Fuel System, Gasoline, structure, service Brakes
07/29/2013
THE BRAKES MAKE A STRANGE SOUND SOMETIMES & STALL;GAS LEAK;UNDERCARRIAGE IS WEAK. *TR
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Air Bags
05/29/2013
MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR. I WAS IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. WE HAD JUST PULLED AWAY FROM THE CURB AND WERE GOING ABOUT 20 MPH. FOR NO REASON, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. WE DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING, AND NOTHING HIT US. WE PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT. THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. I HAD PAIN IN MY ABDOMEN AND COULDN'T HEAR OUT OF MY RIGHT EAR. THE WINDSHIELD ON MY SIDE OF THE CAR(PASSENGER'S SIDE) WAS BROKEN FROM THE IMPACT. HE TOOK ME TO THE LOCAL ER TO BE CHECKED OUT AND I WAS EXAMINED AND RELEASED WITH CONTUSIONS OF RIGHT KNEE, ABDOMEN AND RIGHT EAR. IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AND SCARED US BOTH VERY MUCH. I REPORTED THIS TO MY INSURANCE CARRIER THE NEXT MORNING. MY BOYFRIEND WAS NOT INJURED. *TR
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Fuel/propulsion System
11/22/2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LASABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED CAUSING THE OIL TO LEAK INTO THE RADIATOR. THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH AND BACKFIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
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Engine
03/05/2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE IN A CONTINUOUS JERKING MOTION. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE RETAINER WASHER AND THE BODY MOUNT WAS DISENGAGED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, CAUSING THE ENGINE CRADLE TO COLLAPSE ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.