NHTSA Complaint #10104268 — 1998 BUICK LESABRE

VEHICLE RETURNED FOR INSPECTION WITH REGARD TO 04V090 12/13/04 COMPLAINTS POOR PERFORMANCE, FUEL ECONOMY, HARD STARTING, AND USE OF DEXCOOL ANTI-FREEZE SINCE RECALL PERFORMED. DECOOL ANTI-FREEZE ENTERING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF ENGINE, AND ENGINE OILING SYSTEM FROM FAILURE OR RUPTURE OF UPPER INTAKE PLENUM NEAR EGR PASSAGE. ANTI-FREEZE HAS FILLED ENGINE LIFTERS CAUSING NOISE/FAILURE, FILLING COMBUSTION CHAMBER CAUSING HYDRO-LOCKING OF ENGINE, COULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF ENGINE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE FIRE OR ACCIDENT. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER 04V090 MANIFOLD OVER PRESSURE CONDITION STATED REPLACEMENT OF UPPER & LOWER INTAKE, LIFTER, PLUGS, OIL, ANTI-FREEZE AT A COST OF $1,150 ON VEHICLE THAT HAD 77,827 WHEN THE RECALL WAS DONE, AND NOW HAS 80,407 MI. WHICH IS LESS THEN 3,000. THIS COULD VERY WELL HAVE HYDRO-LOCKED THE ENGINE AT FREEWAY SPEED,OR CAUSED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE RESULTING IN SEVERE DAMAGE, INJURY, AND POSSIBLE FIRE FROM ENGINE OIL & FUEL HITTING THE HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER!*AK