NHTSA Complaint #10121640 — 1998 BUICK LESABRE

MY WIFE DRIVES A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. SHE HAS A DISABILITY AND IS PACEMAKER-DEPENDENT. ON 5-17-2005 SHE WAS ENROUTE ON THE HIGHWAY TOWARD OUR TOWN IN THE BUICK WHEN IT STARTED RUNNING HOT. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK TO OUR TOWN, WHERE SHE THEN PULLED OVER IN A WAL-MART PARKING LOT. HOWEVER, SHE BECAME VERY STRESSED OVER THE SITUATION BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE HAD GONE WELL INTO THE RED BUT SHE WAS AFRAID TO PULL OVER FOR FEAR OF BECOMING STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. AS IT TURNS OUT, THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IS A FAILED PLENUM, AN ISSUE WHICH OCCURS FREQUENTLY WITH THE GM 3800 ENGINE. I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WELL-KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE NHTSA, AND MANY MECHANICS AND REPAIR SHOPS. THE SAFETY PROBLEM COMES FROM THE FACT THAT (AS FAR AS I AM AWARE) THERE HAVE BEEN NO WARNINGS ISSUED TO CONSUMERS WHO OWN A VEHICLE WITH THE GM 3800 SERIES II ENGINE. THE POTENTIAL FOR SITUATIONS TO OCCUR MUCH WORSE THAN OURS IS NOT ONLY LIKELY, BUT IT IS A GUARANTEED EVENT. MY ONLY RECOURSE AT THIS POINT IS TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA, A COMPLAINT WHICH I FEEL SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. THESE ENGINE FAILURES ARE NOT JUST MERELY A 'CONSUMER MISFORTUNE', BUT WILL BECOME THE UNDERLYING CAUSE FOR INUMERABLE ROAD HAZARDS FOR THE CAR'S OWNERS AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO AN ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW (MATERIALS USED) AND FUTURE SAFETY PROBLEMS (INCLUDING LOSS OF LIFE) CAN BE AVOIDED. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA.