2004 BUICK LESABRE Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

PARKED CAR, TURNED OFF ENGINE AND LOCKED CAR. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THEN A SMALL EXPLOSION AND A RAGING FIRE. CAR WAS TOTALED IN 5-8 MINUTES. FIRE ENGINES CALLED AND PUT OUT FIRE. *TR

OWNER PURCHASED A 2004 BUICK LESABRE, VIN [XXX] (?BUICK?), WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS. ON OCTOBER 14, 2010, OWNER DROVE THE BUICK FROM THE GROCERY STORE, RETURNED TO HER HOME, AND PARKED THE BUICK IN THE ATTACHED GARAGE OF HER HOME AND PROCEEDED TO RETRIEVE HER GROCERIES FROM THE TRUNK OF THE BUICK. AFTER SHE RETRIEVED HER GROCERIES FROM THE TRUNK OF THE BUICK, OWNER NOTICED A FIRE AT THE FRONT OF THE BUICK. THE FIRE SPREAD FROM THE BUICK TO THE OWNER'S HOME, AND IT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE BUICK AND TO THE HOME. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE BUICK. ON MARCH 12, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED A RECALL, IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000, IN RESPONSE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE TO OCCUR IN 207,542 AUTOMOBILES MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS FROM 1997 TO 2003 AND CONTAINED A 3.8L...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND EXITING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMALLY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. HE THEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC FITTING HAD BECOME MOIST ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE O-RING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE ONLY OTHER OPTION OF REPAIRING THE FAILURE WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 02/09/11*LJ UPDATED 04/29/11

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN STOPPING OR BACKING UP. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS WORSE WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 2-3 TIMES AND THE LAST TIME HE WAS TOLD THAT MANUFACTURING ENGINEERS WERE INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE FELT LIKE IT WAS SKIPPING. *AK THE VIBRATION COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, SEAT'S AND FLOOR BOARDS. WHEN IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUTTER. THE REAR SEAT MIDDLE ARM REST CUP HOLDER HAD COME APART. *SC *JB