2006 BUICK LUCERNE Suspensionfront Problems

VEHICLE DRIVER COMPLAINED OF SQUEAKING SOUND FROM LEFT FRONT OF VEHICLE. INSPECTED VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED LEFT FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY HAD COLLAPSED. THE STRUT HOUSING FAILED AT THE COIL SPRING SUPPORT ALLOWING THE STRUT HOUSING TO CONTACT THE TIRE WEARING THE TREAD ON THE TIRE BELOW MINIMUM SAFETY SPECIFICATIONS. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH MAGNETIC RIDE SUSPENSION. STRUT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP ALIGNED THE VEHICLE 4 TIMES, REPLACED THE TIRES AND INSTALLED A 5 MM THICK SHIM TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE VEHICLE STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20MPH OR MORE, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO PERFORMED SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS, ROTATED THE TIRES, AND REBUILT THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. AFTERWARDS, THE FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN THE CA/NV BORDER AND EAST RENO. IN TWO INSTANCES I ENCOUNTERED PAVEMENT THAT WAS GROOVED (IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ROAD). I WAS INITIALLY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 65 MPH. I WAS DRIVING A NEW 2006 BUICK LUCERNE V-8 VIN IG4HE5Y76U157759 WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL 400 TIRES. WHEN I DROVE ON THE GROOVED PAVEMENT, I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR BECAUSE THE FRONT WHEELS WOBBLED SO BADLY THAT IT FORCE THE CAR TO WEAVE AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL STEADY. THIS HAPPENED IN THE AREA WEST OF RENO IN THE MOUNTAINS AND AGAIN IN AN AREA IN RENO WHERE THE PAVEMENT WAS ALSO GROOVED. NORMALLY, THIS CAR IS REMARKABLY STEADY, SO THIS WAS A TOTALLY UNEXPECTED AND DISCONCERTING INCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, WHEN I SLOWED TO 45 MPH I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR BETTER UNTIL I PASSED THAT...

DRIVING HOME AFTER ACCEPTING DELIVERY OF MY VEHICLE I NOTICED A FRONT END VIBRATION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL LUCERNES DO THIS AND THAT I SHOULD DRIVE IT 500 MILES BEFORE RETURNING. I INSISTED THAT THEY FIX IT AND WHEN THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME IT NO LONGER VIBRATED. THE PAPER WORK REVEALED THAT THEY HAD PERFORMED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND REFERRED TO SERVICE BULLETIN NR. 000310007G. *NM