Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
87717511/01/1998602979Some comments on vehicle surge. *yc01/22/1999
67716402/01/199751296Intermittent neutral or loss of drive at highway speeds or from fourth gear (replace control valve body assembly). *tw06/27/1997
577106A12/01/199657-71-0650571Cold start rattle noise. *tw05/27/1997
POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY
990730030A04/01/2001990730030619370Owners of some vehicles equipped with hydra-matic 3t40, 4t60, 4t60-e or 4t65-e transaxles may comment on a grinding and / or growling noise that is noticeable when standing in park on a hill or slope with the engine running and the parking05/24/2001
99073003012/01/19995751136089996Some vehicles equipped with hydra-matic 3t40, 4t60 or 4t60-e transxales may comment on a grinding and / or growling noise that is noticeable when in park on incline. *tt03/01/2000
1000104/01/1998601769Information on growling noise in transaxle during first four minutes after start up. *yc08/24/1998
98777155A04/01/199877-71-55601052Experiencing a transaxle gear whine noise on coast down or light acceleration between 20 and 40 mph. *yc06/24/1998
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DRIVESHAFT
577106A02/01/199757-71-0651497Cold start rattle noise (diagnosis/service procedure). *tw06/27/1997
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - UNIVERSAL JOINT
97080177715508/01/199754285Experiencing a transaxle gear whine noise on coast down or light acceleration. *yc03/30/1998
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
97080177715F08/01/199754421Experience a transaxle gear whine noise on coast down or light acceleration. *yc04/07/1998

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
POWER TRAIN
05/05/2010970001
 My car jerks like a fish tugging on your line at different speeds and when coming up an incline. it also has a very strong odor that i smell when running the a/c. i smell it outside the car and occasionally i smell it inside the car. *tr
09/10/20091860001
 The car accelerated itself in reverse and i was unable to stop it even though i had the brake pedal depressed as far as it would go. i had started the car, depressed the brake pedal (the brake must be engaged in order to put the car in gear) and the car shot back and would not stop. i was rather panicked as i was leaving a convenience store and was trying to avoid hitting the gas pumps, other vehicles and pedestrians. i managed to back the car into the street and attempted to put it in park so it would stop. the gear shift went into the park position, but the car did not stop. it proceeded across a busy street through a controlled intersection at approx.20-30 mph. at it started across the street, i shut the car off. the brakes would still not stop it. it finally came to a stop after rolling into a curb. i had absolutely no control over the car other than to steer it. i have known this to happen with several other gm cars, but always in a forward gear. i own a 1986 pontiac trans am that has done this on occasion. i have had that car looked at by several mechanics, and none can find anything wrong with it. gm does not appear to be aware of this problem as i can find no records of recalls for any of their cars for spontaneous acceleration. part of the problem may be that when it happens to someone, no one believes them. everyone assumes they had their foot on the gas and the brake at the same time. i have tried to put my foot on both pedals (with the car in park) to see if that could be what happened, but i can't do it as the gas pedal is recessed further back than the brake pedal. at no time are they level with each other. by some miracle, no one was hurt and there was no property damage. i am going to check with various buick dealerships and other mechanics to see if they have ever heard of this problem, but i fear it will be the same as with the trans am where i will get no answers. *tr
08/15/200152000
 Hello, i had a problem with my car hesitating going up a small grade or sometimes just driving down the road and took it back to the dealer. they told me it was a spark plug and fixed it. the problem continued and i took it to another dealer who said i needed a new transmission. besides a new transmission, they also replaced the intake manifold gasket and put new brakes on the front with rotors. the receipt from the garage says the transmission had an 1870 trouble code. my car was purchased new and had 52,000 miles on it. the total cost was 4200.00. i asked the gm people for help with this expense as i am a single mother working 2 jobs and did not get a reply. i took out another loan to pay for this. now, with almost 80,000 miles, the transmission is doing the same thing and my friend with a computer says it is the 1870 trouble code (when the check engine light comes on). i can not afford to spend another 4000.00 for another transmission.
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
12/29/2007465001
 I was in my driveway and put the shift in reverse, but it did not stay there. instead it went back to drive and the accelerator was stuck on my 1997 buick lesabre traveled about 4 feet at high speed and struck a small tree. my insurance company totaled the car. my insurance premium went up for an accident that was not my fault. can you give me the web site of a similar car and year in an accident in 2003 in california? thank you, nikolaos (nick) caravasos *tr
08/28/2007750001
 This will be 4th time intake manifold gasket is being replaced. by far the worst & most expensive used car ever to own. gm's black eye. *tr
10/01/20041
 Dt: the contact stated the indicator light on the dashboard for the transmission illuminated. the vehicle has been to the dealer, and they completed a diagnostic test which showed transmission slippage. the dealer replaced two solenoid valves. the indicator light was working properly. the vehicle would not pass emissions testing with this light illuminating. *ak
01/02/2000
 When driving at over 35 mph transmission will start to jump out of gear or will start surging. contacted dealer. *ak
06/15/20000
 Transmission bangs as it shifts gears. *ak
11/08/1996107/01/1996
 Transmission failure at 5k.returned in 30 sec.started to exper. harsh shifting. deal. could not find cause. at 60k had trans teardown.found manf.prolem that caused failure at 5k.gm would offer no assist. pre existing did not apply.to old to many miles.*ak
11/04/1996
 Transmissing surged when climbing hills, replace the throttle sensor, know the check engine light comes on. surging getting worse, then buick sent a letter on the bolt in the transmission, that fixed it.
07/28/200109/01/1997
 I had taken this vehicle back to the buick dealership where i purchased it at 34k miles and told them it had a miss and that it hesitated driving down the road. they said it was a spark plug and replaced one. the last time i took it to another buick dealer it needed 4,200.00 to make it road worthy including a new water pump, new transmission, new brakes and rotors. the service code on the car should have indicated failure of these parts when i took it to the first dealer.
06/02/1999208/01/1998
 Never complete failure, but transmissions surge,d, and more dangerously, apparently slipped into neutral randomly with no warning. *ak
03/01/1998
 Veicle was in for transmission repair at local dealer/ serviceman was test driving vehicle after repair when vehicle caught fire underneath between transmissiom and gas tank, dealer claims not responsible, vehicle burned completely. has there been any problems comparable to this situation ?
106/21/1996
 When driving and upon acceleration vehicle was hard to shift. , consumer contacted dealer, dealer did not correct the problem under atsb. however, problem still occurs. consumer has contacted an indepdent dealer, dealer noted that transmission needed replacing. *ak
04/01/200001/01/1997
 While driving on highway noticed vehicle was surging up and down on its own. took it to a local mechanic they found out that vehicle indeed surged, replaced control valve body assembly. also had to have transmission rebuilt at owner's cost. *ak *ml
07/31/199907/01/1999
 Since i bought the vehicle, the car has gotten horrendous gas mileage, the horn intermittently does not work and the transmission has slipped. the car was taken back to the dealer and nothing was done. i was told we were unable to find a problem. the horn issue nearly resulted in a car accident lastnight as the horn, again, decided to take the night off. this is not right!!
11/24/1997102/01/1997
 Transmission failed. yh
09/04/19982
 Transmission failed twice. *yc
04/01/1998101/01/1996
 Transmission failed. *yc
06/28/1998106/01/1996
 Transmission failed. yh
04/01/1997211/01/1996
 Transmission slipped out of gear while going uphill while in cruise control. mjs
01/01/1997108/01/1996
 Transmission failed.
12/17/19961
 Transmission gear makes noise.
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)
12/14/2001106/01/2000
 Upon starting the vehicle it backfired and broke the intake manifold into several pieces. i found a recall indicating what had happened due to the powertrain control module. i gave this info to the dealer at gambacorta buick at 427 w. seventh st. new castle, delaware 19720 tel. no 302 323 3026. they diagnosed it as a fuel pressure regulator leak causing the intake to crack. i have photos showing the intake manifold broken in two end to end about an inch wide. this seems to be more than a crack. when this happened it was an explosion. it was very loud inside the car.*ak referenced in ea02-030
02/28/20011
 Abs warning light and traction control light stay on while driving. *ak *slc
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH
06/01/1996106/21/1996
 Trans shift solonoid failure.mgm
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TORQUE CONVERTER
06/20/2000311/01/1996
 Low speed shutter, torque converter locking up at 30 mi./hr. it is like starting a standard trans. in 3rd or 4th gear. g.m. says this is a normal thing for this model year. i say bull_ *ak
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE
11/25/2000250011/01/2000
 This problem, factory installed on all vehicles in doc# 538154, ser.notes. no safety defect mentioned. *ak
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
01/01/1997
 Windshield wipers occsaionally fail to operate at low speed or single swipe mode due to wiper sticking on windshield and motor horsepower/torque insufficient to break seal.
09/03/19960
 While driving vehicle, tried to shift from one gear to the next, lost 3rd and 4th gears, lost power. had to stop and rest vehicle before starting again, going about 80 mph.*ak