22nd Nov 2009, 20:33

Susan Rocco:

What was the problem with your 1997 Buick LaSabre?? It just "fell apart"?

23rd Nov 2009, 23:08

Exactly the same thing happened to me two weeks ago with my 95 LeSabre, the cradle collapsed, lost all steering. Lucky for me I was at a red light when it happened and did not have my 3 year old child with me at the time. Repairs ran $1200.

This is a serious problem that needs to looked into very closely, a car should NEVER fail this dramatically under most circumstances.

A class action lawsuit against GM? The crappy thing is, I had just bought the car not even 2 weeks prior to the cradle failing.

Other than almost killing myself and everyone within earshot of me on the highway, the car is in perfect condition for a 95. But this cannot go on any longer, as more of these Buicks will will fail eventually resulting in a death, if it has not happened already.

11th Dec 2009, 20:49

Why isn't there an emergency recall on these cars? I have one of them (96 Buick Park Ave) with three of the four mounts rusted out and hanging on the drivers side.

13th Dec 2009, 13:17

I wouldn't expect ANY manufacturer to recall a 15-year-old car that was driven in the Rust Belt because it rusted. I had a similar problem with an import, but I certainly can't blame the manufacturer for the (very natural) process of oxidation in metal. Washing the car's undercarriage after driving on salted roads is MANDATORY if you don't want to have massive rust issues. We live in the Sunbelt and just sold a 33-year-old Buick LaSabre last year that had been driven 277,000 TOTALLY trouble-free miles (ZERO repairs except tires, batteries, brake pads and hoses). It looked and drove as if it just came off the showroom floor. Buick has always built incredibly good cars. I guess that is why they are currently rated number one in long-term reliability (tied with a Ford product) by J.D. Powers and Associates,

8th Jan 2010, 23:45

I have 1993 Buick LeSabre. Best car ever, gets me from point A to B, no rust and I live in Michigan. It's called taking care of your car. Wash it a couple times a week, under coat it once a year, and you won't ever have a problem.

3rd Feb 2010, 14:33

I have a 1995 Buick LeSabre, and I went to change the oil a month ago, and I discovered that the sub frame has rotted, and so the motor carriage has fallen. I searched and found this site. I called Buick and they say no one has ever reported this, so since there is no recall, nothing can be done. So I urge all of you to call Buick so they know this is happening, so they can do something about this. 1-800-521-7300 please call now so they know!!! Maybe they will care and then help us out. If you take the time to post, take the time to call them.

16th Jun 2010, 14:36

Well I just joined the blown subframe club. 157k miles on my 95 LeSabre. Turned right from a stop sign, heard a huge pop and thought I had run over something and blown a tire. Immediately heard what sounded like a blown exhaust system as well.

The car is at the repair shop waiting the bad news. The sad thing is I just replaced all brakes and rear brake lines. The car was just safety inspected as well. This seems like a widely known and dangerous problem. Why are mechanics not checking this, and strongly suggesting preventive replacement?

17th Jun 2010, 07:57

Quick update on my above post. I am trying to hunt down a subframe and may replace it. I have 2 body shops preparing an estimate. To the Buick owner in this post living in Arizona. I'm jealous. This car could easily go another 100m miles but the underside brake lines, fuel lines and now sub frame are giving out.

Please, all owners in the rust zone, check your subframe. This is critical safety failure. Do not delay!! I will call Buick today and maybe the local news station. I have posted on Edmunds and the Buick forum as well. The news need to get out!!

22nd Jun 2010, 19:55

1996 Buick LeSabre 203,000. I took the car to NTB for a bad vibration in the front end of May. They told me it was a wheel bearing, alignment. I could see the tires were worn. However, the vibration continued and got worse at highway speeds, and braking on off ramp. NTB rebalanced the tire and said the tire might be bad. I took the car to Monro and asked them to inspect the frame, and they said it was in good shape. About a month later there was vibration. Really bad vibration, squeak, grind, etc from the front wheel area. I came back home to Ohio and took the wheel off. I showed my wife the driver side rear bush mounts: both free, shredding, washer-less. You could really see it from the bottom since all the washers had rusted and dropped off. However the right side rear bush mounts were held together with the rusted collar piece of the bottom washer. A dealer told me to go to a body shop. The body shop said the cradle could be salvaged with welding and four new bush mount kits. What gets me is I did not realize the danger. Also, why had several mechanics worked on my brakes and wheels and all missed this? Since when does regular maintenance include inspecting the sub frame bush mounts?

26th Jun 2010, 08:34

I'm a welder, mechanic and long time GM owner. I've seen older Chevy trucks; rotted body mounts on every one, but no steering loss with possible death!!!

My 96 Park Avenue; I am the second owner, it has 100,000 miles, brake line rot, fuel line rot are common. Fine, it's 14 years old, both easily inspected prior to failure.

With all my experience and a couple of my friends, we couldn't figure the vibrating problem out.

It was my 3rd car and I gave it to my son. He lost steering in an intersection; was able to get off the road safely, but when I ever realized this problem was a result of rotted mounts and washers, I was extremely mad. I've been under this car often, and without taking these mounts out, you can't tell they rot inside, causing movement and eventual failure.

I am so disgusted with GM. I can and have fabricated a better mount for this car with a back up, so if it fails for any reason, my son won't lose his steering!!! I live in the Boston area. This is a part failure that can cause death!!! They should have a recall for safety, whether they pay partially or just to inform unsuspecting owners, it is a must!!