1998 BUICK LESABRE

518 complaints filed with NHTSA.

518
Complaints
20
Crashes
64
Fires
11
Injuries
0
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE54
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE51
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE40
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING32
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY26
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM22
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE21
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR14
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION11
UNKNOWN OR OTHER11
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY9
ENGINE8
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL7

Recent Complaints

20110504CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1998 BUICK LESABRE CRASHED AT LOW SPEED CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE, ENGINE CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS, LEAVING ME WITH BILLS OF OVER $10,000 FOR LOST CAR, REPAIRS, INSURANCE. PROBLEM HAD ARISEN ON AND OFF SINCE ACQUIRING CAR AT 65,000 MILES..TWICE TAKEN IN TO GM DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM. COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. PROBLEM WOULD DISAPPEAR FOR MONTHS AND THEN REAPPEAR. NUMEROUS MECHANICS CHECKED AND COULD NOT FIND SOURCE OF PROBLEM. AFTER CAR WAS DECLA

Mileage: 83,000

20110125FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION THAT OCCURRED WITHIN THE ENGINE. WHITE SMOKE BEGAN TO FLOW FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MANIFOLD HAD EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V09000

Mileage: 63,000

20100914CrashSTRUCTURE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED YET THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A ROW OF HEDGES. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. IN JUNE 2010, THE CONTACT NOTICED ABNORMAL FRONT END NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED

Mileage: 119,000

20100914CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED YET THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A ROW OF HEDGES. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. IN JUNE 2010, THE CONTACT NOTICED ABNORMAL FRONT END NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED

Mileage: 119,000

20100914CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED YET THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A ROW OF HEDGES. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. IN JUNE 2010, THE CONTACT NOTICED ABNORMAL FRONT END NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED

Mileage: 119,000

20100914CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED YET THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A ROW OF HEDGES. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. IN JUNE 2010, THE CONTACT NOTICED ABNORMAL FRONT END NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED

Mileage: 119,000

20090419FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE RUSTED GET IN TO THE PLASTIC FITING AND GASOLINE WAS LEAKING AT THE GAS TANK. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

20081118FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE BACKFIRED, THEN STARTED ON FIRE, AFTER THE TOP OF THE MOTOR{INTAKE AND FUEL INJECTORS ETC.} WERE BLOWN OFF DURING THE EXPLOSION. THE WHOLE TOP OF THE MOTOR WAS DESTROYED. NOTIFIED GM, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE OF A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM!!! *TR

Mileage: 92,000

20050705FireAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 60-75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WERE NO POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO ENGAGE. AFTER THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH BROWN SMOKE AND FIRE WAS COMING OUT OF BOTH AIR BAGS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED THE DRIVER PUT OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FLAME. THE DRIVER SIDE FLAME WENT OUT BY ITSELF. THERE WERE ONLY ONE INJURY. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED BRUISING TO THE

Mileage: 40,050

20050607FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

1998 BUICK LESABRE BECAME INOPERATIVE AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAILPIPE.*MR A SMALL FIRE EMITTED FORM THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS FOR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER REPLACED THINKING IT WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM. RECALL 04V090000 WAS ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *NM

20050316FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

CAR HAD BEEN HARD TO START FOR A WHILE. ON DAY OF INCIDENT, WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, A BACKFIRE OCCURRED AND SMOKE ROLLED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN MINUTES, A FIRE STARTED, COMPLETELY DESTROYING THE VEHICLE.*AK

20050217CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGED, BRAKE WAS APPLIED, WENT TO FLOORBOARD, NOTHING HAPPENED. BRAKES WERE PUMPED, NOTHING HAPPENED. VEHICLE STRIKES ANOTHER VEHICLE, AIRBAG DEPLOYS, AUTOMOBILE CONTINUES IN A DITCH, POPS OUT OF THE DITCH, GOES THROUGH AN EMPTY PARKING LOT, POPS ONTO ANOTHER STREET AND EVENTUALLY STOPS AFTER GOING OVER ANOTHER CURB INTO ANOTHER PARKING LOT ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM ACCIDENT. THEORY IS THAT ABS MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED REGULAR BRAKES TO FAIL. *JB

Mileage: 61,000

20041112CrashSEATS

ON THE DATE POSTED BELOW I WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP ABOUT 10 FEET BEHIND A BLAZER WHEN I WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. WHEN I AWOKE I FOUND MYSELF TO BE IN THE BACK SEAT PASSENGER SIDE WITH MY HEAD IN THE REAR WINDOW. I WAS A FULLY RESTRAINED DRIVER PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND THE STRAPS OF THE BELTS WERE FOUND WRAPPED AROUND MY FEET. THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT HAD BROKEN AND THEREFORE I WAS THROWN FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK OF THE

20041024CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

NHTSA #: 04V090000 - I OWN A 1998 BUICK LESABRE 3.8L. ON 9/27/02 I HAD A HARD STARTING AND STALLING PROBLEM, TAKEN FOR SERVICE AT GM DEALER AND FUEL REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. IN AUGUST 2004 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL AND TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO GM DEALER TO ASSURE THE RECALLED PART WAS NOT IN THE CAR. THE DEALER TOLD US THE CAR DOES RUN A LITTLE ROUGH (NOTED ON WORK ORDER) BUT THE CORRECT REGULATOR WAS IN THE VEHICLE DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. ON OCTOBER 10,2004 WE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE STARTING THE C

Mileage: 50,295

20041024CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT

NHTSA #: 04V090000 - I OWN A 1998 BUICK LESABRE 3.8L. ON 9/27/02 I HAD A HARD STARTING AND STALLING PROBLEM, TAKEN FOR SERVICE AT GM DEALER AND FUEL REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. IN AUGUST 2004 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL AND TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO GM DEALER TO ASSURE THE RECALLED PART WAS NOT IN THE CAR. THE DEALER TOLD US THE CAR DOES RUN A LITTLE ROUGH (NOTED ON WORK ORDER) BUT THE CORRECT REGULATOR WAS IN THE VEHICLE DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. ON OCTOBER 10,2004 WE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE STARTING THE C

Mileage: 50,295

20041019FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOAD POP THEN SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NM THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A LEAKING MANIFOLD. *SC

Mileage: 11,140

20040507FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE ENGINE PRODUCED A LOUD BANG, THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK

Mileage: 95,000

20040429FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE HAD A RUPTURED MANIFOLD IN JUNE 2003, CAUSING ENGINE TO CEASE AND SMOKE AND MINOR FIRE. THE SMOKE MADE MYSELF AND MY INFANT SON VERY ILL. THIS WAS REPORTED TO BUICK BUT THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR REPAIR SINCE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FOLLOWING RECALL WAS NOT IN EFFECT: NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V473/GM RECALL NO. 03054 AND THAT MY VEHICLE HAD NO RECALL. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE CEASED TO START AGAIN AND IT WAS DETERMINED AT THE BUICK DEA

Mileage: 48,000

20040421FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. *AK THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT. THE KEY WAS TURNED TO START THE ENGINE WHEN THE BACKFIRE OCCURRED. THE SERVICE DEALER USED THE OLD PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE FROM THE FIRE. (THE COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO THE CYLINDER AND CAUSED IT TO LEAK) RECALL#04V090000 THE CONSUMER REQUESTED RE

Mileage: 80,000

20031104FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION. THERE WAS A BREAKAGE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND MELTING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE DUMPING SHROUD. A SMALL FIRE WAS BURNED ON THE ENGINE BLOCK WHEN THE SHROUD WAS REMOVED. *AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 48,154