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1988 Buick Lesabre

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1988 Buick Lesabre do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 24.

About this comparison →
21Owner complaints

Model-year median: 24

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
5
198516
198640
198721
198827
198946
199030
1991
Compare all Lesabre years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Steering
12Seat Belts
3Electrical System
2Engine And Engine Cooling
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1
All reported categories
Structure
1Tires
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 21 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Steering complaints

12 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2003
Steering

THE STEERING HAS BEEN HARD SINCE DAY ONE AND CONSUMER HAS BEEN PATCHING UP VEHICLE TO KEEP IT RUNNING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER MADE AN ALUMINUM ROD FOR THAT YEAR VEHICLE. IT IS RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10022982

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 1999
Steering

STEERING COLUMN IS EXTREMELY LOOSE, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834860

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 1998
Steering

STEERING COLUMN IS EXTREMELY LOOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832903

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 1997
Steering

WHILE DRIVING LEFT INNER TIE ROD SEPARATED, WHEEL TURNED OUT, REMAINED OUT; LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, COULD HAVE WHEEL COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF.; INNER/OUTER TIE ROD REPLACED BY DEALER. PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809259

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1996
Steering

WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. THE MACHANIC SAID IT WAS A RACK AND PINION PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #980847

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 1996
Steering

STEERING FREEZES UP DUE A DEFECTIVE BALL MECHANISM IN RACK AND PINION STEERING. *TT

NHTSA ODI #500570

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 1995
Steering

'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH

NHTSA ODI #483973

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 1995
Steering

WHEN COLD THE CARS STEERING ABILITY IS DECREASED AND DOES NOT GO BACK TO NORMAL UNTIL IT IS WARMED UP. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #970459

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 1995
Steering

'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH

NHTSA ODI #485484

Mileage unknown · May 19, 1995
Steering

STEERING STIFFNESS DURING MORNING STARTUP. TT

NHTSA ODI #965590

Official recalls

3

89V102000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Jun 16, 1989

A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.

88V067000 · Service Brakes, Air:antilock

Apr 19, 1988

LOW TORQUE OF THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS COULD CAUSE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND/OR POOR PEDAL FEEL IF ATTACHMENT LOOSENS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION OF BRAKEHYDRAULIC UNIT FROM ITS MOUNTING BRACKET AND RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTIONAND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS.

88V006000 · Seat Belts

Jan 20, 1988

OWNERS MANUAL DID NOT INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER USAGE OF REAR SEAT SAFETY BELT SYSTEMS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FMVSS 209.

Remedy: FURNISH OWNERS WITH UPDATED OWNERS MANUALS THAT CONTAIN THE OMITTED INSTRUCTIONS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

EA90017 · Brake Failure

Opened Mar 26, 1990 · Closed Apr 22, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE89098 · Anti Lock Brakes

Opened Mar 10, 1989 · Closed May 17, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

===

C89001 · Throttle NON-RETURN

Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jan 16, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available