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1989 Buick Lesabre

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Buick Lesabre do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 24.

About this comparison →
27Owner complaints

Model-year median: 24

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
16
198640
198721
198827
198946
199030
1991189
1992
Compare all Lesabre years →

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

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
4Seat Belts
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Tires
3
All reported categories
Electrical System
2Engine And Engine Cooling
2Power Train
2Steering
2Visibility
2Equipment
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Unknown Or Other
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 27 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
70,000 miles · Apr 11, 2007
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

FUEL LINE PRESSURE FEEDER AT LH SIDE RUSTED THROUGH THE PLASTIC BRACKET IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL FRAME RAIL IN AUGUST 2005. POOL OF GAS 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER UNDER THE CAR IN CLOSED GARAGE OVERNIGHT. BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH THE SAME SPOT IN JANUARY 2006. LOST BRAKES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, ROLLED THROUGH A STOP S…

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FUEL LINE PRESSURE FEEDER AT LH SIDE RUSTED THROUGH THE PLASTIC BRACKET IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL FRAME RAIL IN AUGUST 2005. POOL OF GAS 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER UNDER THE CAR IN CLOSED GARAGE OVERNIGHT. BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH THE SAME SPOT IN JANUARY 2006. LOST BRAKES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, ROLLED THROUGH A STOP SIGN. FUEL RETURN LINE RUSTED THROUGHOUT SAME AREA ON 4-11-07. POOL OF GAS IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. SERVICE / REPAIR DEALER, VAN ZEELAND IN APPLETON WISCONSIN REPORTED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEMS WITH BUICKS. FIXED A LOT OF THEM. SOME THING WAS WRONG WITH THIS DESIGN, LEADING TO A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. FUEL & BRAKE FAILURE AT 70,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10187555

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATER PEDAL SLIGHTLY VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH SPEED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, GEARSHIFT WENT INTO REVERSE AND MESSED UP THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLES STILL IDLES HIGH ON OCCASIO…

Read full complaint

WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATER PEDAL SLIGHTLY VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH SPEED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, GEARSHIFT WENT INTO REVERSE AND MESSED UP THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLES STILL IDLES HIGH ON OCCASION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852462

Mileage unknown · May 31, 1995
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, APPLIED BRAKE AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, RESULTING IN WAPED/BENT FRONT BRAKES. TT

NHTSA ODI #966160

Official recalls

2

89V188000 · Structure:frame And Members

Nov 7, 1989

VEHICLES MAY HAVE DISCREPANT WELDS IN THE LEFT REAR ROCKER PANEL WHICH CAN CAUSE DEFORMATION OF THE PANEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INCREASED DEFORMATION OF THE LEFT REAR ROCKER PANELCAN CAUSE THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE NOT TO ACHIEVE THE LOAD REQUIREDBY FMVSS NO. 210.

Remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT KIT.

88V143000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage

Aug 29, 1988

FUEL ROLLOVER VALVE ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH VEHICLE BECOMES INVERTEDMISSING VALVE COULD ALLOW FUEL SPILLAGE IN EXCESS OF AMOUNT ALLOWED BY FMVSS 301WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE FUEL SENDER AND PUMP ASSEMBLY.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.