SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1990 Buick Lesabre

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Buick Lesabre do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 24.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
46Owner complaints

Model-year median: 24

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1990 Buick Lesabre

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 46 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 12 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 7 reports
  • Seat Belts: 6 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 5 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    40
    1987    21
    1988    27
    1989    46
    1990    30
    1991    189
    1992    194
    1993
    Compare all Lesabre years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Electrical System
    12    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    7    Vehicle Speed Control
    7    Seat Belts
    6    Engine And Engine Cooling
    5
    All reported categories
    Fuel System, Gasoline
    5    Seats
    5    Steering
    4    Visibility
    3    Power Train
    2    Suspension
    2    Tires
    2    Equipment
    1    Exterior Lighting
    1    Fuel System, Other
    1    Interior Lighting
    1    Latches/locks/linkages
    1    Structure
    1    Unknown Or Other
    1    Wheels
    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: 5 of 46 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.

    • Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    7 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports

    Steering complaints

    4 reports
    Clear category filter
    186,000 miles · Sep 5, 2004
    Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

    THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW. *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10090479

    179,000 miles · Mar 13, 2004
    Steering

    I HAVE A 1990 BUICK LESABRE THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH TILT WHEEL. ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE...I HAD NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. ANYWAY, I THOUGHT "WELL, THE CAR IS JUST AGING" AND DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL YESTERDAY. MY SON WAS CLIMBING ACROSS THE DRIVERS SEAT AND ACCIDENTLY HIT THE…

    Read full complaint

    I HAVE A 1990 BUICK LESABRE THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH TILT WHEEL. ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE...I HAD NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. ANYWAY, I THOUGHT "WELL, THE CAR IS JUST AGING" AND DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL YESTERDAY. MY SON WAS CLIMBING ACROSS THE DRIVERS SEAT AND ACCIDENTLY HIT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR. WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE CAR WENT INTO REVERSE AND PROCEEDED TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER WE GOT THE CAR STOPPED, I DISCOVERED THAT EVEN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE CAR CAN BE PLACED IN ANY GEAR WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE OLD POWERGLIDES THAT WOULD DO THE SAME. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN TO SOMEONE ELSE IS VERY LIKELY. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT SUDDENLY STARTED TO DO THIS. THANK YOU.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #10062100

    Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 1996
    Steering

    THE STEERING RACK MAKES VEHICLE PULL AGAINST WHEEL CAUSING CAR TO LOSE CONTROL. *AL

    NHTSA ODI #985645

    Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 1995
    Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

    VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. TT

    NHTSA ODI #968750

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

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

    Defect investigations

    1

    PE92039 · Brake Caliper Corrosion

    Opened Apr 15, 1992 · Closed Aug 14, 1992

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

    There is no summary currently available

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.