IllustrationTHE ENGINE WOULD STOP WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS FROM 10 TO 45 MPH ONCE IT WAS HOT. THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED FOR 10 TO 30 MINUTES. AFTER THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEER OR STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER FOUND THE CRANKSHAFT TIMING PICKUP SENSOR FAILED WHEN IT BECAME HOT.
1992 Buick Lesabre
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Lesabre years
Owner complaints for the 1992 Buick Lesabre are substantially higher than the model-year median of 24.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lesabre years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 13 of 189 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports22 fire reports12 injury reports
What owners actually said
189 reportsWHEN TRAVELING AT 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A GRADUAL STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER HAVING AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. SOMETIMES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES FOOT TOUCHES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. *AK
ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED.
AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 1/2 MILE, AT THE SPEED OF 20 MPH, SAW STEAM COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS DRIVER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A SHOPPING CENTER AND STOP THE VEHICLE. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND BURNED UP IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *…
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AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 1/2 MILE, AT THE SPEED OF 20 MPH, SAW STEAM COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS DRIVER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A SHOPPING CENTER AND STOP THE VEHICLE. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND BURNED UP IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP WHILE VEHICLE WAS SITTING OVERNIGHT.
ENGINE FIRE: PARKED CAR IN LOT, ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF ENGINE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD/FENDER AND GRILL. JUMPED OUT OF CAR, AND WITHIN SECONDS THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.CAUSE OF FIRE IS UNKNOWN. *AK
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED.
N HOOD RELEASE FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES THERE WERE NO BRAKES. THE DRIVER SAID THAT WHEN SHE PUMPED THE BRAKES 3 TIMES THERE WAS LITTLE OF BRAKES. DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AFTER TWO OR THREE ATTEMPTS. THE MOTOR PACK VALVES ARE BAD, REPLACED MOTOR PACK CODES 61-45. ALSO NEEDED MAS…
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES THERE WERE NO BRAKES. THE DRIVER SAID THAT WHEN SHE PUMPED THE BRAKES 3 TIMES THERE WAS LITTLE OF BRAKES. DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AFTER TWO OR THREE ATTEMPTS. THE MOTOR PACK VALVES ARE BAD, REPLACED MOTOR PACK CODES 61-45. ALSO NEEDED MASTER CYLINDER TO COMPLETE REPAIRS. THIS IS WHAT THE DEALER STATED IN THERE REPORT THAT THIS VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE CORRECTED. *AK
Official recalls
296V015000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
Jan 23, 1996
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
91V167000 · Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical
Sep 23, 1991
WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE LEVER RELEASE AND ROADLEVEL. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING IT TO ROLL, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105.
Remedy: REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER 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
3EA93011 · Fuel Line Failure
Opened May 3, 1993 · Closed May 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
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
PE92010 · Fuel Line Connector Fails
Opened Jan 27, 1992 · Closed May 22, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available