IllustrationTRANSMISSION COOLER UNIT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL CAUSING LEAKAGE (96V-015), TRANSMISSION FAILED 20,00 MILES AFTER REPAIR. YH
1993 Buick Lesabre
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Lesabre years
Owner complaints for the 1993 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: 14 of 194 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 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports21 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
194 reportsVEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. MJS
ALL STRUTS WERE WEAK AND BENT CAUSING NOISE. YH
WHILE DRIVING THE WASHER RUSTED OUT, CAUSING THE BOLT THAT HOUSES THE MOTOR MOUNTS TO DROP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
I HAD MY CAR IN CRUISE CONTROL, SET AT 70MPH, AND I WAS CRESTING A HILL WHEN MY CAR LOST POWER. I TOOK IT OFF CRUISE CONTROL BUT IT WOULD NOT RUN. IT WOULD SURGE THEN SLOW DOWN. IT SEEMED TO HAVE VAPOR LOCKED. I HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS WITH OTHER CARS BECAUSE I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAD TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER WITH MY FLASHERS O…
Read full complaint
I HAD MY CAR IN CRUISE CONTROL, SET AT 70MPH, AND I WAS CRESTING A HILL WHEN MY CAR LOST POWER. I TOOK IT OFF CRUISE CONTROL BUT IT WOULD NOT RUN. IT WOULD SURGE THEN SLOW DOWN. IT SEEMED TO HAVE VAPOR LOCKED. I HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS WITH OTHER CARS BECAUSE I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAD TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER WITH MY FLASHERS ON UNTIL I COULD GET TO A GAS STATION. I SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR 2 HOURS AND IT WAS OK. IT HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES , I HAVE HAD MANY REPAIRS ON IT AND IT STILL IS NOT FIXED.
THE INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUSTED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. VEHICLE WAS HARD TO SHIFT AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY FROM PARK TO REVERSE. ALSO, HAD RADIATOR CHANGED DUE TO RUST FROM TRANSMISSION. *YC
ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, DEALER STATES THAT PROBLEM OCCURS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ABS SOLENOID SENSOR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL CONSUMER SHUTS THE CAR OFF.CONSUMER CALLED MANUFACTURER. *AK
A/C NO WORKING PROPERLY DUE TO RELAY STICKING OPEN/FAILURE.MJS
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DURING NORMAL BRAKING ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE TRACTION OFF LIGHT. THE PMV VALVE SHORTED OUT. THE VALVE WAS REPLACED AND THE SYSTEM WAS BLED. DEALER HAS DONE REPAIRS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. MANUFACTURERE AGREED TO REIMBURSE FOR PART OF THE COST, BUT THE OWNER HAS …
Read full complaint
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DURING NORMAL BRAKING ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE TRACTION OFF LIGHT. THE PMV VALVE SHORTED OUT. THE VALVE WAS REPLACED AND THE SYSTEM WAS BLED. DEALER HAS DONE REPAIRS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. MANUFACTURERE AGREED TO REIMBURSE FOR PART OF THE COST, BUT THE OWNER HAS YET TO RECEIVE IT. *AK *ML
Official recalls
196V015000 · 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.
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
2EA93018 · Fuel Leaks
Opened Jul 13, 1993 · Closed Jun 24, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE93013 · Fuel Leaks
Opened Mar 5, 1993 · Closed Jul 13, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available