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1998 Buick Lesabre

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Lesabre years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Buick Lesabre are substantially higher than the model-year median of 24.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

173 reports with mileage · 227 unknown

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 196 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 50 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 reports42 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

11 reports
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40,050 miles · Jul 5, 2005
Air BagsFireInjury

DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 60-75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WERE NO POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO ENGAGE. AFTER THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH BROWN SMOKE AND FIRE WAS COMING OUT OF BOTH AIR BAGS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS …

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DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 60-75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WERE NO POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO ENGAGE. AFTER THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH BROWN SMOKE AND FIRE WAS COMING OUT OF BOTH AIR BAGS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED THE DRIVER PUT OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FLAME. THE DRIVER SIDE FLAME WENT OUT BY ITSELF. THERE WERE ONLY ONE INJURY. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED BRUISING TO THE LOWER PART OF THE STOMACH AND THE THIGHS. THERE WERE NO MARKS LEFT ON THE VEHICLE. DRIVER PUT THE AIR BAG BACK IN THE DRIVER AIR BAG COMPARTMENT AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE ONLY THING BURNT WAS THE AIR BAGS AND THAT WAS THE ONLY DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. MANUFACTURER SENT OUT AN INSPECTOR TO CHECK OUT THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND TAKE PICTURES. THE MANUFACTURER THEN REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO INSURANCE CARRIER. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT GM SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE AIR BAGS. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHY THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE BURNING. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. CONSUMER HAS NO MAILING ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER FOR THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10127491

71,000 miles · Feb 7, 2005
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT 55 MPH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10110940

40,000 miles · Jun 16, 2004
Air Bags

INTERMITTENTLY THE HORN WOULD SOUND OFF AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE HORN SOUNDED OFF TWENTY TIMES SINCE LAST JUNE.*AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10079382

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2002
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 25-35 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8015813

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2001
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 50 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION I WHICH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891293

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2000
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING 45 -50 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #873877

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2000
Air Bags

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING VEHICLE COLLISION UNTIL CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE TO REMOVE CHILD FROM REAR CAR SEAT, BODYSHOP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN A REPLACEMENT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. NLM

NHTSA ODI #556239

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2000
Air Bags

MY PROBLEM IS A REPLACEMENT ONE IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME TO COMPLET THE REPAIRS MADE TO MY CAR AFTER MY ACCIDENT ON 6/23/00 WHEN I STRUCK A DEER & THE AIR BAGS BOTH EMPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI #9001453

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 1999
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847032

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 1998
Air BagsElectrical System

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TRYING TO USE THE HORN, THE HORN DIDN'T MAKE ANY SOUND. CONSUMER CONSIDERED THIS TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT. THE DEALER REPLACED PARTS OF THE AIR BAG. THE CONSUMER VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP SIX TIMES AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831586

Official recalls

1

04V090000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

Feb 24, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

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

2

EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Fuel System, Gasoline

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

PE02050 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jun 13, 2002 · Closed Oct 22, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

No summary supplied.