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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.

About this comparison →
400Owner complaints

Model-year median: 24

1Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
178
199598
1996394
1997400
1998209
1999669
2000328
2001
Compare all Lesabre years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
196Fuel System, Gasoline
70Electrical System
50Service Brakes, Hydraulic
23Power Train
20
All reported categories
Steering
15Suspension
15Visibility
12Air Bags
11Unknown Or Other
11Engine
8Fuel System, Other
7Equipment
5Seat Belts
5Tires
5Seats
4Structure
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Exterior Lighting
3Interior Lighting
2Service Brakes
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

23 reports
Clear category filter
93,000 miles · Jul 23, 2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TWICE AND THE BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND UNPROTECTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TWICE AND THE BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND UNPROTECTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI #10615639

131,790 miles · Mar 13, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAD TO MAKE A "PANIC STOP" DUE TO A CAR RUNNING A RED LIGHT.THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BEFORE I FELT THE BRAKES HOLD. A BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. INSPECTION REVEALED ALL THE LINES TO AND FROM THE POWER BRAKE UNIT[6 LINES] WERE RUSTED BADLY AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10389969

119,000 miles · Sep 14, 2010
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicStructureCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED YET THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A ROW OF HEDGES. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE MECHA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED YET THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A ROW OF HEDGES. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. IN JUNE 2010, THE CONTACT NOTICED ABNORMAL FRONT END NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STABILIZER BAR BUSHINGS HAD FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE BUSHINGS UNDER THE CRADLE WERE EXTREMELY RUSTED. THE BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED IN BOTH AREAS. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10355528

25,697 miles · Apr 21, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1998 BUICK LESABRE EXPERIENCING REPEAT PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED AND THE BRAKES STARTED TO LEAK BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE REAR BRAKES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER. SIX MONTHS LATER THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED AGAIN, WHICH REQUIRED THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER TO BE REPLACED AGA…

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1998 BUICK LESABRE EXPERIENCING REPEAT PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED AND THE BRAKES STARTED TO LEAK BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE REAR BRAKES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER. SIX MONTHS LATER THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED AGAIN, WHICH REQUIRED THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDER TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10119181

61,000 miles · Feb 17, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGED, BRAKE WAS APPLIED, WENT TO FLOORBOARD, NOTHING HAPPENED. BRAKES WERE PUMPED, NOTHING HAPPENED. VEHICLE STRIKES ANOTHER VEHICLE, AIRBAG DEPLOYS, AUTOMOBILE CONTINUES IN A DITCH, POPS OUT OF THE DITCH, GOES THROUGH AN EMPTY PARKING LOT, POPS ONTO ANOTHER STREET AND EVENTUALLY STOPS AFTER GOING OVER ANOTHER…

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TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGED, BRAKE WAS APPLIED, WENT TO FLOORBOARD, NOTHING HAPPENED. BRAKES WERE PUMPED, NOTHING HAPPENED. VEHICLE STRIKES ANOTHER VEHICLE, AIRBAG DEPLOYS, AUTOMOBILE CONTINUES IN A DITCH, POPS OUT OF THE DITCH, GOES THROUGH AN EMPTY PARKING LOT, POPS ONTO ANOTHER STREET AND EVENTUALLY STOPS AFTER GOING OVER ANOTHER CURB INTO ANOTHER PARKING LOT ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM ACCIDENT. THEORY IS THAT ABS MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED REGULAR BRAKES TO FAIL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10110719

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT OIL PAN GASKET AND FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10099447

102,000 miles · Apr 7, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1998 BUICK LASABRE...REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS LEAKING ON DRIVERS SIDE...CAUSED WHEEL TO LOCK UP COMPLETELY ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS...PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH MORE INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10065697

50,000 miles · Sep 24, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN MAKING TURNS AND PARKING. ALSO, VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVER'S FOOT IS ON BRAKE, DRIVER HAS TO PRESS BRAKE HARDER UNTIL ENGINE SLOWS DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10040557

33,914 miles · May 27, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicFire

VEHICLE FIRE/ VEHICLE DESTROYED. *MR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, PRIOR TO FIRE, VEHICLE WOULD SURGE THEN DIE OUT AT BOTH STOPS AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN. ALSO ENGINE HAD A WHINING NOISE. DEALER REPLACED GENERATOR ASSEMBLY. FUEL FILTER ALSO REPLACED. CLEANED THROTTLE BODY. BRAKES MADE SQUEALING NOISE. REAR BRAKES CLEANED AND…

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VEHICLE FIRE/ VEHICLE DESTROYED. *MR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, PRIOR TO FIRE, VEHICLE WOULD SURGE THEN DIE OUT AT BOTH STOPS AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN. ALSO ENGINE HAD A WHINING NOISE. DEALER REPLACED GENERATOR ASSEMBLY. FUEL FILTER ALSO REPLACED. CLEANED THROTTLE BODY. BRAKES MADE SQUEALING NOISE. REAR BRAKES CLEANED AND ADJUSTED. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE RIGHT REAR AFTER HOT AT STOPS. EXHAUST SYSTEM MISALIGNED. THE MIRROR COMPASS AND REAR WINDOW WERE ALSO INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO FIRE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10019740

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE LINES ON ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ROTTED INSIDE OUT. OWNER STEPPED ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING PEDESTRIANS. OWNER INDICATED THAT VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO SALT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8012487

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.