IllustrationVEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, PARKING LIGHTS SHORTED OUT SEVERAL TIMES, ALTERNATOR FAILED , WIRING BETWEEN THE DOOR AND BODY FRAME SHORTED, AND LEFT REAR WINDOW MOTOR SHORTED. SPARK PLUGS, HEADLAMP SWITCH, BATTERY WERE REPLACED. *TT
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 →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
90–25K
2525–50K
6150–75K
4775–100K
25100–150K
6150K+
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 reportsWHEN APPLYING BRAKES A GRINDING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE GOING DEAD AT STOPS IN APRIL 2001, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE AT STOPS AND EVENTUALLY HAD BOTH SYMPTOMS DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING, CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 4 OCCASIONS AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL SOMETHING SHOWED UP ON THE COMPUTER…
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CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE GOING DEAD AT STOPS IN APRIL 2001, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE AT STOPS AND EVENTUALLY HAD BOTH SYMPTOMS DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING, CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 4 OCCASIONS AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL SOMETHING SHOWED UP ON THE COMPUTER, HOWEVER WHILE DRIVING HOME CONSUMER STATED THAT ENTIRE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, LIKE A GUNSHOT, SMOKE FROM THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE BEGAN DROPPING FIRE ONTO THE STREET, THE FIREWALL WAS COMPLETELY BURNED.*JB
WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND REPAIRED UNKNOWN COMPONENT IN VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
CONSUMER HAS TO INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES BECAUSE BRAKES KEEP FAILING. PEDAL IS PUMPED A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE IT WILL STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL FOR BRAKES TO FEEL LIKE THAT. CONSUMER IS NERVOUS DRIVING. *AK THE BRAKE FAILS TO STOP THE VEHICLE UNLESS PRESSED EXTREMELY HARD. *YH
BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOCKED UP CAUSING THE CAR TO VEER SUDDENTLY TO THE LEFT ON 2 OCCASIONS CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE RIM BENT LOCKING IT AGAINST THE WHEEL BRACKET, PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE GARAGE REPLACED THE BRAKE CYLINDERS OF THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE BECAUSE OF LEAKAGE. …
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THE REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOCKED UP CAUSING THE CAR TO VEER SUDDENTLY TO THE LEFT ON 2 OCCASIONS CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE RIM BENT LOCKING IT AGAINST THE WHEEL BRACKET, PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE GARAGE REPLACED THE BRAKE CYLINDERS OF THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE BECAUSE OF LEAKAGE. NLM
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH REAR WHEELS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOCKED UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND BACK ON. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OKAY. ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR LATER, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, MASTER CYLI…
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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH REAR WHEELS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOCKED UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND BACK ON. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OKAY. ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR LATER, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, MASTER CYLINDERS WERE CHANGED ON BOTH REAR BRAKES ON JUNE 3, 2000. OWNER NOT SURE IF THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE WHEEL TO LOCK UP. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE JERKED SLIDING TO THE LEFT, THE WHEEL RIM OF DRIVER SIDE BECAME BENT LOCKING IT AGAINST THE WHEEL BRACKET. *YH
REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS ARE LEAKING . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FUTHER DETAILS. *AK
ABS WOULD BRAKE SOFT OR HARD WHENEVER APPLED. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFOMED T CONSUMER THAT NO HISTORY OF THIS CONDITION WAS EVER REPORTED. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK
Official recalls
104V090000 · 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
2EA02030 · 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.