IllustrationTHE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WERE A MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN FLAW. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE TUBING WAS TOO SMALL, CAUSING THE TUBING TO RUPTURE. *AK THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS WORN THROUGH. *SC *JB
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
What owners actually said
400 reportsWHILE DRIVING SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, VEHICLE DECELERATED FOLLOWED BY HEAT AND VENTILATION FAILURES. THIS WAS DUE TO ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD MALFUNCTIONING. THE MANIFOLD WASN'T DESIGNED CORRECTLY BY THE FACTORY ENGINEER, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED COOLANT LEAKING. CYLINDER R…
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WHILE DRIVING SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, VEHICLE DECELERATED FOLLOWED BY HEAT AND VENTILATION FAILURES. THIS WAS DUE TO ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD MALFUNCTIONING. THE MANIFOLD WASN'T DESIGNED CORRECTLY BY THE FACTORY ENGINEER, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED COOLANT LEAKING. CYLINDER REPLACED, AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD IMPROVED DESIGN, PER BULLETIN 010601007A. ALSO, COOLANT AND FLUID PLUGS WERE REPLACED.*AK *NM
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE BEGAN RUNNING VERY HARD AND ROUGH. FINALLY, ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. CONSUMER STATES DUE RECALL 04V090000 VEHICLE ACTS IN THIS MANNER. *AK
REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE PLENUM. *MR DUE TO A BACKFIRING/MISFIRING PROBLEM. *SC THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE PROBLEM AND THE CONSUMER IS NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. RECALL #(04V090000) *JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. *MR THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY LOST MORE POWER AND QUIT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED IN ONE OF THE PASSAGES, WHICH REQUIRED A TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. *SC
RECALL REGARDING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE 1998 BUICK LESABRE. *MR THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WAS RUINED DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM. *SC THE SECOND TIME THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE IT RESULTED IN HAVING TO GET A NEW ENGINE WHICH WAS DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM. *JB
PROBLEMS WITH ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PURCHASE THE SMALL COPPER PIECE THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE PLASTIC TO BECOME OVERHEATED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. (1998 BUICK). *NM
IT WOULD BE HARD TO START THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE HAD A RUPTURED MANIFOLD IN JUNE 2003, CAUSING ENGINE TO CEASE AND SMOKE AND MINOR FIRE. THE SMOKE MADE MYSELF AND MY INFANT SON VERY ILL. THIS WAS REPORTED TO BUICK BUT THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR REPAIR SINCE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FOLLOWING RECALL WAS NOT IN EFFECT: …
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MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE HAD A RUPTURED MANIFOLD IN JUNE 2003, CAUSING ENGINE TO CEASE AND SMOKE AND MINOR FIRE. THE SMOKE MADE MYSELF AND MY INFANT SON VERY ILL. THIS WAS REPORTED TO BUICK BUT THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR REPAIR SINCE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FOLLOWING RECALL WAS NOT IN EFFECT: NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V473/GM RECALL NO. 03054 AND THAT MY VEHICLE HAD NO RECALL. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE CEASED TO START AGAIN AND IT WAS DETERMINED AT THE BUICK DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS A FAULTY FUEL PRESSUE REGULATOR WHICH WAS REPLACED. BUICK AGAIN REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT ALTHOUGH I BROUGHT THEIR ATTENTION TO THE CURRENT RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I CALLED AGAIN TODAY AS THE RECALL FOR 98 BUICK LESABRES WITH V6 ENGINES WAS AGAIN POSTED BUT BUICK TOLD ME THAT THEIR SYSTEM HAS NO SUCH RECALL AND THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR OVER $1000 OF REPAIRS FOR THE FAULTY FUEL PRESSUE REGULATOR AND MANIFOLD. NHTSA RECALL NO. 04V090/GM RECALL NO. 03054B.*AK *LA
PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT BUCKLE OR RETRACT ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE SEAL BELT WAS NOT A LIFE TIME WARRANTY.*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.