IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ANTI FREEZE LEAKED FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
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 reportsTHE CONSUMER READ AN ARTICLE WHICH INDICATED THAT GM RECALL CERTAIN CARS WITH POWER STEERING DEFECTS. *LA THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR POWER STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH REQUIRED REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 35392 MILES. *NM
PURCHASED NEW, THIS WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGE KEPT VEHICLE FAILED WITH 44,500 MILES. I CHANGED THE OIL & FILTER AFTER THE FIRST 500 MILE BREAK-IN PERIOD & EVERY 1K MILES. ON 2/12/04, THERE WAS A ROUGH UNEXPECTED ENGINE KNOCK UPON STARTUP. PLACED IN REVERSE, THERE WAS A SHAKING SENSATION & THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP EVENTUALLY LI…
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PURCHASED NEW, THIS WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGE KEPT VEHICLE FAILED WITH 44,500 MILES. I CHANGED THE OIL & FILTER AFTER THE FIRST 500 MILE BREAK-IN PERIOD & EVERY 1K MILES. ON 2/12/04, THERE WAS A ROUGH UNEXPECTED ENGINE KNOCK UPON STARTUP. PLACED IN REVERSE, THERE WAS A SHAKING SENSATION & THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP EVENTUALLY LIT. I DROVE TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR COOLLANT LEAKED INTO THE OIL PORTION OF THE ENGINE. IT WAS AN UNPLEASANT SITUATION, HOWEVER, A DECISION HAD TO BE MADE & I OPTED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE WITH A 2004 LESABRE. I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT THE SAME DAY AND TRIED TO PUT MY 1998 PROBLEM BEHIND ME. I HAVE OWNED LESABRES IN THE PAST, A PARK AVENUE & OTHER GM PRODUCTS WHERE I CLOCKED OVER 250,000 MILES EACH ON MOST OF THEM. TWO DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY 2004, THE BURNING QUESTION WAS WHY MY 1998 BIT THE DUST? I FELT DRAWN TO MY COMPUTER & SEARCHED: "BUICK LESABRE PLENUM FAILURES" TO SEE WHAT I MIGHT FIND. I VIEWED SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS AT THIS SITE AND MANY OTHERS DESCRIBING THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. ALL I COULD HELP BUT WONDER, WAS IF THIS SAME DEFECT PRONE PART WAS IN THE CAR I JUST PURCHASED? I CALLED GM AND SPOKE TO A REP. I TOLD HERABOUT MY 1998 MODEL AND THEN ASKED IF SHE COULD LET ME KNOW IF IT HAD BEEN CHANGED ON MY NEW 2004 MODEL? YES, MY 2004 HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD, SO WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE SAME SITUATION WILL ARISE IN THE FUTURE. WHAT WILL THEY DO FOR ME ABOUT MY NEW CAR? NOTHING. BEWARE THE TICKING TIME BOMB IF YOUR GM VEHICLE HAS THE 3800 SERIES II. A LOUD POP, FOLLOWED BY HESITATION & BY THE TIME THE SER ENGINE LIGHT GLOWS -- IT IS ALREADY TOO LATE. MANY FIRES HAVE BEEN REPORTED ALONG WITH THIS PROBLEM. SOURCES INDICATE THAT IT IS ON APPROXIMATELY 35 MILL ASSORTED GM CARS MANUFACTURED FROM CIRCA 1994 TO PRESENT.
WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE MANIFOLD UPPER INTAKE VALVE. *JB (MANIFOLD AND GASKETS MALFUNCTIONED) THE OIL PAN AND VALVE COVE WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS ALSO A FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEM. THE DEALER FOUND THE #4 CYLINDER MISFIRING WITH NO FUEL DROP. *…
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WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE MANIFOLD UPPER INTAKE VALVE. *JB (MANIFOLD AND GASKETS MALFUNCTIONED) THE OIL PAN AND VALVE COVE WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS ALSO A FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEM. THE DEALER FOUND THE #4 CYLINDER MISFIRING WITH NO FUEL DROP. *SC
COOLANT CONSUMPTION, OR AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK NEAR OR UNDER THE THROTTLE BODY AREA OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD ON A 98 BUICK LE SABRE CUSTOM FOUR DOOR.*AK
VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN IN MOTION. THE VEHICLES VACUUM HOSE, POWER STEERING PRESSURE AND INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. *NM
PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK THROUGH ENGINE BLOCK AND HYDROLOCKED ENGINE. CALL TO LOCAL BUICK DEALER COMFIRMS THIS IS NOT ISOLATED DEFECT. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AS I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE PART. MY COST $879.98. POSSIBLE FUTURE ENGINE DAMAGE.…
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PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK THROUGH ENGINE BLOCK AND HYDROLOCKED ENGINE. CALL TO LOCAL BUICK DEALER COMFIRMS THIS IS NOT ISOLATED DEFECT. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AS I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE PART. MY COST $879.98. POSSIBLE FUTURE ENGINE DAMAGE.*AK
CONSUMER INQUIRED AS TO WHY THE RECALL ON PARK AVENUE WITH 3800 V6 ENGINES EXTENDED TO THE LESABRE AS WELL. *PH THE BUICK PARK AVENUE AND BUICK LESABRE ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME ENGINE. THE CONSUMER SAW RECALL 03V473000 FOR THE PARK AVENUE AND WONDERED WHY THE LESABRE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *NM
COOLANT LEAK FROM MANIFOLD
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE CONSUMER HEARD AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A FAULTY PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS THE PROBLEM. *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.