IllustrationWHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION. THERE WAS A BREAKAGE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND MELTING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE DUMPING SHROUD. A SMALL FIRE WAS BURNED ON THE ENGINE BLOCK WHEN THE SHROUD WAS REMOVED. *AK *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 reportsVEHICLE HAD BEEN LOSING COOLANT SINCE 1998. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES. THE GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR) PORT WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND WHEN IT MELTED, COOLANT SEEPED INTO THE ENGINE. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT OF $479.99 FROM MC CLELLON BUICK AFTER CONTACTING THE ORIG…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE HAD BEEN LOSING COOLANT SINCE 1998. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES. THE GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR) PORT WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND WHEN IT MELTED, COOLANT SEEPED INTO THE ENGINE. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT OF $479.99 FROM MC CLELLON BUICK AFTER CONTACTING THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *PH
1998 BUICK LESABRE - ENGINE BACKFIRE UPON STARTING - BLEW OFF VACUME HOSE AT INTAKE MANIFOLD, CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. ENGINE HYDROLOCKED, SUCKING COOLANT INTO ALL 6 CYLINDERS. FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR REPLACED ALONG WITH A NEW PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED (I HAD TO QUICKLY MOVE TO THE SHOULDER). NOTICED NO COOLANT IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. TOWED IT TO THE GMC DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER REMARKS: DUE TO ANTIFREEZE LEAK FROM MANIFOLD GASKET ALL FLUIDS WENT THROUGH ENGINE BLOCK AND HYDRO…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED (I HAD TO QUICKLY MOVE TO THE SHOULDER). NOTICED NO COOLANT IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. TOWED IT TO THE GMC DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER REMARKS: DUE TO ANTIFREEZE LEAK FROM MANIFOLD GASKET ALL FLUIDS WENT THROUGH ENGINE BLOCK AND HYDROLOCKED THE ENGINE AND CAUSING IT TO SHUT DOWN. (THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT THEY HAD TO SEVERAL BUICK LESABRE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM). AT LEAST I AM LUCKY THAT THIS PERSON KNEW WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITHOUT SPECULATION. I HAVE HEARD OTHERS WERE NOT THAT LUCKY AT OTHER DEALER PLACE WHERE THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM EXCEPT SPECULATING ON THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ALL I WANT IS THAT THE GMC COMPANY PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OR REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIRS CAUSED BY THEIR POOR TECHNICAL WORKMANSHIP. *AK
TEMPERATURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER STOPPED AND PUT IN COOLANT. NEXT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED , AND ENGINE DIED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLDS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK THE DEALER ALSO INSTALLED A NEW THERMOSTAT AND GASKET AND REPLACED ALL SIX SPARK PLUGS. *NLM
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK
THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD AT OWNER'S EXPENSE OF $985.00. *AK
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDERS. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STALLED. *AK *TS *NLM
CONSUMER HAD MANIFOLD SYSTEM REPAIRS DONE ON 98 BUICK LESABRE. THE MANIFOLD SYSTEM WAS REPLACED TWICE. AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR, CONSUMER BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALLS FOR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH 3.8 V6 ENGINE. GENERAL MOTORS WERE CONTACTED BUT THE CONSUMER DIDN'T RECEIVE A RESPONSE. *PH
VEHICLE HAD BEEN LOSING COOLANT SINCE 1998. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES. THE GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR) PORT WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND WHEN IT MELTED, COOLANT SEEPED INTO THE ENGINE. *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.