IllustrationWHEN CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, BLACK SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED.*AK *TS *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 reportsTHE VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED AND THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED. *JB *TS *NLM
INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTING. LOSS OF COOLANT. REPLACE PLASTIC INTAKE, PLUGS, STARTER, OIL AND FILTER, PCV VALVE, COOLANT. PLUS TOWING BILL AND SHOP LABOR. GM DEFECT. GM KNOWS IT, GM SHOULD REIMBURSE FOR REPAIR COST. *LA
WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD INTO THE ENGINE. THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO BLOW OUT. INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DETERIORATING DUE TO THE LEAKAGE. *AK
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH ALL DASHBOARD INDICATORS STARTED FLASHING, AND ENGINE STALLED. *AK
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
ENGINE COOLANT LEAK, INTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD,OF MY VEHICLE, RESULTED FROM DEFECTIVE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD COMPOSITE MATERIAL DEGRADING AROUND THE EGR STOVE PIPE. BUICK MOTOR DIVISION OF GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, #01-06-01-007A-(07/18/2001), DOCUMENT ID#812024, PERTAINING TO THIS EXACT TYPE OF ENG…
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ENGINE COOLANT LEAK, INTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD,OF MY VEHICLE, RESULTED FROM DEFECTIVE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD COMPOSITE MATERIAL DEGRADING AROUND THE EGR STOVE PIPE. BUICK MOTOR DIVISION OF GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, #01-06-01-007A-(07/18/2001), DOCUMENT ID#812024, PERTAINING TO THIS EXACT TYPE OF ENGINE MANIFOLD DEFECT IN 1998 BUICK LESABRE AUTOMOBILES. ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2003, THE EGR STOVE PIPE FAILED IN MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE, ALLOWING ENGINE COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE MANFOLD. I FORMALLY REQUEST THAT YOUR AGENCY IMMEDIATELY BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS DEFECT, IN ORDER TO PROCEED TOWARD ORDERING A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE.
CAR BACKFIRED AND ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE
MY CAR, A '98 LESABRE, HAS A POWER ASSISTED STEERING THAT IS DRIVEN BY A BELT. THE IDLER PULLEY DISINTEGRATED, THE BELT CAME OFF, AND I HAD LITTLE STEERING. A PERSON WITH LESS UPPER BODY STRENGTH WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL. I BELIEVE MANY UNEXPLAINED ACCIDENTS MAY BE CAUSED BY THIS SITUATION. INVESTIGATING OFFICERS WOULD ASSUME …
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MY CAR, A '98 LESABRE, HAS A POWER ASSISTED STEERING THAT IS DRIVEN BY A BELT. THE IDLER PULLEY DISINTEGRATED, THE BELT CAME OFF, AND I HAD LITTLE STEERING. A PERSON WITH LESS UPPER BODY STRENGTH WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL. I BELIEVE MANY UNEXPLAINED ACCIDENTS MAY BE CAUSED BY THIS SITUATION. INVESTIGATING OFFICERS WOULD ASSUME THE BELT WAS LOST DURING THE CRASH WHEN THE LOSS WAS ACTUALLY THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. A VEHICLKE THAT HAS A SERPENTINE BELT ALSO LOSES POWER TO THE BRAKES.
WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM OUR DAUGHTER'S IN VIRGINIA, OUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE PULLED ONTO A SIDE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, WE FOUND THE RESERVE RADIATOR RESERVOIR TO BE TOTALLY EMPTY. AFTER 20 MINUTES, WE TRIED TO START THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. WE WERE TOWED BACK TO THE NEAREST TOWN, SELINSGROVE…
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WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM OUR DAUGHTER'S IN VIRGINIA, OUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE PULLED ONTO A SIDE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, WE FOUND THE RESERVE RADIATOR RESERVOIR TO BE TOTALLY EMPTY. AFTER 20 MINUTES, WE TRIED TO START THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. WE WERE TOWED BACK TO THE NEAREST TOWN, SELINSGROVE, PA, TO A PEP BOYS AND WERE TOLD THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO ROCHESTER WHERE OUR MECHANIC PROCEEDED TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. WE ALSO CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE. THE RADIATOR FLUID IS ENTIRELY SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THERE IS NEVER ANY INDICATION OF OVER HEATING OR CHANGES ON THE GAUGE READINGS BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS NOT HOT, DUE TO THE FLUID BEING IN THERE. CONSEQUENTLY, WE HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. THREE DAYS AFTER THIS HAPPENED TO US, A LETTER WAS MAILED OUT TO ALL OWNERS OF 2000-2003 BUICKS FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. WE CALLED THE NUMBER GIVEN 1-800-832-8425 AND ALSO CALLED BBB AUTO LINE FOR GENERAL MOTORS. GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP US IN THIS MATTER BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE IS A 1998. THE COST WE HAVE INCURRED TO REMEDY THIS FAILURE IS IN EXCESS OF $3,000.00. THE SAME ENGINE WAS USED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM: A 3800 SERIES LL (L36) V6 ENGINE. HOW DO I KNOW THE SAME THING WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN? I DO NOT! I DO NOT WANT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE YET I CANNOT AFFORD NOT TO. WE HAVE BOUGHT GM CARS AND TRUCKS FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS. WE ALWAYS SAID: "BUY AMERICAN". I GUESS THAT TIME IS OVER. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP US? *JB
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.