IllustrationTHE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE VEHICLE LOOKED AS IF IT WAS LEAKING COOLANT, HOWEVER NO COOLANT WAS FOUND LEAKING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY FOUND AN INTERNAL LEAK. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE PLASTIC PLENUM INTAKE. *AK *SCC
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 SECURITY LIGHT LOCATED ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES. WHEN THIS OCCURS THERE IS A 3 MINUTES DELAY BEFORE VEHICLE STARTS.*AK
THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CORRODED AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS LEAKAGES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING OR PARKING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK *NLM
INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED ON MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE AT 77,000 MILES. PLASTIC MANIFOLD PERFORATED DUE TO EXHAUST GAS IMPINGING FROM EGR TUBE, FLOODING ENGINE WITH COOLANT AND CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL WITH SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.*AK
IN NOVEMBER,2002, OUR VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL LICENSED MECHANIC AND HE DISCOVERED THE UPPER MANIFOLD AND GASKET WERE DISINTEGRATED. ON FURTHER RESEARCH HE OBTAINED A COPY OF A BULLETIN FROM GENERAL MOTORS THAT STATED IF YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE UPPER MANIFOLD, ALSO REPLACE THE LOWER. OUR MECHANICAL INS…
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IN NOVEMBER,2002, OUR VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL LICENSED MECHANIC AND HE DISCOVERED THE UPPER MANIFOLD AND GASKET WERE DISINTEGRATED. ON FURTHER RESEARCH HE OBTAINED A COPY OF A BULLETIN FROM GENERAL MOTORS THAT STATED IF YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE UPPER MANIFOLD, ALSO REPLACE THE LOWER. OUR MECHANICAL INSURANCE PAID FOR THE UPPER BUT NOT THE LOWER. WE WROTE TO GM AND AFTER A FEW E-MAILS, OF COURSE THEY SAID NO WAY. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. IT COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I ASK YOU TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET ADDRESS: HTTP://WWW.PETITIONLINE.COM/MOD_PER/SIGNED.CGI?GMCNSMRS. YOU WILL FIND 3700 + OR - SIGNATURES AND STORIES OF SIMILAR GASKET PROBLEMS. PLEASE SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT THIS. I BELIEVE GM KNOWS THEY HAVE HAD A GASKET PROBLEM.
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED REGARDING THE MANIFOLD, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE RAN FOR FIVE HOURS, HE STOPPED TO GET GAS AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOOSE SPEED PULLED INTO GAS STATION. THE VEHICLE START AGAIN. GM WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMERS FRIEND HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE RE…
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CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOOSE SPEED PULLED INTO GAS STATION. THE VEHICLE START AGAIN. GM WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMERS FRIEND HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MANIFOLD GASKETS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE MANIFOLD AND THE STARTER. *SCC *NLM
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK IT WAS HARD TO CONNECT BEFORE IT HAD GONE COMPLETELY OUT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND DID NOT TAKE THE OLD PART. *SCC THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE PART AT HIS EXPENSE.*JB
FAX FM ANDREW HUNT (NJ) REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN GETTING REIMBURSED FOR $561.24 WORTH OF REPAIRS TO FIX THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD ON HIS 1998 GM BUICK LESABRE & RECALL ALL CARS LISTED IN GM TECH. SERVICE BULLETIN # 01-06-01-007A. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE CONCERN WAS THE VEHICLE DID NOT GIVE WARNING OF A PROBLEM AS THE COOLAN…
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FAX FM ANDREW HUNT (NJ) REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN GETTING REIMBURSED FOR $561.24 WORTH OF REPAIRS TO FIX THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD ON HIS 1998 GM BUICK LESABRE & RECALL ALL CARS LISTED IN GM TECH. SERVICE BULLETIN # 01-06-01-007A. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE CONCERN WAS THE VEHICLE DID NOT GIVE WARNING OF A PROBLEM AS THE COOLANT EMITTED FROM THE TAIL PIPE UNNOTICED. IF THERE WAS TOO MUCH COOLANT IN THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. THE DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE BROKEN STARTER FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH CLEARLY SHOWED THAT THE EGR STOVE PIPE ALLOWED WATER TO GET INTO THE ENGINE. *SCC *JB
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT UNLOCK. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER.*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.