IllustrationTHE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE ENGINE IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND HAS THE EGR TUBE RUNNING THROUGH IT, CAUSING THE PLASTIC TO HEAT UP AND ALLOW ANTIFREEZE TO RUN INTO THE ENGINE. DEALER FOUND AND REPLACED LEAKING INTAKE PLENUM. *TT
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 AT 25-35 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
WAS RETURNING FROM CHARLESTON, SC TO COLUMBIA, SC SUNDAY 7/28/02 ABOUT 7:00 PM AFTER A HOT DAY ON INTERSTATE 26. AFTER ABOUT AN HOURS TRAVELLING TIME, IN WHICH THE CAR FELT OUT OF ALIGNMENT OR TIRES OUT OF BALANCE DUE TO BAD ROADS IN CHARLESTON, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, THE CAR PULLED OR FISHTAILED IN HEAVY BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFF…
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WAS RETURNING FROM CHARLESTON, SC TO COLUMBIA, SC SUNDAY 7/28/02 ABOUT 7:00 PM AFTER A HOT DAY ON INTERSTATE 26. AFTER ABOUT AN HOURS TRAVELLING TIME, IN WHICH THE CAR FELT OUT OF ALIGNMENT OR TIRES OUT OF BALANCE DUE TO BAD ROADS IN CHARLESTON, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, THE CAR PULLED OR FISHTAILED IN HEAVY BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I COMPENSATED STEERING AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. THE OTHER VEHICLES SURROUNDING ME MOVED AND/OR SLOWED TO GIVE A WIDE BERTH. I HAD THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS AN AXLE OR CV JOINT HAD BROKEN, BUT UPON WALKING AND LOOKING AROUND THE CAR I FOUND ALL TIRES FULLY INFLATED, BUT THEN NOTICED THAT THE REAR TIRE BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF IT'S TREAD LAYER MISSING AND BARE STEEL WIRES WERE EXPOSED. I WENT ONLINE AND LOOKED UP GENERAL TIRES, READ ABOUT STRESS CRACKS APPEARING WHERE THE TREADS MET THE SIDEWALLS, THEN INSPECT THE ONLY OTHER GENERAL TIRE LEFT ON THE VEHICLE- IT HAD CONTINUOUS SMALL CRACKS THERE. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WOULD ONLY PARTICIPATE PARTICALLY IN THE TIRE REPLACEMENT COST IF I USED THEIR TIRES AGAIN- I REFUSED THEIR BRANDS AND BOUGHT GOODYEARS INSTEAD. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE LIVED THROUGH THE TREAD COMING OFF, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT ANYONE ELSE THAT MAY HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR WOULD HAVE!*AK
PROBLEM 1....PRESSURE REGULATOR IN THE OIL PUMP LOCKED ,CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BLOW. THIS RECENTLY HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF MINE AT AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE. PROBLEM 2....CAR HAS STARTED TO STALL FOR NO REASON. USUALLY WHEN I'M SLOWING DOWN FOPR A RED LITE OR TO TURN.PROBLEM 3..... WHILE DRIVIND AT AROUND 65-70 THE CAR HAS SURGED F…
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PROBLEM 1....PRESSURE REGULATOR IN THE OIL PUMP LOCKED ,CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BLOW. THIS RECENTLY HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF MINE AT AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE. PROBLEM 2....CAR HAS STARTED TO STALL FOR NO REASON. USUALLY WHEN I'M SLOWING DOWN FOPR A RED LITE OR TO TURN.PROBLEM 3..... WHILE DRIVIND AT AROUND 65-70 THE CAR HAS SURGED FOR AN INSTANT(SORT OF LIKE WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS PEDAL SUDDENLY FOR A SECOND). *AK
GM MADE THEIR INTAKE MANIFOLDS OUT OF A PLASTIC RESIN ON THE BUICK 3800 V6 ENGINE. THEY ROUTED THE EGR VALVE THROUGH IT WHICH CAUSES A HEAT BUILD UP THAT WRAPS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ALLOWING COOLANT TO GO INTO THE ENGINE. MY REPAIR BILL WAS $803.76 PLUS ONE STARTER $189.00 THAT BROKE WHEN THE ENGINE SIEZED. FROM READING ON THE …
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GM MADE THEIR INTAKE MANIFOLDS OUT OF A PLASTIC RESIN ON THE BUICK 3800 V6 ENGINE. THEY ROUTED THE EGR VALVE THROUGH IT WHICH CAUSES A HEAT BUILD UP THAT WRAPS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ALLOWING COOLANT TO GO INTO THE ENGINE. MY REPAIR BILL WAS $803.76 PLUS ONE STARTER $189.00 THAT BROKE WHEN THE ENGINE SIEZED. FROM READING ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES WITH THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD. THE DEALER THAT FIXED MY CAR AID YES IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THAT HE HAD ANOTHER CAR OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS MINE IN THE SAME MORNING AS MINE. SAME PROBLEM AND THAT HE HAD ONE THE WEEK BEFORE. IN MY CASE THE ENGINE DID NOT LOCK UP AS I AS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY BUT THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR SOMEONE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THIER ENGINE LOCKS UP. *AK
AT 50MPH ENGINE STALLED THEN VEHICLE LOST POWER. COULD HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
BRAKE LINES ON ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ROTTED INSIDE OUT. OWNER STEPPED ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING PEDESTRIANS. OWNER INDICATED THAT VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO SALT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER CAN SMELL GAS COMING FROM VEHICLE, ALSO FUEL IS LEAKING ONTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK. CONSUMER STATES GAS FUMES ARE PRESENT WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED.*JB
VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER STATED ENGINE MANIFOLD THAT IS MADE OF PLASTIC IS CRACKED AND SENDING FLUID THROUGH ENGINE, DAMAGING PARTS IN ENGINE. *AK THE PLASTIC INTAKE WAS REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT OF REPAIR EXPENSE. *YH
AFTER HAVING T EGR VALVE SERVICED, MILES LATER WITHOUT WARNING, INTAKE MANIFOLD BEGAN TO LEAK COOLANT ONTO ENGINE, CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUTDOWN AND LOCK UP. MECHANIC STATED INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHEN VALVE WAS SERVICED.*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.