IllustrationWHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND REPAIRED UNKNOWN COMPONENT IN VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*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 reportsCOOLANT LEAKED INTO CYLINDERS CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK UP. SERVICE BULLETIN #010601007. *AK
3 TIMES IN SHOP DUE TO CHECKE ENGINE LIGHT ON. CLAIMED IT WAS SENSOR. NEW ALTERNATOR NEEDED. NEW STRUTS NEEDED. ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT SENSOR BUT WAS DUE TO ANTIFREEZE LEAK FROM MANIFOLD GASKET. ALL FLUIDS WENT THRU ENGINE AND OUT TAILPIPE CAUSING OVER HEATING.
VEHICLE AT STOP LIGHT WHEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED. WAS IDLING ROUGHLY WHEN PULLING INTO PARKING LOT, AND THEN VEHICLE DIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT UPPER PLENTIUM MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO ENGINE. THIS CAUSED PLUGS TO BE FLOODED. PLUGS WERE PULLED AND CLEANED.…
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VEHICLE AT STOP LIGHT WHEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED. WAS IDLING ROUGHLY WHEN PULLING INTO PARKING LOT, AND THEN VEHICLE DIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT UPPER PLENTIUM MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO ENGINE. THIS CAUSED PLUGS TO BE FLOODED. PLUGS WERE PULLED AND CLEANED. *AK
ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE CAME INTO MY AUTO REPAIR SHOP WITH A VERY DANGEROUS FUEL LEAK THAT THE CUSTOMER WAS UNAWARE OF. THE PLASTIC BEAUTY COVER ON TOP OF THE GM 3800 SERIES II ENGINES MADE CONTACT WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE PLASTIC FUEL LINE GOING INTO FUEL RAIL. DUE TO HIGH MILEAGE OF THIS CAR, LINE WAS DAMAGED BY THE COVER. SI…
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ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE CAME INTO MY AUTO REPAIR SHOP WITH A VERY DANGEROUS FUEL LEAK THAT THE CUSTOMER WAS UNAWARE OF. THE PLASTIC BEAUTY COVER ON TOP OF THE GM 3800 SERIES II ENGINES MADE CONTACT WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE PLASTIC FUEL LINE GOING INTO FUEL RAIL. DUE TO HIGH MILEAGE OF THIS CAR, LINE WAS DAMAGED BY THE COVER. SINCE THEN, I HAVE SEEN 2 OTHER GM 3800'S WITH THE SAME COVER-TO-FUEL LINE CONTACT. THE POTENTIAL LEAK IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE LEAKING PLASTIC FUEL LINE RUNS FROM THE FIREWALL AREA, OVER THE RIGHT SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, INTO THE FUEL RAIL ON TOP OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. A SIMPLE INSPECTION & PAD BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND THE SHARP EDGE OF THE PLASTIC COVER WOULD BE A VERY COST-EFFECTIVE CURE FOR A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SITUATION. THIS INSPECTION & REPAIR SHOULD APPLY TO ALL GM BADGES WITH THE 3800 SERIES II ENGINES.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 50 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION I WHICH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN GARAGE WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE MAJORITY OF CONSUMERS HOUSE, CLAIM 04-1284-911. *SLC
THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER RECOMMENDED AND PERFORMED A TUNE UP, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. NLM
UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK OIL AND OIL FILTER HAD TO BE CHANGED, SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED AND CYLINDER HAD TO BE CLEANED OUT. *SLC
CAR SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO OVERDRIVE WITH LOT OF NOISE, AND WILL CHATTER A LITTLE. FROM A COLD START. IT WON'T MOVE JUST VIBRATE AND SHATTER. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS VALVE BODY THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*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.