IllustrationWHILE DRIVING, A FIRE STARTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSE OF FIRE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE COOLING FAN MOTOR, CLAIM 15-3047-690. *SLC
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 reportsCONSUMER HAS TO INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES BECAUSE BRAKES KEEP FAILING. PEDAL IS PUMPED A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE IT WILL STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL FOR BRAKES TO FEEL LIKE THAT. CONSUMER IS NERVOUS DRIVING. *AK THE BRAKE FAILS TO STOP THE VEHICLE UNLESS PRESSED EXTREMELY HARD. *YH
INTAKE MANIFOLD MATERIAL MELTED AROUND ERG VALVE, LETTING COOLANT INTO ENGINE. SHOP WAS REPAIRING ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AT THE SAME TIME.*AK
DETAILS SENT VIA EMAIL TO WEBMASTER. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
CRACKED STEERING WHEEL, AND LEFT FRONT STRUT FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
ENGINE IN OUR CAR BLEW A HEAD GASKET, OUR MECHANIC SAID HE HAS HAD TO WORK ON 4 ADDITIONAL CARS THE SAME MODEL AS OURS, WE FEEL THIS MAY BE A PROBLEM, AND THAT THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT FAIL AT THIS PARTICULAR MILAGE.*AK
ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2000 I HAD MY BUICK LESABRE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK. THEY REPLACED THE MODULE. THE DEFROSTER THAN WORKED. ON DECEMBER 8, 2000, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. I HAD MY REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ON, BUT IT HAD SHUT OFF. I NOTICED AN AWFUL SMELL. AS I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGH…
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ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2000 I HAD MY BUICK LESABRE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK. THEY REPLACED THE MODULE. THE DEFROSTER THAN WORKED. ON DECEMBER 8, 2000, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. I HAD MY REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ON, BUT IT HAD SHUT OFF. I NOTICED AN AWFUL SMELL. AS I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, I LOOKED AROUND FOR THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL. AS I GLANCED OVER MY SHOULDER, FLAMES WERE BEGINNING TO COME THROUGH THE PANEL BETWEEN THE REAR WINDOW AND THE SIDE WINDOW. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE REAR WINDOW MODULE THAT HAD CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CAR IS BEING FIXED AND CHECKED OVER BY ANOTHER SERVICE COMPANY. THEY ARE CHECKING OUT THE WIRING TO SEE IF THE DEFECT MIGHT BE SOME WHERE ELSE.
BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
DEALERSHIP ADVISED INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND STARTER WAS BAD. I HAD JUST PARKED THIS VEHICLE TWO HOURS PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING TO START IT AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I QUESTION WHY THEY ARE ALLOWED TO USE A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD AS THIS IS AN AREA THAT GETS VERY HOT AT TIMES. I USED TO BE A MECHANIC FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND…
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DEALERSHIP ADVISED INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND STARTER WAS BAD. I HAD JUST PARKED THIS VEHICLE TWO HOURS PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING TO START IT AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I QUESTION WHY THEY ARE ALLOWED TO USE A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD AS THIS IS AN AREA THAT GETS VERY HOT AT TIMES. I USED TO BE A MECHANIC FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THINK THAT BUICK MADE AN ERROR BY PRODUCING ENGINES WITH PLASTIC MANIFOLDS. I HAVE PURCHASED NEW BUICKS ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST 35 YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE EVER HAD WITH AN ENGINE. REFERENCED IN EA02-030
RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, DEFECTIVE TIRE IS POSSIBLE WHAT CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING (GENERAL AMERI-G4S - P205-70R15).
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.