NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
400 reports100,000 miles · Mar 9, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
98 BUICK LESABRE. 3.8 DRIVING UP HILL, DOWN HILL, COASTING, IT DOESN'T MATTER. 1 OR 2 TIMES A WEEK THE ENGINE JUST DIES. SOMETIMES I CAN CATCH IT FULL THROTTLE AND IT WILL PICK UP AND RUN FINE. OR THROW IT IN ON THE FLY AND RESTART INSTANTLY. NEW FUEL PUMP AND FILTER USUALLY STARTS GOOD. SOME TIMES I HAVE TO STOP CRANKING IT A…
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98 BUICK LESABRE. 3.8 DRIVING UP HILL, DOWN HILL, COASTING, IT DOESN'T MATTER. 1 OR 2 TIMES A WEEK THE ENGINE JUST DIES. SOMETIMES I CAN CATCH IT FULL THROTTLE AND IT WILL PICK UP AND RUN FINE. OR THROW IT IN ON THE FLY AND RESTART INSTANTLY. NEW FUEL PUMP AND FILTER USUALLY STARTS GOOD. SOME TIMES I HAVE TO STOP CRANKING IT AFTER 5 SEC 1,2,3 TIMES BEFORE IT STARTS. THIS ONLY HAPPENS 1 TIME EVERY WEEK OR TWO. I CAN'T LET ANYONE ELSE DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THEY WILL PULL OUT IN FRONT OF A TRUCK AND THE CAR WILL QUIT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10184631
80,000 miles · Feb 28, 2007
Suspension
STRUT HAS BEEN WEAK AND NOISY FOR QUITE A WHILE. IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUTS LIKE THE WEB SITE SUGGESTS I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR IT AT NO CHARGE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10183837
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
1998 LESABRE UPPER MANIFOLD PLENUM OVER HEATED, MELTED, CAUSING A HOLE WHICH ALLOWED ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE OIL. *TS *JB
NHTSA ODI #10169095
79,000 miles · Aug 3, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
INTAKE MANIFOLD BURNED AT EGR PASSAGE ADJACENT TO THROTTLE BODY COOLANT PASSAGE(ALL PLASTIC- ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS PROBABLY CAST ALUMINUM). SUBSEQUENT COOLANT LOSS INTO ENGINE AIR INTAKE CAUSES ERRATIC OPERATION AND PROBABLE ENGINE DAMAGE. REPLACED MANIFOLD WITH NEW ONE AT A COST OF $500 PARTS PLUS 5 HOUR. LABOR COMPLAINED TO GM …
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INTAKE MANIFOLD BURNED AT EGR PASSAGE ADJACENT TO THROTTLE BODY COOLANT PASSAGE(ALL PLASTIC- ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS PROBABLY CAST ALUMINUM). SUBSEQUENT COOLANT LOSS INTO ENGINE AIR INTAKE CAUSES ERRATIC OPERATION AND PROBABLE ENGINE DAMAGE. REPLACED MANIFOLD WITH NEW ONE AT A COST OF $500 PARTS PLUS 5 HOUR. LABOR COMPLAINED TO GM BUT TO NO AVAIL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10164381
50,000 miles · Jul 9, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
INTERMITTENT SMALL LEAK OF ANTI-FREEZE/COOLANT THAT SHOWS UP ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. HAVE TRACED THAT IT EMANATES FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE THROTTLE MOUNTING AND THEN DRIPS DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE OVER THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND ONTO THE FLOOR. WAS ADVISED BY A GM MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THROTTLE MOUNTING BOL…
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INTERMITTENT SMALL LEAK OF ANTI-FREEZE/COOLANT THAT SHOWS UP ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. HAVE TRACED THAT IT EMANATES FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE THROTTLE MOUNTING AND THEN DRIPS DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE OVER THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND ONTO THE FLOOR. WAS ADVISED BY A GM MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THROTTLE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT MAY RELATE TO THIS LEAKAGE. LOCAL BUICK DEALER INDICATED THAT MY VIN WAS NOT AFFECTED. NONETHELESS, I HAVE THAT PROBLEM OF COOLANT LEAKAGE FROM THAT AREA OF THE ENGINE. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT GASKET AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO LEAKAGE FROM THE THERMOSTAT OR THE RADIATOR HOSE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10161913
75,000 miles · Apr 20, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE HEAT INDICATOR GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA ODI #10155747
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
1998 LESABRE BURNED A HOLE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START. *TS ***NAR THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE EGR VALVE WAS LOCATED IN SUCH A POSITION THAT THE HOT EXHAUST GASES WERE VENTED TO CLOSELY TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.
NHTSA ODI #10155152
45,000 miles · Feb 11, 2006
Visibility
I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE LAST NIGHT WHEN THE REAR WINDOW ON MY VEHICLE SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE HOLES OR DENTS IN THE WINDOW WHERE SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE HIT IT. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND IT WAS A COLD EVENING. I TOOK PICTURES WITH MY DIGITAL CAMERA AND THE WINDOW IS B…
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I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE LAST NIGHT WHEN THE REAR WINDOW ON MY VEHICLE SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE HOLES OR DENTS IN THE WINDOW WHERE SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE HIT IT. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND IT WAS A COLD EVENING. I TOOK PICTURES WITH MY DIGITAL CAMERA AND THE WINDOW IS BEING REPLACED TODAY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10150016
63 miles · Feb 2, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD GASKET. COOLANT DEGRADES GASKET CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10149308
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
1998 BUICK LESABRE ENGINE SEIZED CAUSING CONSUMER TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD WARPED CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO GO INTO THE MOTOR PER MECHANIC. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED****JB
NHTSA ODI #10149750
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.
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