IllustrationPOWER WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK IF VEHICLE IS NOT WARMED UP. AFTER 4-10 MINUTES WINDOWS OPERATE AS NORMAL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT PROBLEM CAN'T BE DUPLICATED. *AK *JB
1999 Buick Lesabre
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Lesabre years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
40–25K
1725–50K
1950–75K
2275–100K
8100–150K
10150K+
80 reports with mileage · 129 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 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
19 crash reports20 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
209 reportsWHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED TECHNICIAN NOTICED PLASTIC COVER FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE WHICH MAY HAVE STARTED ON THE LEFT FRONT DRIVERS SIDE, CLAIM 36-A176-319. *SLC
CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, CLAIM 22-V628-103. *SLC
WHILE CONSUMER WAS PARKING VEHICLE, HE COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, CLAIM 05-4681-265. *SLC
CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 15-3100-237. *SLC
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES, CAUSE FOR STALLING COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.*AK
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN FROM A MAIN HIGHWAY TO A SECONDARY ROAD, THE CAR FAILED TO MOVE UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS STALLING OR STUCK IN HIGH GEAR. THIS IS THE SIXTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND THE DEALER CANNOT LOCATE OR REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS T…
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WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN FROM A MAIN HIGHWAY TO A SECONDARY ROAD, THE CAR FAILED TO MOVE UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS STALLING OR STUCK IN HIGH GEAR. THIS IS THE SIXTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND THE DEALER CANNOT LOCATE OR REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE REPORTED THE INCIDENT ON THIS SITE AND AFTER REVIEWING THE SITE AND FINDING OTHER PEOPLE ARE DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM, I FELT YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT. TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEM SINCE THE DEALER CANNOT RECTIFY, I DOWNSHIFT TO LOW EACH TIME I HAVE TO MAKE A SLOW TURN. I DON'T TRUST THE CAR TO DO WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO. ALSO, THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT TRYING TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN. THIS IS NOT A DEALER ISSUE, THEY HAVE TRIED, BUT I CANNOT KEEP GOING IN FOR SERVICE CHECKS ALL THE TIME, SO I ADJUSTED TO THE PROBLEM. I GUESS THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO HEAR FROM BUICK, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME I WROTE YOU. NOW THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM, BUICK SHOULD BE INTERESTED.*AK
CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND THE WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, CLAIM 15-3100-237. *SLC
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY STARTED THE MOTOR CRANKED SLOWLY AS IF THE BATTERY WAS LOW, AND THEN THE ENGINE BACKFIRED LOUDLY AND DID NOT START, FIRE WAS DETECTED UNDER THE HOOD, UPON EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE, A DISCLOSED FAILED PLASTIC AIR INTAKE MOST LIKELY WAS THE RES…
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CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY STARTED THE MOTOR CRANKED SLOWLY AS IF THE BATTERY WAS LOW, AND THEN THE ENGINE BACKFIRED LOUDLY AND DID NOT START, FIRE WAS DETECTED UNDER THE HOOD, UPON EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE, A DISCLOSED FAILED PLASTIC AIR INTAKE MOST LIKELY WAS THE RESULT OF THE BACKFIRE, FIRE FROM BACKFIRE ESCAPED THE RUPTURED PLENUM AND SPREAD TO THE REST UF THE UNDERHOOD AREA AND EVENTUALLY TO THE PASSENGER AREA OF THE VEHICLE.*JB
Official recalls
204V090000 · 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.
99V089000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Apr 26, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4T65E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE." A RETAINING CLIP, WHICH SECURES THE MANUAL VALVE TO THE LINKAGE OF THE TRANSMISSION DETENT LEVER, CAN BECOME LOOSE UNDER A COMBINATION OF POSSIBLE DRIVER SHIFTING MANEUVERS AND ALLOW THE LINK TO BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE MANUAL VALVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LINK DISCONNECTS, THE DRIVER'S INDICATED PRNDL STATE MAY DIFFER FROM THE HYDRAULIC STATE OF THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE DRIVER SELECTS 'DRIVE' AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTUALLY IN 'REVERSE', A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL VALVE/LINK ASSEMBLY WITH A REPLACEMENT MANUAL VALVE/LINK KIT, FEATURING A SPRING-TYPE FASTENER.
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
3EA02030 · 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.
RQ99007 · Transmission Shift Lever Sequence
Opened May 26, 1999 · Closed Feb 8, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
No summary supplied.