IllustrationINITIALLY WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT. THE CONSUMER HAS TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WILL GO INTO REVERSE.
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 reportsA THUMPING NOISE COMES FROM THE REAR AXLE AREA OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CAUSE IS NOT FOUND. YH
VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED OUT. PRIOR TO STALLING, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
BUICK DEALER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR TRANSMISSION. BUT CONSUMER NEEDED TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER TO SEND RECALL NOTICE. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT DEALER SHOULD MAIL THE RECALL NOTICE. NO ONE EVER MAILED CONSUMER THE RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE 6 TIMES. THE DE…
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BUICK DEALER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR TRANSMISSION. BUT CONSUMER NEEDED TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER TO SEND RECALL NOTICE. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT DEALER SHOULD MAIL THE RECALL NOTICE. NO ONE EVER MAILED CONSUMER THE RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE 6 TIMES. THE DEALER IS MIDPOINT BUICK, 17801 VIRGIL GOODE HIGHWAY, PO BOX 887 ROCKY MOUNT, VA 24151 540-483-5860. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP ALL OVER THE ROAD *AK CONSUMER FIRST NOTICED THAT VEHICLE LEANED SEVERELY ON CURVES, THIS WOULD ALMOST CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AT TIMES, THE BACK SHOCKS WOULD BOTTOM OUT, CONSUMER HAD THE REAR SPRINGS REPLACED. RECENTLY, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHI…
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WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP ALL OVER THE ROAD *AK CONSUMER FIRST NOTICED THAT VEHICLE LEANED SEVERELY ON CURVES, THIS WOULD ALMOST CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AT TIMES, THE BACK SHOCKS WOULD BOTTOM OUT, CONSUMER HAD THE REAR SPRINGS REPLACED. RECENTLY, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, OVERCORRECTED, AND VEHICLE OVERTURNED, CONSUMER WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT, HIS WIFE WAS ALSO INJURED. VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A RATTLE IN THE DASHBOARD, THE DEALER PULLED THE DASH FORWARD TO SECURE IT BETTER, HOWEVER THE RATTLE RETURNED, SO CONSUMER FIXED PROBLEM HIMSELF. *SLC
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED/REPAIRS MADE BY DEALER ON EIGHT OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING.
WAS DRIVING ON A STEEP HILL & HAD FOOT ON BRAKES. WHEN FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF BRAKES, VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. INFORMED BY MECHANIC BRAKES WERE DESIGNED LIKE THAT. CURRENTLY, WHILE DRIVING ON A HILL WOULD HAVE ONE FOOT ON BRAKES & THE OTHER FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STOPPED, THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. *SLC
WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. IT WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A SEMI TRAILER TRUCK, THEN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER TRUCK. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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.