IllustrationWHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY. 25-40MPH, WOULD HEAR NOISES COMING THROUGH DOORS & WINDOWS WHEN THEY WERE CLOSED. WOULD NOT HEAR NOISE AT LOWER SPEEDS. CONTACTED 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS & EACH MECHANIC HAD TEST DRIVEN VEHICLE. INFORMED BY 1 MECHANIC THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE CORRECTED. *AK
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 DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT 5-8 MPH, ATTEMPTING TO PARK, VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THIS HAPPENED IN DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS. *AK
DESIGN OF THE FRONT SEAT (BACK) COLLAPSES DURING COLLISION FOR SAFETY REASONS, CONSUMER REAR ENDED & SEAT COLLAPSED RESULTING IN INJURY. *YC
TRANSMISSION WAS UNDER RECALL ORDER (5/99) FOR "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE"; WORK WAS COMPLETED BY ALHAMBRA BUICK ON 7/12/99. WHILE DRIVING ON FRIDAY, 7/23/99, CAR SURGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED. I TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. I MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE TO AVOID HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT COULD NOT …
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TRANSMISSION WAS UNDER RECALL ORDER (5/99) FOR "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE"; WORK WAS COMPLETED BY ALHAMBRA BUICK ON 7/12/99. WHILE DRIVING ON FRIDAY, 7/23/99, CAR SURGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED. I TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. I MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE TO AVOID HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT COULD NOT GET CAR TO SLOW DOWN AS I APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION, BUT IN PROCESS HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I EVENTUALLY CROSSED INTERESECTION AND RAN CAR ALONGSIDE CURB TO TRY TO SLOW DOWN, BUT CAR CONTINUED TO SURGE AND ACCELERATE, AND BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SLOW CAR ENOUGH TO SHIFT IT INTO PARK AND STOP CAR. CAR WAS TOWED TO ALHAMBRA BUICK TO BE CHECKED OUT WITH FULL EXPLANATION OF WHAT HAPPENED, HOWEVER, THEY WERE INSISTENT TO HAVE CAR TOWED ONTO AUTO BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS, RATHER THAN FIND SOURCE OF PROBLEM. AFTER MANY DISCUSSIONS WITH DEALERSHIP, BUICK DIVISION OF GM AND THEIR PRODUCTS ALLEGATIONS RESOLUTION OFFICE IN DETROIT, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM BRIAN BIRKEY THIS MORNING (8/16/99 A.M.) OF THIS SAME OFFICE, STATING THAT BUICK'S ENGINEERS COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND HIS FINDINGS WERE BEING GIVEN TO GM. AT THIS POINT, THEY WOULD EXPECT ME TO HAVE MY INSURANCE PAY FOR MY AUTO BODY DAMAGE AND REMEDY THE DRIVER WHICH MY CAR HIT. I DO NOT WANT THIS CAR RETURNED TO ME, GIVEN MY EXPERIENCE AND THEIR FINDING THAT THE CAR CHECKED OUT OKAY WITHOUT ANY IDENTIFICATION OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THIS CAR OR THEIR FAILURE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS; FURTHER, I DID NOT PAY $30,000 FOR A NEW BUICK TO BECOME THEIR NEXT CRASH TEST DUMMIE. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD REPLACE MY BUICK WITH ANOTHER NEW CAR OR REFUND MY MONEY. IF THEY FEEL SUCH CONFIDENCE IN THEIR INSPECTION, THEN THEY CAN SELL THE CAR AS A USED CAR ON THEIR LOT.
HORN SOUNDS WHEN VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE AT 65 MPH. WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AT LEAST 5 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO LOCK UP OR REMAIN IN HIGH GEAR AND GIVES THE DRIVER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE VEHICLE IS STALLING. SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE, FAILED TO LOCATE THE CORRE…
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HORN SOUNDS WHEN VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE AT 65 MPH. WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AT LEAST 5 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO LOCK UP OR REMAIN IN HIGH GEAR AND GIVES THE DRIVER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE VEHICLE IS STALLING. SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE, FAILED TO LOCATE THE CORRECT GEAR, RESULTING IN A NEAR MISS COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION.
DURING COLLISION FRONT SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED CAUSING ALL FLYING MATERIAL/GLASS ETC. TO HIT CONSUMERS FACE. MJS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO REPAIR (99V-089) WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE NOTT SHIFTING OUT OF PARK AND ROLLING INTO MAIL BOX. MJS
OUR CAR WAS HIT FROM THE REAR WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. THE IMPACT, OF COURSE, DAMAGED THE REAR OF THE CAR. BUT, MY CONCERN IS THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE SEAT FAILED, IT WAS BROKEN TO THE POINT WHERE IT FAILED TO REMAIN UP-RIGHT. THE BACK OF THE SEAT FAILED TO STAY UP AND FELL BACKWARDS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS IN…
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OUR CAR WAS HIT FROM THE REAR WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. THE IMPACT, OF COURSE, DAMAGED THE REAR OF THE CAR. BUT, MY CONCERN IS THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE SEAT FAILED, IT WAS BROKEN TO THE POINT WHERE IT FAILED TO REMAIN UP-RIGHT. THE BACK OF THE SEAT FAILED TO STAY UP AND FELL BACKWARDS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY. I WOULD HOPE THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *AK
ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND STALLING STILL OCCURS. SEEKING HELP OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK
CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE FIRST RECALL NOTICE FOR REPAIR OF THE TRANSMISSION (99V-089). MJS
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.