Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Buick Lesabre problems
Owners filed 101 complaints about the 1996 Buick Lesabre with NHTSA between Feb 1996 and Apr 2019. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (19).
Complaints
101
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling19
- Electrical system14
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Air bags8
- Fuel system, gasoline7
- Structure6
- Power train6
- Suspension6
- Vehicle speed control5
- Steering4
- Visibility4
- Tires4
- Exterior lighting3
- Equipment3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
14
14
4
10
12
6
6
4
5
6
2
2
3
3
3
3
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 14 |
| 1997 | 14 |
| 1998 | 4 |
| 1999 | 10 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
19 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE, THE ENGINE DROPPED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE AND BUSHING WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.”
Electrical system
14 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
12 reports3 crashes
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND MADE A CONSTANT BEEPING NOISE. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND HAD AAA TOW IT TO THE DEALER. SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER IN SEPTEMBER OF 2008 AND NOW SHE NEEDS NEW BRAKES. WITHIN TWO HOURS, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $400. SHE WAS VERY SKEPTICAL OF THE REPAIRS AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CLOGGED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/09/09.*JB”
Air bags
8 reports4 crashes
“WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP ON A CITY STREET BEHIND A CITY BUS WHICH WAS LOADING PASSENGERS WITH NO COLLISION OR CONTACT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE AIRBAG CAUSED BURNS TO THE PASSENGER'S HAND AND BOTH KNEES. IT ALSO CAUSED DEEP CONTUSIONS ON THE LEFT KNEE, CAUSING DIFFICULTIES WITH WALKING.”
Fuel system, gasoline
7 reports1 related recall
“THERE ARE TWO RECALLS ON YOUR SITE RELATED TO MY VEHICLE. TWO DEALERS TELL ME THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY CAR. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS ONE CAMPAIGN STICKER LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE A BUICK LASABRE 1996 IT BACK FIRES WHEN STARTING. CAN YOU CHECK AND SEE IF THE TWO YOU LIST ARE ASSSOCEATED WITH MY VEHICLE. *JB”
Structure
6 reports1 crash
“1. WHILE DRIVING A BUICK LESABRE ON DRY, SMOOTH, HARD-SURFACE ROAD... IN AN INSTANT... 2. ALL STEERING CONTROL WAS LOST. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP WITH BRAKES. NO DEATH, NO INJURY, NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE 3. THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS WERE FOUND BROKEN... THIS ALLOWED THE STEERING MECHANISM TO BECOME DISCONNECTED.... THE BOLTS WERE REPLACED, THE MECHANISM WAS CONNECTED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE 4. I CONTACTED THE PEOPLE AT BUICK 25 MAY.... AFTER FOUR DAYS OF DELAYS, THEY INFORMED ME OF THEIR DISINTEREST IN THIS CRITICAL FAILURE, REGARDLESS OF IT'S CERTAINTY TO RESULT IN FATALITIES.... PLEASE DISSEMINATE AN IMMEDIATE ALERT/RECALL/NOTICE/OTHER FYI..... YOUR FORM IS ENTITLED 'COMPLAINT'..... UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE, FACTUAL REPORT, NOT A COMPLAINT. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.