Problems · by component

1997 Buick Lesabre electrical system problems

40 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Buick Lesabre cite electrical system, 10% of all 402 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
40
10% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE HORN WILL SOUND WITHOUT PRESSING THE HORN BUTTON(S) WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR UNOCCUPIED. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND IT IS APPARENTLY AN ISSUE FOR MANY OWNERS. PART OF THE AIR BAG CONTRACTS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS PRESSING ON PART OF THE HORN BUTTON. THE ONLY WAY TO SHUT IT OFF IS TO PULL THE HORN FUSE. I AM CONCERNED THIS MAY LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IF THE HORN SOUNDS FOR TOO LONG OR AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO USE THE HORN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2018Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11121343
“HAS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE AND HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION AND I CAN BE DRIVING AND IT JUST LIKE IT DON,T GET NO JUICE FROM ENGINE THEN WHEN TRIED TO START UP IT DON,T CATCH IN IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE SPEND OVER 2,000 IN THIS CAR BUT EVERY ONE I TAKE IT TO SAYS IT IN THE IGNITION IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WANTS TO START SOMETIMES IT TAKES UP TO 6 HOURS BEFORE IT STARTS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2014Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 10626597
“I HAVE NOT SEEN A FIRE YET BUT IT HAS BEEN SMOKING IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR SINCE 2010 WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR USED FOR 2800.00 AT JIMS TOWING SERVICE IN ELIZABETH NEW JERSEY AND EVERY TIME THE CAR BROKE DOWN WHETHER IT WAS ELECTRICAL OR WHAT HE HAD GOTTEN MAD AT ME FOR NOT BRINGING IT TO HIM AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE KEPT ON COMING ON AND COME TO FIND OUT LAST MONTH AND THE CAR COST ME 2000.00 DOLLARS TO FIX AND THE MONTH BEFORE THAT THE GARAGE I WENT TO NAVARRO'S HAD FIXED THE HORN BECAUSE THAT WAS GOING ON AND OFF AGAIN AND SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS FLICKER AND OTHER THINGS AND NOW THE SECURITY ALARM DOES NOT WORK AND YESTERDAY WHILE SHOPPING I ASKED MY DAUGHTER WHAT THAT SOUND WAS IT WAS MY HORN AGAIN SHORTING AND DISCONNECTED IT AGAIN IT HAS DONE THAT TOO MANY TIMES AND I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR WITH 6 PEOPLE LIVING IN MY HOUSE AND IAM THE ONLY ONE WORKING RIGHT NOW AND DOES ANY MECHANIC KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING ANYMORE AND I NEED THE CAR TO GET BACK AND FORTH I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE AND WHEN I SAID THAT THE CAR COST ME 2000.00 TO FIX THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE AND FOR AWHILE NOW I HAVE MANUALLY DO THE LOCKS ON MY DOORS AND CANNOT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2012Electrical systemODI 10455468
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND. THE HORN CONTINUED TO SOUND UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE HOOD WAS LIFTED. UPON CLOSING THE HOOD THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND AGAIN AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT VEHICLE CARE CENTER AND THE HORN WAS DISABLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,130 UPDATED 06/25/10 UPDATED 07/16/10*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2010Electrical systemODI 10323726
“THIS CAR HAS HORN PROBLEMS. THE HORN STARTS BLOWING FOR NO REASON AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND THAT TO REPLACE IT WOULD COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2009Electrical systemODI 10280561
“DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE HORN WILL NOT STOP BLOWING, AND THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY IS MAKING A NOISE. THE SOUND IS COMING OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN DRIVING THE HORN JUST STARTS BLOWING OUT OF NOWHERE, IT JUST STARTS BLOWING, SPECIFICALLY STATES THE CONSUMER. WHEN PRESSING THE HORN PAD IT WILL STOP SOMETIMES. ONE HAS TO PRESS IN A CERTAIN SPOT. THE CAR IS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONSUMER IS GOING TO CALL AND SEE WHAT GM CAN DO. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR TWO WEEKS.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 20, 2005Air bags, Electrical systemODI 10137067

Showing 6 of 40 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.