Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Buick Lesabre problems
Owners filed 410 complaints about the 1998 Buick Lesabre with NHTSA between Jan 1998 and Jun 2023. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (198).
Complaints
410
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
42
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling198
- Fuel system, gasoline68
- Electrical system46
- Service brakes, hydraulic22
- Power train20
- Suspension16
- Steering13
- Visibility11
- Air bags11
- Engine8
- Seat belts6
- Fuel system, other6
- Structure5
- Tires5
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
23
34
36
29
42
63
98
34
8
5
7
6
3
7
2
3
3
1
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 23 |
| 1999 | 34 |
| 2000 | 36 |
| 2001 | 29 |
| 2002 | 42 |
| 2003 | 63 |
| 2004 | 98 |
| 2005 | 34 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 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
198 reports1 crash28 fires
“I HAVE A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CAR STOPPED WHEN IT WAS PULLED INTO THE GARAGE AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, IT MADE A SCREECHING SOUND. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE STARTER "EXPLODED" BECAUSE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE PLENEUM INTO THE CYLINDERS AND STARTER. THE MECHANIC ADVISED IT WOULD COST OVER $800.00 TO REPAIR. *TR”
Fuel system, gasoline
68 reports2 crashes8 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 1998 Buick LeSabre. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V090000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH and at various speeds, the engine started to misfire. The contact stated that the check engine warning was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact used an OBD scanner and retrieved code: P0300 (Multiple Random Cylinder Misfire). The contact stated while stopped at a traffic signal there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 231,000. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Electrical system
46 reports1 crash4 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED THE ODOMETER MILEAGE OF 99,999, IT FAILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
22 reports3 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TWICE AND THE BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND UNPROTECTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.”
Power train
20 reports
“AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A RECALL REPAIRS, VEHICLE WAS CUTTING OFF, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. VEHICLE IDLED ROUGHLY. CONSUMER TOLD MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST PRIOR TO BRINGING IT IN FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD GO AWAY ON ITS OWN. *AK THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILED . *NM”
Suspension
16 reports1 crash
“I WAS DRIVING INTO DRIVE WAY AND HEARD A LOUD THUD THEN NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER. I PUT THE CAR UP ON RAMPS AND ALL FOUR REAR SUB FRAME BUSHINGS WHERE MISSING. THIS COMPONENT HOLDS THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND STEERING TO THE CAR.!!!! BEING A TECHNICIAN ,I LOOKED ON LINE TO SEE IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND FOUND IT IS VERY COMMON . IF I HAD CONTINUED TO DRIVE I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL. THANKFULLY I WAS DOING 10 MPH MANY ON LINE COMPLAINTS TALK ABOUT PEOPLE LOOSING CONTROL. OR THE FRONT END DROPPING FENDERS ON TO TIRES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY. ISSUE AND I HAVE FOUND IT SPANS 1992 TO 1999. GM MODELS. THIS IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS THE IGNITION PROBLEM POSSIBLY WORSE SINCE THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE IT HAPPENS. IF YOU CHECK ONLY AT WWW.CARGURUS.COM THEY HAVE A SECTION TITLED { CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE 92-99 BUICK } PLEASE LOOK AND DO SOMETHING BEFORE. SOMEONE IS HURT. *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.