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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling198
  2. Fuel system, gasoline68
  3. Electrical system46
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic22
  5. Power train20
  6. Suspension16
  7. Steering13
  8. Visibility11
  9. Air bags11
  10. Engine8
  11. Seat belts6
  12. Fuel system, other6
  13. Structure5
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
199823
199934
200036
200129
200242
200363
200498
200534
20068
20075
20087
20096
20103
20117
20122
20133
20143
20151
20162
20172
20181
20190
20200
20210
20220
20231

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.

03 —Owner reports

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10430035

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 15, 2023Fuel system, gasoline, EngineODI 11527270

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2017Electrical system, EngineODI 11012681

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2014Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10615639

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2004Power train, Electrical systemODI 10081542

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 4, 2015SuspensionODI 10681368
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.