Problems · by component

1998 Buick Lesabre fuel system, gasoline problems

68 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Buick Lesabre cite fuel system, gasoline, 17% of all 410 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
68
17% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel system, gasoline

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION THAT OCCURRED WITHIN THE ENGINE. WHITE SMOKE BEGAN TO FLOW FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MANIFOLD HAD EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A FUEL LEAK WAS PRESENT WITHIN THE ENGINE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 25, 2011Fuel system, gasolineFire reportedODI 10378580
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED YET THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A ROW OF HEDGES. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. IN JUNE 2010, THE CONTACT NOTICED ABNORMAL FRONT END NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STABILIZER BAR BUSHINGS HAD FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE BUSHINGS UNDER THE CRADLE WERE EXTREMELY RUSTED. THE BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED IN BOTH AREAS. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2010Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Fuel system, gasoline, StructureCrash reportedODI 10355528
“I AM CURRENTLY THE OWNER OF A 1998 BUICK LESABRE WITH APPROXIMATELY 24,600 MILES. I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CAR BACKFIRED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WAS CHUGGING AND THE EXHAUST SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE AND BURNING PLASTIC. AT THE SERVICE SHOP WHERE I HAD MY CAR REPAIRED, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS GOOD I BROUGHT THE CAR IN SO SOON BECAUSE THIS SORT OF PROBLEM IF NOT FIXED COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A POSSIBLE FIRE. I CONTACTED BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE IN REGARDS TO THE PROBLEM AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY RECALLS AND THAT THE FUEL REGULATOR IN MY VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF ANY BUICK RECALLS. WHEN ASKED IF I COULD RECEIVE SOME DOCUMENTATION THAT MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF ANY RECALLS, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH THAT PAPERWORK AND THAT ANYONE ELSE COULD TALK TO WITH BUICK WOULD TELL ME THE SAME THING IN REGARDS TO MY VEHICLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2010Fuel system, gasolineODI 10315194
“MY 1998 BUICK LESABRE BACKFIRED, THEN STARTED ON FIRE, AFTER THE TOP OF THE MOTOR{INTAKE AND FUEL INJECTORS ETC.} WERE BLOWN OFF DURING THE EXPLOSION. THE WHOLE TOP OF THE MOTOR WAS DESTROYED. NOTIFIED GM, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE OF A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM!!! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 18, 2008Fuel system, gasolineFire reportedODI 10249176
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL IN THE ANTIFREEZE BUCKET IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE COOLING COILS HAD BURST IN THE RADIATOR. CURRENTLY, ANTIFREEZE HAS SETTLED ON THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED FOR A PRESSURE LEAK AND THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FIND ONE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTAKE GASKET FAILED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 06/25/08. *LJ UPDATED 06/25/08”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2008Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10229865

Showing 6 of 68 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall on this component

Fuel system

Free remedy

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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Feb 24, 2004NHTSA 04V090000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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