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1996 Buick Lesabre

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Buick Lesabre do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 24.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

30 reports with mileage · 68 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports

Power Train complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 24, 2009
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME FROM A FRIENDS HOUSE AND HAD THE CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY AND IT WAS LEFT RUNNING AND IT WAS IN PARK THEN I WENT OUT TO LEAVE AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING FOR ABOUT 3 MIN SITTING THERE AND I PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE NO MATTER WHAT SO I TRIED ALL THE GEARS IT WOULDN'T WORK SO I SHUT OFF THE C…

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I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME FROM A FRIENDS HOUSE AND HAD THE CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY AND IT WAS LEFT RUNNING AND IT WAS IN PARK THEN I WENT OUT TO LEAVE AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING FOR ABOUT 3 MIN SITTING THERE AND I PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE NO MATTER WHAT SO I TRIED ALL THE GEARS IT WOULDN'T WORK SO I SHUT OFF THE CAR LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 5 MIN AND STARTED IT UP THEN PUT IT INTO REVERSE AGAIN AND IT DID THEN I DROVE ABOUT 50-100 FT AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING AND THEN JUST THE OTHER DAY I WENT OUT TO START IT AND IT WAS STILL IN PARK AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A POWERSTEERING PUMP WITH NO FLUID AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG NEST OF BEES AND I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL AND THE FLUID WAS BURNT AND THERE WAS DEBRIS IN THE FLUID SO THE CAR DON'T WORK. SO MY FAMILY HAD TO GO BUY A NEW CAR WHEN WE ARE BROKE AND NOW I HAVE NO WAY TO GET TO WORK. THERE WAS NOTHING DONE TO RESOLVE THE FAILURE YET IM GOING TO GO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10296923

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2000
Power Train

I HAD A PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THIS CAR IN 1996, AFTER ABOUT 12,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENT FAILURE OCCURED AS I WAS STARTING TO GO UP A STEEP GRADE. CAR SHUDDERED, AND ENGINE REVED WITHOUT ANY INCREASE IN SPEED. THERE WAS LOSS OF DRIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN ENGINE AND WHEELS. I DOWNS…

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I HAD A PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THIS CAR IN 1996, AFTER ABOUT 12,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENT FAILURE OCCURED AS I WAS STARTING TO GO UP A STEEP GRADE. CAR SHUDDERED, AND ENGINE REVED WITHOUT ANY INCREASE IN SPEED. THERE WAS LOSS OF DRIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN ENGINE AND WHEELS. I DOWNSHIFTED TO LOWER GEAR MANUALLY, AND MANAGED TO KEEP CAR MOVING FORWARD. AFTER REACHING TOP OF GRADE, I RESUMED DRIVING IN HIGH GEAR. AS I WOULD START ON SLIGHT UPGRADES, OR TRY TO ACCELERATE SPEED, ENGINE WOULD REV TEMPORARILY WITHOUT ACCELERATION OF CAR. AFTER STOPPING ON SIDE OF ROAD TO CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID, I RESUMED TRANVEL. PROBLEM SEEMED TO RESOLVE ITSELF, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS SOME "HUNTING" OF THE TRANSMISSION AS IT UPSHIFTED GEARS. WHEN I RETURNED TO HOME AREA, I TOOK CAR INTO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, PLANETARY GEAR HAS BROKEN OFF AND "GROUND UP" TRANSMISSION. NEED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS SECOND FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE,

NHTSA ODI #734824

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2000
Power Train

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY @ 60 MPH, HEARD POPPING NOISE AND FELT THUMP UNDER CAR. AS ACCELERATED AGAIN, ENGINE REVS INCREASED W/O ANY INCREASE IN SPEED. ENGINE DID NOT SEEM TO BE ENGAGED WITH TRANSMISSION. MANUALLY DOWN SHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR. ENGINE REENGAGED WITH DRIVE TRAIN. SHIFTED BACK TO 4TH (D), LOSS OF ENGAGEMENT. TOOK CAR T…

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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY @ 60 MPH, HEARD POPPING NOISE AND FELT THUMP UNDER CAR. AS ACCELERATED AGAIN, ENGINE REVS INCREASED W/O ANY INCREASE IN SPEED. ENGINE DID NOT SEEM TO BE ENGAGED WITH TRANSMISSION. MANUALLY DOWN SHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR. ENGINE REENGAGED WITH DRIVE TRAIN. SHIFTED BACK TO 4TH (D), LOSS OF ENGAGEMENT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, INFORMED THAT "PLANETARY GEAR" HAD FAILED, AND REPLACED TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #734822

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1999
Latches/locks/linkagesPower Train

WHEN TAKING IT OUT OF ANY GEAR ,ALL 3 DOORS WILL UNLOCK EXCEPT FOR FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. ,IT MUST BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED BEFORE PASSENGER CAN GET OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851110

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1997
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #519041

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTILOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP.

NHTSA ODI #515153

Official recalls

2

96V116000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System

Jul 1, 1996

A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.

95V204000 · Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module

Oct 23, 1995

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER CHIME REMINDER FUNCTIONS, INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES ARE ALSO AFFECTED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE; THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE KEY WAS LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR THAT THE SAFETY BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Fuel System, Gasoline

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

PE02050 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jun 13, 2002 · Closed Oct 22, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

No summary supplied.