IllustrationWATER PUMP STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
1997 Buick Lesabre
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Lesabre years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Buick Lesabre are substantially higher than the model-year median of 24.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lesabre years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
1225–50K
1850–75K
2175–100K
29100–150K
21150K+
106 reports with mileage · 288 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 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports31 fire reports20 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
110 reportsWHEEL CYLINDERS LEAKING CAUSING A GRUNTING NOISE TO OCCUR AS THE CAR WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. NLM
IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE IN ENGINE MANIFOLD WARPING AND CAUSING OVER HEATING AND PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE?*AK
MOTOR BURNED, CAUSE OF FIRE ORIGNINATED AT THE ENGINES FUELING SYSTEM ON THE INTAKE HOUSING SIDE, CLAIM 53-C681-096. *SLC
IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR WHEN I WENT IN FOR AN ORDINARY OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS DONE ON JUNE 19TH AND COST US $131. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER, THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND TO REPAIR THAT PLUS THE OIL CHANGE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SERVICE THAT RAN…
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IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR WHEN I WENT IN FOR AN ORDINARY OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS DONE ON JUNE 19TH AND COST US $131. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER, THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND TO REPAIR THAT PLUS THE OIL CHANGE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SERVICE THAT RAN US $764. ON OCTOBER 20TH AFTER GETTING INTO THE CAR AND STARTING IT, THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO YOUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THAT WAS THE EGR VALVE WHICH WAS $313. THEN SIX DAYS LATER ON OCTOBER 26TH THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT WHEN I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE, AFTER LETTING IT COOL WE CHECKED THE COOLANT JAR AND THERE WAS NOTHING IN IT. WE ADDED WATER THEN TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO YOUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THIS TIME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH COST US $391. IN BETWEEN THESE HAPPENING I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT BRAKES AND THE TWO ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GARAGE AND HAD THEM CHECK THEM SINCE THEY HAD ONLY BEEN REPLACED LESS THAN ONE YEAR BEFORE AND HAD LESS THAN 15,000 MILES. WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT BRAKES. WHILE ROAD TESTING THE CAR ON NOVEMBER 25TH THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED UP THE OIL PRESSURE WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN. IT WAS TAKEN STRAIGHT TO YOUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND LEFT THERE UNTIL IT WAS CHECKED ON MONDAY THE 27TH. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST WAS GOING TO BE $3,400. *AK
ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO MOTOR AND CAUSING IT TO BE SLUGGISH & HESITATE. ALSO, THERE WAS A FOUL SMELL COMING INTO VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A DEFECT WITHIN THE PART. *AK
STEERING WHEEL PAINT COMING OFF, REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL NECESSARY. *MJS
VEHICLE BACKFIRES DURING START UP. THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *AK REFERENCED IN EA02-030
SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, THE CAR HAS GOTTEN HORRENDOUS GAS MILEAGE, THE HORN INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT WORK AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND NOTHING WAS DONE. I WAS TOLD "WE WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM." THE HORN ISSUE NEARLY RESULTED IN A CAR ACCIDENT LASTNIGHT AS THE HORN, AGAIN, …
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SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, THE CAR HAS GOTTEN HORRENDOUS GAS MILEAGE, THE HORN INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT WORK AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND NOTHING WAS DONE. I WAS TOLD "WE WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM." THE HORN ISSUE NEARLY RESULTED IN A CAR ACCIDENT LASTNIGHT AS THE HORN, AGAIN, DECIDED TO TAKE THE NIGHT OFF. THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!
CAR IS CUTTING OUT. NO WARNING. I COULD BE GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR OR COMPLETELY STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT. CAR WILL RESTART IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP [TWO DIFFERENT ONES] THREE TIMES AND IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED TO DATE. I FEEL THIS CAR IN DANGEROUS AND WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME HELP.
Official recalls
296V116000 · 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.
96V044000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Mar 5, 1996
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH ONE OR MORE INCORRECT SAFETY BELT AND/OR SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ENDS. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF AN INCORRECT PART IS USED, THE BELT MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT SHOULD A VEHICLE CRASH OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT ALL FRONT AND REAR SAFETY BELT LATCH ENDS AND SAFETY BELT BUCKLES FOR CORRECT PARTS AND REPLACE ANY INCORRECT PARTS.
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
2EA02030 · 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.