IllustrationWHILE DRIVING EGR VALVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, MECHANIC STATED SENSORS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY.*AK
1998 Buick Lesabre
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Lesabre years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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
90–25K
2525–50K
6150–75K
4775–100K
25100–150K
6150K+
173 reports with mileage · 227 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 196 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports42 fire reports7 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
196 reportsWHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. SOMETIMES VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHEN DRIVING ALONG. VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. DEALER HAS SEEN NUMEROUS TIMES AND CAN'T FIX IT. *AK
WHILE STOPPED FOR GAS, THE VEHICLE SMELLED HOT. THE MECHANIC CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ALL THE WATER AND ANTIFREEZE WAS GONE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. TEH MECHANIC CHECKED THE PRESSURE AND FILLED THE RADIATOR AND RESEVOIR. AN HOUR LATER THE CAR WOU…
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WHILE STOPPED FOR GAS, THE VEHICLE SMELLED HOT. THE MECHANIC CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ALL THE WATER AND ANTIFREEZE WAS GONE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. TEH MECHANIC CHECKED THE PRESSURE AND FILLED THE RADIATOR AND RESEVOIR. AN HOUR LATER THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND ALL THE WATER WAS GONE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED AND THE OWNER OF THE GARAGE SHOWED CONSUMER A PLASTIC MANIFOLD ON TOP OF THE ENGINE WITH AN EMISSION CONTROL TUBE CARRYING EXHAUST BACK INTO THE VALVE AREA. THE TUBE HAD GOTTEN SO HOT IT MELTED A HOLE INTO THE PLASTIC ALLOWING THE RADIATOR WATER TO RUN INTO THE VALVES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. THE SERVICE MANAGER KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BUT SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL FOR IT. CONSUMER FEELS BUICK SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. *JG
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS COME ON, AND THE SENSOR IN ENGINE HAS MALFUNCTIONED. CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE IN ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AKIT HAS BEEN INDICATED TO CONSUMER IF DEFECT IS NOT FIXED, POSSIBLE FIRE OR STALLING MAY OCCUR. *JG
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB #87-65-14 TO FLASH PCM WITH UPDATED CALIBRATION AS A RESULT OF AN INTERMITTENT STALL. *TT
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, PARKING LIGHTS SHORTED OUT SEVERAL TIMES, ALTERNATOR FAILED , WIRING BETWEEN THE DOOR AND BODY FRAME SHORTED, AND LEFT REAR WINDOW MOTOR SHORTED. SPARK PLUGS, HEADLAMP SWITCH, BATTERY WERE REPLACED. *TT
CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE GOING DEAD AT STOPS IN APRIL 2001, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE AT STOPS AND EVENTUALLY HAD BOTH SYMPTOMS DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING, CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 4 OCCASIONS AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL SOMETHING SHOWED UP ON THE COMPUTER…
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CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE GOING DEAD AT STOPS IN APRIL 2001, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE AT STOPS AND EVENTUALLY HAD BOTH SYMPTOMS DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING, CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 4 OCCASIONS AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL SOMETHING SHOWED UP ON THE COMPUTER, HOWEVER WHILE DRIVING HOME CONSUMER STATED THAT ENTIRE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, LIKE A GUNSHOT, SMOKE FROM THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE BEGAN DROPPING FIRE ONTO THE STREET, THE FIREWALL WAS COMPLETELY BURNED.*JB
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY TECHNICIAN, AND PLENUM WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 49-3208-890. *SLC
Official recalls
104V090000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
Feb 24, 2004
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
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.