IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED OUT OF CONTROL AND STALLED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO AN OIL LEAK. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,000.
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 reports98 BUICK LESABRE. 3.8 DRIVING UP HILL, DOWN HILL, COASTING, IT DOESN'T MATTER. 1 OR 2 TIMES A WEEK THE ENGINE JUST DIES. SOMETIMES I CAN CATCH IT FULL THROTTLE AND IT WILL PICK UP AND RUN FINE. OR THROW IT IN ON THE FLY AND RESTART INSTANTLY. NEW FUEL PUMP AND FILTER USUALLY STARTS GOOD. SOME TIMES I HAVE TO STOP CRANKING IT A…
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98 BUICK LESABRE. 3.8 DRIVING UP HILL, DOWN HILL, COASTING, IT DOESN'T MATTER. 1 OR 2 TIMES A WEEK THE ENGINE JUST DIES. SOMETIMES I CAN CATCH IT FULL THROTTLE AND IT WILL PICK UP AND RUN FINE. OR THROW IT IN ON THE FLY AND RESTART INSTANTLY. NEW FUEL PUMP AND FILTER USUALLY STARTS GOOD. SOME TIMES I HAVE TO STOP CRANKING IT AFTER 5 SEC 1,2,3 TIMES BEFORE IT STARTS. THIS ONLY HAPPENS 1 TIME EVERY WEEK OR TWO. I CAN'T LET ANYONE ELSE DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THEY WILL PULL OUT IN FRONT OF A TRUCK AND THE CAR WILL QUIT. *JB
1998 LESABRE UPPER MANIFOLD PLENUM OVER HEATED, MELTED, CAUSING A HOLE WHICH ALLOWED ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE OIL. *TS *JB
INTAKE MANIFOLD BURNED AT EGR PASSAGE ADJACENT TO THROTTLE BODY COOLANT PASSAGE(ALL PLASTIC- ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS PROBABLY CAST ALUMINUM). SUBSEQUENT COOLANT LOSS INTO ENGINE AIR INTAKE CAUSES ERRATIC OPERATION AND PROBABLE ENGINE DAMAGE. REPLACED MANIFOLD WITH NEW ONE AT A COST OF $500 PARTS PLUS 5 HOUR. LABOR COMPLAINED TO GM …
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INTAKE MANIFOLD BURNED AT EGR PASSAGE ADJACENT TO THROTTLE BODY COOLANT PASSAGE(ALL PLASTIC- ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS PROBABLY CAST ALUMINUM). SUBSEQUENT COOLANT LOSS INTO ENGINE AIR INTAKE CAUSES ERRATIC OPERATION AND PROBABLE ENGINE DAMAGE. REPLACED MANIFOLD WITH NEW ONE AT A COST OF $500 PARTS PLUS 5 HOUR. LABOR COMPLAINED TO GM BUT TO NO AVAIL. *JB
INTERMITTENT SMALL LEAK OF ANTI-FREEZE/COOLANT THAT SHOWS UP ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. HAVE TRACED THAT IT EMANATES FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE THROTTLE MOUNTING AND THEN DRIPS DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE OVER THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND ONTO THE FLOOR. WAS ADVISED BY A GM MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THROTTLE MOUNTING BOL…
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INTERMITTENT SMALL LEAK OF ANTI-FREEZE/COOLANT THAT SHOWS UP ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. HAVE TRACED THAT IT EMANATES FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE THROTTLE MOUNTING AND THEN DRIPS DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE OVER THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND ONTO THE FLOOR. WAS ADVISED BY A GM MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THROTTLE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT MAY RELATE TO THIS LEAKAGE. LOCAL BUICK DEALER INDICATED THAT MY VIN WAS NOT AFFECTED. NONETHELESS, I HAVE THAT PROBLEM OF COOLANT LEAKAGE FROM THAT AREA OF THE ENGINE. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT GASKET AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO LEAKAGE FROM THE THERMOSTAT OR THE RADIATOR HOSE. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE HEAT INDICATOR GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
1998 LESABRE BURNED A HOLE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START. *TS ***NAR THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE EGR VALVE WAS LOCATED IN SUCH A POSITION THAT THE HOT EXHAUST GASES WERE VENTED TO CLOSELY TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.
DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD GASKET. COOLANT DEGRADES GASKET CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. *JB
1998 BUICK LESABRE ENGINE SEIZED CAUSING CONSUMER TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD WARPED CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO GO INTO THE MOTOR PER MECHANIC. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED****JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LOW . HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SHOP THE TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE ENGINE. THIS, IN TURN COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW UP. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 02/06/06. *JB
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.