IllustrationVEHICLES STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *AK *JB
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 reports1998 BUICK LESABRE STALLED AT A STOPLIGHT AND WOULDN'T START. AFTER HAVING THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REMOVED, WATER WAS DISCOVERED IN THE INTAKE AND IN THE CYLINDERS.
1998 BUICK LASABRE...WITH PLASTIC INTAKE DEVELOPED A CRACK AND ALLOW ALL COOLANT TO PASS THRU ENGINE AND OUT EXHAUST...WAS STRANDED 100 MILES FROM HOME...TO GET TOWED AND REPLACE THIS DESIGN FLAW COST ME OVER 600.00 DOLLARS. *AK
I AM UPSET THAT THE GM RECALL # 03054B DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 1998 BUICK LESABRE, ONLY THE PARK AVENUE, ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. FOR BUICK. *AK MY LESABRE DID THE SAME THING AS DESCRIBED ON THE RECALL RESULTS FOR THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION FOUND ON THE INTERNET. HOWEVER, YOUR OFFICE DID LIST IT USING …
Read full complaint
I AM UPSET THAT THE GM RECALL # 03054B DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 1998 BUICK LESABRE, ONLY THE PARK AVENUE, ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. FOR BUICK. *AK MY LESABRE DID THE SAME THING AS DESCRIBED ON THE RECALL RESULTS FOR THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION FOUND ON THE INTERNET. HOWEVER, YOUR OFFICE DID LIST IT USING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V090000. PLEASE E-MAIL ME @ JOHNBILLIPS@HOTMAIL.COM OR LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR ME @ 850-482-8156, IF MY VEHICLE (1998 BUICK LESABRE, CUSTOM) CAN BE ADDED TO THIS RECALL. AFTER LOOKING AT THE REVIEWS FOR THIS VEHICLE IT SEEMS THERE ARE A FEW COMPLAINTS. THANKS
INFO COPY OF LET TO GM, INQUIRING IF THERE IS ANYTHING MORE TO DO TO STOP THE UNNECESSARY TASK OF WRITING MULTIPLE LTRS FOR REIMBURSEMT FROM GM REFERENCING ENGINE COOLANT LEAK ON BUICK VEHICLES. REF ES03-006044 /S/BRENNER 9/23/03. *PH *MJJ NAR
CONSUMER DISSATISFIED WITH THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPAIR KIT AND NOTHING ELSE. (NAR) *PH THE CONSUMER WAS ONLY PARTIALLY REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS MADE PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTIFICATION ON THE FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S STARTER. *NM
WHILE DRIVING WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE REAR . VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE, AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
THE MANIFOLD WARPED, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO SPILL INTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB *JB
WHILE DRIVING ANTI FREEZE LEAKED FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
PURCHASED NEW, THIS WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGE KEPT VEHICLE FAILED WITH 44,500 MILES. I CHANGED THE OIL & FILTER AFTER THE FIRST 500 MILE BREAK-IN PERIOD & EVERY 1K MILES. ON 2/12/04, THERE WAS A ROUGH UNEXPECTED ENGINE KNOCK UPON STARTUP. PLACED IN REVERSE, THERE WAS A SHAKING SENSATION & THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP EVENTUALLY LI…
Read full complaint
PURCHASED NEW, THIS WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGE KEPT VEHICLE FAILED WITH 44,500 MILES. I CHANGED THE OIL & FILTER AFTER THE FIRST 500 MILE BREAK-IN PERIOD & EVERY 1K MILES. ON 2/12/04, THERE WAS A ROUGH UNEXPECTED ENGINE KNOCK UPON STARTUP. PLACED IN REVERSE, THERE WAS A SHAKING SENSATION & THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP EVENTUALLY LIT. I DROVE TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR COOLLANT LEAKED INTO THE OIL PORTION OF THE ENGINE. IT WAS AN UNPLEASANT SITUATION, HOWEVER, A DECISION HAD TO BE MADE & I OPTED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE WITH A 2004 LESABRE. I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT THE SAME DAY AND TRIED TO PUT MY 1998 PROBLEM BEHIND ME. I HAVE OWNED LESABRES IN THE PAST, A PARK AVENUE & OTHER GM PRODUCTS WHERE I CLOCKED OVER 250,000 MILES EACH ON MOST OF THEM. TWO DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY 2004, THE BURNING QUESTION WAS WHY MY 1998 BIT THE DUST? I FELT DRAWN TO MY COMPUTER & SEARCHED: "BUICK LESABRE PLENUM FAILURES" TO SEE WHAT I MIGHT FIND. I VIEWED SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS AT THIS SITE AND MANY OTHERS DESCRIBING THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. ALL I COULD HELP BUT WONDER, WAS IF THIS SAME DEFECT PRONE PART WAS IN THE CAR I JUST PURCHASED? I CALLED GM AND SPOKE TO A REP. I TOLD HERABOUT MY 1998 MODEL AND THEN ASKED IF SHE COULD LET ME KNOW IF IT HAD BEEN CHANGED ON MY NEW 2004 MODEL? YES, MY 2004 HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD, SO WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE SAME SITUATION WILL ARISE IN THE FUTURE. WHAT WILL THEY DO FOR ME ABOUT MY NEW CAR? NOTHING. BEWARE THE TICKING TIME BOMB IF YOUR GM VEHICLE HAS THE 3800 SERIES II. A LOUD POP, FOLLOWED BY HESITATION & BY THE TIME THE SER ENGINE LIGHT GLOWS -- IT IS ALREADY TOO LATE. MANY FIRES HAVE BEEN REPORTED ALONG WITH THIS PROBLEM. SOURCES INDICATE THAT IT IS ON APPROXIMATELY 35 MILL ASSORTED GM CARS MANUFACTURED FROM CIRCA 1994 TO PRESENT.
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.