Illustration1998 BUICK LESABRE HAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION.*MR *NM
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
Power Train complaints
20 reportsAFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A RECALL REPAIRS, VEHICLE WAS CUTTING OFF, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. VEHICLE IDLED ROUGHLY. CONSUMER TOLD MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST PRIOR TO BRINGING IT IN FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD GO AWAY ON ITS OWN. *AK THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION …
Read full complaint
AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A RECALL REPAIRS, VEHICLE WAS CUTTING OFF, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. VEHICLE IDLED ROUGHLY. CONSUMER TOLD MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST PRIOR TO BRINGING IT IN FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD GO AWAY ON ITS OWN. *AK THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILED . *NM
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AFTER BEING ENGAGED FOR 24 MILES OR MORE . THIS HAPPENS AT START UP FROM A STANDING STOP(STOP SIGN ETC.) IT HAS HAPPEN ONLY 4 TIMES THIS YEAR. DEALER UNABLE TO SAY WHAT IS WRONG OR REPAIR NEEDED.HAS ANYONE GOT A IDEA WHAT IT IS?
VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED TO STOP THE LEAK AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. DEALER, ON A PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, REPAIRED A HOLE IN THE RADIATOR. *AK *MR
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 JUMPS AND VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, AND HE INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT.*AK *YH
AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS I WAS COMUTING TO NY FROM MY RESIDENCE IN NH. THE CARS TRANSMISSION WAS NOT RESPONDING WELL. I ARRIVED NEAR FINCHBURG MASSACHUSETTES WHEN I DECIDED TO TURN BACK HOME. POWER AND RESPONSE WERE VERY INADEQUATE.MY WIFE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I DROPPED OFF THE CAR IN EXETER NH (N…
Read full complaint
AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS I WAS COMUTING TO NY FROM MY RESIDENCE IN NH. THE CARS TRANSMISSION WAS NOT RESPONDING WELL. I ARRIVED NEAR FINCHBURG MASSACHUSETTES WHEN I DECIDED TO TURN BACK HOME. POWER AND RESPONSE WERE VERY INADEQUATE.MY WIFE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I DROPPED OFF THE CAR IN EXETER NH (NOT THE SELLING DEALER..BUT A BUICK/GM DEALERSHIP THAT THEY RECOMMENDED TO HAVE CHECK IT OUT SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. AFTER INSPECTION AND A FULL DIAGNOSIS BY THE CERTIFIED GM MECHANIC, HE INFORMED ME THAT THE "TRANSMISSION WAS TOAST". THEY MADE A FULL REPAIR BY REPLACING THE EXISTING TRANSMISSION. THEY BELIEVED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO REBUILD CONSIDERING THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM. FURTHER, MY WIFE DID A THROUGH CHECK PRIOR TO MAKING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. WE KNEW THAT THIS MODEL VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HOWEVER SERVERAL BUICK /GM CERTIFIED SHOPS INDICATED THAT VERY FEW OF THESE NEWER VEHICLE HAVE TRANSMISSION FAILUE. IT WOULD BE LIKE A 1 AND 4MILLION CHANCE...WELL THAT IS OUR LUCK. IT HAPPENED TO US. *AK
CAR SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO OVERDRIVE WITH LOT OF NOISE, AND WILL CHATTER A LITTLE. FROM A COLD START. IT WON'T MOVE JUST VIBRATE AND SHATTER. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS VALVE BODY THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
INTAKE MANIFOLD MATERIAL MELTED AROUND ERG VALVE, LETTING COOLANT INTO ENGINE. SHOP WAS REPAIRING ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AT THE SAME TIME.*AK
THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SERIOUS ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. *MJS
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.