IllustrationVEHICLE HAS A F1 SUSPENSION. WHEN THERE IS ABOUT 400 POUNDS IN THE BACK SEAT (3 PEOPLE) VEHICLE WILL JUMP WHEN HITTING A LIGHT BUMP OR A DIP IN THE ROAD, WHICH COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *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
What owners actually said
400 reportsTRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH REAR WHEELS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOCKED UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND BACK ON. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OKAY. ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR LATER, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, MASTER CYLI…
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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH REAR WHEELS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOCKED UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND BACK ON. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OKAY. ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR LATER, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, MASTER CYLINDERS WERE CHANGED ON BOTH REAR BRAKES ON JUNE 3, 2000. OWNER NOT SURE IF THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE WHEEL TO LOCK UP. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE JERKED SLIDING TO THE LEFT, THE WHEEL RIM OF DRIVER SIDE BECAME BENT LOCKING IT AGAINST THE WHEEL BRACKET. *YH
MY PROBLEM IS A REPLACEMENT ONE IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME TO COMPLET THE REPAIRS MADE TO MY CAR AFTER MY ACCIDENT ON 6/23/00 WHEN I STRUCK A DEER & THE AIR BAGS BOTH EMPLOYED.
CAR BOTTOMS OUT OVER SEVERE BUMPS WITH PASSENGERS IN FRONT AND REAR. CAR WAS INSPECTED BY MFG. DEALER 7/20/2000. NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. IT WAS INFERRED THAT THE BOTTOMING OUT WAS NORMAL THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL. I BELIEVE THE ENGINEERING SAFETY MUST BE CHECKED. I DON"T BELIEVE BOTTOMING OUT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD NOT…
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CAR BOTTOMS OUT OVER SEVERE BUMPS WITH PASSENGERS IN FRONT AND REAR. CAR WAS INSPECTED BY MFG. DEALER 7/20/2000. NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. IT WAS INFERRED THAT THE BOTTOMING OUT WAS NORMAL THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL. I BELIEVE THE ENGINEERING SAFETY MUST BE CHECKED. I DON"T BELIEVE BOTTOMING OUT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD NOT BE PASSED OVER LIGHTLY. *AK
A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH A TRAGEDY BARELY AVOIDED, TRANSMISSION FAILURE
WHEN GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL AND TRYING TO BRAKE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. ALSO, ENGINECHECK LIGHT CAME ON AS THOUGH VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED. A BULLETIN WAS GIVEN TO OWNER BY A PARK RANGER AT MT. WASHINGTON. THE BULLETIN WAS ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE INERTIA SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH. UPON APPROACHING A RED LIGHT SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG COMING FROM THE HOOD AREA. THEN SHE NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAME S COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *AK
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.