10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,376 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Buick LeSabre electrical problems

electrical problem

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1998 Buick LeSabre Owner Comments

problem #15

May 012017

LeSabre

  • 106,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1998 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator illuminated. In addition, once the vehicle reached the odometer mileage of 99,999, it failed. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #14

Aug 092013

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • miles
I came home after bible study on Wednesday night and got up Thursday then the security light went blinking. My husband had the key ignition replace then brought new key but car still wouldn't start so had the car towed and repaired. 10 months and three weeks the car did the same but I was driving this time and it shut down in the road with me and my children. It was frighten but we made it safely out of the road before anything happen. I don't understand that this problem occurred again. I am upset about the problem. A car has no business shutting off in the road while a person is driving it accident or no accident because it in danger peoples life. A serious problem for many people whom have these cars made by GM.

- Tallassee, AL, USA

problem #13

Oct 012009

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
1998 Buick Lesabre crashed at low speed causing property damage, engine cut out while driving at low speed. Car was declared a total loss, leaving me with bills of over $10,000 for lost car, repairs, insurance. Problem had arisen on and off since acquiring car at 65,000 miles..twice taken in to GM dealership for this problem. Could not find anything wrong. Problem would disappear for months and then reappear. Numerous mechanics checked and could not find source of problem. After car was declared a total, news story ran about Toyota cars stalling out due to defective engine control modules (NHTSA report #PE09054). The defective part was made by delphi..which was owned by General Motors..makers of the Buick Lesabre. I contacted GM headquarters to ask if the control module in my part was made by GM/delphi. They refused to answer me, saying that as no recall had been issued and my car was gone, they could do nothing for me. Meanwhile, it turns out that GM did own delphi in 1998, did manufacture those modules, which had to have been in the Buick Lesabre, and were years later causing identical engine failures in Toyota. Those parts are out there today, waiting for something horrible to happen. Among the 12 summaries you have on your site for electrical problems with Buick Lesabre, one is even worse than mine "report #9001048 "complete electrical failure on a major highway with a tragedy barely avoided, transmission failure". when I purchased the car at 65,000 miles it had a serious transmission problem as well, which was found and fixed. The electrical problem persisted until the engine cut out while driving at low speed in the middle of the afternoon, on a busy local road. When the engine failed, the brakes failed. I could not stop the car. Quick thinking put me up against a telephone pole so no lives were lost. Many of your other complaints mention complete electrical failure with this car. Investigation anyone?

- Larchmont, NY, USA

problem #12

Jun 112009

LeSabre

  • 110,583 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a Buick Lesabre, custom, 1998, with about 110,000 miles on it. The car was running normally, with no prior problems relating to starting. I drove it out of town, about 80 miles away. It still was fine, starting up with no problem, several times after getting there. However, at a campground entrance, the car refused to start. No click, buzz, nothing. All electronic components, a.C., radio, windows, were fine. The security light flashed every time I tried to turn the key....even after waiting 3 minutes to try again. I even tried a second key, but it didn't help. The tow truck driver tried, and he wiggled the key in the key cylinder and the car started. Drove home, tried to start car again, and it refused to start, no matter how much wiggling we did. Contacted several dealers. They all said it was probably the contact wires in the ignition cylinder that read the key's "resistance" and send an "O.K" signal to the fuel system and the starter. (the internet says they are famous for breaking/malfunctioning in GM cars) they said it would cost about $400 minimum to replace the key cylinder. Also, if the security module needed replacing, it could cost about $1000. I had the car towed to a local mechanic. He put in a resistor between the two contact wires coming out of the key cylinder. Did not need to remove the steering wheel at all. (incidentally, one dealer even insisted there was no "by-pass" method of fixing the problem.) all keys work now. Security light acts normally, does not stay on all the time. Remote fob works O.K., too.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #11

Jul 162008

LeSabre

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Buick Lesabre. When the contact inserts the key into the ignition to start the vehicle, it fails to start. The dealer replaced the starter, but the failure recurred immediately after the repair. The manufacturer stated that her VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign id number 04V090000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery). The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 65,000.

- Woodhaven, MI, USA

problem #10

May 012002

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles
No injuries. Engine stops or stalls at various times. Nothing has been done to correct the problem.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #9

Aug 202004

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

1. it stalled out many time while driving. No engine check light comes on after restarting. 2. this is a dangerous situation while driving on busy big city freeway at rush hour. 3. the problem was fixed by replacing the crank position sensor

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #8

May 072005

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,111 miles
Betwen 47,111 and 49817 miles engine has stall three times and after complete stop I re-started engine right away, there no warning lights during stall at control panel.

- Castro Valley, CA, USA

problem #7

Aug 012004

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • miles
Problems regarding a 1998 Buick Lesabre. Recall# 04V090000. The vehicle had been to the dealers three times. The fuel regulator was replaced. The vehicle died while the vehicle was in motion, the battery cable was loose and the PCM needed calibrating, and the starter was bad.

- Monroe, LA, USA

problem #6

Aug 162003

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • 45,943 miles
Temperature light illuminated. Consumer stopped and put in coolant. Next, check engine light illuminated, and engine died. Vehicle was towed to dealer. The upper and lower manifolds needed replacement. The dealer also installed a new thermostat and gasket and replaced all six spark plugs.

- Pittsburg, PA, USA

problem #5

Mar 171999

LeSabre

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #4

Dec 142000

(reported on)

LeSabre

  • miles
The vehicle has experienced serious electrical failure while driving which could have resulted in accident.

- White Oak, PA, USA

problem #3

Oct 302000

(reported on)

LeSabre

  • miles
Vehicle experienced a complete electrical failure while driving. Nlm

- White Oak, PA, USA

problem #2

Dec 061999

LeSabre

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
A complete electrical failure on a major highway with a tragedy barely avoided, transmission failure

- White Oak Borough, PA, USA

problem #1

Nov 011998

LeSabre

  • miles
Electrical system malfunctioned, causing the dome light to come on after vehicle was turned off for about 15 minutes. Also, had heavy gas fumes entering vehicle caused stomach aches and headaches to the occupant.

- Bartlett, TN, USA

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