RoadVitals

1985 Buick Lesabre

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Jul 11, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jun 16, 1989
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
4
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Buick Lesabre, most frequently naming the brakes, driver assistance and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 4 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes125.0%
  • Driver assistance125.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Tires & wheels125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
89V102000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Jun 16, 1989
1,755,897 units potentially affected
The defect: A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
The risk: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

C89001ClosedInvestigation

THROTTLE NON-RETURN

Opened Mar 6, 1989
Closed Jan 16, 1990

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PE88027ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILURE

Opened Feb 9, 1988
Closed May 11, 1988

===

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EA88019ClosedEngineering Analysis

HYDRO BOOST

Opened Jan 28, 1988
Closed Oct 31, 1990

There is no summary currently available

STEERING
PE87038ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

HYDROBOOST FAILURE

Opened Jul 9, 1987
Closed Jan 28, 1988

SUBJECT VEHICLES:CAPRICE, CAPRICE CLASSIC, CUSTOM CRUISER, DEVILLE,ELECTRA, ESTATE WAGON, FLEETWOOD, LESABRE, NINETY-EIGHT, PARISIENNE,PARK AVENUE.(ALL 1984-86 GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDROBOOST II SYSTEMS)ANALYSIS:CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGE SEVERAL PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE POWERSTEERING AND POWER BRAKE SYSTEMS OF THESE VEHICLES.THESE PROBLEMSINCLUDE: POWER STEERING FLUID LOSS, POWER BRAKE FLUID LOSS, LEAKAGE FROMTHE HYDRO-BOOST II POWER BRAKE BOOSTER, BROKEN BOOSTER SEALS, AND MASTERCYLINDER FAILURE.ALL PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE HYDRO-BOOST IIPOWER ASSIST SYSTEM, IN WHICH THE WORKING FLUID PROVIDES POWER ASSIST TO BOKE BOOSTER.THE EFFECT OF THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE A LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL AND/OR BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS.STATUS:THE VOLUMINOUS AMOUNT OF DATA SUPPLIED BY GM IS PRESENTLY BEING CODED BY A CONTRACTOR AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY 12/30/87. GM DATA INDICATED A 50% WEIBULL DISTRIBUTION FAILURE AT 50K MILES FOR THE PISTON PUSH-ROD SEAL. THIS PE LOOKS TO HAVE AN EXTRODINARILY HIGH FREQUENCY, ALTHOUGH THE SEVERITY APEARS TO BE LOW.SHOULD BE INTERESTING DISCUSSING THIS FOR UPGRADE/CLOSURE.===

STEERING

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Filed Jul 11, 2003

THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER READ 10 MILES PER HOUR OVER THE VEHICLE ACTUAL SPEED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A WARNING FROM A POLICE OFF WHO INDICATED THAT THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 10 MILES OVER THE 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT. THE CONSUMER ALSO WANTED TO KNOW HOW TO GET BETTER GAS MILEAGE. *MR *CB *NLM

NHTSA ID
10027272
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 9, 2001

THROTTLE BECAME STUCK IN OPEN POSITION, VEHICLE ACCELERATED, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, CONSUMER TRIED TO PRY PEDAL UP, BUT COULD NOT. CONSUMER THEN TURNED ENGINE OFF. THIS WAS SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. *AK

NHTSA ID
885407
Incident
Sep 1, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 10, 2000

LOST TREAD ON TWO (2) FIRESTONE FR 440 TIRES. RIGHT REAR TREAD PEELED ON 7 APR 2000 AND LEFT REAR TREAD PEELED ON 08 JUL 2000. 1ST HAPPENED NEAR ATLANTA, 2ND IN NORTH FL. SPEED WAS APPROX 70 MPH BOTH TIMES. FIRESTONE PRORATED AND REPLACED BOTH. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R )

NHTSA ID
727487
Incident
Jul 8, 2000
Engine
Filed Dec 4, 1996

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA ID
602398
Incident
Jan 1, 1995
Brakes
Filed May 11, 1995

WHILE DRIVING, JAMMED ON BRAKES; NO BRAKING EFFECT; JAMMED ON EMERGENCY BRAKES, RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. TT

NHTSA ID
965155
Incident
Apr 18, 1994

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buick Lesabre by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013000—
2006300—
2005770040.3
20041620036.7
20031641040.9
20023092154.7
20013280143.0
20006685258.9
19992092362.2
19984001253.9
19973942259.5
1996982256.1
19951781046.7
19941580042.1
19931941253.8
19921892364.2
1991301148.9
1990461151.0
1989273054.4
1988214352.7
1987405966.8
19861631158.2
1985Viewing514—
1984524—
1983101—
1982110—
1981030—
1979120—
1978030—
1977130—
1976020—
1975031—
1974010—
1972010—
1971130—
1970020—
1967010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.