1987 Buick Lesabre Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 Buick Lesabre, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Steering1530.6%
- Engine612.2%
- Electrical612.2%
- Seat belts48.2%
- Driver assistance36.1%
- Brakes36.1%
- Fuel system36.1%
- Interior & seats36.1%
- Transmission24.1%
- Visibility12.0%
- Suspension12.0%
- Tires & wheels12.0%
- Body & structure12.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS SAME COMPONENT FAILED ON A 1985 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY AT 135000 MILES. *AK
WHEEL COLUMN LOOSE -- EXCESSIVE PLAY AND STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT MADE STEERING DIFFICULT AS WHEEL MOVED UP AND DOWN AND ROCKED AT AN ANGLE TO THE LEFT. DEALER CONTACTED AND GM CONTACTED--NEITHER CONSIDERED THIS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES MY BODY WOULD MOVE FORWARD TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS NOT SECURE. I WAS FORCED TO COVER 100% COST OF THE REPAIR. THE DEALER HAD TO DROP THE ENGINE AND PUT A NEW BOLT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUM IN THE ENGINE AREA. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS WAS REPAIRED IN APPROXIMATELY 1996. ABOUT 18 MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING, BUT TO A LESSER DEGREE. BECAUSE OF MY WORK SCHEDULE, TRANSPORTATION, ETC. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK IN TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND REPAIR. IT HAS BEEN APPROX. THREE YEARS SINCE THE FIRST REPAIR. FORTUNATELY IT IS NOT AS LOOSE AS THE FIRST TIME, BUT IS SLOWLY GETTING SLOPPIER. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS CONDITION CAUSING AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 1987 BUICK. IF THIS WAS TRULY THE CASE, WHY DID I HAVE TO INCUR THE REPAIR COST -- $189.00 TO REPLACE THE BOLT.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE STALLED MANY TIMES WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AND THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON CAME ON RIGHT AFTER EACH SERVICE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. *YH
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO 4 DIFFERENT DEALERS, CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. REPLACED DIFFERENT PARTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
T-TYPE DESIGN VEHICLE HAS HISTORY OF STALLING W/NO WARNING OF FAILURE. SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
THE VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED. PLEASE DESCIRBE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *DH
DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELTS INOPERATIVE, MALE WON'T STAY LATCHED INTO FEMALE PORTION. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 30 TO 40 MPH ,WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED INCREASED, CAUSING OWNER TO RUN INTO A FIELD AND INTO A CREEK.THE CRUISE CONTROL IS IN QUESTION. *AK
FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL, THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE AND PLACED THE VEHICLE FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKES FAIL EVERY 8-10000 MILES, AND MASTER CYLINDER HAS FAILED THREE TIMES.
ENGINE QUITS WITHOUT WARNING; CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING, BRAKES, ALL VEHICLE POWER. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC DUE TO FUEL INJECTION FAILURE. YH
FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING FUEL LEAK/GAS FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASH THEN FLAMES WERE NOTICED COMING FROM FLOOR BOARD. VEHICLE BURNED WITH TWO EXPLOSIONS.
VEHICLES FRONT PASSENGER FRONT BUCKET SEAT BACK FALLS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION FAILED. (OTHER VEHICLES ON 601619,506065)
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD SEAL IS NOT SECURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
4 TIRES REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
4 TIRES REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
OPENING THE TRUNK LID THE TRUNK POPS UP VERY HARD, ALMOST CAUSING THE OWNER TO GET HURT. OWNER SAYS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .