RoadVitals

1987 Buick Lesabre Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints 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.
15
Latest Jan 25, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
38%
of 40 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1987 Buick Lesabre submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Jan 25, 2002

THIS SAME COMPONENT FAILED ON A 1985 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY AT 135000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID
757317
Incident
Jan 25, 2002
Steering
Filed Jan 21, 2000

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.

NHTSA ID
717671
Incident
Mar 1, 1996
Steering
Filed Feb 15, 1999

WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR LONG PERIODS & THE TEMPERATURE IS COLD, THE STEERING IS VERY STIFF, REQUIRING HANDS TO TURN THE WHEEL. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BREAKS FREE. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
703329
Steering
Filed Jan 15, 1999

WHILE DRVING AT 30 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, UPON TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL REAL HARD. WHENEVER TURNING TO THE RIGHT THE PROBLEM STILL IS THERE. *AK

NHTSA ID
833639
Incident
Jun 21, 1998
Steering
Filed Sep 23, 1998
2 injuries reported

STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE ROLL OVER.

NHTSA ID
541051
Incident
Aug 17, 1998
Steering
Filed Sep 1, 1998
Crash reported2 injuries reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 40MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. WHEN VEHICLE FREED UP CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, CROSSING THE CENTER LINE, BRINGING VEHICLE BACK BEFORE RUNNING INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPING OVER ON TOP. *AK

NHTSA ID
827459
Incident
Aug 17, 1998
Steering
Filed Dec 4, 1996

'COLD POWER STEERING.'

NHTSA ID
512255
Incident
Nov 22, 1996
Steering
Filed Oct 9, 1996

IN THE WINTER MONTHS THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HARD TO TURN. *AK

NHTSA ID
803392
Steering
Filed Jul 26, 1996

'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH

NHTSA ID
506704
Steering
Filed Feb 1, 1996

POWER STEERING DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN IT'S COLD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
978571
Steering
Filed Oct 10, 1995

THE STEERING HARD TO TURN IN THE MORNING ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT . TT

NHTSA ID
973180
Steering
Filed Sep 2, 1995

THE POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN . TT

NHTSA ID
971537
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Jul 26, 1995

ENGINE QUITS WITHOUT WARNING; CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING, BRAKES, ALL VEHICLE POWER. TT

NHTSA ID
969471
Incident
Sep 15, 1994
BrakesElectricalFuel system+3 more
Filed Apr 19, 1995

4 TIRES REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
489377
Incident
Apr 19, 1995
Steering
Filed Apr 17, 1995

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP UNTIL VEHICLE IS WARM. TT

NHTSA ID
963904
Incident
Aug 8, 1994

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

Data on this page last refreshed .