RoadVitals

1988 Buick Lesabre Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
21
Latest Sep 27, 2007
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 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

  • Steering1254.5%
  • Seat belts313.6%
  • Engine29.1%
  • Electrical29.1%
  • Body & structure14.5%
  • Brakes14.5%
  • Tires & wheels14.5%

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.

12
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE STEERING HAS BEEN HARD SINCE DAY ONE AND CONSUMER HAS BEEN PATCHING UP VEHICLE TO KEEP IT RUNNING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER MADE AN ALUMINUM ROD FOR THAT YEAR VEHICLE. IT IS RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ID 10022982 · filed Jul 24, 2003

STEERING COLUMN IS EXTREMELY LOOSE, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ID 834860 · filed Feb 16, 1999
All 12 reports naming steering →

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ID 10204264 · filed Sep 27, 2007

SEAT BELT CLASP FAILED. MANUFACTURER NO LONGER CARRIES THAT PART. DEALER IS UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO LIABLILITY. STATE REQUIRES SEAT BELTS, BUT VEHICLE OWNER IS UNABLE TO GET REPAIRED TO ORIGINAL CONDITION. DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT NOR ACCEPTABLE!! *AK

NHTSA ID 737680 · filed Dec 11, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID 864272 · filed Jun 26, 2000

WATER PUMP FAILURE. *AW

NHTSA ID 485793 · filed Jul 3, 1995

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WATER PUMP FAILURE. *AW

NHTSA ID 485793 · filed Jul 3, 1995

VEHICLE STALLS OUT AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN COMING TO STOPS, REPLACE CONTROL MODULE TO NO AVAIL. TT

NHTSA ID 960632 · filed Feb 27, 1995

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE ROOF OF MY 1988 BUICK LESABRE IS PEELING AND I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?*AK

NHTSA ID 723619 · filed Jun 5, 2000

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

RECURRING BRAKE REPAIRS: REPLACEMENT OF REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS, BRAKE SHOES, MACHINE DRUMS. MILEAGE AT EACH REPAIR 10,953, 17,124, 25642, 37,753, 48,245. *AK

NHTSA ID 10193543 · filed Jun 17, 2007

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AMERICAN GENERAL GVS AFTER MARKET TIRES, P205/75R14 SIZE. TREAD ON LEFT FRONT TIRE HAS STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM INSIDE.*AK CONSUMER STATED LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD SEPARATING LUMPS IN THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE, DOT NUMBER ACKC2Y6308.*JB

NHTSA ID 896773 · filed Sep 24, 2001

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

Data on this page last refreshed .