RoadVitals

1988 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.
12
Latest Jul 24, 2003
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.
57%
of 21 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

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 1988 Buick Lesabre submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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 Jul 24, 2003

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
Incident
Jun 12, 2003
Steering
Filed Feb 16, 1999

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

NHTSA ID
834860
Steering
Filed Dec 31, 1998

STEERING COLUMN IS EXTREMELY LOOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
832903
Steering
Filed Mar 21, 1997

WHILE DRIVING LEFT INNER TIE ROD SEPARATED, WHEEL TURNED OUT, REMAINED OUT; LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, COULD HAVE WHEEL COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF.; INNER/OUTER TIE ROD REPLACED BY DEALER. PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
809259
Incident
Nov 25, 1995
Steering
Filed Mar 18, 1996

WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. THE MACHANIC SAID IT WAS A RACK AND PINION PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
980847
Steering
Filed Jan 10, 1996

STEERING FREEZES UP DUE A DEFECTIVE BALL MECHANISM IN RACK AND PINION STEERING. *TT

NHTSA ID
500570
Incident
Dec 5, 1995
Steering
Filed Sep 7, 1995

'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH

NHTSA ID
483973
Incident
Jan 1, 1994
Steering
Filed Aug 15, 1995

WHEN COLD THE CARS STEERING ABILITY IS DECREASED AND DOES NOT GO BACK TO NORMAL UNTIL IT IS WARMED UP. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID
970459
Incident
Dec 6, 1994
Steering
Filed Jun 19, 1995

'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH

NHTSA ID
485484
Incident
Jun 19, 1995
Steering
Filed May 19, 1995

STEERING STIFFNESS DURING MORNING STARTUP. TT

NHTSA ID
965590
Incident
May 18, 1993
Steering
Filed Apr 7, 1995

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ID
963428
Incident
Apr 7, 1995
Steering
Filed Jan 23, 1995

'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH

NHTSA ID
480792
Incident
May 1, 1990

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 .