1989 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 1989 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
- Fuel system413.3%
- Seat belts413.3%
- Driver assistance413.3%
- Tires & wheels310.0%
- Brakes310.0%
- Visibility26.7%
- Electrical26.7%
- Engine26.7%
- Steering26.7%
- Transmission26.7%
- Heating & air conditioning13.3%
- Interior & seats13.3%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL LINE PRESSURE FEEDER AT LH SIDE RUSTED THROUGH THE PLASTIC BRACKET IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL FRAME RAIL IN AUGUST 2005. POOL OF GAS 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER UNDER THE CAR IN CLOSED GARAGE OVERNIGHT. BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH THE SAME SPOT IN JANUARY 2006. LOST BRAKES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, ROLLED THROUGH A STOP SIGN. FUEL RETURN LINE RUSTED THROUGHOUT SAME AREA ON 4-11-07. POOL OF GAS IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. SERVICE / REPAIR DEALER, VAN ZEELAND IN APPLETON WISCONSIN REPORTED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEMS WITH BUICKS. FIXED A LOT OF THEM. SOME THING WAS WRONG WITH THIS DESIGN, LEADING TO A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. FUEL & BRAKE FAILURE AT 70,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. *AK
FUEL LINE IS LEAKING FUEL DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
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
THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOESN'T LOCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO SECURE DRIVER, CAUSING INJURY DURING ACCIDENT. *SD
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
WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATER PEDAL SLIGHTLY VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH SPEED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, GEARSHIFT WENT INTO REVERSE AND MESSED UP THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLES STILL IDLES HIGH ON OCCASION. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. MJS
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
WHILE DRIVING ON I-485S APPROX 45 MILES DRIVERS SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THERE WAS TIRES TREAD ONLY RIPPED IN A CIRCLE AROUND WHITEWALL AREA OF A KUMHO TOURING 795 SIZE 205-75R-14 TIRE WAS SERVICED BY DEALER WHO I PURCHASED TIRES WITH A WARRANTY HAVE NOT HAD THE TIRES FOR A YEAR THEY GAVE ME FREE TIRE AND ROTATION FOR 3500 MI OR MORE AS LONG AS A HAD THE SET THEY WERE NEW WHEN I PURCHASED THEM. *TR
TREADS SEPARATED ON TWO FRONT TIRES AFTER ONLY 14,582 MILES. *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
FUEL LINE PRESSURE FEEDER AT LH SIDE RUSTED THROUGH THE PLASTIC BRACKET IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL FRAME RAIL IN AUGUST 2005. POOL OF GAS 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER UNDER THE CAR IN CLOSED GARAGE OVERNIGHT. BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH THE SAME SPOT IN JANUARY 2006. LOST BRAKES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, ROLLED THROUGH A STOP SIGN. FUEL RETURN LINE RUSTED THROUGHOUT SAME AREA ON 4-11-07. POOL OF GAS IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. SERVICE / REPAIR DEALER, VAN ZEELAND IN APPLETON WISCONSIN REPORTED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEMS WITH BUICKS. FIXED A LOT OF THEM. SOME THING WAS WRONG WITH THIS DESIGN, LEADING TO A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. FUEL & BRAKE FAILURE AT 70,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATER PEDAL SLIGHTLY VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH SPEED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, GEARSHIFT WENT INTO REVERSE AND MESSED UP THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLES STILL IDLES HIGH ON OCCASION. *AK
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
RIGHT FRONT DOOR WINDOW SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE REAR POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXPLODED. *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
WHILE DRIVING, AT APPROX. 30MPH, EXPERIENCED ENGINE SHUT DOWN, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS OUT AT LOW SPEED, REPLACED AIR INTAKE VALVE CONTROL KIT, TO NO AVAIL, NOW DEALER SAYING THERE IS NO PROBLEM. TT
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
1989 BUICK LESABRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS *JB
FREEZE PLUGS FAILED THREE TIMES. *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED,CAUSING VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER REALIGNED THE STEERING SYSTEM. *AK
STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE/JIGGLES.
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
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, EVERYTHING LOCKED UP ON VEHICLE. COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL NOR TURN VEHICLE OFF WITH THE KEY. DEALER CONTACTED. NLM DEALER FOUND AND REPLACED TCC SOLENOID AND ALL 3 GEAR SWITCHES IN TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TT
WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATER PEDAL SLIGHTLY VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH SPEED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, GEARSHIFT WENT INTO REVERSE AND MESSED UP THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLES STILL IDLES HIGH ON OCCASION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THEY HAVE SPRAYED AND DEODORIZED 5 TI AND ODOR COMES BACK AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS,I'VE BEEN TO DR. ABOUT FOUR TIMES WITH SINUS AND EAR INFECTIONS AND HEAD STOPS UP WHEN A/C COMES ON. PARKWAY SAYS THEY CAN'T TREAT CAR ANY MORE AS WARRANTY IS OUT AFTER 1 YEAR. THE LAST TIME THEY SAID THEY OPENED DRAIN HOLES BUT STILL ODOR HAS COME BACK AND I SEE VERY LITTLE WATER DRAINAGE FROM A/C
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
INTERMITTENTLY FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S DOORS DO NOT OPEN. MANUAL LOCKS ARE UP AT THE TIME. *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 .