1990 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 1990 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
- Electrical1218.2%
- Driver assistance710.6%
- Brakes710.6%
- Fuel system69.1%
- Seat belts69.1%
- Interior & seats69.1%
- Engine57.6%
- Steering46.1%
- Visibility34.5%
- Tires & wheels34.5%
- Suspension23.0%
- Exterior lighting11.5%
- Heating & air conditioning11.5%
- Body & structure11.5%
- Powertrain (other)11.5%
- Transmission11.5%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW. *JB
A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO A REPAIR SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK
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 THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *NLM
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CROSSED A ROADWAY, AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. *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
THE BRAKES ON A 1990 BUICK LESABRE FAILED IN THE DEALER LOT WHEN I WENT TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR. THEY ASSURED ME THEY WOULD REPAIR THE BRAKES AND CALL ME WHEN THE CAR WAS READY FOR SALE. AFTER THE REPAIR, I PURCHASED THE CAR, BUT THE BRAKES SOON FAILED AGAIN. I THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINE REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE WITH COMPRESSION FITTINGS INSTEAD OF HIGH-PRESSURE INVERTED-FLARE HYDRAULIC FITTINGS. I SUSPECT THIS WAS UNLAWFUL. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS, AND THE AGENT I TALKED TO DOESN'T SEEM TO COMPREHEND THAT THE USE OF COMPRESSION FITTINGS IN A BRAKE LINE IS UNLAWFUL, AND TRIVIALIZES MY CONCERNS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR "AS-IS".*AK
THE ABS POWER BRAKE RELAY FAILED DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION AND I PAID TO REPLACE IT.ZIMBRICK MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL COULD NOT FIND SOURCE OF INTERMITTANT BRAKE PROBLEM UNTIL I BROUGHT THE CAR IN WHILE THE BRAKE RELAY WAS MALFUNCTIONING. IT WAS STUCK AND CONTINUED TO BUZZ EVEN AFTER THE IGNITION HAD BEEN SWITCHED OFF. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED IN OCTOBER 1997. MY WIFE WAS IN COTTAGE GROVE AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKES AT STARTUP. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO MADISON AND THE BRAKE RELAY WAS REPLACED AGAIN. IN THE FALL OF 1998, I EXPERIENCED NO POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKES DURING A DRIVE IN THE POURING RAIN. I HAD ALMOST NO EFFECTIVE BRAKES, BUT DROVE CAREFULLY AND PARKED THE CAR OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING THE BRAKES OPERATED NORMALLY. I SPENT ABOUT $900 ON BRAKE WORK AT ZIMBRICK'S IN APRIL OF 1999, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PINPOINT THE SOURCE OF THE BRAKE PROBLEM. THE NEXT FAILURE HAPPENED MAY 28, 1999 WHILE MY WIFE'S DAD WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO EAU CLAIRE, WI. THE CAR HAD NO POWER ASSIST FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE DRIVE (AFTER STOPPING FOR GAS). THE NEXT MORNING THE BRAKES WERE OPERATING NORMALLY AND HE DROVE THE CAR TO THE CABIN ON LAKE NANCY. ONE DAY, ABOUT A MONTH LATER (THE CAR WAS DRIVEN INFREQUENTLY DURING THE SUMMER - ABOUT TWICE PER WEEK), THE BRAKE PROBLEM REAPPEARED FOR ONE DRIVING EPISODE AND THE NEXT DRIVE THE BRAKES OPERATED NORMALLY. BECAUSE OF THE INTERMITTANT PROBLEM, THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT ZIMBRICK HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PERMANANTLY FIX THE BRAKE PROBLEM. AND THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC ERROR CODES DO NOT REGISTER ANY INFORMATION.
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
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW. *JB
THE INERTIA SWITCH DOES NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *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
WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. HE HAS TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO START VEHICLE. DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DOESN'T WORK, THE RETRACTOR IS NOT OPERABLE. *AK THE RESTRAINT MECHANISM FAILED AND THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH. *YH
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED A VEHICLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET TRYING TO PASS THE FIRST VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS HIT HEAD-ON, CAUSING A CRASH. SHOULDER RESTRAINTS FAILED TO WORK ,LEADING TO INJURIES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
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
THE FRONT MOUNTING BRACKET NEAREST TO THE DOOR, FOR THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT FRACTURED AROUND THE MOUNTING BOLT. THIS ALLOWED THE SEAT TO ROTATE BACKWARD. *JB
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW. *JB
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
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW. *JB
WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING THERE IS A CONSTANT SOUND OF AIR ESCAPING. THERE IS AN ANTICIPATION OF THE VEHICLE BACK FIRING AT ALL TIMES. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND USE TWICE AS MUCH FUEL.*AK
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
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW. *JB
I HAVE A 1990 BUICK LESABRE THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH TILT WHEEL. ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE...I HAD NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. ANYWAY, I THOUGHT "WELL, THE CAR IS JUST AGING" AND DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL YESTERDAY. MY SON WAS CLIMBING ACROSS THE DRIVERS SEAT AND ACCIDENTLY HIT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR. WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE CAR WENT INTO REVERSE AND PROCEEDED TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER WE GOT THE CAR STOPPED, I DISCOVERED THAT EVEN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE CAR CAN BE PLACED IN ANY GEAR WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE OLD POWERGLIDES THAT WOULD DO THE SAME. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN TO SOMEONE ELSE IS VERY LIKELY. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT SUDDENLY STARTED TO DO THIS. THANK YOU.*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
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW. *JB
NO SUMMARY. DT
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
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW. *JB
FIRESTONE FR680 TIRES P205/70R14 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WITH LESS THAN 10000 MILES ON THEM, VEHICLE DROVE ROUGH AND DEALER INSPECTED TIRES INNER TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM SIDEWALL. *SLC
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
REAR STRUTS REPLACED.
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS OF VIBRATIONS OF WHEEL AND SHUTTERING OF FLOOR BOARDS. CONSTANT DURING DRIVING ON HIGHWAY . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW. *JB
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
AIR CONDITIONER LEAKS FREON/BLOWS WARM AIR. *DSH
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
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSAXLE FAILED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP/LOSS OF CONTROL. *SKD
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
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW. *JB
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 .