RoadVitals

1993 Buick Lesabre Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
194
Latest Aug 7, 2014
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.
33
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 9, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 194 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Buick Lesabre. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 194 · page 1 of 8

Engine
Filed Aug 7, 2014

DRIVING THE CAR NORMALLY, AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUITS, AND WITH IT, SO DOES THE POWER STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS, BUT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART IN NEUTRAL, LUCKILY. WHY?? *TR

NHTSA ID
10620765
Incident
Aug 6, 2014
Mileage
57,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Sep 29, 2011

AS I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD, IT DOESN'T MATTER AT WHAT SPEED, MY ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY DIE. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO LURCHING NOR SPUTTERING, IT JUST DROPS DEAD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I KNOW THERE IS POWER TO MY CAR BECAUSE THE LIGHTS AND RADIO SEEM UNAFFECTED. HOWEVER, MY ENGINE, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ALL DROP OUT. I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR FROM ROLLING, PUT IT INTO PARK AND RESTART IT TO CONTINUE. THERE IS NO PARTICULAR LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN THESE STALLS. IT HAS HAPPENED ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER OR HOURS APART I HAVE HAD THE COIL, PLUGS AND WIRES ALL CHANGED. ALL CONNECTIONS ARE GOOD AND BATTERY IS FINE.. I AM VERY FRIGHTENED THAT IS THIS HAPPENS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TT

NHTSA ID
10427975
Incident
Sep 26, 2011
Mileage
244,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 9, 2011

I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 1/2 YRS NOW AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD THIS TYPE OF BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR SLED, I WAS TRYING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO MAKE A TURN. THE ABS LITE HAS BEEN ON THE CAR ALMOST EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT.

NHTSA ID
10376008
Incident
Dec 24, 2010
Engine
Filed Sep 15, 2010

MY 1993 BUICK LASABRE KEEPS STALLING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I CAN BE ANYWHERE ON THE INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT ONE OF THESE TIMES SOMEONE IS GOING TO HIT ME FROM BEHIND AND IT WILL CAUSE ME AND SOMEONE ELSE INJURY. MY MECHANICS CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE CAR KEEPS STALLING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10355726
Incident
Sep 7, 2010
Mileage
130,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 29, 2010

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED '93 BUICK LESABRE LIMITED WITH ABOUT 80,000 MILES ON IT. I DROVE IT FOR TWO DAYS WITHOUT INCIDENT AND THEN THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY, THE PEDAL SINKING TO THE FLOOR. I SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER IS KAPUT. I CAN UNDERSTAND IF THE BRAKES FAIL IF THERE'S A LEAK IN THE LINES OR THE PADS HAVEN'T BEEN REPLACED--THOSE ARE MAINTENANCE ITEMS THAT ARE THE DRIVER'S RESPONSIBILITY. BUT A MASTER CYLINDER SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST WARN ME WITH AN IDIOT LIGHT(THEY HAD IDIOTS BACK IN '93 TOO) AND PREFERABLY SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. IT'S IN OTHERWISE GOOD SHAPE WITH ONLY TWO OWNERS AND NO ACCIDENTS. ALL THE HOSES ARE NEW AND THE INTERIOR IS IN GOOD SHAPE, SO I DON'T THINK ROUGH HANDLING CAUSED THE FAILURE. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS OLDER, AS BRAKES ARE VITAL TO SAFETY. I HAD A 97 HONDA WITH OVER 250K AND ITS STILL USING THE ORIGINAL BRAKES ALTHOUGH THE PADS AND DRUMS HAVE BEEN REDONE SEVERAL TIMES. THE TYPE OF FAILURE I EXPERIENCED COULD WELL HAVE KILLED ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10346237
Incident
Jul 26, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 3, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUCK LESABRE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS NO POWER RESPONSE. A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN FIRST GEAR BEFORE THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A LEAKAGE IN THE REAR BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,821. UPDATED 4/7/2010 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF MATERIAL THAT DOES NOT RUST. UPDATED 06/24/10.*JB

NHTSA ID
10316051
Incident
Feb 1, 2010
Mileage
109,821 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 21, 2008

1993 BUICK LESABRE - THE MOTOR-TRANSMISSION MOUNT FAILED AT THE POINT OF ACCELERATING FROM AND INTERSECTION. THE REAR OF THE MOUNT DROPPED TO THE PAVEMENT RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING. DIAGNOSIS BY THE BUICK DEALER MAKING THE REPAIR IS THAT THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO RUST. THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN. I AM THE SECOND OWNER IN NORTHWEST OHIO. DUE TO BOTH STATES AND AREAS USING ROAD SALT, THE MOUNT FAILED. THE OHIO DEALER STATES THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BEFORE, BUT THE TOW-TRUCK DRIVER STATED HE PICKED UP A PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, SAME FRAME/CHASSIS, LAST YEAR. FORTUNATELY I HAD JUST LEFT AN INTERSECTION AND THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 15 M.P.H. WHEN THE MOUNT DROPPED. THE CAR STEERED ITSELF ACROSS THE ROAD AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE GOING DOWN INTO THE DITCH ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT HIGHER SPEEDS THIS COULD EASILY BE FATAL FOR ANY OF THE OCCUPANTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10235132
Incident
Jul 18, 2008
Mileage
113,140 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 10, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT 4 OUT OF 6 BOLTS HAD RUSTED AND DROPPED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE 4 WASHERS IN THE BACK OF THE FRAME WHICH HELD THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BROKE THROUGH CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP. UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID
10211329
Incident
Oct 19, 2007
Mileage
168,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 19, 2006

I JUST BOUGHT A USED BUICK LESABER AND IT'S LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE CAR IS A 93 AND JUST BOUGHT IT IN NOV. 06. I FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS CAR. AND NEED TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE TO GETTING THIS PROBLEM FIXED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10176529
Incident
Dec 18, 2006
Mileage
138,300 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 12, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHITE SMOKE EMANATED INTERMITTENTLY FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL# 96V015000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID
10170628
Incident
Oct 12, 2006
Mileage
93,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 15, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUICK LESABRE. HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ONE WEEK AND A HALF AGO FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP. ON THE TWO FRONT TIRES THE STEEL BELTS WERE HANGING OUT. IT WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE BEEN INSPECTED. THE BACK TIRES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CONTACT USED THE VEHICLE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES AND PURCHASED IT AS IT WAS. MICHELIN TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO CONTACTED THE PERSON THAT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND HE SAID THAT THEY WHERE NOT THE SAME TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN HE INSPECTED IT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10132876
Incident
Jul 30, 2005
EngineTransmission
Filed Aug 12, 2005

DT: HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER COOLING LINES OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT INVOLVES THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 96V015000. BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE LIGHT THAT LETS ONE KNOW IT IS OVERHEATING DOESN'T COME ON . ALSO, IT IS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND. EVERY WEEK HAVE TO PUT A QUART AND HALF OF TRANSMISSION FLUID IT. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN OCTOBER OF 2004. *AK THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, TEMPERATURE SENSOR, AND COOLING SENSOR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10129715
Incident
Oct 1, 2004
Electrical
Filed Nov 4, 2004
Fire reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10099435
Incident
Nov 4, 2004
Transmission
Filed Aug 13, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHILE SHIFTING, AND NOTICED FLUID UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10087870
Incident
Aug 13, 2004
Transmission
Filed Jun 4, 2004

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK THE CONSUMER LATER LEARNED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINES. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS RECALL IS RELATED TO HER VEHICLE'S FAILURE. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY SEVEN MONTHS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10071704
Incident
Apr 17, 2004
Mileage
109,714 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 29, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND BUMPED IT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10071849
Incident
Dec 26, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jan 13, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THE FULL IMPACT WAS ABSORBED BY THE SEATBELT. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SEVERE NERVE INJURIES TO LOWER BACK, HIPS AND LEGS. VEHICLE WAS ROUTINE MAINTAINED AND INSPECTED. *PH

NHTSA ID
10040086
Incident
Dec 26, 2002
Mileage
58,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 2, 2003

THE CRADLE MOUNT BOLTS SNAPPED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FALL AND IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ALL STEERING. *AK SO IF YOU ARE ON A CURVE, YOU JUST GO STRAIGHT OR WHICH EVER WAY THE WHEELS POINT. THE STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING GEAR. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10031867
Incident
Jul 30, 2003
Mileage
85,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 28, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. GENERAL TIRE: SIZE#, DOT# AND MODEL UNKNOWN. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID
10037894
Incident
Aug 28, 2003
Filed Jun 25, 2003

WERE THERE ANY RECALLS REGARDING PAINT PEALING AND/OR OVERLY BAD OXIDATION BECAUSE OF THE SEALANT USED ON SOME YEARS. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023727
Incident
Aug 17, 1998
Engine
Filed Jan 29, 2003

VEHICLE'S UPPER MANIFOLD CRACKED CAUSING COOLANT TO RUN COMPLETELY OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER ADVISED THAT PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. PH

NHTSA ID
10005889
Incident
Jan 27, 2003
Mileage
90,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 8, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID
10002319
Incident
Dec 27, 2002
Brakes
Filed Dec 9, 2002

BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE APPLYING AND THE CONSUMER WASN'T ABLE TO DRIVE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. TS..*AK

NHTSA ID
8023938
Transmission
Filed Jun 30, 2002
Fire reported

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE POSSIBLY RECALL RELATED. DEALER ADVISED THAT VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. CONSUMER IS AWARE OF RECALL CAMPAIGN 96V015000. *TT CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED BY GENERAL MOTORS PRODUCT ALLEGATION DEPT. REQUESTING INFORMATION WHETHER OR NOT CONSUMER WAS GOING TO HIRE A LAWYER SO THE CASE COULD BE CLOSED. *TT

NHTSA ID
566408
Incident
May 6, 2002
Transmission
Filed May 28, 2002

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS, AND HESITATE TO ACCELERATE.*AKI

NHTSA ID
8010548
Incident
May 26, 2002

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.

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