RoadVitals

1994 Buick Lesabre

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
158
Latest Jul 21, 2016
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
31
21 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 158 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Buick Lesabre, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and electrical categories. 26 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 158
Body & structureEngineSteering
Filed Jul 21, 2016
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND DROVE OVER A MEDIAN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOUSE. THE ENGINE SUBFRAME MOTOR MOUNTS FRACTURED AND THE ENGINE FELL TO THE GROUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIR BY THE CONTACT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID
10887402
Incident
Dec 14, 2015
Mileage
96,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Feb 9, 2016

IN COLD WEATHER CAR WON'T START CHECKED THE LIGHTS WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON IT READS, VOLT AND TEMP OBVIOUSLY BATTERY PROBLEMS. I GOT A NEW BATTERY WHEN I GOT THE CAR... I GOT A JUMP FROM RANDOM PERSON NEXT TO MY JOB AND CAR STARTED RIGHT UP IN LIKE 2 MINUTES AND I WENT HOME.

NHTSA ID
10825001
Incident
Feb 8, 2016
Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Sep 5, 2014

I WAS CLEANING MY 1994 BUICK LESABRE WHEN I NOTICED A HOLE IN THE FLOOR AROUND THE REAR SEATBELT. I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS. WILL THE PERSON SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT GET HURT OR KILLED IF THE SEATBELT DOESN'T HOLD IN THE EVENT OF A ACCIDENT. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS. I KNOW THIS IS A OLDER VEH,BUT ITS ALL I HAVE.I THOUGHT THAT GM WOULD OF FIXED THIS BY NOW,OR IS MINE THE ONLY ONE THAT IS RUSTED? I REALLY DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS THE ONLY ONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10631174
Incident
Sep 5, 2014
Mileage
147,565 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jan 31, 2014

WHILE MERGING ONTO I95 NORTH MY CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING TRAFFIC. I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT WAS OFF UNTIL MY LITTLE GIRL ASKED ME TO TURN THE RADIO BACK AND MY SPEED BEGIN TO DECREASE. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER SUCH A HUGE TANK LIKE MY LESABRE WHEN THE POWER STEERING GIVES. IT CRANKS RIGHT UP AFTER SHUTTING OFF AS IF NOTHING IS EVEN WRONG, BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED ALWAYS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. IT BOTHERS ME BECAUSE MY CAR IS ALL I HAVE AND IT'S THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION THAT I HAVE FOR TRAVELING WITH MY LITTLE GIRL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10562310
Incident
Jan 28, 2014
Mileage
98,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 25, 2011

VEHICLE SURGES AND STALLS RANDOMLY WHILE TRAVELING. OCCURS ATLEAST TWICE DAILY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10421517
Incident
Aug 5, 2011
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 4, 2010

BUICK LASABRE DIES ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING. LOOSES ALL POWER CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO TRY TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHILE UNDER NO POWER. NO BRAKES, POWER STEERING . HAPPENS ABOUT 8 TO 12 TIMES A DAY. I DRIVE 47 MILES TO WORK. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED 8 TIMES, HAD TO MAKE UNSAFE TURNS TO KEEP FROM HAVING A DEAD CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO GET TOTALED. REPLACED COIL PACKS PER DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDATION. STILL DIES. NOT EVEN THE DEALERSHIP CAN DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. SEEMS ALL MECHANICS WANT TO PICK A PART TO REPLACE AT RANDOM TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE ISSUE. THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY HERE. ALOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE DRIVE THESE VEHICLES AND THEY CAN'T NEGOTIATE THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHEN THIS BEGINS TO HAPPEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES THEN SPUTTERS AND DIES. WHEN THIS STARTS, IF YOU KEEP PATTING THE ACCELERATOR IT SOMETIMES HELPS TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING BUT NOT ALWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10353894
Incident
Aug 30, 2010
Mileage
104,522 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 4, 2010

BUICK LASABRE DIES ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING. LOOSES ALL POWER CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO TRY TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHILE UNDER NO POWER. NO BRAKES, POWER STEERING . HAPPENS ABOUT 8 TO 12 TIMES A DAY. I DRIVE 47 MILES TO WORK. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED 8 TIMES, HAD TO MAKE UNSAFE TURNS TO KEEP FROM HAVING A DEAD CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO GET TOTALED. REPLACED COIL PACKS PER DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDATION. STILL DIES. NOT EVEN THE DEALERSHIP CAN DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. SEEMS ALL MECHANICS WANT TO PICK A PART TO REPLACE AT RANDOM TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE ISSUE. THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY HERE. ALOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE DRIVE THESE VEHICLES AND THEY CAN'T NEGOTIATE THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10353893
Incident
Aug 24, 2010
Mileage
104,522 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 5, 2009

MY 1994 BUICK LESABRE HAS A RUNAWAY ACCELERATOR PROBLEM, DURING A SLOW DOWN OR BRAKING CONDITION IN GEAR AT RANDOM TIMES THE ENGINE ACCELERATES THE CAR FORWARD, YOU MUST STAND ON THE BRAKES WITH HIGH FORCE TO BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND THEN KILL THE IGNITION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED AT CROSS WALKS WITH PEOPLE CROSSING, AND APPROACHING STOP LIGHTS, PULLING INTO GAS STATIONS ECT. REPAIR SHOPS INCLUDING BUICK DEALERS SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS. I HAVE ELIMINATED THE FOOT ACCELERATOR AND THE CRUISE CONTROL AS THE PROBLEM. I WENT ONLINE TO A TROUBLESHOOTING SITE AND TALKED TO A BUICK SPECIFIC TECH WHO HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES BEFORE AND SAID THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FAILURE WAS THE PROBLEM PART, AND THAT A DIAGNOSTIC SCAN WOULD HELP IN IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER AFTER SEVERAL SCANS AND DRIVE TESTS THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER DUPLICATED OR IDENTIFIED. THE PROBLEM IS REPEATABLE AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. BECAUSE TO DATE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE FIND ANY RECALLS OR DEALERS WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10260836
Incident
Feb 15, 2009
Mileage
132,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIC4696E

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.  E version update is to add administrative details.

PIC4696D

EQUIPMENT

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.

PIC4696C

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

990730030A

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT

990730030

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buick Lesabre by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013000—
2006300—
2005770040.3
20041620036.7
20031641040.9
20023092154.7
20013280143.0
20006685258.9
19992092362.2
19984001253.9
19973942259.5
1996982256.1
19951781046.7
1994Viewing1580042.1
19931941253.8
19921892364.2
1991301148.9
1990461151.0
1989273054.4
1988214352.7
1987405966.8
19861631158.2
1985514—
1984524—
1983101—
1982110—
1981030—
1979120—
1978030—
1977130—
1976020—
1975031—
1974010—
1972010—
1971130—
1970020—
1967010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.