RoadVitals

1994 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.
158
Latest Jul 21, 2016
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
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 2, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 158 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 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 158 · page 1 of 7

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
Engine
Filed Nov 18, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK LESABRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JULY OF 2008 AND CONTINUES TO STALL WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH OR LESS. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DRY. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL BECAUSE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKING ABILITY. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE TAKES LONGER THAN A MINUTE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER, BUT THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 12/12/08 *CN UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10249138
Incident
Jul 23, 2008
Mileage
125,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 12, 2008

I AM A MECHANIC AND WORK ON CARS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE GM CARS OF THE EARLY TO MID 90'S LIKE THE BUICK LE SABRE CLASS ARE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATER ENCLOSURE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR THE PLASTIC ENCLOSURES ARE CRACKING AND PIECES OF IT ARE FALLING OFF, AND IF YOU TOUCH THE PLASTIC, IS WILL CRUMBLE APART. I FEE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARD, AS THIS WILL ALLOW THE FUMES FROM THE ENGINE LIKE EXHAUST,GAS AND OIL TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THEN THE OCCUPANTS WILL BE BREATHING THE FUMES. I FEEL THAT GM NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10224268
Incident
Apr 12, 2008
Mileage
90,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 20, 2007

1994 BUICK LASABRE CUSTOMER STATES THAT THEY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DOME LIGHT IT WAS SO HOT THAT IT MELTED THE LIGHT COVER AND RUINED THE TWO SIDES OF THE BULB INSERTS**CC

NHTSA ID
10186843
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 6, 2005

VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE CONSUMER GIVING THE VEHICLE GAS. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10117527
Incident
Jul 20, 2004
Mileage
66,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 11, 2004

WIFE STRANDED WHEN CAR OVERHEATED. UPON INSPECTION OF ENGINE I FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC FITTING IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD BROKEN OFF LETTING ALL COOLANT RUN OUT. WE HAVE BEEN LOOSING COOLANT FOR SOME TIME. (A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I REPLACED PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND SERPENTINE BELT WHILE TRAVELING, BUT ALWAYS HAD A LOSS OF COOLANT THAT I COULD NOT FIND. WHEN I CALLED TO GET A NEW FITTING, THE ATTENDANT TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BEFORE I COULD TELL HIM. HE SAID THIS HAPPENS A LOT AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS NOW MADE OUT OF METAL. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH DAMAGE THAT THIS HAS CAUSED MY ENGINE. YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE FITTING WITHOUT A MIRROR. WHAT A LOUSY DESIGN TO USE A PLASTIC FITTING! IT HAS CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR US. *JB

NHTSA ID
10102730
Incident
Dec 11, 2004
Engine
Filed Oct 27, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD NOT HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED, EXCEPT FOR THE OIL BEING CHANGED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10097853
Incident
Oct 26, 2004
Mileage
128,338 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 14, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE TURNING LEFT AT A STOP SIGN ANOTHER VEHICLE COME UP THE HILL ON THE LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE DID ARRIVE ON THE SEEN BUT NOBODY WAS CITED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR HEAD INJURIES. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10087520
Incident
May 20, 2004
Mileage
151,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 24, 2003

PAINT IS STARTING TO PEEL OFF ON TOP OF CAR. THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE TO THIS AREA OR ANY OTHER AREA OF THE CAR. THERE IS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047449
Incident
Nov 21, 2002
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Nov 12, 2003

SMELL OF GASOLINE AROUND THE CAR. A CHECK UNDER THE HOOD SHOW DROPS OF GASOLINE COMING FROM AROUND A SMALL CLIP IN FUEL LINE (TOP OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE FIREWALL). THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME FOR ME! LAST TIME THE FUEL WAS COMING OUT OF THE CLIP AT A FASTER RATE. LAST TIME I WASN'T ABLE TO REPLACE THE CLIP WITHOUT BUYING AN UNRELATED REPAIR KIT (DISCARDING OTHER PARTS) . I CONSIDER THE CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LEAK BECOMES MORE SERIOUS AND DRIVING THE CAR FOR A WHILE, AS VERY SERIOUS. *LA

NHTSA ID
10046827
Incident
Nov 11, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 7, 2003

CONSUMER STATES WHILE LOOKING VEHICLE OVER, SHE NOTICED CRACKS BETWEEN THE TREADS OF ALL FOUR TIRES. *AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE CRACKS THAT WERE IN THE TREAD. SEARS FINALLY REPLACED THE ALL MICHELIN WEATHERWISE DOT HDH3E2PX503, BUT THEY WERE STILL INSISTING THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEATHERING EVEN THOUGH AN EMPLOYEE STATED THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10029748
AirbagsBrakesElectrical+1 more
Filed Jul 3, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE DRIVER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. AS A RESULT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUSED BURNS TO THE PASSENGERS THIGHS. THE FUMES EMITTED FROM THE AIR BAG ALSO CAUSED EYE IRRITATION AND BREATHING PROBLEMS. THE PASSENGER HAS DEVELOPED ASTHMA AND HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE EYE IRRITATION. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT LEAKED. THE CALIPERS WERE DEGREASED, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKS WERE REPLACED. *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID
10026600
Incident
Nov 21, 2000
Mileage
75,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jul 3, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPWARDS. *NLM THE CONSUMER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS PUSHED IN. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT, INSTEAD IT JUST BLEW IN THE CONSUMER'S WIFE'S FACE. (IN WHICH SHE SUFFERED INJURIES) THE BRAKES HAD TO BE CLEANED OF GREASE WHEN THE CONSUMER FIRST TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE AND A FEW WEEKS LATER THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10020086
Incident
Nov 21, 2000
Mileage
75,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 11, 2003

THE DEALER REFUSED TO REMOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. *MR *PH *JB

NHTSA ID
10022078
Engine
Filed May 12, 2003

THE VEHICLE LEAKED COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10019665
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 8, 2003

ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS ON MY 1994 LESABRE WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND AS SOON AS I STARTED TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM HE LAUGHED AND SAID IT WOULD COST $180 PER DOOR TO FIX, AND THAT HE HAD DONE MANY OF THEM. MY SISTER AND A CO-WORKER ALSO HAVE LESABRES AND THEY BOTH HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. BUICK HAS APPARENTLY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10010167
Incident
Mar 31, 2001
Mileage
25,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 21, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE THEY WERE USING THE JACK IT WENT THROUGH THE FRAME OFF THE VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED. PROVIDE MORE INFO. TS

NHTSA ID
8021232
Incident
Oct 19, 2002
Engine
Filed Oct 11, 2002
Crash reported

CONSUMER STATES A TWO YEAR OLD BOY (UNATTENDED) STARTED THE VEHICLE PUT AND GEAR AND DROVE THE CAR, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND HIT A POLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ID
8020750
Incident
Oct 11, 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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