RoadVitals

1997 Buick Lesabre Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints 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.
20
Latest Nov 30, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 394 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Buick Lesabre submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 30, 2016

SUB FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROATED OUT ON THE BACK DRIVE. COMPLETE SAFTY HAZARD NEEDS RECALL

NHTSA ID
10928836
Incident
Nov 30, 2016
Mileage
190,000 mi
SuspensionVisibility
Filed Apr 17, 2016

THE SUB FRAME BUSHING IS COMPLETELY ROTTED. DAY IT WAS SOLD TO ME PASSED INSPECTION BUT ON CAR FAX IT FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION? IT CRACKS AND CREAKS WHEN TURNING LEFT.

NHTSA ID
10859934
Incident
Jan 25, 2016
Mileage
103,000 mi
EngineSteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 10, 2014

WAS DRIVING CAR AND IT STARTED STEERING HARD DROVE HOME APPROX 35 MILES TO FIND THE K FRAME WASHERS HAD RUSTED OFF AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT BEING SUPPORT. HAS IT FIXED AND SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND STEERING WENT OUT AND ON INSPECTION THE FRONT AND LOWER FRAME MOUNTS HAD FALLEN AND CAR HAS BEEN PARKED EVERY SINCE BECAUSE I CAN NOT FIND PARTS THAT ARE REASONABLY PRICED! I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE DOING 70 MPH 10 MINS PRIOR TO THE LAST INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD RESULT. HAVE READ ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS IN A FORUM SOMEONE STARTED ON GOOGLE, CANT BELIEVE THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL! *TR

NHTSA ID
10578934
Incident
Mar 5, 2014
Mileage
143,381 mi
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 31, 2014

WHILE ACCELERATING UP TO SPEED FROM A STOP, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE THUMP, THE STEERING WAS ERRATIC, THE CAR VIBRATED AND SHOOK. THE POWER STEERING WAS INOPERABLE. WE SLOWLY DROVE THE CAR HOME (2 MILES) AND UPON EXAMINATION, WE DISCOVERED THE ENGINE CRADLE FRAME WAS HANGING DOWN, ONLY A FEW INCHES FROM THE GROUND. THE ENGINE CRADLE MOUNTING WASHERS (2 ON EACH SIDE) HAD RUSTED THRU, ALLOWING THE REAR OF THE CRADLE TO DROP. I ALSO NOTICED THE RIGHT SIDE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN OFF AT THE MOUNT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION AND WHEEL ASSEMBLIES ARE FASTENED TO THIS CRADLE, SO THAT'S WHY THE STEERING BECAME ERRATIC - THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY SOLID ATTACHMENT TO THE CAR. AFTER CAREFULLY EXAMINING THE ATTACHMENT POINTS, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY AND STRUCTURAL DESIGN FLAW. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE WERE ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AT A SLOW SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I NOTICED THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE OF THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10576046
Incident
Mar 14, 2014
Mileage
157,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 22, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE THE STRUTS WERE VERY BAD, CONSUMER WAS FINDING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD.*YH

NHTSA ID
567929
Suspension
Filed Jul 10, 2002

VEHICLE VIBRATES SEVERELY WHEN DRIVING 60 MPH, AND IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8013675
Incident
Sep 15, 1998
Suspension
Filed Jun 4, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH ON ROUGH PAVEMENT, VEHICLE WAS SKIPPING LANES WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS DRIVING AND WENT THROUGH A ROUGH SECTION OF THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE'S REAR END BEGAN GOING UP AND DOWN FORCING CONSUMER TO LIGHTLY APPLY THE BRAKES, THIS ACTION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER SLIGHTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE, CONSUMER RELASED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE TYPE OF SUSPENSION THE VEHICLE HAS.*JB

NHTSA ID
8011021
BrakesSuspension
Filed Nov 8, 2001

REAR BRAKES SOUND LIKE METAL RUBBING AGAINST METAL WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE CHECKING THE BALL JOINTS AGAIN AND FOUND THAT TWO OF THE BALL JOINTS, ONE ON EACH SIDE, DID NOT HAVE ANY GREASE, WHICH MEANS THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *YD

NHTSA ID
898930
Incident
Oct 8, 2001
SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 5, 2001

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WAS INFORMED THAT A BOLT TO RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD BROKEN , AND BUSHINGS HAD WORN OUT. BOLT NUT WAS SITTING THERE, LOOKED LIKE IT WAS WELDED. *AK

NHTSA ID
879759
Incident
Oct 20, 2000
Suspension
Filed Jan 6, 2000

SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAD PROBLEMS, GM REPLACED THE STRUTS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE BOTTOMED OUT WHILE HITTING SMALL BUMPS. *ET

NHTSA ID
783921
Suspension
Filed Sep 9, 1999

FRONT RIGHT SIDE STABLIZER BAR BUSHING CAME APART/FELL OFF ONTO ROAD WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ID
847327
Exterior lightingSuspensionVisibility
Filed Dec 28, 1998
1 injury reported

VEHICLE OMITS FUMES AND ORDOR FROM VENTILLATION SYSTEM CAUSING OCCUPANT TO BECOME ILL.

NHTSA ID
543132
Incident
Sep 25, 1998
Suspension
Filed Dec 1, 1998

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH REAR SUSPENSION. VEHICLE BOUNCES UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
831496
Incident
Jul 9, 1997
Suspension
Filed Oct 15, 1998

REAR SUSPENSION POOR RESULTING IN VEHICLE BOTTOMING OUT WHILE DRIVING, STRUTS REPLACED WITH KIT TO PROHIBIT BOTTOMING OUT HOWEVER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
542000
Suspension
Filed Jun 25, 1998

WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH OR OVER, VEHICLE VIBRATES.

NHTSA ID
537056
Incident
Apr 19, 1998
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Jun 11, 1998

FRONT END MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND PREMATURE WEAR OF TIRES. ALSO, BATTERY LEAKED ACID, AND TERMINAL WAS WORN OUT TO THE POINT OF BEING BROKEN.

NHTSA ID
536768
Incident
Jun 10, 1998
Suspension
Filed Dec 10, 1997

VEHICLE BOTTOMS OUT WITH FOUR OR MORE PASSENGERS ABOARD. *AK

NHTSA ID
526306
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Sep 9, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS GO DIM FOR NO REASON. OWNER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD ITS THE DESIGN OF VEHICLE. OWNER FURTHER NOTES THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS. *AK SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THERE IS NOT EVEN 300 POUNDS IN VEHICLE AND GOING OVER BUMPS, IT BOTTOMS OUT, DEALER REPLACED REAR SPRINGS AND WEAK COIL SPRINGS. CONSUMER HAD TO WIGGLE KEY TO GET IT OUT OF THE DOOR, DEALER FILED KEY AND LUBRICATED THE LOCK CYLINDER. *SLC

NHTSA ID
816185
Incident
Sep 13, 1996
Suspension
Filed Jul 25, 1997

STRUT FAILED.

NHTSA ID
520206
Incident
Jun 17, 1997
Suspension
Filed Jul 24, 1996

FRONT SUSPENSION, WHEN DRIVING AT SPEED 40 TO 70MPH, VIBRATION IN THE FRONT, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
985995
Incident
Jun 17, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .