RoadVitals

1997 Buick Lesabre Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
29
Latest Apr 17, 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.
7%
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.
2
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 windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 29 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 visibility

The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words

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
Visibility
Filed Jan 12, 2009

CAR CLOUDED UP. OBSTRUCTING VISION. MECHANIC REPLACED HEATER CORE WITH GM PART. SAME THING HAPPENED IN DAYS. REPLACED WITH ANOTHER...SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. SUPPLIER TO MECHANIC INDICATED A COMMON FAULT WITH THAT PART. A THIRD PART (AFTERMARKET) HAS BEEN INSTALLED. IF THESE GM PARTS WERE KNOWN BY SUPPLIER TO BE FAULTY, WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN RECALLED AND WHY DID HE NOT INFORM MECHANIC BEFORE THE INSTALLATION? MECHANIC HAS INSTALLED PART THREE TIMES, AND ONLY BEEN PAID ONCE. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT, HIT A CURB TO AVOID BEING HIT. AND LOST A PERFECTLY GOOD TIRE AS A RESULT OF LOSS OF VISIBILITY. I HAVE NO COMPLAINT WITH THE ORIGINAL PART...THE CAR HAS HIGH MILEAGE (BUICK LESABE, 1997,) JUST THE TWO REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT WERE PRESSURE TESTED AND FAILED WITHIN DAYS OF USAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10254703
Incident
Dec 3, 2008
ElectricalInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Aug 12, 2005

DT: CONSUMER OWNS A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST A LITTLE BUT NOT ENOUGH TO GET COMPLETELY OUT OF TRAFFIC. SHE WAS STUCK IN VEHICLE BECAUSE EVERYTHING ON VEHICLE SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE GROUND CABLE COMING LOOSE, NOT LOOSE FROM THE MOTOR BLOCK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WORKED ON, SHE DID NO FEEL THAT CABLE COMING LOOSE WAS DUE TO A DEFECT. SHE WAS MORE CONCERNED THAT WHEN VEHICLE LOST POWER SHE WAS STUCK IN VEHICLE WITH NO WAY TO ESCAPE. THE DOOR LOCKED AND POWER WINDOWS DID NOT WORK. THE BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THAT THERE WAS NO MANUAL LOCK THAT COULD BE USED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WHEN POWER FAILED. SHE WAS STUCK IN VEHICLE WITH VEHICLE IN THE ROAD AND IN DANGER OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SHE STAYED IN VEHICLE ONE HOUR ON A VERY HOT DAY UNTIL SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTACT A FRIEND ON CELL PHONE, AND HE CAME TO HELP HER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10132637
Incident
Aug 11, 2005
Visibility
Filed Aug 30, 2002

WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE TO WORK ON HIGH SPEED FOR A WHILE BEFORE THEY CAN OPERATE ON NORMAL SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017677
Incident
Mar 11, 1997
Visibility
Filed Mar 21, 2002

FRONT WINDSHIELD LEAKS WATER, DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8006165
Incident
Mar 1, 1998
Visibility
Filed Aug 16, 2001

THERE IS A BAR IN THE FRONT WINDOWS, THIS BAR REQUIRES MOUNTING OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN A FOWARD POSITION, WHICH CONSUMER BELIEVES IS TOO CLOSE TO THE DRIVER, WHICH CREATES A BLIND SPOT FOR THE DRIVER.*JB

NHTSA ID
562541
Visibility
Filed May 4, 2000

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL AND WILL NOT WORK ON DELAY WHEN TURNED ON. *AK

NHTSA ID
722280
Incident
Feb 17, 1999
Visibility
Filed Oct 5, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONTINUALLY FAILING, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS HOWEVER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. MJS

NHTSA ID
548906
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
TransmissionVisibility
Filed Sep 20, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS OCCSAIONALLY FAIL TO OPERATE AT LOW SPEED OR SINGLE SWIPE MODE DUE TO WIPER STICKING ON WINDSHIELD AND MOTOR HORSEPOWER/TORQUE INSUFFICIENT TO BREAK "SEAL."

NHTSA ID
711631
Body & structureElectricalVisibility
Filed Jul 26, 1999

POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ID
547494
Incident
Jun 15, 1999
Visibility
Filed Jun 24, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY ON HIGH, OBSTUCTING VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
841020
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Feb 1, 1999

REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS. MJS

NHTSA ID
608041
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 1, 1999

ROOF LEAK. *YC

NHTSA ID
607437
Visibility
Filed Feb 1, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPER UNIT REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ID
607293
Incident
May 11, 1998
Visibility
Filed Feb 1, 1999

VENTILLATION SYSTEM FAILS AT FULL CAPACITY.

NHTSA ID
607049
Visibility
Filed Feb 1, 1999

HEATER BLOWER MOTOR FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID
606314
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
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
Visibility
Filed Sep 3, 1998
Crash reported

REARVIEW MIRROR, WHILE DRIVING, IS LOOSE AND TILTS VERY OFTEN. NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED, IT WILL DANGLE, GO BACK AND FORTH, IT IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE WIRE AND SWINGS. CAN EVENTUALLY HIT THE DRIVER IN THE HEAD. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REPAIR THE MIRROR. ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND MIRROR HIT WINDSHIELD,AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED. *AK

NHTSA ID
827580
Incident
Jun 3, 1998
BrakesExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jul 20, 1998

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT OPERATE IN THE WASH/MIST/DELAY OR LOW SPEED MODE UNTIL THEY ARE SWITCHED TO HIGH SPEED MODE.AFTER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AR EPLACED IN THE HIGH SPEED MODE THE OTHER MODES WILL OPERATE CORRECTLY. ALSO, INTERMITTENT HOWLING SOUND WHEN BRAKES ARE USED.

NHTSA ID
538488
Incident
Jun 10, 1998
Visibility
Filed Jun 23, 1998

WHEN USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID THE BLADES DO NOT MOVE, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE OUT AHEAD ON THE ROAD. DEALER CAN'T FIX PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
824590
Visibility
Filed May 20, 1998

EVERY NOW AND THEN WHEN TURNING ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY DO NOT COME ON. REPORTED TO DEALER IN SEPTEMBER OF 97. DEALER NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IN MARCH THE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROLBEM STILL CONTINUED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER AGAIN ON MAY 8TH. DEALER COULD NOT DETECT THE PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
823493
Incident
Jul 7, 1997
AirbagsVisibility
Filed Apr 20, 1998
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE WINDSHIELD BROKE AND THE GLASS FLEW IN THE DRIVER'S FACE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
822591
Incident
Mar 28, 1998
Visibility
Filed Jan 14, 1998

WINDSHIELD IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH DUE TO REFLECTION OF THE DASH FROM INSIDE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
528244
Visibility
Filed Oct 27, 1997

BLOWER MOTOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
604301
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Visibility
Filed Aug 1, 1997

OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS ARE VERY SMALL, CAUSING BLIND SPOTS.

NHTSA ID
520485

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 .