FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
1999 Buick Lesabre
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 209 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Buick Lesabre, most frequently naming the engine, fuel system and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 49 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2004 | 4 | 121 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 122 |
| Mar 2004 | 3 | 125 |
| Apr 2004 | 3 | 128 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 129 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 130 |
| Jul 2004 | 6 | 136 |
| Aug 2004 | 7 | 143 |
| Sep 2004 | 5 | 148 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 149 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 150 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 151 |
| Jan 2005 | 2 | 153 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 154 |
| Apr 2005 | 1 | 155 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 156 |
| Jun 2005 | 2 | 158 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 159 |
| Sep 2005 | 1 | 160 |
| Oct 2005 | 1 | 161 |
| Jan 2006 | 2 | 163 |
| Feb 2006 | 2 | 165 |
| Mar 2006 | 1 | 166 |
| Jul 2006 | 1 | 167 |
| Jan 2007 | 1 | 168 |
| May 2007 | 1 | 169 |
| Jul 2007 | 2 | 171 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 172 |
| Oct 2007 | 2 | 174 |
| Jan 2008 | 1 | 175 |
| Mar 2008 | 1 | 176 |
| Apr 2008 | 1 | 177 |
| Oct 2008 | 1 | 178 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 179 |
| May 2009 | 1 | 180 |
| Nov 2010 | 1 | 181 |
| Jan 2011 | 2 | 183 |
| May 2011 | 1 | 184 |
| Jul 2011 | 2 | 186 |
| Aug 2011 | 1 | 187 |
| Sep 2011 | 1 | 188 |
| Dec 2011 | 1 | 189 |
| Jun 2013 | 1 | 190 |
| Dec 2013 | 1 | 191 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 192 |
| Jun 2014 | 1 | 193 |
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 194 |
| Aug 2014 | 2 | 196 |
| Sep 2014 | 2 | 198 |
| Nov 2014 | 1 | 199 |
| Dec 2014 | 1 | 200 |
| Jan 2015 | 1 | 201 |
| May 2015 | 1 | 202 |
| Jul 2015 | 1 | 203 |
| May 2016 | 1 | 204 |
| Apr 2017 | 1 | 205 |
| May 2017 | 1 | 206 |
| Aug 2017 | 1 | 207 |
| Feb 2018 | 1 | 208 |
| Apr 2019 | 1 | 209 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Engine7329.3%
- Fuel system2811.2%
- Electrical2710.8%
- Brakes208.0%
- Suspension197.6%
- Transmission156.0%
- Airbags135.2%
- Visibility93.6%
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
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
AS I WAS DRIVING FROM THE GAS STATION I TOOK A LEFT AND AS I ACCELERATED, THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE. I I HAD NEVER NOTICED THIS BEFORE THAT DAY. SO PROCEED TO TAKE MY TIME CAREFULLY BACK TO WORK. I EXAMINED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY 99 LESABRE CUSTOM AND THAT'S WHERE I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE SUBFRAME BUSHINGS HAVE ALL BUT FELL OUT DUE TO SEVERE RUST. THANKFULLY THE PASSENGER SIDE IS STILL FIRMLY ATTACHED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM CARS OF THIS ERA AND THE DORMAN REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE. HAD THIS COMPONENT FAILED ON BOTH SIDES THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. I AM STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE OR JUST A BAD CHOICE OF VEHICLE DESIGN BY GM AND THEIR LACK OF CONCERN FOR THE PUBLICS WELL BEING. THESE SUBFRAME BUSHINGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN OR SHOULD BE A VIABLE RECALL CONCERN TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.
- NHTSA ID
- 11196784
- Incident
- Aug 30, 2018
I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN MY AIR BAG FROM THE STEERING COLUMN DEPLOYED IN MY FACE. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. IT WAS ON OR ABOUT 1/25/18. ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR TO THIS EVENT MY HORN BEGAN TO STEADILY BLOW INEXPLICABLY. I DID NOT HAVE ANY REASON TO SUSPECT ANYTHING OTHER THAN A MALFUNCTIONING HORN SO I DISCONNECTED THE WIRES TO THE HORN. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ABOUT A WEEK LATER I CONCLUDED THE AIR BAG WAS INFLATING INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE HORN SENSOR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO, AFTER WEEKS OF INVESTIGATION, CONCLUDED THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO REPAIR IT AND SUGGESTED I CALL GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER ASSIST CENTER. AFTER REVIEWING PICTURES, (NO ONE ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY LOOKED AT IT) GM DECIDED CORROSION TO THE SENSING MODULE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I CONTEND THEY HAVE A DEFECTIVE VALVE WHICH OVERTIME BEGAN LEAKING GAS INTO THE AIR BAG, HENCE THE ISSUE WITH THE BLOWING HORN.
- NHTSA ID
- 11074558
- Incident
- Jan 25, 2018
- Mileage
- 205,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE 5 -10 MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT, A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL RING WAS CAUSING THE FUEL ODOR. THE RING WAS REPLACED, BUT THE ISSUE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL NECK WERE THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE CONTINUING FUEL ODOR, AND BOTH PARTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT HAD THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL NECK REPLACED, BUT THE FUEL ODOR CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE LOCAL BUICK DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11015353
- Incident
- Jul 9, 2017
- Mileage
- 200,000 mi
VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A FULL FUEL LINE REPLACEMENT. TECHNICIAN REPORTED THAT THE BODY AND SUB-FRAME ARE CORRODED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN ON THE ROAD.
- NHTSA ID
- 10990949
- Incident
- May 22, 2017
- Mileage
- 276,262 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- NHTSA ID
- 10981300
- Incident
- Apr 9, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG AND AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE ON THE CONTACT'S BEHALF. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. ....UPDATED 0711/16 *BF *CN
- NHTSA ID
- 10870746
- Incident
- May 25, 2016
- Mileage
- 58,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR AND OBSERVED FUEL LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10735704
- Incident
- Jun 10, 2015
- Mileage
- 169,000 mi
1999 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH- ANTI THEFT WIRING ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE ANTI-THEFT WIRES WAS BROKEN AND THE SECOND WIRE HAD THE PROTECTIVE INSULATION COATING CRACKED THROUGH TO THE COPPER WIRE. IT APPEARED THAT ROTATION OF THE CYLINDER HAD CHAFED OVER TIME AND COMPROMISED THE INTEGRITY OF BOTH WIRES AND THE CAUSE THE SECURITY DASH LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10682285
- Incident
- Dec 5, 2014
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
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.
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.
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.
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 77 | 0 | 0 | 40.3 |
| 2004 | 162 | 0 | 0 | 36.7 |
| 2003 | 164 | 1 | 0 | 40.9 |
| 2002 | 309 | 2 | 1 | 54.7 |
| 2001 | 328 | 0 | 1 | 43.0 |
| 2000 | 668 | 5 | 2 | 58.9 |
| 1999Viewing | 209 | 2 | 3 | 62.2 |
| 1998 | 400 | 1 | 2 | 53.9 |
| 1997 | 394 | 2 | 2 | 59.5 |
| 1996 | 98 | 2 | 2 | 56.1 |
| 1995 | 178 | 1 | 0 | 46.7 |
| 1994 | 158 | 0 | 0 | 42.1 |
| 1993 | 194 | 1 | 2 | 53.8 |
| 1992 | 189 | 2 | 3 | 64.2 |
| 1991 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 48.9 |
| 1990 | 46 | 1 | 1 | 51.0 |
| 1989 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 54.4 |
| 1988 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 52.7 |
| 1987 | 40 | 5 | 9 | 66.8 |
| 1986 | 16 | 3 | 11 | 58.2 |
| 1985 | 5 | 1 | 4 | — |
| 1984 | 5 | 2 | 4 | — |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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.