Model year record

1999 Buick Lesabre

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 268 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V090000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
910,873
Reported to NHTSA
2004-02-24
Owners notified
2004-06-30

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.

Safety risk

THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V089000

Power train: automatic transmission

Component
Power train: automatic transmission
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
99,333
Reported to NHTSA
1999-04-26
Owners notified
1999-05-25

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4T65E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE." A RETAINING CLIP, WHICH SECURES THE MANUAL VALVE TO THE LINKAGE OF THE TRANSMISSION DETENT LEVER, CAN BECOME LOOSE UNDER A COMBINATION OF POSSIBLE DRIVER SHIFTING MANEUVERS AND ALLOW THE LINK TO BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE MANUAL VALVE.

Safety risk

IF THE LINK DISCONNECTS, THE DRIVER'S INDICATED PRNDL STATE MAY DIFFER FROM THE HYDRAULIC STATE OF THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE DRIVER SELECTS 'DRIVE' AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTUALLY IN 'REVERSE', A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL VALVE/LINK ASSEMBLY WITH A REPLACEMENT MANUAL VALVE/LINK KIT, FEATURING A SPRING-TYPE FASTENER.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline3855,267 mi
Engine and engine cooling1555,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission1429,829 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine1364,200 mi
Electrical system12140,000 mi
Air bags: frontal747,500 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery776,664 mi
Air bags6169,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe678,676 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic5130,000 mi
Suspension5
Suspension: front5124,156 mi
Vehicle speed control524,000 mi
Engine4114,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline440,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: carburetor system4
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system497,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system4200,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: recliner430,000 mi
Unknown or other4
Electrical system: horn347,500 mi
Electrical system: ignition363,700 mi
Electrical system: wiring320,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system368,628 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip3
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings332,196 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump350,700 mi
Structure360,000 mi
Tires3
Electrical system: ignition: switch298,927 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood252,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system2
Exterior lighting2
Exterior lighting: headlights2
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings254,270 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly: pressure relief devices240,000 mi
Seats2
Service brakes2122,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: wheel cylinders240,000 mi
Steering232,000 mi
Suspension: front: shock absorber2
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal2
Vehicle speed control: linkages2
Visibility292,000 mi
Visibility: windshield2
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer2
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables148,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module163,700 mi
Electrical system: ignition: module1
Electrical system: starter assembly147,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)1
Equipment188,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1
Fuel system, other: delivery1
Interior lighting1
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)149,129 mi
Seat belts1
Seat belts: front: retractor176,000 mi
Seat belts: front: webbing1
Service brakes, air: controls1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor1
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist1
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)1
Steering: hydraulic power assist system1
Steering: linkages: arm: idler and attachment1
Structure: body1276,262 mi
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments1
Structure: body: hood1124,156 mi
Suspension: front: control arm1
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs1
Suspension: front: stabilizer bar166,000 mi
Suspension: rear1
Suspension: rear: shock absorber1
Suspension: rear: springs1
Suspension: rear: springs: leaf spring assembly1
Tires: sidewall1
Tires: tread/belt194,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear1
Visibility: power window devices and controls1
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer1140,000 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: interior1

The 1998 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2000 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.