Model year record

1999 Buick Lesabre

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

Buick Lesabre, 1992–1999 generation
Pictured: the 1992–1999 generation. Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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.

Other Buick Lesabre model years

All Buick Lesabre recalls by year

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.