1990 Buick Lesabre

Routine

Owners filed 46 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system › ignition. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control4
403
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip4
000
Electrical System › Ignition4
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline3
000
Seats2
101
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing2
203
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly2
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly2
000
Electrical System › Ignition › Module2
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline06E043000
Filed May 19, 200688,303 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seats › Front Assembly › Power Adjust
Filed Oct 30, 2006212,900 milesKS

THE FRONT MOUNTING BRACKET NEAREST TO THE DOOR, FOR THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT FRACTURED AROUND THE MOUNTING BOLT. THIS ALLOWED THE SEAT TO ROTATE BACKWARD. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Sep 5, 2004186,000 milesMI

THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 2, 2004165,000 milesOR

WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING THERE IS A CONSTANT SOUND OF AIR ESCAPING. THERE IS AN ANTICIPATION OF THE VEHICLE BACK FIRING AT ALL TIMES. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND USE TWICE AS MUCH FUEL.*AK

Steering › Column
Filed Mar 13, 2004179,000 milesKY

I HAVE A 1990 BUICK LESABRE THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH TILT WHEEL. ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE...I HAD NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. ANYWAY, I THOUGHT "WELL, THE CAR IS JUST AGING" AND DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL YESTERDAY. MY SON WAS CLIMBING ACROSS THE DRIVERS SEAT AND ACCIDENTLY HIT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR. WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE CAR WENT INTO REVERSE AND PROCEEDED TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER WE GOT THE CAR STOPPED, I DISCOVERED THAT EVEN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE CAR CAN BE PLACED IN ANY GEAR WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE OLD POWERGLIDES THAT WOULD DO THE SAME. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN TO SOMEONE ELSE IS VERY LIKELY. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT SUDDENLY STARTED TO DO THIS. THANK YOU.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jan 21, 200445,000 milesIN

THE BRAKES ON A 1990 BUICK LESABRE FAILED IN THE DEALER LOT WHEN I WENT TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR. THEY ASSURED ME THEY WOULD REPAIR THE BRAKES AND CALL ME WHEN THE CAR WAS READY FOR SALE. AFTER THE REPAIR, I PURCHASED THE CAR, BUT THE BRAKES SOON FAILED AGAIN. I THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINE REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE WITH COMPRESSION FITTINGS INSTEAD OF HIGH-PRESSURE INVERTED-FLARE HYDRAULIC FITTINGS. I SUSPECT THIS WAS UNLAWFUL. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS, AND THE AGENT I TALKED TO DOESN'T SEEM TO COMPREHEND THAT THE USE OF COMPRESSION FITTINGS IN A BRAKE LINE IS UNLAWFUL, AND TRIVIALIZES MY CONCERNS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR "AS-IS".*AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed May 2, 2003OR

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *NLM

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 5, 2003CA

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CROSSED A ROADWAY, AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Nov 2, 2002WY

NO SUMMARY. DT

Electrical System
Filed Aug 7, 2002HI

A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO A REPAIR SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash2 injured
Filed Dec 28, 2001KS

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND FORCED VEHICLE TO HIT A PHONE POLE, DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Aug 22, 2001OH

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, SUDDENLY VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED IGNITION COIL.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Apr 11, 2001NJ

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF ALL POWER. ALSO, DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP RED. PROBLEM OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK THE PROBLEM HAPPENED TWICE, AND THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE IGNITION COILS. *YH

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Jan 4, 2001FL

FIRESTONE FR680 TIRES P205/70R14 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WITH LESS THAN 10000 MILES ON THEM, VEHICLE DROVE ROUGH AND DEALER INSPECTED TIRES INNER TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM SIDEWALL. *SLC

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Sep 28, 2000FL

WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. HE HAS TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO START VEHICLE. DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DOESN'T WORK, THE RETRACTOR IS NOT OPERABLE. *AK THE RESTRAINT MECHANISM FAILED AND THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH. *YH

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Dec 23, 1999TX

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY NORMAL SPEED/ LOW SPEED VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › LinkagesCrash
Filed Dec 10, 1999OH

HAD STARTED VEHICLE & SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO BACK UP WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO HIT PART OF GARAGE & KNOCKED THE CHROME OFF VEHICLE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. *AK

Seats
Filed Nov 15, 1999NY

THE INERTIA SWITCH DOES NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Oct 26, 1999WI

THE ABS POWER BRAKE RELAY FAILED DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION AND I PAID TO REPLACE IT.ZIMBRICK MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL COULD NOT FIND SOURCE OF INTERMITTANT BRAKE PROBLEM UNTIL I BROUGHT THE CAR IN WHILE THE BRAKE RELAY WAS MALFUNCTIONING. IT WAS STUCK AND CONTINUED TO BUZZ EVEN AFTER THE IGNITION HAD BEEN SWITCHED OFF. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED IN OCTOBER 1997. MY WIFE WAS IN COTTAGE GROVE AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKES AT STARTUP. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO MADISON AND THE BRAKE RELAY WAS REPLACED AGAIN. IN THE FALL OF 1998, I EXPERIENCED NO POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKES DURING A DRIVE IN THE POURING RAIN. I HAD ALMOST NO EFFECTIVE BRAKES, BUT DROVE CAREFULLY AND PARKED THE CAR OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING THE BRAKES OPERATED NORMALLY. I SPENT ABOUT $900 ON BRAKE WORK AT ZIMBRICK'S IN APRIL OF 1999, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PINPOINT THE SOURCE OF THE BRAKE PROBLEM. THE NEXT FAILURE HAPPENED MAY 28, 1999 WHILE MY WIFE'S DAD WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO EAU CLAIRE, WI. THE CAR HAD NO POWER ASSIST FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE DRIVE (AFTER STOPPING FOR GAS). THE NEXT MORNING THE BRAKES WERE OPERATING NORMALLY AND HE DROVE THE CAR TO THE CABIN ON LAKE NANCY. ONE DAY, ABOUT A MONTH LATER (THE CAR WAS DRIVEN INFREQUENTLY DURING THE SUMMER - ABOUT TWICE PER WEEK), THE BRAKE PROBLEM REAPPEARED FOR ONE DRIVING EPISODE AND THE NEXT DRIVE THE BRAKES OPERATED NORMALLY. BECAUSE OF THE INTERMITTANT PROBLEM, THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT ZIMBRICK HAVE BEEN UNABLE

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 14, 1999PA

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 14, 1999PA

WHILE DRIVING THEB RAKES INTERMENTLY LOCK UP .THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. *AK

20 of 46 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20063000Routine
200577030Routine
2004162050Routine
2003164140Routine
20023102120Above average
20013280220High concern
20006695300High concern
19992092202Fatalities reported
19984001430High concern
19973942311Fatalities reported
199698200Routine
1995178130Routine
1994158060Routine
19931941210High concern
19921892230High concern
199130130Routine
1990 — this page46100Routine

Compare every Lesabre year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 19, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.