1993 Buick Lesabre

High concern

Owners filed 194 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip41
401
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines15
060
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline10
070
Power Train › Automatic Transmission9
000
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator8
000
Vehicle Speed Control7
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder7
000
Tires › Tread/Belt5
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Abs Warning Light5
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer4
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines96V015000
Filed Jan 23, 1996585,182 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.

Risk. VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Aug 7, 201457,000 milesNC

DRIVING THE CAR NORMALLY, AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUITS, AND WITH IT, SO DOES THE POWER STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS, BUT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART IN NEUTRAL, LUCKILY. WHY?? *TR

Electrical System
Filed Sep 29, 2011244,000 milesID

AS I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD, IT DOESN'T MATTER AT WHAT SPEED, MY ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY DIE. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO LURCHING NOR SPUTTERING, IT JUST DROPS DEAD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I KNOW THERE IS POWER TO MY CAR BECAUSE THE LIGHTS AND RADIO SEEM UNAFFECTED. HOWEVER, MY ENGINE, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ALL DROP OUT. I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR FROM ROLLING, PUT IT INTO PARK AND RESTART IT TO CONTINUE. THERE IS NO PARTICULAR LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN THESE STALLS. IT HAS HAPPENED ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER OR HOURS APART I HAVE HAD THE COIL, PLUGS AND WIRES ALL CHANGED. ALL CONNECTIONS ARE GOOD AND BATTERY IS FINE.. I AM VERY FRIGHTENED THAT IS THIS HAPPENS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TT

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 9, 20112,056,754 milesIL

I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 1/2 YRS NOW AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD THIS TYPE OF BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR SLED, I WAS TRYING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO MAKE A TURN. THE ABS LITE HAS BEEN ON THE CAR ALMOST EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 15, 2010130,000 milesMT

MY 1993 BUICK LASABRE KEEPS STALLING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I CAN BE ANYWHERE ON THE INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT ONE OF THESE TIMES SOMEONE IS GOING TO HIT ME FROM BEHIND AND IT WILL CAUSE ME AND SOMEONE ELSE INJURY. MY MECHANICS CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE CAR KEEPS STALLING. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jul 29, 201080,000 milesGA

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED '93 BUICK LESABRE LIMITED WITH ABOUT 80,000 MILES ON IT. I DROVE IT FOR TWO DAYS WITHOUT INCIDENT AND THEN THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY, THE PEDAL SINKING TO THE FLOOR. I SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER IS KAPUT. I CAN UNDERSTAND IF THE BRAKES FAIL IF THERE'S A LEAK IN THE LINES OR THE PADS HAVEN'T BEEN REPLACED--THOSE ARE MAINTENANCE ITEMS THAT ARE THE DRIVER'S RESPONSIBILITY. BUT A MASTER CYLINDER SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST WARN ME WITH AN IDIOT LIGHT(THEY HAD IDIOTS BACK IN '93 TOO) AND PREFERABLY SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. IT'S IN OTHERWISE GOOD SHAPE WITH ONLY TWO OWNERS AND NO ACCIDENTS. ALL THE HOSES ARE NEW AND THE INTERIOR IS IN GOOD SHAPE, SO I DON'T THINK ROUGH HANDLING CAUSED THE FAILURE. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS OLDER, AS BRAKES ARE VITAL TO SAFETY. I HAD A 97 HONDA WITH OVER 250K AND ITS STILL USING THE ORIGINAL BRAKES ALTHOUGH THE PADS AND DRUMS HAVE BEEN REDONE SEVERAL TIMES. THE TYPE OF FAILURE I EXPERIENCED COULD WELL HAVE KILLED ME. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Mar 3, 2010109,821 milesIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUCK LESABRE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS NO POWER RESPONSE. A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN FIRST GEAR BEFORE THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A LEAKAGE IN THE REAR BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,821. UPDATED 4/7/2010 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF MATERIAL THAT DOES NOT RUST. UPDATED 06/24/10.*JB

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jul 21, 2008113,140 milesOH

1993 BUICK LESABRE - THE MOTOR-TRANSMISSION MOUNT FAILED AT THE POINT OF ACCELERATING FROM AND INTERSECTION. THE REAR OF THE MOUNT DROPPED TO THE PAVEMENT RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING. DIAGNOSIS BY THE BUICK DEALER MAKING THE REPAIR IS THAT THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO RUST. THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN. I AM THE SECOND OWNER IN NORTHWEST OHIO. DUE TO BOTH STATES AND AREAS USING ROAD SALT, THE MOUNT FAILED. THE OHIO DEALER STATES THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BEFORE, BUT THE TOW-TRUCK DRIVER STATED HE PICKED UP A PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, SAME FRAME/CHASSIS, LAST YEAR. FORTUNATELY I HAD JUST LEFT AN INTERSECTION AND THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 15 M.P.H. WHEN THE MOUNT DROPPED. THE CAR STEERED ITSELF ACROSS THE ROAD AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE GOING DOWN INTO THE DITCH ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT HIGHER SPEEDS THIS COULD EASILY BE FATAL FOR ANY OF THE OCCUPANTS. *TR

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Dec 10, 2007168,000 milesWI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT 4 OUT OF 6 BOLTS HAD RUSTED AND DROPPED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE 4 WASHERS IN THE BACK OF THE FRAME WHICH HELD THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BROKE THROUGH CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP. UPDATED *JB

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Dec 19, 2006138,300 milesPA

I JUST BOUGHT A USED BUICK LESABER AND IT'S LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE CAR IS A 93 AND JUST BOUGHT IT IN NOV. 06. I FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS CAR. AND NEED TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE TO GETTING THIS PROBLEM FIXED. *NM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines
Filed Oct 12, 200693,000 milesNY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHITE SMOKE EMANATED INTERMITTENTLY FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL# 96V015000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 15, 2005MD

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUICK LESABRE. HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ONE WEEK AND A HALF AGO FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP. ON THE TWO FRONT TIRES THE STEEL BELTS WERE HANGING OUT. IT WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE BEEN INSPECTED. THE BACK TIRES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CONTACT USED THE VEHICLE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES AND PURCHASED IT AS IT WAS. MICHELIN TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO CONTACTED THE PERSON THAT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND HE SAID THAT THEY WHERE NOT THE SAME TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN HE INSPECTED IT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 12, 2005FL

DT: HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER COOLING LINES OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT INVOLVES THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 96V015000. BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE LIGHT THAT LETS ONE KNOW IT IS OVERHEATING DOESN'T COME ON . ALSO, IT IS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND. EVERY WEEK HAVE TO PUT A QUART AND HALF OF TRANSMISSION FLUID IT. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN OCTOBER OF 2004. *AK THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, TEMPERATURE SENSOR, AND COOLING SENSOR. *JB

Electrical System › WiringFire1 injured
Filed Nov 4, 2004HI

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 13, 2004FL

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHILE SHIFTING, AND NOTICED FLUID UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 4, 2004109,714 milesNY

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK THE CONSUMER LATER LEARNED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINES. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS RECALL IS RELATED TO HER VEHICLE'S FAILURE. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY SEVEN MONTHS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. *NM

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 29, 2004AZ

CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND BUMPED IT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *AK

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 13, 200458,000 milesAZ

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THE FULL IMPACT WAS ABSORBED BY THE SEATBELT. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SEVERE NERVE INJURIES TO LOWER BACK, HIPS AND LEGS. VEHICLE WAS ROUTINE MAINTAINED AND INSPECTED. *PH

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 2, 200385,000 milesNY

THE CRADLE MOUNT BOLTS SNAPPED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FALL AND IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ALL STEERING. *AK SO IF YOU ARE ON A CURVE, YOU JUST GO STRAIGHT OR WHICH EVER WAY THE WHEELS POINT. THE STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING GEAR. *SCC *JB

Tires
Filed Aug 28, 2003IL

WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. GENERAL TIRE: SIZE#, DOT# AND MODEL UNKNOWN. *AK *NLM

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 25, 2003WY

WERE THERE ANY RECALLS REGARDING PAINT PEALING AND/OR OVERLY BAD OXIDATION BECAUSE OF THE SEALANT USED ON SOME YEARS. *NLM

20 of 194 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
1993 — this page1941210High concern
19921892230High concern
199130130Routine
199046100Routine

Compare every Lesabre year →

Reading this record

A high number of complaints describe fires or crashes.

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: Jan 23, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.