1994 Buick Lesabre

Routine

Owners filed 158 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip21
200
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline17
120
Air Bags › Frontal15
14213
Tires › Tread/Belt9
000
Vehicle Speed Control7
211
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine5
000
Electrical System5
000
Tires3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder3
101

What owners reported

Newest filings
SteeringCrash
Filed Jul 21, 201696,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND DROVE OVER A MEDIAN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOUSE. THE ENGINE SUBFRAME MOTOR MOUNTS FRACTURED AND THE ENGINE FELL TO THE GROUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIR BY THE CONTACT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Feb 9, 2016WI

IN COLD WEATHER CAR WON'T START CHECKED THE LIGHTS WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON IT READS, VOLT AND TEMP OBVIOUSLY BATTERY PROBLEMS. I GOT A NEW BATTERY WHEN I GOT THE CAR... I GOT A JUMP FROM RANDOM PERSON NEXT TO MY JOB AND CAR STARTED RIGHT UP IN LIKE 2 MINUTES AND I WENT HOME.

Seat Belts
Filed Sep 5, 2014147,565 milesWV

I WAS CLEANING MY 1994 BUICK LESABRE WHEN I NOTICED A HOLE IN THE FLOOR AROUND THE REAR SEATBELT. I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS. WILL THE PERSON SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT GET HURT OR KILLED IF THE SEATBELT DOESN'T HOLD IN THE EVENT OF A ACCIDENT. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS. I KNOW THIS IS A OLDER VEH,BUT ITS ALL I HAVE.I THOUGHT THAT GM WOULD OF FIXED THIS BY NOW,OR IS MINE THE ONLY ONE THAT IS RUSTED? I REALLY DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS THE ONLY ONE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jan 31, 201498,000 milesFL

WHILE MERGING ONTO I95 NORTH MY CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING TRAFFIC. I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT WAS OFF UNTIL MY LITTLE GIRL ASKED ME TO TURN THE RADIO BACK AND MY SPEED BEGIN TO DECREASE. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER SUCH A HUGE TANK LIKE MY LESABRE WHEN THE POWER STEERING GIVES. IT CRANKS RIGHT UP AFTER SHUTTING OFF AS IF NOTHING IS EVEN WRONG, BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED ALWAYS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. IT BOTHERS ME BECAUSE MY CAR IS ALL I HAVE AND IT'S THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION THAT I HAVE FOR TRAVELING WITH MY LITTLE GIRL. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Aug 25, 2011WA

VEHICLE SURGES AND STALLS RANDOMLY WHILE TRAVELING. OCCURS ATLEAST TWICE DAILY. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Sep 4, 2010104,522 milesTX

BUICK LASABRE DIES ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING. LOOSES ALL POWER CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO TRY TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHILE UNDER NO POWER. NO BRAKES, POWER STEERING . HAPPENS ABOUT 8 TO 12 TIMES A DAY. I DRIVE 47 MILES TO WORK. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED 8 TIMES, HAD TO MAKE UNSAFE TURNS TO KEEP FROM HAVING A DEAD CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO GET TOTALED. REPLACED COIL PACKS PER DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDATION. STILL DIES. NOT EVEN THE DEALERSHIP CAN DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. SEEMS ALL MECHANICS WANT TO PICK A PART TO REPLACE AT RANDOM TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE ISSUE. THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY HERE. ALOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE DRIVE THESE VEHICLES AND THEY CAN'T NEGOTIATE THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHEN THIS BEGINS TO HAPPEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES THEN SPUTTERS AND DIES. WHEN THIS STARTS, IF YOU KEEP PATTING THE ACCELERATOR IT SOMETIMES HELPS TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING BUT NOT ALWAYS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Sep 4, 2010104,522 milesTX

BUICK LASABRE DIES ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING. LOOSES ALL POWER CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO TRY TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHILE UNDER NO POWER. NO BRAKES, POWER STEERING . HAPPENS ABOUT 8 TO 12 TIMES A DAY. I DRIVE 47 MILES TO WORK. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED 8 TIMES, HAD TO MAKE UNSAFE TURNS TO KEEP FROM HAVING A DEAD CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO GET TOTALED. REPLACED COIL PACKS PER DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDATION. STILL DIES. NOT EVEN THE DEALERSHIP CAN DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. SEEMS ALL MECHANICS WANT TO PICK A PART TO REPLACE AT RANDOM TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE ISSUE. THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY HERE. ALOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE DRIVE THESE VEHICLES AND THEY CAN'T NEGOTIATE THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 5, 2009132,000 milesCA

MY 1994 BUICK LESABRE HAS A RUNAWAY ACCELERATOR PROBLEM, DURING A SLOW DOWN OR BRAKING CONDITION IN GEAR AT RANDOM TIMES THE ENGINE ACCELERATES THE CAR FORWARD, YOU MUST STAND ON THE BRAKES WITH HIGH FORCE TO BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND THEN KILL THE IGNITION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED AT CROSS WALKS WITH PEOPLE CROSSING, AND APPROACHING STOP LIGHTS, PULLING INTO GAS STATIONS ECT. REPAIR SHOPS INCLUDING BUICK DEALERS SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS. I HAVE ELIMINATED THE FOOT ACCELERATOR AND THE CRUISE CONTROL AS THE PROBLEM. I WENT ONLINE TO A TROUBLESHOOTING SITE AND TALKED TO A BUICK SPECIFIC TECH WHO HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES BEFORE AND SAID THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FAILURE WAS THE PROBLEM PART, AND THAT A DIAGNOSTIC SCAN WOULD HELP IN IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER AFTER SEVERAL SCANS AND DRIVE TESTS THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER DUPLICATED OR IDENTIFIED. THE PROBLEM IS REPEATABLE AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. BECAUSE TO DATE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE FIND ANY RECALLS OR DEALERS WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 18, 2008125,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK LESABRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JULY OF 2008 AND CONTINUES TO STALL WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH OR LESS. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DRY. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL BECAUSE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKING ABILITY. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE TAKES LONGER THAN A MINUTE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER, BUT THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 12/12/08 *CN UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 12, 200890,000 milesTN

I AM A MECHANIC AND WORK ON CARS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE GM CARS OF THE EARLY TO MID 90'S LIKE THE BUICK LE SABRE CLASS ARE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATER ENCLOSURE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR THE PLASTIC ENCLOSURES ARE CRACKING AND PIECES OF IT ARE FALLING OFF, AND IF YOU TOUCH THE PLASTIC, IS WILL CRUMBLE APART. I FEE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARD, AS THIS WILL ALLOW THE FUMES FROM THE ENGINE LIKE EXHAUST,GAS AND OIL TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THEN THE OCCUPANTS WILL BE BREATHING THE FUMES. I FEEL THAT GM NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Mar 20, 2007NV

1994 BUICK LASABRE CUSTOMER STATES THAT THEY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DOME LIGHT IT WAS SO HOT THAT IT MELTED THE LIGHT COVER AND RUINED THE TWO SIDES OF THE BULB INSERTS**CC

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Apr 6, 200566,000 milesIL

VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE CONSUMER GIVING THE VEHICLE GAS. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings
Filed Dec 11, 2004IN

WIFE STRANDED WHEN CAR OVERHEATED. UPON INSPECTION OF ENGINE I FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC FITTING IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD BROKEN OFF LETTING ALL COOLANT RUN OUT. WE HAVE BEEN LOOSING COOLANT FOR SOME TIME. (A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I REPLACED PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND SERPENTINE BELT WHILE TRAVELING, BUT ALWAYS HAD A LOSS OF COOLANT THAT I COULD NOT FIND. WHEN I CALLED TO GET A NEW FITTING, THE ATTENDANT TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BEFORE I COULD TELL HIM. HE SAID THIS HAPPENS A LOT AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS NOW MADE OUT OF METAL. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH DAMAGE THAT THIS HAS CAUSED MY ENGINE. YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE FITTING WITHOUT A MIRROR. WHAT A LOUSY DESIGN TO USE A PLASTIC FITTING! IT HAS CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR US. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 27, 2004128,338 milesMS

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD NOT HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED, EXCEPT FOR THE OIL BEING CHANGED.*AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 14, 2004151,000 milesOH

WHILE TURNING LEFT AT A STOP SIGN ANOTHER VEHICLE COME UP THE HILL ON THE LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE DID ARRIVE ON THE SEEN BUT NOBODY WAS CITED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR HEAD INJURIES. *AK *NM

Structure › Body › Roof and Pillars
Filed Nov 24, 2003CA

PAINT IS STARTING TO PEEL OFF ON TOP OF CAR. THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE TO THIS AREA OR ANY OTHER AREA OF THE CAR. THERE IS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. *LA

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 12, 2003OH

SMELL OF GASOLINE AROUND THE CAR. A CHECK UNDER THE HOOD SHOW DROPS OF GASOLINE COMING FROM AROUND A SMALL CLIP IN FUEL LINE (TOP OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE FIREWALL). THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME FOR ME! LAST TIME THE FUEL WAS COMING OUT OF THE CLIP AT A FASTER RATE. LAST TIME I WASN'T ABLE TO REPLACE THE CLIP WITHOUT BUYING AN UNRELATED REPAIR KIT (DISCARDING OTHER PARTS) . I CONSIDER THE CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LEAK BECOMES MORE SERIOUS AND DRIVING THE CAR FOR A WHILE, AS VERY SERIOUS. *LA

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 7, 2003IL

CONSUMER STATES WHILE LOOKING VEHICLE OVER, SHE NOTICED CRACKS BETWEEN THE TREADS OF ALL FOUR TIRES. *AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE CRACKS THAT WERE IN THE TREAD. SEARS FINALLY REPLACED THE ALL MICHELIN WEATHERWISE DOT HDH3E2PX503, BUT THEY WERE STILL INSISTING THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEATHERING EVEN THOUGH AN EMPLOYEE STATED THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. *SCC *JB

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 3, 200375,000 milesNC

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPWARDS. *NLM THE CONSUMER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS PUSHED IN. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT, INSTEAD IT JUST BLEW IN THE CONSUMER'S WIFE'S FACE. (IN WHICH SHE SUFFERED INJURIES) THE BRAKES HAD TO BE CLEANED OF GREASE WHEN THE CONSUMER FIRST TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE AND A FEW WEEKS LATER THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *SCC *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master CylinderCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 3, 200375,000 milesNC

THE DRIVER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. AS A RESULT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUSED BURNS TO THE PASSENGERS THIGHS. THE FUMES EMITTED FROM THE AIR BAG ALSO CAUSED EYE IRRITATION AND BREATHING PROBLEMS. THE PASSENGER HAS DEVELOPED ASTHMA AND HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE EYE IRRITATION. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT LEAKED. THE CALIPERS WERE DEGREASED, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKS WERE REPLACED. *SCC *NLM

20 of 158 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
1994 — this page158060Routine
19931941210High concern
19921892230High concern
199130130Routine
199046100Routine

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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.