BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKING POWER.*AK ABRAKE LINE RUNNING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS UNIT FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. ALL SIX STEEL BRAKE LINES WERE ALSO FOUND CORRODED. *YH
1996 Buick Lesabre complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
ON 2 SEPARATE INCIDENCES, THE BATTERY LEAKED ONTO THE CABLE & LEFT ME STRANDED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS & IT HAPPENED TO ME TWICE 2 YEARS APART. THE FIRST TIME MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A DIFFERENT DEALER & THEY TRIED TO CHARGE ME EVEN THO THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MID-SUMMER AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AND THE BATTERY COMPANY SAID THAT THE DEALER WAS AT FAULT FOR THE WAY IT WAS INSTALLED. (TOO TIGHT) I WAS GIVEN A ROYAL RUN-AROUND.
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE/ IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE # P205/P0R15/70R15 CONSUMER NOTIFIED FIRESTONE. *AK BEFORE THE TIRE WAS SEPARATED COMPLETELY, PIECE OF CHROME TRIM WAS RIPPED OFF. DOOR HANDLE ON FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WAS DAMAGED TOO. *YH
FRONT BRAKES WARPED CAUSING FRONT BRAKES TO PULSATE WHEN APPLIED. NLM
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. ALSO, BOLTS THAT HOLD RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER IT APPEARED VEHICLE WAS TOO OVERTORQUED FROM THE FACTORY. *AK BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND FOUND WORN ON SIDE EDGES. 2 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE RACK TO THE FRAME ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, ONE BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF. BATTERY WAS LEAKING AND CAUSED CORROSION IN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE CONNECTER, DEALER HAD TO REMOVE ALL CABLE INSULATION AND REPLACE POSITIVE CABLE BOLT AND BATTERY, LEAK CAUSED VEHICLE NOT TO START. *SLC
FUEL PUMP MAKES A LOUD HUMMING OR BUZZING NOISE AT IDLE OR ANY SPEED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. TOKK TO DEALER, DEALER SAID IT WAS THE HEADLAMP CONTROL MODULE. *AK
BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS CONTROLLER TO THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS LEAKING BECAUSE A HOLE THAT WAS RUBBED THROUGH THE LINE AT THE TRANSMISSION SIDE COVER. ALSO ABS LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. OWNER DISCOVERED THE LEAK WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM CORRECTED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK
REPORTING FAULTY BRAKE ROTORS; DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ROTORS COULD NOT BE TURNED BECAUSE OF SCALING AND PITTING / ROTORS NEVER BEEN TURNED BEFORE, AND ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. *AK
THE DISC BRAKE PADS WORN PREMATURELY. NLM
DRIVER WENT TO CHANGE TIRE BY USING JACK THAT CAME EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE WHEN IT FOLDED OVER WHILE SUPPORTING VEHICLE, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJUIRES. *AK
WHEN TAKING IT OUT OF ANY GEAR ,ALL 3 DOORS WILL UNLOCK EXCEPT FOR FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. ,IT MUST BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED BEFORE PASSENGER CAN GET OUT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING OH HIGHWAY VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE COMING OFF AN EXIT RAMP THE RPMS WENT UP. BUT AS CONSUMER REAPPLIED GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO. NO PRIOR WARNING. NO INDICATION OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE .TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT. *AK
ELECTRICAL POWER FAILURE/ BATTERY IS LEAKING ACID AND CORROSION ON BOTH CABLES.
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH OR ABOVE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AT 30 MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
IF VEHICLE REMAINS OUTDOORS IN NEW ZERO TEMPERATURE THE HORN FAILS TO WORK.
WHEN CHECKING THE TIRE PRESSURE NOTICED WHEELS WERE RIPPED AROUND THE RIM, BIG CRACKS. *AK
COMPUTER CHIP FAILURE CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON.
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUNK LID FLIES UP WITH OUT INDICATIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
TRUNK POPS OPEN WHEN DRIVING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LATCH.
BRAKES MAKE SQUEAKING AND GRINDING NOISE.
ONE CYLINDER LEFT BANK FAILED. MJS
UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FRACTURED RESULTING IN FAILURE.
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED CAUSING LEAK.
VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATING.
SEALS WITHIN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED.
ELECTRIC WINDOW FAILED.
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
ANTILOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP.
GENERAL TIRE TREAD WORN. ( SIZE P205/70R15 WORN)
VEHICLE DRIFTS TO RIGHT AND TIRES WEAR UNEVENLY, TRIED TO FIX THREE TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WORKED ON THE VEHICLE, SUGGESTED THAT STEERING RACK WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED DIFFICULTY THAT MECHANIC HAD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM AN ALL-WHEEL ALIGNMENT. *AK
HIT A DEER AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND HIT PASSENGER IN THE LEG . *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE DIES OUT WITHOUT WARNING, OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERS WITH UNSATISFACTORY RESULTS. *AK
WHEEL RIMS CRACKED, CAUSING A LOSS OF AIR INTO THE TIRES. *AK
HEAD RESTS ARE DESIGNED TO LOW FOR PROTECTION.
AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR FAILED.
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE HORN WHICH WILL NOT SOUND NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS DEPRESSED.
VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT CONTINUALLY EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT WORK COMPLETED.
HE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE AND HE CALLED THE DEALER AS INSTRUCTED IN THE LETTER AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PART ISN'T IN YET. (RECALL-96V116000). *AK
THE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING OVER 40 MPH, CAUSING THE REAR TIRES TO WEAR OFTEN.
VECHILE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, LOSS OF POWER. *AK
WHEN STARTING, COLD START VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD FOUR INCHES. BUICK STATES THIS IS NORMAL SINCE 1993 AND DON'T FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
FRONT/REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS RUSTED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. *DH
VEHICLE DRIFTS TO RIGHT. *DSH
NO MATTER WHAT CLOTH OR LINING PLACED ON DASH, REFLECTION SHOWS UPON WINDSHIELD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
AFTER ADJUSTING, HEAD REST DOESN'T PROVIDE NECK PROTECTION. OWNER HAS CONTACTED GM MOBILITY GROUP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Buick Lesabre → · Every Lesabre year → · How the figures are calculated →