1992 Buick LESABRE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
96 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
130,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 96 complaints (14.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 28 | 29.2% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 7.3% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 5.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 8 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 8; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 83 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 25 |
| 1996 | 20 |
| 2000 | 20 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
1995: 25; 1996: 20; 2000: 20; 2001: 5; 2002: 5; 2003: 7; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 3; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10022157 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185906 · 2007-03-22 (March 22, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK LESABRE. OCCASIONALLY THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT SECURE THE VEHICLE WHEN PARKED. THE FIRST FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2300. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED FOR ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, AND THE MOST RECENT FAILURE WAS ON 3/22/07. THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 91V167000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,500. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154762 · 2006-04-06 (April 6, 2006)
WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. IT DOES NOT SMELL ELECTRICAL, NOR IS THE SMOKING CONSISTENT FIRST OCCURRENCE TONIGHT. CONDITIONS WERE, 40 MPH, PARKING LIGHTS ON, ECON/VENT SET AT 68 AND FAN ON AUTO WITH CRUISE CONTROL NOT ENGAGED. SMOKE CAME FROM OUTLETS WHERE TURN SIGNALS, TILT STEERING ADJUSTMENT AND RETRACTABLE STEERING COLUMN INSETS. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR, OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW NO SMOKE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SMELLED NO OTHER "HOT" INSTANCES. THE SMOKE FROM THE COLUMN CESSATED WHEN IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF.…
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186304 · 2007-03-27 (March 27, 2007)
92 BUICK LASABRE, BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED HARD TO AVOID ACCIDENT, HOWEVER WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR BECAME COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE BRAKES FADED TO NOTHING. FINALLY HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE A FRAME HOLDING THE MOTOR HAD RUSTED THROUGH, THIS CAUSED THE STEERING TO BE DISABLED, AS WELL AS THE BRAKE SYSTEM, ASIDE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AS MENTIONED. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, THERE WAS NO INVOLVEMENT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES. THIS IS A VERY DANGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 172,076 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480582 · 1995-01-16 (January 16, 1995)
IGNITION MODULE SHORTED OUT, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING, ALSO REPLACED OUT OF RANGE COILS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485179 · 1995-06-19 (June 19, 1995)
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485179 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025120 · 2003-06-27 (June 27, 2003)
THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF A RECALL RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214962 · 2008-01-15 (January 15, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V015000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES) AND STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED TWO HYDRAULIC HOSE PARTS, FOUR HOSE CLAMPS, AND REPLACED ALL THE TRANSMISSION OIL AND ADDITIONAL BRACKETS. THE CONTACT PAID $111 FOR THE REPAIR AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. THE CURR…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176667 · 2006-12-20 (December 20, 2006)
MY CARS PAINT STARTED PEALING OFF AND NOW ALMOST THE ENTIRE TOP OF MY CAR HAS NO PAINT BUT A GRAY TYPE SURFACE AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE ROOF IS RUSTED. THAT'S JUST ONE THING. THE TRUNK OF MY CAR WHEN I OPEN IT LEAKS THE WATER INSIDE AS WELL AS WHEN IT IS SHUT. MY CAR ALSO WILL NOT CRANK AFTER I HAVE PARKED IT AND WILL REQUIRE A BOOST TO GET IT GOING NOW I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE BATTERY CABLE HEADS AND IT STILL DOES THAT ON OCCASION. MY CAR ONE DAY STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE KNOCKING GRINDING NOISE AND I WENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10176667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090127 · 2004-08-31 (August 31, 2004)
THE FUEL PUMP IS NEAR THE GAS TANK OR INSIDE THE GAS TANK. IT IS LIKE PLACING A LIGHTER NEAR THE GAS TANK. THE DESIGN IS POOR. FUEL PUMP IS DEFECTIVE, AND CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR A MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 764055 · 2002-07-10 (July 10, 2002)
THIS IS THE 3RD GAS TANK THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. 1ST. TIME 15-JULY 94,.2ND 20-JULY98, 3RD NOW 9-JULY 2002. THE TANKS DEVELOPED A SEEPING LEAK AT A1-INCH CREASE IN THE METAL OF THE TANK, LEAKING GAS ON THE ENGINE PIPE . YOUR REFERENCE 825666 DATED 21 JULY 1998.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 764055 at NHTSA ↗