1996 Buick LESABRE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
65 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
92,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 65 complaints (12.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 18.5% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 10.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 9.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 6.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 6.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 4.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 8 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 4 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 8; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 4; Structure:Frame And Members: 4; Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 35 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 8 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1996: 8; 2000: 11; 2001: 6; 2002: 5; 2003: 4; 2004: 5; 2005: 6; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10060212 · 2004-03-02 (March 2, 2004)
MY 1996 BUICK LESABRE ABS WARNING LIGHT DID NOT LET ME KNOW THAT THE ABS WERE NOT WORKING, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 103,920 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113654 · 2005-03-08 (March 8, 2005)
VEHICLE COMMENCED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP POSITION WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. VEHICLE TOOK OFF FROM 0-45 MPH. CONSUMER RODE THE BRAKES, AND DOWN SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION TO GAIN CONTROL. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113654 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129532 · 2005-07-21 (July 21, 2005)
DT: THE MOUNTS ON THE ENGINE CRADLE BROKE AND DROPPED AND STEERING DISENGAGED. THE RACK AND PINION FELL WITHIN THE ENGINE. OWNER WAS IN A PARKING LOT DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE SPEED WAS BETWEEN 5-10 MPH. THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THE OWNER WILL NOT BE GETTING ANY HELP RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM TODAY. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 20, 2005. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE 4 REAR MOUNTS ON THE ENGINE CRADLE BROKE. THE OWNER WAS HAVING THIS REPAIRED EVENTUALLY. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CONSUMER WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241173 · 2008-09-06 (September 6, 2008)
THE GROMMETS AND/OR WASHERS THAT HOLD UP THE ENGINE FRAME CRADLE RUSTED OUT AND ALLOWED THIS PART TO DROP THROUGH THE RETAINING BOLTS, ONCE THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE OR 60 MPH ON A STATE HIGHWAY THIS WOULD HAVE TURNED INTO A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WAS SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT AND THE MOMENT I ACCELERATED I HEARD A VERY LOUD METALLIC THUD/SOUND, WHICH I ASSUME WAS THE CRADLE DROPPING DOWN. I'M AMAZED THAT THIS ALL HAPPENED WITH ZERO WARNING THAT THEY WERE ANY ISSUES WITH THE STEERIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10223871 · 2008-03-31 (March 31, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. THE HORN WOULD NOT STOP BLOWING FOR 50 MILES AFTER THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE DOOR LOCK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL AND THE REMOTE KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE HORN WAS BLOWING WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPROGRAM THE REMOTE KEY; HOWEVER, THE HORN STOPPED BLOWING. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THE OLD REMOTE KEY SINCE IT WAS UNABLE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, THE HORN BEGAN BLOWING AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY. WHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10422642 · 2011-08-30 (August 30, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COURTESY LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE AT ANY TIME EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO EXHIBIT A CHIMING NOISE, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296923 · 2009-12-24 (December 24, 2009)
I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME FROM A FRIENDS HOUSE AND HAD THE CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY AND IT WAS LEFT RUNNING AND IT WAS IN PARK THEN I WENT OUT TO LEAVE AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING FOR ABOUT 3 MIN SITTING THERE AND I PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE NO MATTER WHAT SO I TRIED ALL THE GEARS IT WOULDN'T WORK SO I SHUT OFF THE CAR LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 5 MIN AND STARTED IT UP THEN PUT IT INTO REVERSE AGAIN AND IT DID THEN I DROVE ABOUT 50-100 FT AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING AND THEN JUST THE OTHER DAY I WENT OUT TO START IT AND IT WAS STILL …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10296923 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106966 · 2005-01-06 (January 6, 2005)
A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WARPED INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10106966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10731069 · 2015-06-29 (June 29, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10731069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125102 · 2005-06-13 (June 13, 2005)
WHILE CAR WAS PARKED BUT RUNNING, CONTACT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. THERE WERE CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. THE FUEL LINE, FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENDER WERE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718410 · 2000-02-07 (February 7, 2000)
FUEL PUMP MAKES A LOUD HUMMING OR BUZZING NOISE AT IDLE OR ANY SPEED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718410 at NHTSA ↗