1997 Buick LESABRE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
253 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
97,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 106 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 22 of 253 complaints (8.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 7.5% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 7.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 5.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.0% |
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 | 22 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 17 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 17 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 16 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 13 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 12 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 12 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 22; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling: 16; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 13; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 12; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 12; Air Bags: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 29 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 29; 150,000 and above: 21
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 147 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 | 6 |
| 2000 | 40 |
| 2001 | 27 |
| 2002 | 40 |
| 2003 | 29 |
| 2004 | 25 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
1996: 6; 2000: 40; 2001: 27; 2002: 40; 2003: 29; 2004: 25; 2005: 15; 2006: 10; 2007: 4; 2008: 9; 2009: 11; 2010: 9; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 6; 2015: 6; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 18 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 10003951 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING ALONG WITH THE STEERING RACK AND THE BRAKE CYLINDER. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003951 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004859 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING LOST FUNCTION OF BRAKES. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND BURSTED. PH *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004859 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053892 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 124,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009095 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
BATTERY SULFATES FROM POST DAMAGED ELECTRICAL CABLES AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. SCC *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014404 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)
ERRATIC ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND OCCASIONAL "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT REPORTED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN FOR MINOR REPAIR. INDEPENDENT DELCO GARAGE OWNER INDICATED STORED CODES WERE FOR "O2 SENSOR" - HOWEVER IT APPEARED TO BE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY AT THAT TIME. ON FRIDAY 4/11/03, ERRATIC ENGINE PERFORMANCE (MISSING, LOSS OF PERFORMANCE) CAUSED ME TO HEAD TOWARDS GARAGE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. EN ROUTE, VEHICLE STALLED OUT, AND REFUSED TO RESTART (AT ONE POINT, A BACK FIRE OCCURRED DURING RESTART ATTEMPT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE, AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 161,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070132 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
HELLO, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR HESITATING GOING UP A SMALL GRADE OR SOMETIMES JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A SPARK PLUG AND FIXED IT. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. BESIDES A NEW TRANSMISSION, THEY ALSO REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND PUT NEW BRAKES ON THE FRONT WITH ROTORS. THE RECEIPT FROM THE GARAGE SAYS THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN 1870 TROUBLE CODE. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAD 52,000 MILES ON IT. THE TOTAL COST …
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141295 · 2005-10-31 (October 31, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FOR THE TRANSMISSION ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COMPLETED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH SHOWED TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. THE DEALER REPLACED TWO SOLENOID VALVES. THE INDICATOR LIGHT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS TESTING WITH THIS LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10141295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065321 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
WHEN CONSUMER STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A HUGE EXPLOSION, THEN FIRE BROKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE BATTERY WAS STILL SMOKING, AND THE ENGINE AND WIRES WERE BURNT. RECALL 96V116000 WAS ISSUED FOR THE FUEL CARBURETOR MANIFOLD INTAKE. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096015 · 2004-10-19 (October 19, 2004)
I HAVE A GASOLINE LEAK AT THE JOINT WHERE THE FUEL LINE FROM THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT JOIN THE FUEL LINE THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL FILTERING FRONT OF THE RIGHT SIDE REAR WHEEL. AFTER DISCOVERING THE ODOR OF GASOLIONE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR, THE ONLY ACTION I HAVE TAKEN IS TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A BUICK DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL LINE SHOWS SIGNIFICATE CORROSION, BUICK HAS DENIED RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THIS CAR. I HAVE REQUESTED RELIEF FROM BUICK THRU GENERAL BUICK CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ONLY TO BE DENIED …
Owner-reported narrative. 100,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097238 · 2004-10-20 (October 20, 2004)
THE MECHANIC NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE FUEL TANK WHILE CHANGING THE CONSUMERS OIL. *JB THE CONSUMER NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS FOR TWO DAYS. TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN CHILD SAFETY SEATS WERE OVERWELMED BY FUMES. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 83,990 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097238 at NHTSA ↗