Buick LESABRE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3,086 owner complaints analyzed
46 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1967 to 2006 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,546 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls is the most frequently named component, appearing in 373 of 3,086 complaints (12.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 311 | 10.1% |
| Steering behavior | 275 | 8.9% |
| Engine operation | 225 | 7.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 150 | 4.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 147 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 62 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 373 |
| Electrical System | 180 |
| Structure | 143 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 141 |
| Air Bags | 136 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 118 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 117 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 113 |
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 373; Electrical System: 180; Structure: 143; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 141; Air Bags: 136; Engine And Engine Cooling: 118; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 117; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 113
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 198 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 321 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 366 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 290 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 245 |
| 150,000 and above | 126 |
Under 25,000: 198; 25,000 to 49,999: 321; 50,000 to 74,999: 366; 75,000 to 99,999: 290; 100,000 to 149,999: 245; 150,000 and above: 126
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (366). 1,540 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 | 149 |
| 1996 | 108 |
| 2000 | 279 |
| 2001 | 207 |
| 2002 | 224 |
| 2003 | 302 |
| 2004 | 331 |
| 2005 | 193 |
| 2006 | 154 |
| 2007 | 155 |
| 2008 | 154 |
| 2009 | 83 |
| 2010 | 120 |
| 2011 | 119 |
| 2012 | 82 |
| 2013 | 58 |
| 2014 | 124 |
| 2015 | 77 |
| 2016 | 54 |
| 2017 | 31 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 18 |
| 2020 | 16 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 2 |
1995: 149; 1996: 108; 2000: 279; 2001: 207; 2002: 224; 2003: 302; 2004: 331; 2005: 193; 2006: 154; 2007: 155; 2008: 154; 2009: 83; 2010: 120; 2011: 119; 2012: 82; 2013: 58; 2014: 124; 2015: 77; 2016: 54; 2017: 31; 2018: 20; 2019: 18; 2020: 16; 2021: 11; 2022: 6; 2023: 2; 2024: 3; 2025: 4; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 311 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 275 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 225 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 965155 · 1995-05-11 (May 11, 1995)
WHILE DRIVING, JAMMED ON BRAKES; NO BRAKING EFFECT; JAMMED ON EMERGENCY BRAKES, RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965155 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 507860 · 1996-08-23 (August 23, 1996)
BRAKES FAIL EVERY 8-10000 MILES, AND MASTER CYLINDER HAS FAILED THREE TIMES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480941 · 1995-01-05 (January 5, 1995)
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 488695 · 1995-09-28 (September 28, 1995)
TILT STEERING COLUMN BOLTS WORK LOOSE OVER TIME. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 488036 · 1995-09-06 (September 6, 1995)
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN DRIVING. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506961 · 1996-08-01 (August 1, 1996)
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486008 · 1995-05-13 (May 13, 1995)
ORIGINAL/REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482654 · 1995-03-28 (March 28, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482654 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489377 · 1995-04-19 (April 19, 1995)
BATTERY REPLACED. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8015680 · 2002-08-07 (August 7, 2002)
A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO A REPAIR SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8015680 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 967879 · 1995-06-28 (June 28, 1995)
RATTLE IN GAS TANK DUE TO LOOSE BAFFLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 982879 · 1996-04-17 (April 17, 1996)
THE FUEL TANK IS DAMAGED FROM THE ROAD. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982879 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1992 | 2 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
1990: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 2; 1993: 1; 1994: 0; 1995: 1; 1996: 2; 1997: 2; 1998: 1; 1999: 2; 2000: 5; 2001: 0; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 0; 2005: 0; 2006: 0
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1970 | 0 | 2 | Not available |
| 1971 | 1 | 3 | +1 |
| 1972 | 0 | 1 | -2 |
| 1974 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1975 | 0 | 3 | +2 |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 1977 | 1 | 3 | +1 |
| 1978 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 1979 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1981 | 0 | 3 | Not available |
| 1982 | 0 | 1 | -2 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 1984 | 2 | 2 | +2 |
| 1985 | 4 | 1 | -1 |
| 1986 | 13 | 2 | +1 |
| 1987 | 23 | 4 | +2 |
| 1988 | 18 | 3 | -1 |
| 1989 | 19 | 2 | -1 |
| 1990 | 32 | 0 | -2 |
| 1991 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | 96 | 2 | +2 |
| 1993 | 95 | 1 | -1 |
| 1994 | 96 | 0 | -1 |
| 1995 | 131 | 1 | +1 |
| 1996 | 65 | 2 | +1 |
| 1997 | 253 | 2 | 0 |
| 1998 | 345 | 1 | -1 |
| 1999 | 187 | 2 | +1 |
| 2000 | 641 | 5 | +3 |
| 2001 | 328 | 0 | -5 |
| 2002 | 310 | 2 | +2 |
| 2003 | 164 | 1 | -1 |
| 2004 | 162 | 0 | -1 |
| 2005 | 77 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 3 | 0 | 0 |