1986 Buick LESABRE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 13 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 2 | 15.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.7% |
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:Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist | 1 |
| Steering:Column | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 2; Tires:Tread/Belt: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist: 1; Steering:Column: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 13 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 | 6 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 5 |
1995: 6; 1996: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 5
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 480941 · 1995-01-05 (January 5, 1995)
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480941 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 488036 · 1995-09-06 (September 6, 1995)
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN DRIVING. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488036 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 738643 · 2001-01-02 (January 2, 2001)
I HAD TAKEN MY USED CAR TO TODDS TOWING AT 3867 HIGHWAY 87 REIDSVILLE NC 27320 ON THE FOLLOWING DATES 11-20-2000, AGAIN THREE DAYS LATER 11-23-00 AND AGAIN ON 13-4-00. EACH TIME HE CLAIMED TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE. I PAID 280.00, 218.00 AND $177.00. ALMOST $700.00 WITHIN A MONTHS TIME. FIVE DAYS AFTER THE LAST TIME. 12-4-00 I BROKE AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A DIFFERENT GARAGE, WHERE I WAS PROPTLEY INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR WAS SIEZING UP. I TRIED TO TALK TO TODDS TOWING ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD TO LEAVE THE PREMISES. I DON'T FEEL THIS MAN "T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 738643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 748629 · 2001-07-17 (July 17, 2001)
TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 808065 · 1996-02-26 (February 26, 1996)
SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE. WHEN PUTTING THE LATCH IN IT, IT SLIPS RIGHT OUT. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY DON'T SELL THE PART ANYMORE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 808065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 853873 · 2000-01-27 (January 27, 2000)
ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACED AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 853873 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
86V131000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
Reported: 1986-09-19 (September 19, 1986)
THE PUSH PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V102000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1989-06-16 (June 16, 1989)
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
Consequence: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
NHTSA campaign record ↗