1987 Buick LESABRE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 23 complaints (21.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 7 | 30.4% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 26.1% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 13.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 2; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 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. 23 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 | 14 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
1995: 14; 1996: 6; 2000: 1; 2002: 2
Pattern summary
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 481562 · 1995-03-07 (March 7, 1995)
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481562 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 505921 · 1996-06-28 (June 28, 1996)
SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506704 · 1996-07-26 (July 26, 1996)
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506961 · 1996-08-01 (August 1, 1996)
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506961 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 565551 · 2002-05-01 (May 1, 2002)
THE VEHICLE STALLED MANY TIMES WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AND THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON CAME ON RIGHT AFTER EACH SERVICE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565551 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V093000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Reported: 1987-06-23 (June 23, 1987)
THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH MAY EXHIBIT BRAKE FLUID SEEPAGE WHICH EVENTUALLY CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR. ADDITIONALLY, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND ABS ELECTRICAL RELAYS MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO WATER CONTAMINATION DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND/OR LOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION.
Consequence: LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR WOULD RESULT IN A TOTALLOSS OF REAR BRAKES AS WELL AS POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES. THE RED BRAKEWARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON. IF THIS WARNING IS NOT HEEDED, ALOSS OF REAR BRAKES AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED COULDRESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. AN INOPERATIVE ABS ELECTRICAL RELAY COULD CAUSELOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION, BUT NORMAL POWER ASSISTED BRAKING WOULD BE RETAINED.THE AMBER ANTI LOCK WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON.
Remedy: THE ABS AND HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ELECTRICAL RELAYS AND 30 AMP FUSES WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V135000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
Reported: 1987-09-01 (September 1, 1987)
AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.
Consequence: THE IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THEPLASTIC WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET MAY, UNDER A HIGH RESISTANCE LOAD,MELT DOWN AND IGNITE THE WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET RESULTING IN AN ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗88V067000 · Service Brakes, Air:Antilock
Reported: 1988-04-19 (April 19, 1988)
LOW TORQUE OF THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS COULD CAUSE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND/OR POOR PEDAL FEEL IF ATTACHMENT LOOSENS.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION OF BRAKEHYDRAULIC UNIT FROM ITS MOUNTING BRACKET AND RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTIONAND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS.
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 ↗