1999 Buick LESABRE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
187 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
73,353 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 80 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 187 complaints (13.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 29 | 15.5% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 11.2% |
| Braking behavior | 20 | 10.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 7.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 7.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.7% |
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:Gasoline | 26 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 15 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 13 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 10 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 26; Engine And Engine Cooling: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 13; Electrical System: 12; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Air Bags:Frontal: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 7; Air Bags: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 22 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 10
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 107 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 32 |
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2002 | 22 |
| 2003 | 25 |
| 2004 | 34 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 32; 2001: 16; 2002: 22; 2003: 25; 2004: 34; 2005: 10; 2006: 6; 2007: 7; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 8; 2013: 2; 2014: 9; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 29 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 20 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 10002097 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH HE EXPERIENCED LOOSE BRAKES AND A LOOSE STEERING WHEEL,AND HAD TO PULL OVER BEFORE CRASHING. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003898 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING AT 30MPH, THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED. THE CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED GAS SPRAYING OVER THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS COMING FROM THE GAS LINE. THE GAS LINE HAD BLOWN. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE VEHICLE DIED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 54,270 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006908 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING.*JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007105 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD.*JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009036 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
THE DRIVERS SEAT MOVED BACKWARDS WHEN THE VEHICLE PULLED OFF, AND THE SEAT MOVED FOWARD WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009304 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR EXPLODED WHICH CAUSED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO EXPLODE. *JB *SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 60,005 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010965 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
1999 BUICK LESABRE HAS COOLANT LEAK AT THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SMOKE OUT OF THE BACK. REPAIR COST = $580.00 *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011277 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT DUE TO FAULTY REAR SPRINGS, WHICH RESULTED IN ONE FATALITY AND ONE INJURY. *AK. CONSUMER STATED THE REAR SPRING WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FAULTY REAR SUSPENSION WAS THE CAUSE OF HER HUSBAND NOT BEING ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011277 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.
04V090000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
Reported: 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.
Consequence: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V089000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1999-04-26 (April 26, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4T65E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE." A RETAINING CLIP, WHICH SECURES THE MANUAL VALVE TO THE LINKAGE OF THE TRANSMISSION DETENT LEVER, CAN BECOME LOOSE UNDER A COMBINATION OF POSSIBLE DRIVER SHIFTING MANEUVERS AND ALLOW THE LINK TO BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE MANUAL VALVE.
Consequence: IF THE LINK DISCONNECTS, THE DRIVER'S INDICATED PRNDL STATE MAY DIFFER FROM THE HYDRAULIC STATE OF THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE DRIVER SELECTS 'DRIVE' AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTUALLY IN 'REVERSE', A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL VALVE/LINK ASSEMBLY WITH A REPLACEMENT MANUAL VALVE/LINK KIT, FEATURING A SPRING-TYPE FASTENER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗