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1987 Buick LesabreProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 40 owner complaints about the 1987 Buick Lesabre, most often about the steering. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.

81
CarFlaw IndexOne of the best years76% below the Lesabre median · #16 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Free fix at dealersOwner complaints4010 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem15Steering

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 1, 2002. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1987 Buick Lesabre has problems

40 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Steering152
Electrical system71
Engine and engine cooling61
Seat belts40
Service brakes, hydraulic30
Fuel system, gasoline30
Vehicle speed control33
Power train20
Seats21
4 other systems40

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

1987 Buick Lesabre recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control

Recall 89V-102 · Jun 16, 1989 · 1,755,897 vehicles

Risk. SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Service brakes, air: antilock

Recall 88V-067 · Apr 19, 1988 · 1,889 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION OF BRAKEHYDRAULIC UNIT FROM ITS MOUNTING BRACKET AND RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTIONAND AN ACCIDENT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers

Recall 87V-135 · Sep 1, 1987 · 479,715 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Recall 87V-093 · Jun 23, 1987 · 6,004 vehicles

Risk. LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR WOULD RESULT IN A TOTALLOSS OF REAR BRAKES AS WELL AS POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Buick.

Best & worst years

1987 vs. every other Lesabre year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Lesabre median. How we score

'67'70'71'72'74'75'76'77'78'79'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
9 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1987 Buick Lesabre, and the recalls they led to.

  1. THROTTLE NON-RETURNC89001 · closed Jan 16, 1990
    No recall
  2. STALLINGEA87022 · closed Nov 27, 1991
    No recall
  3. REAR BRAKE PINEA89028 · closed Jul 27, 1990
    No recall
  4. BRAKE FAILUREEA90017 · closed Apr 22, 1991
    No recall
  5. THROTTLE SYSTEM FAILUREPE87041 · closed Nov 30, 1987
    No recall
  6. INSTRMNT LIGHT ON WINDSHLDPE88021 · closed Mar 15, 1988
    No recall
  7. ANTI LOCK BRAKESPE89098 · closed May 17, 1989
    No recall
  8. REAR BRAKE PINPE89101 · closed Jul 28, 1989
    No recall
  9. BRAKE FAILUREPE89171 · closed Mar 26, 1990
    No recall
In owners' words

What Lesabre owners report

Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHILE DRVING AT 30 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, UPON TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL REAL HARD. WHENEVER TURNING TO THE RIGHT THE PROBLEM STILL IS THERE. *AK
Complaint 833639 · Jan 15, 1999
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 40MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. WHEN VEHICLE FREED UP CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, CROSSING THE CENTER LINE, BRINGING VEHICLE BACK BEFORE RUNNING INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPING OVER ON TOP. *AK
Complaint 827459 · Sep 1, 1998
WHEEL COLUMN LOOSE -- EXCESSIVE PLAY AND STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT MADE STEERING DIFFICULT AS WHEEL MOVED UP AND DOWN AND ROCKED AT AN ANGLE TO THE LEFT. DEALER CONTACTED AND GM CONTACTED--NEITHER CONSIDERED THIS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES MY BODY WOULD MOVE FORWARD TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD…
Complaint 717671 · Jan 21, 2000

Own a 1987 Lesabre?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.