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1998 Buick LesabreProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 400 owner complaints about the 1998 Buick Lesabre, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

32
CarFlaw IndexUse caution2.1× the Lesabre median · #3 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints40065 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage68kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 15, 2023. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1998 Buick Lesabre has problems

400 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
Engine and engine cooling19630
Fuel system, gasoline7010
Electrical system505
Service brakes, hydraulic234
Power train200
Suspension151
Steering151
Visibility122
Air bags116
16 other systems547

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

1 recall

1998 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.

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.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

68kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 104 engine and engine cooling complaints. 89% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 43% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
10under 30k miles93under 100k miles11100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

21 owners mentioned a cost

$1,000median

Middle half: $800 – $1,400

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1998 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
NHTSA crash tests

1998 Buick Lesabre safety ratings

1998 Buick LeSabre 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1998 Buick Lesabre side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1998 Buick Lesabre, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02030 · closed Mar 9, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-090
  2. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE02050 · closed Oct 22, 2002
    No recall
In owners' words

What Lesabre owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I HAVE A 1998 BUICK LESABRE. THE CAR STOPPED WHEN IT WAS PULLED INTO THE GARAGE AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, IT MADE A SCREECHING SOUND. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE STARTER "EXPLODED" BECAUSE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE PLENEUM INTO THE CYLINDERS AND STARTER. THE…
Complaint 10430035 · Oct 13, 2011
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED, THE CAR STARTED CONSUMING DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE, BUT NONE WAS NOTICED LEAKING EXTERNAL TO THE ENGINE. THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD MADE OF PLASTIC APPARENTLY WARPED, AND/OR A HOLE BURNED IN NEAR THE EGR STOVE PIPE, THUS DUMPING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE ENGINE AND HYDROLOCKING THE ENGINE.…
Complaint 10266015 · Apr 19, 2009 · 62,000 miles
MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND MY ENGINE LOCKED UP, I WAS INFORMED FROM MY MECHANIC THAT GM WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND CAME OUT WITH A BETTER ONE MADE OF METAL. THIS A COSTLY MISTAKE LEADING TO 850 DOLLARS OF REPAIR, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF GM WOULD HAVE STEPPED UP…
Complaint 10263584 · Mar 30, 2009 · 150,000 miles

Own a 1998 Lesabre?

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