FaultScore report
Owners have filed 53 complaints about the 1987 Buick Lesabre with NHTSA between 1995 and 2002. The largest single group is the steering.
53
Complaints
4
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 1 fires
0 crashes, 1 fires
3 crashes, 0 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
BRAKE FAILURE
BRAKE FAILURE
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REAR BRAKE PIN
SUMMARY:THESE VEHICLES HAVE REAR DRUM BRAKES.THE PARKING LEVER PIVOTPIN IS HELD BY AN E RING.WHEN THE RING FAILS, PARTS OF THE RING ANDPIN FALL LOOSE INTO THE DRUM AND MAY JAM THE BRAKE, LOCKING THE WHEEL.A STRONGER E RING IS USED IN 1988 AND NEWER CARS.THIS INVESTIGATIONHAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE GMS C BODY CARS LISTED ABOVE (E RING COMMONTO ALL CARS SHOWN).===
REAR BRAKE PIN
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ANTI LOCK BRAKES
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THROTTLE NON-RETURN
INSTRMNT LIGHT ON WINDSHLD
STALLING
SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO ANALYZEINFORMATION PROVIDED BY GM AND ARE PREPARING AN ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONREQUEST TO GM TO CLARIFY CERTAIN TECHNICAL ITEMS.===
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Engine
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL (BRACKET) MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INTERMITTENT INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING. THIS CONDITION COULD ALSO CAUSE THE SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY TO WEAR THROUGH THE BALL AND CATCH ON OTHER COMPONENTS POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A STUCK THROTTLE. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: A BUSHING KIT WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
Brakes
THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN UNDERTORQUED. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND/OR POOR PEDAL FEEL IF THE ATTACHMENT LOOSENS. IN ADDITION, THIS CONDITION COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC UNIT FROM ITS MOUNTING BRACKETS RESULTING IN BRAKE LOSS AND A POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH. CORRECTION: HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED ON INVOLVED VEHICLES.
Electrical
UNDER A HIGH RESISTANCE LOAD, THE IN-LINE FUSEABLE LINK LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THE PLASTIC WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET, MAY MELT DOWN AND IGNITE THE BRACKET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Brakes
ON VEHICLES WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES,BRAKE FLUID MAY SEEP FROM THE ABS PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH,EVENTUALLY LEADING TO THE LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR.ALSO THE PUMP MOTOR AND ABS ELECTRICAL RELAYS MAY HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR &/OR THE ABS FUNCTION.LOSS OF THE PUMP MOTOR WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO LOSS OF THE REAR BRAKES & LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES.THIS WOULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE.AN INOPERATIVE ABS RELAY COULD CAUSE LOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION.ABS,PUMP MOTOR RELAYS,& 30 AMP FUSES WILL BE REPLACED.
Emissions
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. - MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR FAILURE - NOTE : VEHICLES WITH 3.0 LITRE AND 3.8 LITRE ENGINES.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
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.
NHTSA complaint #827459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE ROLL OVER.
NHTSA complaint #541051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STARTED WITH A CRACKLING SOUND, THEN A LIGHT WHITE SMOKE APPEARED. SMOKE CAME FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE DASBOAD AND TURNED TO A HEAVY DARK SMOKE. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH FIRE WHICH CAME THROUGH THE FLOORBOARDS.
NHTSA complaint #530950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASH THEN FLAMES WERE NOTICED COMING FROM FLOOR BOARD. VEHICLE BURNED WITH TWO EXPLOSIONS.
NHTSA complaint #531042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 30 TO 40 MPH ,WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED INCREASED, CAUSING OWNER TO RUN INTO A FIELD AND INTO A CREEK.THE CRUISE CONTROL IS IN QUESTION.
NHTSA complaint #810477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL, THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE AND PLACED THE VEHICLE FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #805236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #565551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THIS SAME COMPONENT FAILED ON A 1985 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY AT 135000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #757317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC DUE TO FUEL INJECTION FAILURE. YH
NHTSA complaint #784559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
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 BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS NOT SECURE. I WAS FORCED TO COVER 100% COST OF THE REPAIR. THE DEALER HAD TO DROP THE ENGINE AND PUT A NEW BOLT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUM IN THE ENGINE AREA. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS WAS REPAIRED IN APPROXIMATELY 1996. ABOUT 18 MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING, BUT TO A LESSER DEGREE. BECAUSE OF MY WORK SCHEDULE, TRANSPORTATION, ETC. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK IN TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND REPAIR. IT HAS BEEN APPROX. THREE YEARS SINCE THE FIRST REPAIR. FORTUNATELY IT IS NOT AS LOOSE AS THE FIRST TIME, BUT IS SLOWLY GETTING SLOPPIER. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS CONDITION CAUSING AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 1987 BUICK. IF THIS WAS TRULY THE CASE, WHY DID I HAVE TO INCUR THE REPAIR COST -- $189.00 TO REPLACE THE BOLT.
NHTSA complaint #717671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
FREQUENT STALLS--REPAIRED WITH A NEW CRANK SENSOR UNIT.
NHTSA complaint #515573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC DUE TO FUEL INJECTION FAILURE. YH
NHTSA complaint #784559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
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.
NHTSA complaint #827459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
OPENING THE TRUNK LID THE TRUNK POPS UP VERY HARD, ALMOST CAUSING THE OWNER TO GET HURT. OWNER SAYS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #823541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR LONG PERIODS & THE TEMPERATURE IS COLD, THE STEERING IS VERY STIFF, REQUIRING HANDS TO TURN THE WHEEL. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BREAKS FREE. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #703329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
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.
NHTSA complaint #833639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO 4 DIFFERENT DEALERS, CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. REPLACED DIFFERENT PARTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #829358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE ROLL OVER.
NHTSA complaint #541051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING FUEL LEAK/GAS FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #528501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STARTED WITH A CRACKLING SOUND, THEN A LIGHT WHITE SMOKE APPEARED. SMOKE CAME FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE DASBOAD AND TURNED TO A HEAVY DARK SMOKE. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH FIRE WHICH CAME THROUGH THE FLOORBOARDS.
NHTSA complaint #530950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASH THEN FLAMES WERE NOTICED COMING FROM FLOOR BOARD. VEHICLE BURNED WITH TWO EXPLOSIONS.
NHTSA complaint #531042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD SEAL IS NOT SECURE.
NHTSA complaint #525421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE STALLED DUE TO FAILED CRANK SENSOR UNIT.
NHTSA complaint #515573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 30 TO 40 MPH ,WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED INCREASED, CAUSING OWNER TO RUN INTO A FIELD AND INTO A CREEK.THE CRUISE CONTROL IS IN QUESTION.
NHTSA complaint #810477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
'COLD POWER STEERING.'
NHTSA complaint #512255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL, THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE AND PLACED THE VEHICLE FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #805236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED. (OTHER VEHICLES ON 601619,506065)
NHTSA complaint #601620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
IN THE WINTER MONTHS THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HARD TO TURN.
NHTSA complaint #803392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKES FAIL EVERY 8-10000 MILES, AND MASTER CYLINDER HAS FAILED THREE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #507860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAIL EVERY 8-10000 MILES, AND MASTER CYLINDER HAS FAILED THREE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #507860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
'COLD POWER STEERING'.
NHTSA complaint #506704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.