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FaultScore report

1989 Buick Lesabre problems

Owners have filed 35 complaints about the 1989 Buick Lesabre with NHTSA between 1995 and 2008. The largest single group is the acceleration & cruise control.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Buick Lesabre
—

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

35

Complaints

2

Crashes reported

2

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

How 1989 compares with every other Buick Lesabre

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1989 Buick Lesabre

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Acceleration & Cruise Control 6 17.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Seat Belts 4 11.4%
Fuel & Propulsion 4 11.4%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 70,000 mi

Brakes 4 11.4%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

Tires 3 8.6%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 133,000 mi

Transmission & Drivetrain 3 8.6%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 5.7%
Steering 2 5.7%
Electrical System 2 5.7%
Engine & Cooling 2 5.7%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Other & Unspecified 1 2.9%
Equipment & Accessories 1 2.9%
Doors, Latches & Locks 1 2.9%

When owners complained

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.

Feb 1995 peak 4 Jun 2008

Recalls on the 1989 Buick Lesabre

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 — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1988126 99 units in Canada

Fuel System

THE FUEL ROLLOVER VALVE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE BECAME INVERTED, A MISSING FUEL ROLLOVER VALVE ASSEMBLY COULD ALLOW FUEL SPILLAGE IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT PRESCRIBED BY C.M.V.S.S. 301 - FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY. CORRECTION: FUEL SENDER AND PUMP ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

SAN Jose, CA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1989 BUICK LESABRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS

NHTSA complaint #10157309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Williamston, KY Crash

TIRES

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH, VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, CAME DOWN INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR ONTO GUARDRAIL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND BOUNCED OFF INTO THE MEDIUM STRIP. INSURANCE NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #860221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mount Pros, IL 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO SECURE DRIVER, CAUSING INJURY DURING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #500185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burke, VA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN VEHICLE WAS STANDING STILL THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO FULL THROTTLE AND CAUSED ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #979201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Diboll, TX Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE, THEN FLAMES COMING FROM DASH, RESULT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. TT

NHTSA complaint #979187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 133,000 miles Charlotte, NC

TIRES

WHILE DRIVING ON I-485S APPROX 45 MILES DRIVERS SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THERE WAS TIRES TREAD ONLY RIPPED IN A CIRCLE AROUND WHITEWALL AREA OF A KUMHO TOURING 795 SIZE 205-75R-14 TIRE WAS SERVICED BY DEALER WHO I PURCHASED TIRES WITH A WARRANTY HAVE NOT HAD THE TIRES FOR A YEAR THEY GAVE ME FREE TIRE AND ROTATION FOR 3500 MI OR MORE AS LONG AS A HAD THE SET THEY WERE NEW WHEN I PURCHASED THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10229488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Little Chute, WI

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FUEL LINE PRESSURE FEEDER AT LH SIDE RUSTED THROUGH THE PLASTIC BRACKET IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL FRAME RAIL IN AUGUST 2005. POOL OF GAS 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER UNDER THE CAR IN CLOSED GARAGE OVERNIGHT. BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH THE SAME SPOT IN JANUARY 2006. LOST BRAKES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, ROLLED THROUGH A STOP SIGN. FUEL RETURN LINE RUSTED THROUGHOUT SAME AREA ON 4-11-07. POOL OF GAS IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. SERVICE / REPAIR DEALER, VAN ZEELAND IN APPLETON WISCONSIN REPORTED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEMS WITH BUICKS. FIXED A LOT OF THEM. SOME THING WAS WRONG WITH THIS DESIGN, LEADING TO A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. FUEL & BRAKE FAILURE AT 70,000 MILES ON THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10187555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Little Chute, WI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

FUEL LINE PRESSURE FEEDER AT LH SIDE RUSTED THROUGH THE PLASTIC BRACKET IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL FRAME RAIL IN AUGUST 2005. POOL OF GAS 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER UNDER THE CAR IN CLOSED GARAGE OVERNIGHT. BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH THE SAME SPOT IN JANUARY 2006. LOST BRAKES WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, ROLLED THROUGH A STOP SIGN. FUEL RETURN LINE RUSTED THROUGHOUT SAME AREA ON 4-11-07. POOL OF GAS IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. SERVICE / REPAIR DEALER, VAN ZEELAND IN APPLETON WISCONSIN REPORTED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEMS WITH BUICKS. FIXED A LOT OF THEM. SOME THING WAS WRONG WITH THIS DESIGN, LEADING TO A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. FUEL & BRAKE FAILURE AT 70,000 MILES ON THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10187555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1989 BUICK LESABRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS

NHTSA complaint #10157309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Peoria, AZ

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TREADS SEPARATED ON TWO FRONT TIRES AFTER ONLY 14,582 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #764787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tyler, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, EVERYTHING LOCKED UP ON VEHICLE. COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL NOR TURN VEHICLE OFF WITH THE KEY. DEALER CONTACTED. NLM DEALER FOUND AND REPLACED TCC SOLENOID AND ALL 3 GEAR SWITCHES IN TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #8006526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tyler, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, EVERYTHING LOCKED UP ON VEHICLE. COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL NOR TURN VEHICLE OFF WITH THE KEY. DEALER CONTACTED. NLM DEALER FOUND AND REPLACED TCC SOLENOID AND ALL 3 GEAR SWITCHES IN TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #8006526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cincinati, OH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

FUEL LINE IS LEAKING FUEL DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #871930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pineville, MO

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #727811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Williamston, KY Crash

TIRES

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH, VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, CAME DOWN INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR ONTO GUARDRAIL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND BOUNCED OFF INTO THE MEDIUM STRIP. INSURANCE NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #860221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Galt, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATER PEDAL SLIGHTLY VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH SPEED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, GEARSHIFT WENT INTO REVERSE AND MESSED UP THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLES STILL IDLES HIGH ON OCCASION.

NHTSA complaint #852462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Galt, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATER PEDAL SLIGHTLY VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH SPEED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, GEARSHIFT WENT INTO REVERSE AND MESSED UP THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLES STILL IDLES HIGH ON OCCASION.

NHTSA complaint #852462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Galt, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATER PEDAL SLIGHTLY VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH SPEED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, GEARSHIFT WENT INTO REVERSE AND MESSED UP THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLES STILL IDLES HIGH ON OCCASION.

NHTSA complaint #852462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Galt, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATER PEDAL SLIGHTLY VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH SPEED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, GEARSHIFT WENT INTO REVERSE AND MESSED UP THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLES STILL IDLES HIGH ON OCCASION.

NHTSA complaint #852462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Niles, OH

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

RIGHT FRONT DOOR WINDOW SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS

NHTSA complaint #548231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silverhill, AL

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THEY HAVE SPRAYED AND DEODORIZED 5 TI AND ODOR COMES BACK AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS,I'VE BEEN TO DR. ABOUT FOUR TIMES WITH SINUS AND EAR INFECTIONS AND HEAD STOPS UP WHEN A/C COMES ON. PARKWAY SAYS THEY CAN'T TREAT CAR ANY MORE AS WARRANTY IS OUT AFTER 1 YEAR. THE LAST TIME THEY SAID THEY OPENED DRAIN HOLES BUT STILL ODOR HAS COME BACK AND I SEE VERY LITTLE WATER DRAINAGE FROM A/C

NHTSA complaint #708754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Astoria, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. MJS

NHTSA complaint #605472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

QEW Gardens, NY

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED,CAUSING VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER REALIGNED THE STEERING SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #836465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bellevue, OH

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

INTERMITTENTLY FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S DOORS DO NOT OPEN. MANUAL LOCKS ARE UP AT THE TIME.

NHTSA complaint #828537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nutting LA, MA

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE/JIGGLES.

NHTSA complaint #535931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bristol, CT

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE REAR POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXPLODED.

NHTSA complaint #804057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alta Dena, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING, AT APPROX. 30MPH, EXPERIENCED ENGINE SHUT DOWN, FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

NHTSA complaint #986444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redding, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

FREEZE PLUGS FAILED THREE TIMES. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #502274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mount Pros, IL 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO SECURE DRIVER, CAUSING INJURY DURING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #500185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burke, VA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN VEHICLE WAS STANDING STILL THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO FULL THROTTLE AND CAUSED ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #979201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.