FaultScore report
Owners have filed 75 complaints about the 1990 Buick Lesabre with NHTSA between 1995 and 2006. The largest single group is the electrical system.
75
Complaints
8
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
186,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
0%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
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.
Median failure at 45,000 miles
5 crashes, 0 fires
2 crashes, 0 fires
Median failure at 186,000 miles
Median failure at 186,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 199,450 mi
Median failure at 186,000 miles
Median failure at 182,500 miles
Median failure at 186,000 miles
Median failure at 186,000 miles
Median failure at 186,000 miles
Median failure at 186,000 miles
Median failure at 186,000 miles
Median failure at 186,000 miles
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.
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own photographs and star ratings.
These stars come from the pre-2011 crash test programme. NHTSA rebuilt the programme for the 2011 model year and states that ratings either side of that change are not comparable — so do not read these against a 2011-or-newer car's stars.
| Configuration | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 Buick LeSabre 2-DR. | — | — | — | — |
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 CALIPER CORROSION
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10018034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CROSSED A ROADWAY, AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10009975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND FORCED VEHICLE TO HIT A PHONE POLE, DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #8001218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
HAD STARTED VEHICLE & SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO BACK UP WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO HIT PART OF GARAGE & KNOCKED THE CHROME OFF VEHICLE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #853986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED A VEHICLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET TRYING TO PASS THE FIRST VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS HIT HEAD-ON, CAUSING A CRASH. SHOULDER RESTRAINTS FAILED TO WORK ,LEADING TO INJURIES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #817019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHEN INVOLVED IN A REAR-END CRASH THE DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINED AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE, CAUSING NECK AND BACK INJUIRES TO THE DRIVER. SEAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. VEHICLE IS AT REPAIR SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #810882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
THE FRONT MOUNTING BRACKET NEAREST TO THE DOOR, FOR THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT FRACTURED AROUND THE MOUNTING BOLT. THIS ALLOWED THE SEAT TO ROTATE BACKWARD.
NHTSA complaint #10172183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:HUB
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY
THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10090479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING THERE IS A CONSTANT SOUND OF AIR ESCAPING. THERE IS AN ANTICIPATION OF THE VEHICLE BACK FIRING AT ALL TIMES. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND USE TWICE AS MUCH FUEL.
NHTSA complaint #10084024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN
I HAVE A 1990 BUICK LESABRE THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH TILT WHEEL. ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE...I HAD NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. ANYWAY, I THOUGHT "WELL, THE CAR IS JUST AGING" AND DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL YESTERDAY. MY SON WAS CLIMBING ACROSS THE DRIVERS SEAT AND ACCIDENTLY HIT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR. WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE CAR WENT INTO REVERSE AND PROCEEDED TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER WE GOT THE CAR STOPPED, I DISCOVERED THAT EVEN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE CAR CAN BE PLACED IN ANY GEAR WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE OLD POWERGLIDES THAT WOULD DO THE SAME. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN TO SOMEONE ELSE IS VERY LIKELY. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT SUDDENLY STARTED TO DO THIS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10062100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE BRAKES ON A 1990 BUICK LESABRE FAILED IN THE DEALER LOT WHEN I WENT TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR. THEY ASSURED ME THEY WOULD REPAIR THE BRAKES AND CALL ME WHEN THE CAR WAS READY FOR SALE. AFTER THE REPAIR, I PURCHASED THE CAR, BUT THE BRAKES SOON FAILED AGAIN. I THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINE REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE WITH COMPRESSION FITTINGS INSTEAD OF HIGH-PRESSURE INVERTED-FLARE HYDRAULIC FITTINGS. I SUSPECT THIS WAS UNLAWFUL. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS, AND THE AGENT I TALKED TO DOESN'T SEEM TO COMPREHEND THAT THE USE OF COMPRESSION FITTINGS IN A BRAKE LINE IS UNLAWFUL, AND TRIVIALIZES MY CONCERNS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR "AS-IS".
NHTSA complaint #10054614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10018034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CROSSED A ROADWAY, AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10009975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
NO SUMMARY. DT
NHTSA complaint #769212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO A REPAIR SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.
NHTSA complaint #8015680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND FORCED VEHICLE TO HIT A PHONE POLE, DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #8001218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.