FaultScore

1998 Buick Lesabre window and wiper problems

12 of the 518 complaints about the 1998 Buick Lesabre are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 39,457 miles.

C

12

Complaints

0

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Windshield Wiper/Washer 2 16.7%
Power Window Devices AND Controls 2 16.7%
Glass, Side/Rear 2 16.7%
Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System 2 16.7%
Windshield 1 8.3%
Exterior 1 8.3%
Motor 1 8.3%
Switch/Wiring 1 8.3%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Buick Lesabre year

1997 31 5.7%
1998 12 2.2%
1999 10 1.8%
2000 252 46.3%
2001 104 19.1%
2002 120 22.1%
2003 15 2.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 45,000 miles Amherst, OH

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE LAST NIGHT WHEN THE REAR WINDOW ON MY VEHICLE SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE HOLES OR DENTS IN THE WINDOW WHERE SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE HIT IT. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND IT WAS A COLD EVENING. I TOOK PICTURES WITH MY DIGITAL CAMERA AND THE WINDOW IS BEING REPLACED TODAY.

NHTSA complaint #10150016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Texas City, TX

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHILE DRIVING,IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON A RECALL AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED WATER WITHOUT UNKNOWINGLY AND WOULD BLOW OUT AND INGEST ALL OF THE WATER FROM THE RADIATOR AND ALSO THE OVERFLOW INTO THE MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10095463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 33,914 miles Memphis, TN Fire

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

VEHICLE FIRE/ VEHICLE DESTROYED. *MR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, PRIOR TO FIRE, VEHICLE WOULD SURGE THEN DIE OUT AT BOTH STOPS AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN. ALSO ENGINE HAD A WHINING NOISE. DEALER REPLACED GENERATOR ASSEMBLY. FUEL FILTER ALSO REPLACED. CLEANED THROTTLE BODY. BRAKES MADE SQUEALING NOISE. REAR BRAKES CLEANED AND ADJUSTED. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE RIGHT REAR AFTER HOT AT STOPS. EXHAUST SYSTEM MISALIGNED. THE MIRROR COMPASS AND REAR WINDOW WERE ALSO INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10019740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Unknown, AK

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

THE REAR WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA complaint #564408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Erlanger, KY Fire

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2000 I HAD MY BUICK LESABRE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK. THEY REPLACED THE MODULE. THE DEFROSTER THAN WORKED. ON DECEMBER 8, 2000, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. I HAD MY REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ON, BUT IT HAD SHUT OFF. I NOTICED AN AWFUL SMELL. AS I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, I LOOKED AROUND FOR THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL. AS I GLANCED OVER MY SHOULDER, FLAMES WERE BEGINNING TO COME THROUGH THE PANEL BETWEEN THE REAR WINDOW AND THE SIDE WINDOW. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE REAR WINDOW MODULE THAT HAD CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CAR IS BEING FIXED AND CHECKED OVER BY ANOTHER SERVICE COMPANY. THEY ARE CHECKING OUT THE WIRING TO SEE IF THE DEFECT MIGHT BE SOME WHERE ELSE.

NHTSA complaint #739612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Summit, MS

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHEN IT RAINS WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE FAST ENOUGH ON HIGH SPEED. NOT ENOUGH VISIBILITY TO OPERATE SAFELY.

NHTSA complaint #860098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Horsham, PA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

WINSHIELD WIPER SWITCH IS UNDER STEERING WHEEL, AND AT NIGHT OR IF IT IS RAINING DRIVER CAN'T SEE BECAUSE THERE IS NO LIGHT UP SWITCH, INDICATING WHERE THE KNOB IS LOCATED SO DRIVER HAS TO TAK EYES OFF THE ROAD TO FIND IT.

NHTSA complaint #849551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huber Heig, OH

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

DESIGN OF VEHICLE WHEN FRONT WINDOWS ARE UP AND THE BACK WINDOWS ARE DOWN, VEHICLE EXPERIENCE VIBRATION / SHAKING.

NHTSA complaint #548393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hickory, NC

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

INSTRUMENT PANEL GLASS IS CONCAVE INSTEAD OF CONCURVE. HARD TO READ INSTRUMENTS. HAVE A BLIND SPOT ON DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. CANNOT SEE OTHER VEHICLES WHEN LOOKING OUTSIDE MIRROR. EMERGENCY BUTTON IS NOT VISIBLE TO NAKED EYE. LOCATED UNDER STEERING COLUMN OUT OF SIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #847068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yucaipa, CA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER WINDOWS SWITCH FOR THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW FAILED. MJS

NHTSA complaint #607820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plano, TX

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER DUE TO A SHORT IN THE PULSE BOARD. NLM

NHTSA complaint #545791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Emden, IL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

WHEN HEATER IS ON STRONG ODOR IS PRESENT, CAUSING IRRITATION.

NHTSA complaint #533256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Buick Lesabre problems

← Full 1998 Buick Lesabre report