The 1992 Buick LeSabre has 2 safety recalls and 189 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (79 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints189filed by owners
Crashes · fires17 · 23reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths15 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
NHTSA recall 96V015000 · Jan 23, 1996 · 585,182 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Risk: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
Problem: WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES.
Risk: DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE LEVER RELEASE AND ROADLEVEL. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING IT TO ROLL, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105.
Fix: REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1992 Buick LeSabre 4-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
LeSabre
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Master cylinder
79
8
0
1
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Engine
27
0
7
2
—
Electrical system Ignition; Horn
23
0
4
0
—
Power train Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines; Automatic transmission
Steering Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections; Steering wheel/handle bar
4
0
1
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jan 5, 2013 · 240,000 milesParking brake TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING DOWN AN INCLINE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 96V015000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 91V167000 (PARKING BRAKE) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.
Apr 23, 2009 · 177,000 milesSteering 1) DRIVING ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT AT 35MPH, SUDDEN AND HARSH THUD WAS FELT VEHICLE VEERED OUT OF IT'S TRAFFIC LANE, STEERING THE VEHICLE WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. OPERATED BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. 2) INSPECTION REVEALS BOTH REAR ENGINE CRADLE MOUNTING BOLTS FAILED, DROPPING ENGINE/TRANSAXLE ONTO STEERING COLUMN, STEERING GEAR BEING PULLED AWAY AND NEARLY SEPARATED FROM STEERING COLUMN. 3) INITIAL INSPECTION DETERMINES VEHICLE MINIMALLY NEEDS REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS, REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED SWAY BAR LINKS. REPAIRS PENDING. THIS FAILURE IS SIMILAR TO RECALL OF BUICKREGAL 1988-1991, FORD TAURUS/MERC SABLE 1987-1995 AND OTHERS... *TR
Jan 14, 2003 · 127,543 milesPower train › Automatic transmission I OWN A 1992 BUICK LESBARE LIMITED THAT I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE MORNING JAN 14 2003. THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW FREEZEING. I WAS ABOUT 3 MILES FROM HOME WHEN I HAPPENED TO LOOK IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE ROLLING OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND TRANSMISSION FUILD ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A GM DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES HAD COME LOOSE FROM EACH OTHER AND DUMPED TRANSMISSION FUILD ALL OVER THE ENGINE. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR AND THE TOW BILL. JUST RECENTLY I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH ON MY WIFE'S 1997 CHEVY S-10 BLAZER THAT WAS…
Feb 15, 2007 · 140,000 milesPower train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V015000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES) AND STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED TWO HYDRAULIC HOSE PARTS, FOUR HOSE CLAMPS, AND REPLACED ALL THE TRANSMISSION OIL AND ADDITIONAL BRACKETS. THE CONTACT PAID $111 FOR THE REPAIR AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000. UPDATED 03-05-08 *BF
Dec 4, 2007 · 200,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryStructure › Frame and members › Underbody shields TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND SUFFERED MODERATE NECK PAINS. THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER ON THE SCENE, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200,000.
Sep 10, 2005 · 172,076 milesStructure › Frame and members 92 BUICK LASABRE, BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED HARD TO AVOID ACCIDENT, HOWEVER WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR BECAME COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE BRAKES FADED TO NOTHING. FINALLY HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE A FRAME HOLDING THE MOTOR HAD RUSTED THROUGH, THIS CAUSED THE STEERING TO BE DISABLED, AS WELL AS THE BRAKE SYSTEM, ASIDE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AS MENTIONED. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, THERE WAS NO INVOLVEMENT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND WHEN I SEE OTHER BUICKS OF THE SAME MODEL, I WONDER HOW SAFE THEY ARE TO BE ON THE HIGHWAY. IN MY CASE THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 30 MPH, IF…
Dec 27, 1991 · 2,300 milesParking brake TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK LESABRE. OCCASIONALLY THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT SECURE THE VEHICLE WHEN PARKED. THE FIRST FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2300. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED FOR ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, AND THE MOST RECENT FAILURE WAS ON 3/22/07. THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 91V167000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,500. *AK
Jun 10, 2006Unknown or other MY CARS PAINT STARTED PEALING OFF AND NOW ALMOST THE ENTIRE TOP OF MY CAR HAS NO PAINT BUT A GRAY TYPE SURFACE AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE ROOF IS RUSTED. THAT'S JUST ONE THING. THE TRUNK OF MY CAR WHEN I OPEN IT LEAKS THE WATER INSIDE AS WELL AS WHEN IT IS SHUT. MY CAR ALSO WILL NOT CRANK AFTER I HAVE PARKED IT AND WILL REQUIRE A BOOST TO GET IT GOING NOW I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE BATTERY CABLE HEADS AND IT STILL DOES THAT ON OCCASION. MY CAR ONE DAY STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE KNOCKING GRINDING NOISE AND I WENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE HARMONIC BALANCE PULLEY. I WENT TO GET THE PART TO REPAIR MY CAR AND THEY SAID THE ONLY PLACE TO GET THE RUBBER SEAL IS THRU THE…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
EA93011 · opened May 3, 1993 · closed May 31, 1994FUEL LINE FAILURE There is no summary currently available
PE92039 · opened Apr 15, 1992 · closed Aug 14, 1992BRAKE CALIPER CORROSION There is no summary currently available
PE92010 · opened Jan 27, 1992 · closed May 22, 1992FUEL LINE CONNECTOR FAILS There is no summary currently available