The 1993 Buick LeSabre has 1 safety recall and 194 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (82 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints194filed by owners
Crashes · fires12 · 21reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths7 · 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.
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
1993 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
20mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/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
82
5
0
1
—
Power train Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines; Automatic transmission
36
0
8
0
111,427 mi
Electrical system Alternator/generator/regulator; Ignition
31
0
6
1
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Cooling system › Radiator assembly
29
0
11
0
110,000 mi
Vehicle speed control Linkages; Cruise control
14
2
0
1
—
Structure Body › Door; Body
11
0
0
0
—
Air bags Frontal
10
6
0
5
—
Tires Tread/belt
9
0
1
0
—
Steering Hydraulic power assist system; Steering wheel/handle bar
8
1
0
0
—
Seats Front assembly › Head restraint; Front assembly › Recliner
7
0
0
0
—
Visibility Windshield wiper/washer; Windshield
6
0
1
0
—
Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Tank assembly; Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap
5
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Aug 6, 2014 · 57,000 milesEngine DRIVING THE CAR NORMALLY, AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUITS, AND WITH IT, SO DOES THE POWER STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS, BUT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART IN NEUTRAL, LUCKILY. WHY?? *TR
Sep 26, 2011 · 244,000 milesElectrical system AS I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD, IT DOESN'T MATTER AT WHAT SPEED, MY ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY DIE. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO LURCHING NOR SPUTTERING, IT JUST DROPS DEAD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I KNOW THERE IS POWER TO MY CAR BECAUSE THE LIGHTS AND RADIO SEEM UNAFFECTED. HOWEVER, MY ENGINE, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ALL DROP OUT. I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR FROM ROLLING, PUT IT INTO PARK AND RESTART IT TO CONTINUE. THERE IS NO PARTICULAR LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN THESE STALLS. IT HAS HAPPENED ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER OR HOURS APART I HAVE HAD THE COIL, PLUGS AND WIRES ALL CHANGED. ALL CONNECTIONS ARE GOOD AND BATTERY IS FINE.. I AM VERY FRIGHTENED THAT IS THIS HAPPENS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IT MAY CAUSE AN…
Dec 24, 2010Service brakes, hydraulic I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 1/2 YRS NOW AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD THIS TYPE OF BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR SLED, I WAS TRYING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO MAKE A TURN. THE ABS LITE HAS BEEN ON THE CAR ALMOST EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT.
Sep 7, 2010 · 130,000 milesEngine and engine cooling MY 1993 BUICK LASABRE KEEPS STALLING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I CAN BE ANYWHERE ON THE INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT ONE OF THESE TIMES SOMEONE IS GOING TO HIT ME FROM BEHIND AND IT WILL CAUSE ME AND SOMEONE ELSE INJURY. MY MECHANICS CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE CAR KEEPS STALLING. *TR
Jul 26, 2010 · 80,000 milesService brakes, hydraulic I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED '93 BUICK LESABRE LIMITED WITH ABOUT 80,000 MILES ON IT. I DROVE IT FOR TWO DAYS WITHOUT INCIDENT AND THEN THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY, THE PEDAL SINKING TO THE FLOOR. I SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER IS KAPUT. I CAN UNDERSTAND IF THE BRAKES FAIL IF THERE'S A LEAK IN THE LINES OR THE PADS HAVEN'T BEEN REPLACED--THOSE ARE MAINTENANCE ITEMS THAT ARE THE DRIVER'S RESPONSIBILITY. BUT A MASTER CYLINDER SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST WARN ME WITH AN IDIOT LIGHT(THEY HAD IDIOTS BACK IN '93 TOO) AND PREFERABLY SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. IT'S IN OTHERWISE GOOD SHAPE WITH ONLY TWO OWNERS AND NO ACCIDENTS. ALL THE HOSES ARE NEW AND THE INTERIOR IS IN GOOD…
Feb 1, 2010 · 109,821 milesService brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUCK LESABRE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS NO POWER RESPONSE. A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN FIRST GEAR BEFORE THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A LEAKAGE IN THE REAR BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE…
Jul 18, 2008 · 113,140 milesStructure › Frame and members 1993 BUICK LESABRE - THE MOTOR-TRANSMISSION MOUNT FAILED AT THE POINT OF ACCELERATING FROM AND INTERSECTION. THE REAR OF THE MOUNT DROPPED TO THE PAVEMENT RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING. DIAGNOSIS BY THE BUICK DEALER MAKING THE REPAIR IS THAT THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO RUST. THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN. I AM THE SECOND OWNER IN NORTHWEST OHIO. DUE TO BOTH STATES AND AREAS USING ROAD SALT, THE MOUNT FAILED. THE OHIO DEALER STATES THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BEFORE, BUT THE TOW-TRUCK DRIVER STATED HE PICKED UP A PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, SAME FRAME/CHASSIS, LAST YEAR. FORTUNATELY I HAD JUST LEFT AN INTERSECTION AND THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 15 M.P.H.…
Oct 19, 2007 · 168,000 milesStructure › Frame and members TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT 4 OUT OF 6 BOLTS HAD RUSTED AND DROPPED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE 4 WASHERS IN THE BACK OF THE FRAME WHICH HELD THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BROKE THROUGH CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP. UPDATED *JB
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
EA93018 · opened Jul 13, 1993 · closed Jun 24, 1994FUEL LEAKS There is no summary currently available
PE93013 · opened Mar 5, 1993 · closed Jul 13, 1993FUEL LEAKS There is no summary currently available