The 1996 Buick LeSabre has 2 safety recalls and 98 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (19 complaints).
Problem: A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Electrical system › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module
NHTSA recall 95V204000 · Oct 23, 1995 · 32,869 vehicles
Problem: THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER CHIME REMINDER FUNCTIONS, INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES ARE ALSO AFFECTED.
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE; THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE KEY WAS LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR THAT THE SAFETY BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.
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
1996 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 / 27 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*
Engine and engine cooling Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe; Engine
19
2
0
0
90,000 mi
Electrical system 12v/24v/48v battery; Horn
16
0
0
0
49,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Power train Automatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
7
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control
6
0
0
0
—
Structure Frame and members; Body › Trunk lid
6
1
0
0
102,000 mi
Suspension Front
5
0
0
0
—
Equipment Appliance › Air conditioner; Mechanical › Accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift
4
0
0
0
—
Steering Rack and pinion; Rack and pinion › Rack
4
0
0
0
—
Tires Tread/belt
4
0
0
1
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Apr 26, 2019 · 114,000 miles · 1 injuryAir bags WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP ON A CITY STREET BEHIND A CITY BUS WHICH WAS LOADING PASSENGERS WITH NO COLLISION OR CONTACT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE AIRBAG CAUSED BURNS TO THE PASSENGER'S HAND AND BOTH KNEES. IT ALSO CAUSED DEEP CONTUSIONS ON THE LEFT KNEE, CAUSING DIFFICULTIES WITH WALKING.
Jan 11, 2016 · 119,000 milesEngine TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A TUNE-UP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKETS, UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND THE OIL PAN GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
Feb 18, 2015 · 116,000 milesElectrical system TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
Oct 6, 2014Electrical system HAD TO REMOVE DOME LIGHT BULBS BEAUSE IT DOESNT TURN OFF, THE LIGHTS ON THE REAR ST TIMES AND I'V JUST BOUGHT A SECOND BATTERY 3 DAYS AGO BECAUSE THE LIGHTING PROBLEM CAUES THEM TO BURN OUT. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS WILL FADE OUT. MST TIME IT DOESNT AND I CAN'T TURN THEM OFF MANUALLY EITHER. JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Aug 26, 2011 · 108,000 milesExterior lighting TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COURTESY LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE AT ANY TIME EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO EXHIBIT A CHIMING NOISE, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
Aug 25, 2011 · 140,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE, THE ENGINE DROPPED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE AND BUSHING WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.
Jul 10, 2011 · 150,000 milesStructure › Frame and members THE SUBFRAME RUSTED AND DROPED OUT OF THE CAR, CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE STEERING AND SENDING IT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC . *TT
May 24, 2010 · 116,700 milesStructure 1. WHILE DRIVING A BUICK LESABRE ON DRY, SMOOTH, HARD-SURFACE ROAD... IN AN INSTANT... 2. ALL STEERING CONTROL WAS LOST. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP WITH BRAKES. NO DEATH, NO INJURY, NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE 3. THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS WERE FOUND BROKEN... THIS ALLOWED THE STEERING MECHANISM TO BECOME DISCONNECTED.... THE BOLTS WERE REPLACED, THE MECHANISM WAS CONNECTED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE 4. I CONTACTED THE PEOPLE AT BUICK 25 MAY.... AFTER FOUR DAYS OF DELAYS, THEY INFORMED ME OF THEIR DISINTEREST IN THIS CRITICAL FAILURE, REGARDLESS OF IT'S CERTAINTY TO RESULT IN FATALITIES.... PLEASE DISSEMINATE AN IMMEDIATE ALERT/RECALL/NOTICE/OTHER FYI..... YOUR FORM IS ENTITLED…
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
EA02030 · opened Oct 22, 2002 · closed Mar 9, 2004 · led to recall 04V090000ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
PE02050 · opened Jun 13, 2002 · closed Oct 22, 2002ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES