Total Complaints
53 filings
BUICK LESABRE · model year
1987 BUICK LESABRE
53 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987BUICKLESABRE carries 53 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 2 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 LESABRE is steering:hydraulic power assist system with 6 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1987 LESABRE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
53
Complaints
4
Crashes
2
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 5 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 2 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020731ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE STALLED MANY TIMES WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AND THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON CAME ON RIGHT AFTER EACH SERVICE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. *YH
20020128STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THIS SAME COMPONENT FAILED ON A 1985 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY AT 135000 MILES. *AK
20000908FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC DUE TO FUEL INJECTION FAILURE. YH
20000121STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHEEL COLUMN LOOSE -- EXCESSIVE PLAY AND STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT MADE STEERING DIFFICULT AS WHEEL MOVED UP AND DOWN AND ROCKED AT AN ANGLE TO THE LEFT. DEALER CONTACTED AND GM CONTACTED--NEITHER CONSIDERED THIS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES MY BODY WOULD MOVE FORWARD TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS NOT SECURE. I WAS FORCED TO COVER 100% COST OF THE REPAIR. THE DEALER HAD TO DROP THE ENGINE AND PUT A NEW BOLT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUM IN THE ENGINE AREA. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS WAS REPAIRED IN APPROXIMATELY 1996. ABOUT 18 MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING, BUT TO A LESSER DEGREE. BECAUSE OF MY WORK SCHEDULE, TRANSPORTATION, ETC. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK IN TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND REPAIR. IT HAS BEEN APPROX. THREE YEARS SINCE THE FIRST REPAIR. FORTUNATELY IT IS NOT AS LOOSE AS THE FIRST TIME, BUT IS SLOWLY GETTING SLOPPIER. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS C
19990908ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
FREQUENT STALLS--REPAIRED WITH A NEW CRANK SENSOR UNIT.
19990329FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC DUE TO FUEL INJECTION FAILURE. YH
19990217STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
OPENING THE TRUNK LID THE TRUNK POPS UP VERY HARD, ALMOST CAUSING THE OWNER TO GET HURT. OWNER SAYS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
19990217CrashSTEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 40MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. WHEN VEHICLE FREED UP CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, CROSSING THE CENTER LINE, BRINGING VEHICLE BACK BEFORE RUNNING INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPING OVER ON TOP. *AK
19990215STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR LONG PERIODS & THE TEMPERATURE IS COLD, THE STEERING IS VERY STIFF, REQUIRING HANDS TO TURN THE WHEEL. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BREAKS FREE. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
19990115STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRVING AT 30 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, UPON TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL REAL HARD. WHENEVER TURNING TO THE RIGHT THE PROBLEM STILL IS THERE. *AK
19981022ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO 4 DIFFERENT DEALERS, CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. REPLACED DIFFERENT PARTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19981005STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE ROLL OVER.
19980302FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING FUEL LEAK/GAS FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE.
19980218FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STARTED WITH A CRACKLING SOUND, THEN A LIGHT WHITE SMOKE APPEARED. SMOKE CAME FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE DASBOAD AND TURNED TO A HEAVY DARK SMOKE. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH FIRE WHICH CAME THROUGH THE FLOORBOARDS.
19980218FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASH THEN FLAMES WERE NOTICED COMING FROM FLOOR BOARD. VEHICLE BURNED WITH TWO EXPLOSIONS.
19980205VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD SEAL IS NOT SECURE.
19970821ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE STALLED DUE TO FAILED CRANK SENSOR UNIT.
19970327CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 30 TO 40 MPH ,WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED INCREASED, CAUSING OWNER TO RUN INTO A FIELD AND INTO A CREEK.THE CRUISE CONTROL IS IN QUESTION. *AK
19961231STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
'COLD POWER STEERING.'
19961118CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL, THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE AND PLACED THE VEHICLE FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Compare 1987BUICKLESABRE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 BUICK LESABRE have?▼
The 1987 BUICK LESABRE has 53 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 2 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 BUICK LESABRE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 BUICK LESABRE is STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1987 BUICK LESABRE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.