Total Complaints
22 filings
BUICK LESABRE · model year
1988 BUICK LESABRE
22 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988BUICKLESABRE carries 22 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 1988 LESABRE is steering:rack and pinion with 7 filings, followed by steering:hydraulic power assist system (2) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (2). 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 1988 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.
22
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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:RACK AND PINION | 7 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070927SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
Mileage: 60,000
20070617SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
RECURRING BRAKE REPAIRS: REPLACEMENT OF REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS, BRAKE SHOES, MACHINE DRUMS. MILEAGE AT EACH REPAIR 10,953, 17,124, 25642, 37,753, 48,245. *AK
Mileage: 48,245
20030612STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE STEERING HAS BEEN HARD SINCE DAY ONE AND CONSUMER HAS BEEN PATCHING UP VEHICLE TO KEEP IT RUNNING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER MADE AN ALUMINUM ROD FOR THAT YEAR VEHICLE. IT IS RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK *CB *NLM
20010924TIRES:TREAD/BELT
AMERICAN GENERAL GVS AFTER MARKET TIRES, P205/75R14 SIZE. TREAD ON LEFT FRONT TIRE HAS STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM INSIDE.*AK CONSUMER STATED LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD SEPARATING LUMPS IN THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE, DOT NUMBER ACKC2Y6308.*JB
20001213SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT CLASP FAILED. MANUFACTURER NO LONGER CARRIES THAT PART. DEALER IS UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO LIABLILITY. STATE REQUIRES SEAT BELTS, BUT VEHICLE OWNER IS UNABLE TO GET REPAIRED TO ORIGINAL CONDITION. DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT NOR ACCEPTABLE!! *AK
20000626ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK
20000623STRUCTURE:BODY
THE ROOF OF MY 1988 BUICK LESABRE IS PEELING AND I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?*AK
19990216STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING COLUMN IS EXTREMELY LOOSE, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
19981231STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING COLUMN IS EXTREMELY LOOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
19970321STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING LEFT INNER TIE ROD SEPARATED, WHEEL TURNED OUT, REMAINED OUT; LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, COULD HAVE WHEEL COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF.; INNER/OUTER TIE ROD REPLACED BY DEALER. PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK
19960628STEERING:RACK AND PINION
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH
19960628STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH
19960619STEERING:RACK AND PINION
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH
19960410SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR MOUNTED SEAT BELT BUCKLE CANNOT BE LATCHED. *AK
19960318STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. THE MACHANIC SAID IT WAS A RACK AND PINION PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960314STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING FREEZES UP DUE A DEFECTIVE BALL MECHANISM IN RACK AND PINION STEERING. *TT
19951026ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WATER PUMP FAILURE. *AW
19951026ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILURE.
19950815STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHEN COLD THE CARS STEERING ABILITY IS DECREASED AND DOES NOT GO BACK TO NORMAL UNTIL IT IS WARMED UP. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
19950519STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING STIFFNESS DURING MORNING STARTUP. TT
Compare 1988BUICKLESABRE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 BUICK LESABRE have?▼
The 1988 BUICK LESABRE has 22 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 BUICK LESABRE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 BUICK LESABRE is STEERING:RACK AND PINION with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1988 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.