Total Complaints
268 filings
BUICK LESABRE · model year
268 NHTSA complaints, 26 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999BUICKLESABRE carries 268 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 26 crashes, 36 fires, 25 injuries, and 3 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 1999 LESABRE is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 38 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (15) and power train:automatic transmission (14). 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 1999 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.
Total Complaints
268 filings
Crashes Reported
26 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 38 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 15 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 14 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 13 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 12 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 7 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 7 |
| AIR BAGS | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 6 |
| SUSPENSION | 5 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 5 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 5 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 4 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 4 |
AS I WAS DRIVING FROM THE GAS STATION I TOOK A LEFT AND AS I ACCELERATED, THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE. I I HAD NEVER NOTICED THIS BEFORE THAT DAY. SO PROCEED TO TAKE MY TIME CAREFULLY BACK TO WORK. I EXAMINED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY 99 LESABRE CUSTOM AND THAT'S WHERE I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE SUBFRAME BUSHINGS HAVE ALL BUT FELL OUT DUE TO SEVERE RUST. THANKFULLY THE PASSENGER SIDE IS STILL FIRMLY ATTACHED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM CARS OF THIS ERA AND THE DORMAN REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE. HAD THIS COMPONENT FAILED ON BOTH SIDES THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. I AM STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE OR JUST A BAD CHOICE OF VEHICLE DESIGN BY GM AND THEIR LACK OF CONCERN FOR THE PUBLICS WELL BEING. THESE SUBFRAME BUSHINGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN OR SHOULD BE A VIABLE RECALL CONCERN TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.
AS I WAS DRIVING FROM THE GAS STATION I TOOK A LEFT AND AS I ACCELERATED, THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE. I I HAD NEVER NOTICED THIS BEFORE THAT DAY. SO PROCEED TO TAKE MY TIME CAREFULLY BACK TO WORK. I EXAMINED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY 99 LESABRE CUSTOM AND THAT'S WHERE I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE SUBFRAME BUSHINGS HAVE ALL BUT FELL OUT DUE TO SEVERE RUST. THANKFULLY THE PASSENGER SIDE IS STILL FIRMLY ATTACHED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM CARS OF THIS ERA AND THE DORMAN REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE. HAD THIS COMPONENT FAILED ON BOTH SIDES THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. I AM STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE OR JUST A BAD CHOICE OF VEHICLE DESIGN BY GM AND THEIR LACK OF CONCERN FOR THE PUBLICS WELL BEING. THESE SUBFRAME BUSHINGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN OR SHOULD BE A VIABLE RECALL CONCERN TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.
I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN MY AIR BAG FROM THE STEERING COLUMN DEPLOYED IN MY FACE. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. IT WAS ON OR ABOUT 1/25/18. ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR TO THIS EVENT MY HORN BEGAN TO STEADILY BLOW INEXPLICABLY. I DID NOT HAVE ANY REASON TO SUSPECT ANYTHING OTHER THAN A MALFUNCTIONING HORN SO I DISCONNECTED THE WIRES TO THE HORN. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ABOUT A WEEK LATER I CONCLUDED THE AIR BAG WAS INFLATING INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE HORN SENSOR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO, AFTER WEEKS OF INVESTIGATION, CONCLUDED THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO REPAIR IT AND SUGGESTED I CALL GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER ASSIST CENTER. AFTER REVIEWING PICTURES, (NO ONE ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY LOOKED AT IT) GM DECIDED CORROSION TO THE SENSING MODULE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I CONTEND THEY HAVE A DEFECTIVE VALVE WHICH OVERTIME BEGAN LEAKING GAS INTO THE AIR BAG, HENCE THE ISSUE WITH THE BLOWING HORN.
Mileage: 205,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE 5 -10 MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT, A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL RING WAS CAUSING THE FUEL ODOR. THE RING WAS REPLACED, BUT THE ISSUE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL NECK WERE THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE CONTINUING FUEL ODOR, AND BOTH PARTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT HAD THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL NECK REPLACED, BUT THE FUEL ODOR CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE LOCAL BUICK DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
Mileage: 200,000
VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A FULL FUEL LINE REPLACEMENT. TECHNICIAN REPORTED THAT THE BODY AND SUB-FRAME ARE CORRODED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN ON THE ROAD.
Mileage: 276,262
VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A FULL FUEL LINE REPLACEMENT. TECHNICIAN REPORTED THAT THE BODY AND SUB-FRAME ARE CORRODED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN ON THE ROAD.
Mileage: 276,262
VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A FULL FUEL LINE REPLACEMENT. TECHNICIAN REPORTED THAT THE BODY AND SUB-FRAME ARE CORRODED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN ON THE ROAD.
Mileage: 276,262
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG AND AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE ON THE CONTACT'S BEHALF. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. ....UPDATED 0711/16 *BF *CN
Mileage: 58,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR AND OBSERVED FUEL LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
Mileage: 169,000
1999 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH- ANTI THEFT WIRING ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE ANTI-THEFT WIRES WAS BROKEN AND THE SECOND WIRE HAD THE PROTECTIVE INSULATION COATING CRACKED THROUGH TO THE COPPER WIRE. IT APPEARED THAT ROTATION OF THE CYLINDER HAD CHAFED OVER TIME AND COMPROMISED THE INTEGRITY OF BOTH WIRES AND THE CAUSE THE SECURITY DASH LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. *JB
DRIVING NORTH ON AVON RD, PLAINFIELD IN, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. IT BLEW THE DRIVERS HANDS OFF THE WHEEL GOING 45 MILES PER HOUR. DID NOT CRASH. THE PASSENGER HAS BRUISES ON LEG. IT HAPPENED EARLY EVENING, STILL LIGHT OUTSIDE, GOOD WEATHER. NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. *TR
Mileage: 169,000
MY CAR IS A 1999 BUICK LA SABRE WITH A 3.8L ENGINE. JULY/20/2012 MY CAR HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED TO MISS. WHEN I GOT IT LOOKED AT BY MY FRIEND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS COOLANT IN THE CYLINDERS. THE ENGINE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE INTAKE PLENUM LEAKING COOLANT, BECAUSE OF THE EGR SYSTEM. HE THEN FIXED THE CAR. ON NOVEMBER 20, 2014 MY ENGINE HAD 138,000 MILES WHEN IT OVERHEATED ON THE HIGHWAY. I FOUND NO COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR WITH COOLANT IN THE OIL. WHEN MY FRIEND LOOKED AT MY CAR HE SAID IT WAS THE PLENUM AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME THE COOLANT IN THE OIL MAY HAVE WIPED THE MAIN BEARINGS. THE OVERHEATING MAY HAVE ALSO WARPED THE CYLINDER HEADS. HE TOLD ME AT THE LEAST THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE TO THE BEARINGS. BEING UPSET I LOOKED ONLINE FOR INFORMATION TO FIND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH THAT ENGINE. ALSO THAT GM DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. HAS GM FINALLY ADMITTED TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING? EVEN IF MY CAR IS FIXED I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. IT MAY LEAVE ME ON THE R
Mileage: 80,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,927.
Mileage: 98,927
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,927.
Mileage: 98,927
TRAVELING ABOUT 65 - 70 MPH I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER WENT 'WACKY', MEANING IT WENT DOWN TO 0 - 20 MPH AND BACK UP AGAIN TO THE SPEED I WAS TRAVELING. NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED. THE NEXT TIME, MAYBE A WEEK TO A COUPLE WEEKS LATER IT DID I IT AGAIN, ONLY I HEARD THE DOORS UNLOCK AND IT HAD DIED. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO START IT RIGHT BACK UP. I CAN BE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN TOWN. I USUALLY PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, START IT AND KEEP GOING. IT HAS HAPPENED AS MANY TIMES AS 3 TIMES A DAY, OR IT WON'T DIE FOR 3-4 DAYS. I DID HAVE ONE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH A SEMI-TRAILER TRUCK BEHIND ME ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE JUST DIED. *TR
Mileage: 190,000
TRAVELING ABOUT 65 - 70 MPH I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER WENT 'WACKY', MEANING IT WENT DOWN TO 0 - 20 MPH AND BACK UP AGAIN TO THE SPEED I WAS TRAVELING. NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED. THE NEXT TIME, MAYBE A WEEK TO A COUPLE WEEKS LATER IT DID I IT AGAIN, ONLY I HEARD THE DOORS UNLOCK AND IT HAD DIED. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO START IT RIGHT BACK UP. I CAN BE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN TOWN. I USUALLY PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, START IT AND KEEP GOING. IT HAS HAPPENED AS MANY TIMES AS 3 TIMES A DAY, OR IT WON'T DIE FOR 3-4 DAYS. I DID HAVE ONE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH A SEMI-TRAILER TRUCK BEHIND ME ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE JUST DIED. *TR
Mileage: 190,000
BATTERY WENT DOWN WHEN CLOCK LEFT ON BECAUSE IGNITION WAS LOOSE OR FAULTY. SO NOW I MAKE SURE CLOCK IS OFF WHEN I SHUT IT DOWN. CAR STARTED UP FINE - DROVE IT 6 MILES - CAME BACK OUT TO START IT AFTER AN HOUR AND NOTHING-NO SOUND NOTHING-ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER I TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. THERE HAS BEEN A GRINDING SOUND N CASSETTE PLAYER WITH NO CASSETTE IN IT AT ONE TIME. DASH LIGHTS LIT UP WHILE DRIVING SO AUTOMATICALLY THOUGHT THERE IS SHORT IN DASH BOARD. SECOND TIME I PUT KEY IN AND NOTHING HAPPENED-NO SOUND-NOTHING, WHEN IT FINALLY DECIDED TO START THIS TIME I TOOK TO AUTO ZONE. FIRST THEY SAID BATTERY, BUT BATTERY IS PRETTY NEW, THEN ANOTHER MAN SAID ALTERNATOR. GOT ALTERNATOR FROM SHOP THAT REBUILDS ALTERNATORS AND THEY DON'T THINK IT IS ALTERNATOR. REAR DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK AND FOR SOME REASON I THINK SHORT OR PROBLEM COULD BE HERE, BUT NOT SURE. I'VE DRIVEN IT MANY TIMES WITH DASH LIGHTS ON, KNOWING THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH CAR. OIL IS GOOD, COOLIN
Mileage: 187,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED FOR AN OIL LEAK, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CABLE WAS FRACTURED CAUSING THE SECURITY SYSTEM AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND IN SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC PART IN THE IGNITION WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Mileage: 140,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED FOR AN OIL LEAK, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CABLE WAS FRACTURED CAUSING THE SECURITY SYSTEM AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND IN SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC PART IN THE IGNITION WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Mileage: 140,000
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.