1998 Buick Lesabre Fuel System, Gasoline Problems
Owners have filed 70 complaints with NHTSA about fuel system, gasoline problems on the 1998 Buick Lesabre, 18% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 72,476 miles. The words owners use most often: “intake manifold” (36% of reports).
- 70fuel system, gasoline complaints
- 72,476median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Intake manifold: mentioned in 25 of 70 complaints (36%)
- Fuel pressure regulator: mentioned in 15 of 70 complaints (21%)
- Spark plugs: mentioned in 5 of 70 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems happen?
Based on 30 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 70 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 8 a fire, 2 an injury.
Buick Lesabre fuel system, gasoline complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel System, Gasoline complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Lesabre | 4 | 5% | 84,257 |
| 2004 Lesabre | 5 | 3% | 75,000 |
| 2003 Lesabre | 5 | 3% | 36,000 |
| 2002 Lesabre | 5 | 2% | 28,500 |
| 2001 Lesabre | 5 | 2% | 75,649 |
| 2000 Lesabre | 45 | 7% | 60,069 |
| 1999 Lesabre | 21 | 10% | 70,000 |
| 1998 Lesabre | 70 | 18% | 72,476 |
| 1997 Lesabre | 37 | 9% | 81,000 |
| 1996 Lesabre | 7 | 7% | 49,000 |
| 1995 Lesabre | 4 | 2% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 3800 v6 (l36) engines and certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, the regulators have a much higher than usual rate of fuel leaks. A leak can allow fuel to enter the intake manifold through a vacuum line. If the engine does not start when cranked, the fuel from the leaking regulator and a mistimed spark can cause a backfire.
Risk: The backfire can rupture the intake manifold. The rupture of the intake manifold can displace a fuel line, pulling an injector out of place, and causing a fuel leak and possible fire.
Fix: Dealers will install new fuel pressure regulators with improved diaphragms. The recall will be conducted in phased mailings. Phase 1 began on june 30, 2004, and phase 2 began on september 30, 2004. Owners should contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 1998 Buick LeSabre. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V090000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair…
The fuel gauge on my 1998 buick lesabre automobile is faulty. The gauge gives inaccurate and random fuel level readings while driving. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 buick lesabre. The contact stated that as he started the vehicle, there was an explosion that occurred within the engine. White smoke began to flow from under the hood. The vehicle was shut off and the contact noticed that the manifold had exploded. The vehicle was not…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Buick Lesabres have fuel system, gasoline problems?
No. NHTSA has 70 owner complaints about fuel system, gasoline for the 1998 Buick Lesabre (18% of the 400 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Buick Lesabre fuel system, gasoline?
Yes: 1 safety recall list fuel system, gasoline. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems start?
The median reported mileage is 72,476 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about fuel system, gasoline problems on the 1998 Buick Lesabre?
The most frequent phrase is “intake manifold”, in 25 of 70 complaints, followed by “fuel pressure regulator” (15).
Other 1998 Buick Lesabre problems
See all 1998 Buick Lesabre problems or fuel system, gasoline problems across all Lesabre years.