Buick Lesabre Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 548 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Buick Lesabre across 11 model years. The 1998 model year has the most (196). The words owners use most often: “intake manifold” (28% of reports).
- 548engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 42%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Intake manifold: mentioned in 151 of 548 complaints (28%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Buick Lesabre at $1,300, and half of them between $980 and $2,100.
Based on 36 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2000–2011), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 233 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 548 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 72 a fire, 4 an injury.
Buick Lesabre engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Lesabre | 1 | 1% | 65,500 |
| 2004 Lesabre | 8 | 5% | 17,695 |
| 2003 Lesabre | 8 | 5% | 56,500 |
| 2002 Lesabre | 18 | 6% | 44,000 |
| 2001 Lesabre | 28 | 9% | 78,536 |
| 2000 Lesabre | 78 | 12% | 48,528 |
| 1999 Lesabre | 69 | 33% | 66,486 |
| 1998 Lesabre | 196 | 49% | 67,212 |
| 1997 Lesabre | 110 | 28% | 88,000 |
| 1996 Lesabre | 18 | 18% | 90,000 |
| 1995 Lesabre | 14 | 8% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the Buick Lesabre. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 buick lesabre. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 mph, there was smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the manifold failed…
2002 buick lesabre. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle severe oil leak issues. *smd the consumer stated the rocker arm cover gasket had a leak. Gm issued a recall for the exact problem. However, it was for a different model. *jb
2002 buick lesabre. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle non-accident related engine fires and is concerned. Consumer has previous complaint with different vehicle in artemis. *smd
I try to start the car and the car wouldn't start and then i tried to start the car again then i heard a big loud sound from the engine a boob sound. I notice smoke was coming from the hood. My brother was outside when the loud sound went off. My brother and i move the other vehicles out of the way…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick lesabre. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, an abnormal sound emitted from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the upper intake manifold needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Buick Lesabres have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 548 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Buick Lesabre. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Buick Lesabre engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Buick Lesabre?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,300 (half paid between $980 and $2,100), from 36 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Buick Lesabre?
The most frequent phrase is “intake manifold”, in 151 of 548 complaints.
Other Buick Lesabre problems
- Visibility problems (536)
- Electrical System problems (412)
- Structure problems (255)
- Air Bags problems (246)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (208)
- Power Train problems (188)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (175)
- Steering problems (165)
See all Buick Lesabre problems.