Buick Lesabre Fuel System, Gasoline Problems
Owners have filed 208 complaints with NHTSA about fuel system, gasoline problems on the Buick Lesabre across 11 model years. The 1998 model year has the most (70). The words owners use most often: “intake manifold” (26% of reports).
- 208fuel system, gasoline complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,250typical repair cost reported by owners
- 36%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 54 of 208 complaints (26%)
- Fuel pressure regulator: mentioned in 32 of 208 complaints (15%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical fuel system, gasoline repair on the Buick Lesabre at $1,250, and half of them between $530 and $1,550.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2002–2010), 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 fuel system, gasoline problems happen?
Based on 115 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 208 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 28 a fire, 4 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 (2)
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery
Model years: 1998, 1999, 2000
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.
Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system
Model years: 1996, 1997
Problem: A backfire during engine starting can cause breakage of the upper intake manifold.
Risk: This condition can cause a no-start condition and possibly an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module programming. Until the campaign repair is made, the vehicle hood should be shut whenever starting the vehicle to reduce the chance of personal injury.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2005 Buick LeSabre. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the fuel gauge sensors failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the fuel gauge sensor failed to provide adequate information regarding the fuel level. The fuel warning light…
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 contact owns a 2000 Buick LeSabre. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the front end of the vehicle started shaking uncontrollably. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle at a slower speed. The vehicle was taken…
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 buick lesabre. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle, the upper intake manifold exploded into pieces. The contact checked under the hood and noticed that the engine cover and fuel filter exploded. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was…
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 buick lesabre. The contact stated that a fire ignited without warning under the hood after the driver exited the vehicle. When the hood was opened, the contact noticed that the engine cover for the engine assembly and fuel system had flown off. The fire extinguished on…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Buick Lesabres have fuel system, gasoline problems?
No. NHTSA has 208 owner complaints about fuel system, gasoline 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 fuel system, gasoline?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list fuel system, gasoline. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix fuel system, gasoline problems on the Buick Lesabre?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,250 (half paid between $530 and $1,550), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel system, gasoline problems on the Buick Lesabre?
The most frequent phrase is “intake manifold”, in 54 of 208 complaints, followed by “fuel pressure regulator” (32).
Other Buick Lesabre problems
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (548)
- Visibility problems (536)
- Electrical System problems (412)
- Structure problems (255)
- Air Bags problems (246)
- Power Train problems (188)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (175)
- Steering problems (165)
See all Buick Lesabre problems.