Complaints
518
Crashes
20
Fires
64
Injuries
11
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Buick Lesabre Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#154 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Avg mileage:88,048 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:28
#251 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Avg mileage:69,777 mi
Fires:2
#340 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Avg mileage:67,367 mi
Fires:5
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Buick Lesabre.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 54 | 1 | 28 | 88,048 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 51 | — | 2 | 69,777 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 40 | — | 5 | 67,367 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 32 | — | 2 | 64,997 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 26 | 1 | 3 | 71,277 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 22 | — | 1 | 71,544 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 21 | 1 | 3 | 87,241 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 15 | 1 | — | 79,455 mi | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 14 | — | 4 | 102,116 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 11 | — | — | 80,058 mi | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 9 | — | — | 55,753 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 8 | — | — | 124,532 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 | 5 | 1 | 40,050 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) | 7 | — | 1 | 50,700 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 | 2 | — | 61,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 6 | — | 2 | 66,506 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 6 | — | 1 | 72,482 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 6 | — | — | 93,986 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Wheel Cylinders | 5 | — | — | 63,848 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 5 | 1 | — | 54,131 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 5 | — | — | 32,739 mi | |
| Airbags | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 4 | — | 4 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 3 | — | — | — |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
54
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
28
Avg Miles
88,048
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
51
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
69,777
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
40
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
67,367
Engine & Cooling
32
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
64,997
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
26
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
71,277
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
71,544
Gasoline Fuel System
21
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
87,241
Electrical Faults
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
79,455
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
102,116
Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,058
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,753
Engine Problems
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
124,532
Air Bags:Frontal
7
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
40,050
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
50,700
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
61,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
66,506
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
72,482
Suspension Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
93,986
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Wheel Cylinders
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
63,848
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
54,131
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
32,739
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Buick Lesabre. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Buick Lesabre Years
1998 Buick Lesabre — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Buick Lesabre reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1998 Buick Lesabre has 518 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline with 54 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Buick Lesabre?
Top reported problems: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (54 complaints, avg 88,048 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe (51 complaints, avg 69,777 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (40 complaints, avg 67,367 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Buick Lesabre?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 74,400 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Buick Lesabre?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Buick Lesabre include 20 crash-related reports, 64 fire reports, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Buick Lesabre have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Buick Lesabre as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Buick Lesabre?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Buick Lesabre reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Buick Lesabre
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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