1999 Buick Lesabre: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 1999 Buick Lesabre
On the 1999 Buick Lesabre, the failure owners report most often is other engine problem, and the reports cluster around 80,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other electrical problem, reported by a median of 50,000 miles. Overall it scores 65 out of 100, high risk for a 1999.
High risk for a 1999 — 159th riskiest of the 303 1999 vehicles we can rate. 268 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 46 named failure modes on the 1999 Buick Lesabre, and the three most-reported carry 35% of everything filed.
Other engine problem leads with 56 reports, about 0.9 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 56k to 90,000 miles.
Other fuel system problem follows with 20 reports, usually reported between 44k to 90,000 miles. 4 of those reports mention a fire.
Other electrical problem follows with 19 reports, usually reported between 47k to 90,000 miles. 4 of those reports mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (78), fuel (26) and electrical (26).
When these failures get reported
100 of the reports on the 1999 Buick Lesabre came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 77,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 26% by 50,000 miles, 72% by 100,000 miles and 84% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 8 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 40,000 and 50,000 miles, which alone holds 13% of the dated reports.
12% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: other electrical problem around 48k, other fuel system problem around 54k, other engine problem around 80k and no-start or intermittent start failure around 83k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 46. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 8 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 23 mention a crash, 36 a fire, 17 an injury and 2 a fatality. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 5.86, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other fuel system problem at $300–$2,200, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000 and other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
36% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other engine problem | engine | 56 | 11 | 56k | 80k | 91k | 0.9 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 20 | 9 | 44k | 54k | 88k | 0.3 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 19 | 9 | 47k | 48k | 92k | 0.3 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 14 | 4 | — | 36k | — | 0.2 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 12 | 1 | — | 66k | — | 0.2 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 11 | 4 | — | 69k | — | 0.2 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 8 | 8 | 76k | 83k | 112k | 0.1 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 7 | 2 | — | 158k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 7 | 1 | — | 24k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 7 | 3 | — | 140k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 6 | 6 | — | 196k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 6 | 1 | — | 76k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 6 | 2 | — | 124k | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 5 | 5 | — | 38k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Power steering pump or fluid leak | steering | 4 | 2 | — | 66k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 4 | 3 | — | 79k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 4 | 1 | — | 94k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 3 | 1 | — | 69k | — | 0.0 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 3 | 1 | — | 200k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 3 | 3 | — | 77k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 3 | 3 | — | 49k | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 3 | 2 | — | 99k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 2 | 1 | — | 80k | — | 0.0 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Oil leak | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 140k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 2 | 2 | — | 75k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Overheating | cooling | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 2 | 1 | — | 32k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 2 | 2 | — | 60k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 2 | 1 | — | 32k | — | 0.0 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 2 | 2 | — | 137k | — | 0.0 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 52k | — | 0.0 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Thermostat failure | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 187k | — | 0.0 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Airbag deployed without a crash | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 169k | — | 0.0 | $2,500–$8,000 | Critical |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 205k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| DPF, EGR or DEF system failure | emissions | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $800–$5,000 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 11 | 3 | — | 58k | — | 0.2 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 1999 Buick Lesabre draws about 4.4 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 79th percentile of complaint rates among 1999 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 60,724 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 1999 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other engine problem
While traveling at 30mph, the vehicle backfired. The consumer pulled vehicle over and looked under the hood and noticed gas spraying over the engine, which was coming from the gas line. The gas line had blown. Immediately after, the vehicle died. The dealer was contacted. Ts scc
Upper and lower manifolds leaked coolant into the crank case on the 3800 series engine...($1254.24 repair cost) due to a faulty design on the manifolds, the company redesigned the manifold to take care of the problem...why hasn't the company had a recall on this problem...?*jb
Other fuel system problem
While traveling at 30mph, the vehicle backfired. The consumer pulled vehicle over and looked under the hood and noticed gas spraying over the engine, which was coming from the gas line. The gas line had blown. Immediately after, the vehicle died. The dealer was contacted. Ts scc
Consumer was pulling into a parking lot when she heard a loud boom. Then flames came from beneath the vehicle, said a witness. Consumer got out and vehicle caught on fire. *ak in june the consumer received a recall notice which explained the failure that she experienced several months earlier. *nm
Other electrical problem
Failure of car to start when ignition key turned. Still had lights & dashboard. This occured 9:00 at night and could have left me stranded. As it was, I had been with a group of folks and someone waited to follow me. Next day mechanic towed car to shop, unable to fix because he not set up for diagnostics. Referred me the gm dealer. Dealer determined theft deterrant module shot. Once fixed, two days later, security light showing on dash. Now we need a new key lock ignition cylander switch and key. My complaint is this could have been a situation where I could have been locked inside my car without a way to get out! This, in my mind, is a serious safety issue. These parts need to be recalled! I take good care of my car and it is not old. Therefore I see no good reason for these parts to fail. My bill will be approximately $700.00 per the garage estimate. I purchased an extended waranty, but these parts not covered, naturally. I guess they weren't expected to fail. (mileage I submitted is an estimate and I do not know what oem means, so I let it default to no.)
Air bag design flaw - a life threatening design flaw. I am the original owner of a 1999 buick lesabre custom (purchased at the end of the model year). The car often spends time in the bright florida sun. Although I use a reflective windshield sun screen, the car still gets hot inside (as do most florida cars). Recently, the horn began to honk continuously. I took it into the orange buick and gmc dealer in orlando fl. The problem is that the air bag has swolen up and compressed the horn relay. The air bag is broken and needs to be replaced. This is apparently a flawed air bag design, which must also endange people with this steering wheel/air bag design, living throughout the hot southern united states. The cost to replace the poorly designed air bag (with another one having the same poor design) is over $700 (difficult for me to do since I recently lost my job, which has moved off shore to india). It seems that the buick manufacturer should be required to correct their life-threatening flawed air bag design. I hope to hear back from the d.o.t. About this life-threatening safety issue.*ak
Recalls on the 1999 model year
NHTSA has issued 2 recall campaigns covering the 1999 Buick Lesabre, affecting an estimated 93,835 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover fuel system, gasoline:delivery and power train:automatic transmission. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
910,873 vehicles 2004-02-24- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
99,333 vehicles 1999-04-26- Defect
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 4t65e automatic transmissions. These vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of fmvss no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence." a retaining clip, which secures the manual valve to the linkage of the transmission detent lever, can become loose under a combination of possible driver shifting maneuvers and allow the link to become disconnected from the manual valve.
- Consequence
- If the link disconnects, the driver's indicated prndl state may differ from the hydraulic state of the transmission. If the driver selects 'drive' and the transmission is actually in 'reverse', a vehicle crash could occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the manual valve/link assembly with a replacement manual valve/link kit, featuring a spring-type fastener.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 1999 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 1999 sits in the model line
High risk for a 1999 — 159th riskiest of the 303 1999 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 10 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 1996 comes out best at 59 and 2003 worst at 68, with 1999 itself at 65.
If the model year is negotiable, 1996, 2004 and 2005 score lower than 1999 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 1996–2003 generation specifically, 1996 is the strongest year at 59 and 2003 the weakest at 68.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 1996-2003 generation, 1996 Buick Lesabre scores best at 59 and 2003 Buick Lesabre worst at 68.
What the numbers say to check
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other fuel system problem from about 44k, other electrical problem from about 47k, other engine problem from about 56k and no-start or intermittent start failure from about 76k.
On a 1999 Buick Lesabre with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other fuel system problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
What this page cannot tell you
268 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 268 reports, 100 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 37% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Buick Lesabre?
The most-reported failures are other engine problem (56 reports, median 80,000 miles), other fuel system problem (20 reports, median 55,000 miles) and other electrical problem (19 reports, median 50,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 1999 Buick Lesabre problems start?
Other electrical problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 50,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 45,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 77,000 miles.
Is the 1999 Buick Lesabre reliable?
It scores 65 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 159th riskiest of the 303 1999 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 1999 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Buick Lesabre is best?
Within the 1996–2003 generation, 1996 scores best at 59 out of 100 and 2003 worst at 68. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed