1996 Buick Lesabre: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 121 complaints
121
Total Complaints
89,492mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Top Issue
10
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

57,000 25th Percentile
89,492 Median Mileage
114,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
4

Severity Assessment

10
Crashes
0
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"NO MATTER WHAT CLOTH OR LINING PLACED ON DASH, REFLECTION SHOWS UPON WINDSHIELD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT"
"AFTER ADJUSTING, HEAD REST DOESN'T PROVIDE NECK PROTECTION. OWNER HAS CONTACTED GM MOBILITY GROUP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT"
"WHEN STARTING, COLD START VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD FOUR INCHES. BUICK STATES THIS IS NORMAL SINCE 1993 AND DON'T FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28