1993 Buick Lesabre Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe brake problems, especially anti-lock brake warning lights and a pedal that goes to the floor, along with transmission fluid leaks and stalling that cuts power steering and power assist. Many complaints come in at higher mileage, and several describe gradual deterioration signs before a failure; some say the dealer could not find or reproduce the cause.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission cooler line leaks or separates

   • 25 complaints (13%)
   • median 113,140 mi at 14.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2008

   Complaints describe transmission fluid leaking from the cooler lines, sometimes with smoke or an antifreeze smell under the hood, and in some cases the line separating while driving. Owners report hard or delayed shifting and vehicles that would not move in gear and needed a transmission replacement. Several say the dealer declined the recall repair, citing parts unavailability or that the vehicle was not covered. Reported from low mileage on vehicles only months old up to roughly 140,000 miles, with several complaints on used cars bought at high mileage.

   Recall 96V015000

   What to check: Check for red or brown fluid weeping at the transmission cooler lines and fittings, and ask whether recall 96V015000 was ever performed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I just bought a used Buick lesaber and it's leaking transmission fluid. The car is a 93 and just bought it in nov. 06. I found out there is a recall on this car. And need to know what my options are to getting this problem fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10176529, filed 2006-12, 138,300 miles

   “Vehicle lost power while driving 35 MPH. This caused consumer to drift to the side of the road. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership. The mechanic determined that the transmission failed. The consumer later learned that a recall was issued for the transmission cooling unit and lines. The consumer feels this recall is related to her vehicle's failure. The consumer request reimbursement. The vehicle was only seven months old at the time of the failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #10071704, filed 2004-06, 109,714 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS warning light and reduced braking

   • 52 complaints (27%)
   • median 94,910 mi at 17.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2011

   Complaints describe the anti-lock brake warning light coming on and staying on, with the system dropping back to conventional hydraulic braking only. Some owners report skidding or extended stopping distance when the light is on, and several say the dealer replaced the ABS valve, master cylinder or other major components. A few describe the pedal going to the floor with little or no warning. Reported across a wide mileage range, from recently purchased used cars around 80,000 to 110,000 miles to older, higher-mileage vehicles.

   What to check: Ask whether the ABS light has been on and whether the ABS valve or master cylinder has been replaced; check that the brake pedal holds firm pressure and that the ABS light goes out after start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I recently bought a used '93 Buick Lesabre limited with about 80,000 miles on it. I drove it for two days without incident and then the brakes failed completely, the pedal sinking to the floor. I subsequently learned the master brake cylinder is kaput. I can understand if the brakes fail if there's a leak in the lines or the pads haven't been replaced--those are maintenance items that are the driver's responsibility. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10346237, filed 2010-07, 80,000 miles

   “Anti-lock braking system engaged without braking. System failure resulted in the necessary replacement of the following components: anti-lock brake valve, master cylinder, 2 loaded calipers, 2 brake hoses and brake fluid at the cost of $1192. Vehicle was unable to be driven to the dealership.”

   NHTSA complaint #730009, filed 2000-09
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls while driving

   • 15 complaints (8%)
   • median 130,000 mi at 19.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2014

   Owners describe the engine shutting off without warning at various speeds, with the lights and radio still working but power steering and power brakes gone. Restarting in neutral usually gets the car going again, and some report it happening repeatedly with no stored trouble code. Complaints say mechanics could not determine the cause, and some mention ignition coil and plug work without a fix. Mostly reported between roughly 57,000 and 130,000 miles, with several at higher mileage; no clear weather pattern in the sample.

   What to check: Ask whether the car has ever stalled and what was replaced trying to fix it; on a test drive, note any hesitation and confirm the check-engine light works.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 1993 Buick lasabre keeps stalling. No check engine light is on. I can be anywhere on the interstate or highway and the car just shuts off. I am very concerned that one of these times someone is going to hit me from behind and it will cause me and someone else injury. My mechanics can not figure out why the car keeps stalling.”

   NHTSA complaint #10355726, filed 2010-09, 130,000 miles

   “As I drive down the road, it doesn't matter at what speed, my engine will suddenly die. There is no warning lights, no lurching nor sputtering, it just drops dead. When this happens I know there is power to my car because the lights and radio seem unaffected. However, my engine, power steering and power brakes all drop out. I have to stop the car from rolling, put it into park and restart it to continue. There is no particular length of time between these stalls. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10427975, filed 2011-09, 244,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Alternator failures and recurring blown fuses

   • 15 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 4.5 yrs old
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Complaints describe alternators failing repeatedly, in some cases several replacements within a few years, with the car stalling or dying when the battery runs down. Owners report a specific fuse that keeps blowing and suspect a wiring short, and dealers reportedly could not explain the repeated failures. A few complaints describe electrical fires under the hood of unknown cause. Reported on vehicles as low as about 38,000 miles as well as very high-mileage cars around 244,000 miles; timing patterns vary.

   What to check: Ask how many alternators have been replaced and whether the charging system has been tested; check that fuses are correct and look for chafed or spliced wiring under the hood.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Alternator has been replaced 3 times, it will stall and then just die, the fuses are a ongoing thing they just keep blowing like there is a short in the box , it is always the # 11 fuse, this car only has 38000 miles on it. But I know there is a short in the wiring and I think that is what is causing the alternator to keep going out. It also misses between 40 and 50 miles an hr. I have replaced plugs and plug wires and nothing helps it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #740911, filed 2001-02

   “Electrical: vehicle was purchased in 1993, since then it is constantly burning alternators. Had four alternators and each one burned out in four to six months. Dealers don't seem to know what is causing the alternator to burn so quickly.”

   NHTSA complaint #812704, filed 1997-06
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Engine cradle and mount bolts rusting through

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe a clunk followed by loss of power steering and, in some cases, the engine cradle dropping toward the pavement while turning or accelerating. Owners report that the bolts or washers holding the cradle had rusted through, and one dealer attributed the failure to road salt exposure. The failure is described as occurring with little warning beyond slight steering difficulty beforehand. Reported mostly between about 85,000 and 175,000 miles, often on vehicles from salt-belt states.

   What to check: Have the car inspected underneath for rust at the cradle mount bolts and washers, especially if it was driven where road salt is used.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1993 Buick Lesabre - the motor-transmission mount failed at the point of accelerating from and intersection. The rear of the mount dropped to the pavement resulting in a complete loss of steering and braking. Diagnosis by the Buick dealer making the repair is that this failure is due to rust. The car was originally sold in rochester, michigan. I am the second owner in northwest ohio. Due to both states and areas using road salt, the mount failed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10235132, filed 2008-07, 113,140 miles

   “The cradle mount bolts snapped and caused the engine to fall and immediate loss of all steering. So if you are on a curve, you just go straight or which ever way the wheels point. The steering shaft separated from the steering gear.”

   NHTSA complaint #10031867, filed 2003-09, 85,000 miles

Buying note. Brake and transmission complaints dominate this model year, so a pre-purchase inspection should focus on the ABS system, brake pedal feel, and transmission cooler lines, along with rust at the engine cradle mounts on cars from salt-belt states.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.