1994 Buick Lesabre Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe engines that quit without warning — at stops, in traffic, or at speed — leaving the car without power steering or power brakes, and many note that dealers could not find or fix the cause. Cooling-system complaints are the next most common, typically coolant loss, steam, or an overheating episode, and brake complaints center on ABS symptoms and repeated front brake work. Mileage on the sampled complaints is high, commonly above 90,000 miles, so much of what is reported reflects an older, well-used car.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbags that did not deploy in a crash

   • 18 complaints (11%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 17 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners describe collisions where one or both front airbags did not deploy, including impacts at moderate speed, and a few mention an airbag warning light that came on and off intermittently over many service visits. One complaint notes the passenger bag deployed while the driver bag did not. Another describes burns and irritation attributed to a deploying bag. Mostly described in crashes without stated mileage; the sampled complaints with mileage include cars around 75,000 to 151,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag warning light has ever come on and whether the system has been scanned for stored codes; have a shop verify the airbag light behaves correctly and check for any open safety recalls by VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While turning left at a stop sign another vehicle come up the hill on the left and collided with consumer's vehicle. Consumer was wearing seat belts, but, the air bags did not deploy. The police did arrive on the seen but nobody was cited. Consumer sustained minor head injuries.”

   NHTSA complaint #10087520, filed 2004-09, 151,000 miles

   “The driver rear ended another vehicle while driving. As a result the passenger side air bag deployed and caused burns to the passengers thighs. The fumes emitted from the air bag also caused eye irritation and breathing problems. The passenger has developed asthma and has continued to experience eye irritation. The master cylinder was replaced because it leaked. The calipers were degreased, the alternator was replaced and the drivers side door locks were replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10026600, filed 2003-07, 75,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 18 complaints (11%)
   • median 114,761 mi at 15.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2010

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out with no warning while driving, at a stop, or in traffic, with all power lost so steering and braking become heavy. Several owners report that dealers replaced ignition modules, computers, or coil packs and the stalling continued, and some say the shop could not reproduce or diagnose it. A few note the car restarts immediately or after a wait, which makes the fault intermittent. Reported across a wide mileage range, including cars between roughly 98,000 and 151,000 miles, with no clear weather pattern in the sample.

   What to check: Ask whether the car has a history of stalling and what was replaced, and take a long test drive that includes stop-and-go traffic and idling in gear. Have a mechanic check for stored fault codes and inspect ignition and fuel components.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving at any speed vehicle cut off without prior warning, causing loss of all power. Consumer has contacted the dealer. Dealer has replaced parts, but, problem still occurs. Please provide any further details.”

   NHTSA complaint #859571, filed 2000-04

   “While driving vehicle stalls unexpectedly which may result in an accident. Dealer replaced computer, but problem still exists. Dealer cannot determine the problem. Please provide further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #836155, filed 1999-03
3. 3
   Brakes

   ABS warning and brake performance concerns

   • 23 complaints (15%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2003

   Complaints describe the ABS light staying on, vibration when braking, and situations where the brakes felt like they did not respond or the vehicle took a long distance to stop. Some owners report repeated front pad and rotor work at relatively low mileage, and others mention a leaking master cylinder or grease on the brakes after purchase. Several say the dealer dismissed the warning light or found nothing wrong. Reported at mileages from roughly 25,000 to 75,000 miles in the sample, though many complaints give no mileage.

   What to check: Check that the ABS light comes on and goes out at startup, look at front rotor and pad condition, and ask whether the master cylinder or ABS components have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle was involved in a collision in which the passenger side air bags deployed upwards. The consumer slammed on the brakes and they did not respond. The vehicle was totaled and the entire front end was pushed in. The driver side air bags deployed but the passenger side did not, instead it just blew in the consumer's wife's face. (in which she suffered injuries) the brakes had to be cleaned of grease when the consumer first took ownership of the vehicle and a few weeks later the master cylinder had to be replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10020086, filed 2003-07, 75,000 miles

   “Vehicle experienceing excessive wear of front rotors and pads. At 46,617 miles, dealer replaced pads and turned front rotors. Currently, at 55,000 miles, informed consumer that rotors needed to be turned, and pads needed to be replacedagain. Please feel free to provide any further details.”

   NHTSA complaint #872544, filed 2000-10
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Coolant loss, steam, and overheating

   • 6 complaints (4%)
   • typically at 6.8 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2004

   Owners describe smelling coolant or seeing steam from the front of the car, sometimes with smoke coming through the vents, and in some cases the car overheated and stranded the driver. One account describes a plastic fitting on the intake manifold breaking and releasing the coolant, with a replacement part later made of metal. Others mention water pump and serpentine belt problems as part of the same picture. Reported from moderate to high mileage in the sample, with several complaints from cars over 100,000 miles and one owner noting coolant loss over an extended period.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue or staining around the intake manifold and hoses, and ask whether the intake fitting, water pump, or belt has been replaced recently.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Wife stranded when car overheated. Upon inspection of engine I found that the plastic fitting in the intake manifold had broken off letting all coolant run out. We have been loosing coolant for some time. (a year and a half ago I replaced pump, thermostat and serpentine belt while traveling, but always had a loss of coolant that I could not find. When I called to get a new fitting, the attendant told me what the problem was before I could tell him. He said this happens a lot and that the replacement part is now made out of metal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10102730, filed 2004-12

   “While driving at any speed consumer noticed smoke coming from the front of vehicle, and determined that the problem was within the cooling system. When the vehicle is cold there is steam coming from the front of the vehicle, and there is an odor in vehicle. Also, throttle body seal may bnot be sufficiently compressed to prevent coolint from leaking.”

   NHTSA complaint #833064, filed 1999-06
5. 5
   Tires

   Tire tread separation and thumping

   • 11 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 6.9 yrs old
   • filed 1996–2003

   Complaints describe a thumping noise and vibration at highway speed, with tread peeling away from the casing while the tire stayed inflated. Owners report multiple failures on original-equipment tires within short intervals or low mileage, and several say the tire seller replaced them at the owner's cost or declined to cover them. Reported on original-equipment tires at low to moderate mileage, in some cases within a few thousand miles of each other.

   What to check: Check tire age by the date code and look for bulges, sidewall distortion, or cracking between treads; replace any tire showing these signs regardless of remaining tread.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Tire caused a thumping sound and sensation at speeds greater than 50 MPH. Tire dealer said that the tire had a slipped belt and showed me a distortion in the tire wall. This was the second tire, which I believe was the oem tire, to have this failure.( DOT number: a3mo ffa 0 tire size: p205/70r15 )”

   NHTSA complaint #730066, filed 2000-09

   “This is the second firestone fr410 tire we had that has had a tread separation within 4 months. I had to pay pro-rated on the first tire and I had to buy a new tire because we were on a return trip from ohio when the second tire blew. Firestone will not replace since it is not on the recall list of tires. It seems odd to have 2 tires within 4 months with a tread separation.( DOT number: tire size: 20570r15 )”

   NHTSA complaint #729068, filed 2000-08

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on stalling history, cooling-system condition, and brake and airbag warning lights is worthwhile on this model year, and ask for records of what has already been replaced. Tires and belts age out on any car this old, so check their date codes and condition before driving it regularly.

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.