1995 Buick Lesabre Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around airbags that deploy with no impact — owners describe deployments while driving, at stop lights, or even while parked, often after the airbag warning light came on. The second theme is steering and chassis bolts failing near the engine cradle, along with ABS-related brake complaints. Many of these vehicles were long out of warranty when reported, and owners frequently say dealers declined to repair.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag deploys without a crash

   • 43 complaints (24%)
   • median 95,781 mi at 17.2 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 22 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2016

   Owners describe the driver or passenger front airbag firing with no impact — while cruising, slowing at a light, starting the car, or parked — sometimes both bags in sequence. Several mention the airbag or SRS warning light coming on beforehand, and some say water entering the airbag module or sensor was blamed. A few report the horn sounding continuously afterward, or the horn going off on its own because the horn switch is built into the driver airbag unit. Dealers often declined repairs as out of warranty. Reports span roughly 60,000 to 225,000 miles, with many in the 90,000-140,000 range and several after rain or storms.

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light behaves normally (it should come on with the key and then go out), and check for water leaks into the cabin or trunk, since several complaints tie deployment to moisture in the module. Ask whether the airbag module or horn switch has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We were driving down the interstate in pa, when the airbag light came on. About ten minutes later the driver's side airbag discharged in my wife's face, then a few seconds later the other side went off. We pulled off the highway, got out of the car, raised the hood, unplugged the horns, started the engine and continued to our destination for 3 hours. As we continued up the highway the rain begun to enter the car and filled up the floorboard of the car mainly on the passenger side. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10519688, filed 2013-06, 81,777 miles

   “Both (driver and passenger) frontal airbags on my 1995 Buick Lesabre deployed without reason on june 27th and 28th 2015. On the 27th, the passenger airbag deployed while I was coming to a stop at a red light. No one was in the passenger seat though it spilled soda over the back seat. On the 28th the driver airbag deployed while I was driving on i76, going about 70 MPH. My right wrist was injured and is red and swollen but I do not think it's broken. The horn then stayed on and I eventually pulled over and removed the fuse for it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10730972, filed 2015-06, 60,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS light on and poor brake pedal feel

   • 18 complaints (10%)
   • median 171,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners report the ABS light staying on, a pedal that pulses or feels soft, and longer stopping distances even after pads, rotors or wheel sensors were replaced. Some describe the ABS valve block or a pressure valve as the diagnosed cause, and one notes a leaking rear wheel cylinder soaking the brake drums. Several say the dealer found nothing or that the repair did not resolve the light. Mileage varies widely, from about 45,000 up past 170,000 miles; some complaints are filed on vehicles already past 150,000.

   What to check: Ask for brake service records and check that the ABS light stays off after the key-on bulb check; a test drive should include a firm-pedal stop and a check for a spongy or pulsing pedal.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had my front brakes replaced as they were in need of it due to uneven stopping, but reason more so was the ABS light would keep coming on. The brakes feel like they are going to fail, not allowing you to come to quick stop as needed, even at a stop sign or light. This still happens even after brake work was done. Mechanic said the ABS sensor was in the wheel bearing and would cost over $300 to change that. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070939, filed 2004-01, 171,000 miles

   “Abs valve block failed . Am reporting this failure since it is the second ABS brake failure of two GM automobiles we currently own. Our 1992 chevy caprice wagon ABS system failed when it had 49,978 miles on it. Now the 1995 Buick, which has 55700 miles on it has also experienced an ABS brake failure. We can understand an isolated failure. But having two general motors automobiles and both cars experiencing ABS brake failures lead us to believe that general motors has a problem with ABS systems throughout its various fleets. …”

   NHTSA complaint #709192, filed 1999-07
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls or quits while driving

   • 9 complaints (5%)
   • median 49,650 mi at 14.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2016

   Owners report the engine shutting off without warning at speed, at a stop light, or when pulling out of a parking lot, sometimes repeatedly and after multiple shop visits. Diagnoses mentioned include an intermittent ignition module, crankshaft or camshaft sensor, fuel pump and tune-up parts, but owners say the stalling returns. One report describes the serpentine belt and water pump coming off with a noise. Reports range from about 40,000 to 140,000 miles; some describe repeated stalls over a period of weeks.

   What to check: Ask about ignition module and sensor replacement history, and take a test drive long enough to include idling at stops and steady-speed cruising to see whether the engine cuts out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Intermittently while driving vehicle will stall or launch forward. Resulting in loss of control and a accident. Dealership has serviced vehicle 5 times for the same problem, but they could not fix it. Please provide more details. Ts....”

   NHTSA complaint #10003727, filed 2003-01, 41,000 miles

   “While driving vehicle completely shutdown without warning, cause unknown. Consumer states that if brakes would not have worked, a serious accident would have happened, dealer believes problem was caused by an intermittent ignition module failure, consumer has since had a tune up and has experienced no problems with local driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #885431, filed 2001-04
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Engine cradle bolts break, steering lost

   • 7 complaints (4%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 15.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2013

   Complaints describe the bolts holding the engine cradle to the frame corroding or fracturing, letting the cradle drop and pulling the steering linkage apart, with the result that steering control is lost. In related reports the bolts holding the steering box to the frame break, limiting steering. Owners say dealers told them there was no recall or declined to work on a vehicle of this age. Failure mileages in the sample range from about 74,000 to 128,000 miles, reported during ordinary driving at low speed.

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the engine cradle and steering box mounting bolts for corrosion, looseness or missing hardware before buying, and ask whether any of these bolts have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While leaving an intersection I was traveling down a slight hill , I heard a strange sound and realized I had no steering the wheel was turning ,but with no control of the car . The car hit a telephone pole that was installed to hold up 4 mailboxes . The engine carriage of the car that is bolted to the frame separated from the frame past the bolts causing the steering connection to come apart , the car is totaled . Thank you GM/ Buick engineers .”

   NHTSA complaint #10523111, filed 2013-07, 128,000 miles

   “Driving my 1995 Buick Lesabre I drove down and up a slight road variation and then heard a noise I turned right to get to my office upon making the turn I lost all steering I got the car off the road and looked the whole undercarriage cradle was sitting near the ground / I had the car towed .. Upon further inspection the bolts of the cradle( under engine supports were broken. Thank god I wasn't driving on a highway surely myself or someone would have been killed or injured. This car model has many other cases of similar defect I saw on line. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10334273, filed 2010-06, 99,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Paint peeling and body rust

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe paint lifting and peeling from the hood, roof, trunk and doors, and rust forming at those panels. One owner says they were told after repainting that this model year was known for peeling paint, and that this was not disclosed at purchase. Others mention water collecting in the trunk and spare-tire well. Peeling is reported from roughly 46,000 miles upward, with rust noted around 124,000 miles.

   What to check: Inspect the hood, roof and trunk seams in daylight for lifting clearcoat, blistering or rust, and check the trunk floor and spare-tire well for standing water or staining.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Horn had to be disconected to stop sounding. Inspection cannot take place and it cost 800.00 to fix. It is somehow connected to the airbag probelm. The trunk leaks and over 4 of water collected in spare tire area during tropical storm while parked.”

   NHTSA complaint #746781, filed 2001-06

   “The contact owns a 1995 Buick Lesabre. The contact noticed that the paint on the doors, hood, trunk and roof had begun to rust and corrode. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs. The failure mileage was 124,000 and the current mileage was 127,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10346853, filed 2010-08, 124,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, focus the inspection on the airbag system and the engine cradle and steering mounting hardware, and ask for records of any airbag module, ABS or ignition work. Service history and a pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with older cars matter more here than mileage alone.

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.