1997 Buick Lesabre Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 3%of 394 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 130,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the engine of the 1997 Buick Lesabre, 3% of the 394 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 130,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While entering the interstate highway, car started losing power at 50mph. After getting car up to a safe speed, got the car home where it then stopped running and would not re-start. Mechanic checked and found that the head gasket failed at 130,000 miles. This car has always been well maintained. Nearly caused me to be rear-ended as I was on a70mph interstate highway! Also, your website keeps telling me I have an invalid VIN number! This is the only one ever issued for this vehicle. What's with this?”
NHTSA complaint #10781951, filed 2015-10, 130,000 miles“Was driving car and it started steering hard drove home approx 35 miles to find the k frame washers had rusted off and the engine was not being support. Has it fixed and same thing happened again going less than 5 MPH and steering went out and on inspection the front and lower frame mounts had fallen and car has been parked every since because I can not find parts that are reasonably priced! I was on the interstate doing 70 MPH 10 mins prior to the last incident could have been a bad result. …”
NHTSA complaint #10578934, filed 2014-04, 143,381 miles“My car jerks like a fish tugging on your line at different speeds and when coming up an incline. It also has a very strong odor that I smell when running the A/C. I smell it outside the car and occasionally I smell it inside the car.”
NHTSA complaint #10465202, filed 2012-07, 97,000 miles“We were driving and heard it missing and it started overheating, so we put more water in and decided to come home. So when we turned around it died 2x then the cylinders locked up and it wouldnt start. When we got home my husband found water in the intake and the oil. So we replaced the intake gasket and put it back together and it did it again, but then it made a loud noise and we found that the bar connection the piston to the crank shaft busted. The car only has 103,k miles on it.. Dont understand how its even possible. The only other person that owned it was an old guy. …”
NHTSA complaint #11010873, filed 2017-07, 103,000 miles“Has a 1997 Buick Lesabre and having problems with ignition and I can be driving and it just like it don,t get no juice from engine then when tried to start up it don,t catch in ignition switch. I have spend over 2,000 in this car but every one I take it to says it in the ignition it sounds like it wants to start sometimes it takes up to 6 hours before it starts.”
NHTSA complaint #10626597, filed 2014-08Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 | 6% |
| 2004 | 7 | 4% |
| 2003 | 8 | 5% |
| 2002 | 16 | 5% |
| 2001 | 19 | 6% |
| 2000 | 18 | 3% |
| 1999 | 4 | 2% |
| 1998 | 8 | 2% |
| 1997 | 10 | 3% |
| 1996 | 1 | 1% |
| 1995 | 1 | 1% |
| 1994 | 2 | 1% |
| 1993 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 1997 Buick Lesabre
110 complaintsElectrical system
42 complaintsFuel system
40 complaintsBrakes
36 complaintsAir bags
33 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
33 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
29 complaintsSteering
25 complaintsSeat belts
22 complaintsSuspension
20 complaintsBody and structure
17 complaintsTires
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Buick Lesabre
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology