1999 Buick Lesabre Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 2%of 209 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 139,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine of the 1999 Buick Lesabre, 2% of the 209 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 139,000 miles.
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.
“My car is a 1999 Buick la sabre with a 3.8l engine. July/20/2012 my car had 80,000 miles on it when my engine started to miss. When I got it looked at by my friend I was told there was coolant in the cylinders. The engine had problems with the intake plenum leaking coolant, because of the EGR system. He then fixed the car. On november 20, 2014 my engine had 138,000 miles when it overheated on the highway. I found no coolant in the reservoir with coolant in the oil. …”
NHTSA complaint #10663342, filed 2014-12, 80,000 miles“Traveling about 65 - 70 MPH I noticed my speedometer went 'wacky', meaning it went down to 0 - 20 MPH and back up again to the speed I was traveling. Nothing else happened. The next time, maybe a week to a couple weeks later it did I it again, only I heard the doors unlock and it had died. Since then it has been happening more frequently. I have always been able to start it right back up. I can be out on the highway or in town. I usually put it into neutral, start it and keep going. It has happened as many times as 3 times a day, or it won't die for 3-4 days. …”
NHTSA complaint #10637715, filed 2014-09, 190,000 miles“In approx 2010 my Buick Lesabre had issues starting and would occasionally stop operating during travel. All ignition functions would cease to work. Towed to Buick dealership to resolve and replaced ignition switch. This year a similar action happened where the car would not start. Again at the dealership the ignition switch was replaced. Is this ignition switch issue included in the GM recall?”
NHTSA complaint #10618484, filed 2014-08, 164,000 miles“The contact owns a 1999 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, a loud noise was heard and white smoke emitted from the engine compartment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 114,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10585503, filed 2014-04, 114,000 milesEngine: 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 1999 Buick Lesabre
69 complaintsElectrical system
28 complaintsFuel system
28 complaintsBrakes
20 complaintsSuspension
19 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
15 complaintsAir bags
13 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsSeats
6 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 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