Most common 1996 Buick Lesabre problems
Share of the 98 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Lesabre complaints by model year
Best Lesabre years: 2005, 1996, 2003. Years to avoid: 2000, 1998, 1997. Compare all years →
1996 Buick Lesabre recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system
A backfire during engine starting can cause breakage of the upper intake manifold.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module programming. Until the campaign repair is made, the vehicle hood should be shut whenever starting the vehicle to reduce the chance of personal injury.
Electrical system › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module
These vehicles were assembled with a malfunction alarm, lighting and locking (mall) module that can contain a damaged capacitor. If the capacitor is damaged, the "key in the ignition" warning chime and the driver seat belt unbuckled warning chime and indicator lamp May not work. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the mall module.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1996 Buick Lesabre:
Engine compartment fires
Engine compartment fires
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with GM?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a…
What 1996 Buick Lesabre owners say
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Buick Lesabre. The vehicle was taken for a tune-up where it was diagnosed that the valve cover gaskets, upper intake manifold, and the oil pan gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 119,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Buick Lesabre. Upon starting the vehicle, the contact could hear the vehicle back fire. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where repairs were made to stop an evaporator leak. The repair did not stop the vehicle from back firing. The manufacturer stated that because the vehicle was older than 10 years of age, they could not provide any assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 98,000.
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Buick Lesabre. While driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred three times. The contact also stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximately failure mileage was 116,000.
Tl contact owns a 1996 Buick Lesabre. The horn would not stop blowing for 50 miles after the key was inserted into the door lock. The dealer stated that the failure was electrical and the remote key needed to be replaced. The dealer also stated that the horn was blowing when the contact arrived and they were unable to reprogram the remote key; however, the horn stopped blowing. The contact requested the old remote key since it was unable to be reprogrammed. Approximately one week later, the horn began blowing again intermittently. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the instrument panel lights illuminated. The dealer stated that there was no VIN information in their database. The VIN was confirmed with the contact, but appears to be invalid. The engine size and powertrain were unavailable. The failure mileage was 35,000 and current mileage was 83,000.
Brakes
Tl contact owns a 1996 Buick Lesabre. One year ago, the brakes failed to respond on the vehicle while leaving the driveway. The vehicle did not stop and struck another one of the contact's vehicles. There were no injuries. He inspected the vehicle and noticed that the brake line was split in half due to corrosion. The contact removed the lines and installed new ones. Recently, the brakes failed to function again. The driver struck the curb at 10 MPH in order to stop the vehicle. It was discovered that the front brake line was severely corroded. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic and the contact made the repairs himself. He has not yet notified the manufacturer. The current mileage was 65,000 and failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Tl contact owns a 1996 Buick Lesabre. While driving down a hill at an unknown speed, the brake indicator illuminated and made a constant beeping noise. The contact parked the vehicle and had aaa tow it to the dealer. She purchased the vehicle from the dealer in September of 2008 and now she needs new brakes. Within two hours, the vehicle was repaired at the cost of $400. She was very skeptical of the repairs and took the vehicle to a private mechanic. She was informed that the brake lines were clogged. The repair would cost $500. The failure mileage was 114,000. 4/01/09 updated 04/09/09.
1996 Buick Lesabre engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Buick Lesabre a good car?
Based on 98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Lesabre rates better than average: 61% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Lesabre at the same age. It is one of the best Lesabre years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Buick Lesabre?
The engine & cooling — 19 complaints, 19% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system › manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe. Next are the electrical system (14) and brakes (13).
How many recalls does the 1996 Buick Lesabre have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1996 Buick Lesabre, the most recent from July 1, 1996 (fuel injection system). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Lesabre?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 1996 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 1998 and 1997. See the full Buick Lesabre years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Buick Lesabre problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 95,000 miles; 23% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.