Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Buick Lesabre owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
After taking the vehicle to dealer for a recall repairs, vehicle was cutting off, and the check engine light was on. Vehicle idled roughly. Consumer told mechanic that this problem did not exist prior to bringing it in for the recall repairs, and was told that it would go away on its own. The vehicle transmission failed .
Transmission slips after being engaged for 24 miles or more . This happens at start up from a standing stop(stop sign etc.) it has happen only 4 times this year. Dealer unable to say what is wrong or repair needed.has anyone got a idea what it is?
After owning the car for approximately 3 weeks I was comuting to ny from my residence in nh. The cars transmission was not responding well. I arrived near finchburg massachusettes when I decided to turn back home. Power and response were very inadequate.my wife called the dealership where I dropped off the car in exeter nh (not the selling dealer..but a Buick/GM dealership that they recommended to have check it out since it was still under the manufacturer warranty. After inspection and a full diagnosis by the certified GM mechanic, he informed me that the "transmission was toast". They made a full repair by replacing the existing transmission. They believed it would have been impossible to rebuild considering the nature of the problem. Further, my wife did a through check prior to making an offer to purchase the vehicle. …
When turning the steering wheel the wheel appears to click or knock. This begam shortly after I had the vehicle in to have the transmission repaired as it was shuddering after stopping and starting. I contacted the service people at the boise larry miller Buick place, where I had transmission fixed. I was told it was not serious and they would check it when I brought it in for service. But it concerns me, and I need to know if it is serious.
While driving at 50 MPH, driver heard a very loud noise coming from the left rear side . When vehicle was checked by dealership, the left wheel rear bearing had gone bad. The wheel bearing was replaced by dealership. Consumer stated a booster assembly was needed.
While driving, vehicle will stall without warning. Took vehicle to dealer, and dealer could not find the cause of problem. There is a technical service bulletin TSB #87-65-14 to flash PCM with updated calibration as a result of an intermittent stall.
Car shifts from drive to overdrive with lot of noise, and will chatter a little. From a cold start. It won't move just vibrate and shatter. Took to dealer, and they said it was valve body that needed to be replaced.
Vehicle was leaking antifreeze. Intake manifold was replaced to stop the leak as well as the transmission was replaced. Dealer, on a previous occasions, repaired a hole in the radiator.
Intake manifold material melted around erg valve, letting coolant into engine. Shop was repairing another vehicle with the same problem at the same time.
Transmission replaced due to hesitation,stalling and surging, replacement transmission performs the same, several repairs attempts with no remedy. Mjs
Transmission complaints in other Lesabre years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1998 Buick Lesabre?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1998 Buick Lesabre, 5% of the model year's 400 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Buick Lesabre transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 1998 Buick Lesabre, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Buick Lesabre transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 98,000 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.