Most common 1999 Buick Lesabre problems
Share of the 209 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 →
1999 Buick Lesabre recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 3800 v6 (l36) engines and certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, the regulators have a much higher than usual rate of fuel leaks. A leak can allow fuel to enter the intake manifold through a vacuum line.
Remedy: Dealers will install new fuel pressure regulators with improved diaphragms. The recall will be conducted in phased mailings. Phase 1 began on June 30, 2004, and phase 2 began on September 30, 2004.
Power train › Automatic transmission
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 4t65e automatic transmissions. These vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of FMVSS no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence." a retaining clip, which secures the manual valve to the linkage of the transmission detent lever, can become loose under a combination of…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the manual valve/link assembly with a replacement manual valve/link kit, featuring a spring-type fastener.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 1999 Buick Lesabre:
Transmission shift lever sequence
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 1999 Buick Lesabre owners say
Engine & cooling all 73 →
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. When my friend looked at my car he said it was the plenum again, but this time the coolant in the oil May have wiped the main bearings. The overheating May have also warped the cylinder heads. He told me at the least there was damage done to the bearings. Being upset I looked online for information to find that this problem is common with that engine. Also that GM didn't acknowledge the problem. …
1999 Buick Lesabre v6 3.8l engine, 82,000 mi. Had been experiencing some surging, no other symptoms. 8/05 drove home, parked car, went out next morning and auto would not start. Towed to dealer service dept. Who found "water in cylinders". Used "stop leak" as temporary repair. 11/05 engine again locked, unable to start. Water in cylinders, water in oil. Contacted Buick customer service who suggested engine replacement or purchase of new vehicle. Independent mechanic informed me of "class action" suit due to faulty manifold intake and other engine defects. Have contacted attorney handling the suit. Suit involves "k" series 3.8l engines, various models and years. For now, I need a new engine. As realtor and mortgage lender, I work through my car!
Electrical system all 28 →
The event leading to the incident involved turning on the rear defroster. After turning on the rear defroster I smelt smoke and burnt electronics. The rear window would not defrost. I turned the car off and pulled off the panel near the wire running to the rear windshield and discovered the "power radio amplifier" had melted and caught fire, resulting in burns to the panel and complete loss of radio and rear defroster. This of course made it impossible to defrost the rear windshield. A replacement part was bought and installed by myself (the wiring harnesses and cables needed to be repaired due to severe burning as well). I still own the old burnt part.
The owner went out to the vehicle to leave and the vehicle would not start. He then contacted the auto club and they came out and attached jumper cables. When the owner turned the ignition as instructed by the mechanic he immediately heard a "bang" followed by a fire. Please provide any additional information.
Fuel & propulsion system all 28 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Buick Lesabre. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle 5 -10 minutes later. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump was malfunctioning. The fuel pump was replaced. After the fuel pump replacement, a strong fuel odor was detected in the vehicle while driving or parked. The vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel ring was causing the fuel odor. The ring was replaced, but the issue persisted. The contact took the vehicle back to the independent mechanic who stated that the fuel tank and fuel neck were the possible cause of the continuing fuel odor, and both parts needed replacement. The contact had the fuel tank and fuel neck replaced, but the fuel odor continued. …
The car would occasionally smell like gas during acceleration. It also skipped frequently when going up hill. I was driving down the street when the car stalled. I pulled to the side of the road and the engine compartment erupted in flames. The car was a total loss. It was only after the fire that we discovered that there was a fuel system recall in sept. 2004. I bought the car from a GM dealer in oct. 2004 and never received a recall notice nor was I made aware that there was such a problem with this model.
1999 Buick Lesabre engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Buick Lesabre a good car?
Based on 209 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Lesabre rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Lesabre at the same age. 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 1999 Buick Lesabre?
The engine & cooling — 73 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the electrical system (28) and fuel & propulsion system (28).
How many recalls does the 1999 Buick Lesabre have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1999 Buick Lesabre, the most recent from February 24, 2004 (delivery). 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 1999 Buick Lesabre problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 76,000 miles; 26% 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.