Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Buick Lesabre owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Consumer was pulling into a parking lot when she heard a loud boom. Then flames came from beneath the vehicle, said a witness. Consumer got out and vehicle caught on fire. In June the consumer received a recall notice which explained the failure that she experienced several months earlier.
Battery went down when clock left on because ignition was loose or faulty. So now I make sure clock is off when I shut it down. Car started up fine - drove it 6 miles - came back out to start it after an hour and nothing-no sound nothing-about 20 minutes later I tried it again and it started right up. There has been a grinding sound n cassette player with no cassette in it at one time. Dash lights lit up while driving so automatically thought there is short in dash board. Second time I put key in and nothing happened-no sound-nothing, when it finally decided to start this time I took to auto zone. First they said battery, but battery is pretty new, then another man said alternator. Got alternator from shop that rebuilds alternators and they don't think it is alternator. Rear defroster doesn't work and for some reason I think short or problem could be here, but not sure. …
Air bag design flaw - a life threatening design flaw. I am the original owner of a 1999 Buick Lesabre custom (purchased at the end of the model year). The car often spends time in the bright florida sun. Although I use a reflective windshield sun screen, the car still gets hot inside (as do most florida cars). Recently, the horn began to honk continuously. I took it into the orange Buick and GMC dealer in orlando fl. The problem is that the air bag has swolen up and compressed the horn relay. The air bag is broken and needs to be replaced. This is apparently a flawed air bag design, which must also endange people with this steering wheel/air bag design, living throughout the hot southern united states. …
Failure of car to start when ignition key turned. Still had lights & dashboard. This occured 9:00 at night and could have left me stranded. As it was, I had been with a group of folks and someone waited to follow me. Next day mechanic towed car to shop, unable to fix because he not set up for diagnostics. Referred me the GM dealer. Dealer determined theft deterrant module shot. Once fixed, two days later, security light showing on dash. Now we need a new key lock ignition cylander switch and key. My complaint is this could have been a situation where I could have been locked inside my car without a way to get out! This, in my mind, is a serious safety issue. These parts need to be recalled! I take good care of my car and it is not old. Therefore I see no good reason for these parts to fail. My bill will be approximately $700.00 per the garage estimate. …
In dec 2010 I turned on my rear window defroster on my 1999 Buick Lesabre. It did not work. After checking repair options in the auto manuals and on line, I still could not get it working. When my son came in for the holidays, we decided to check the wires at the rear window. We discovered a square unit attached to the body under the roof panel. This unit had an entry plug which was burned and an outlet plug leading to the grids on the rear window. It also had the radio antenna leading into it. The unit and the entry plug were burned. My wife and I both smelled something like a electrical at one time but did not know where it came from. What I am asking is that: could this unit cause a fire or be subject to a recall? I know it is in other GM cars as well as our Buick. The part in question is GM 25623688. I have since replaced my unit and repaired the wiring. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that while having maintenance performed for an oil leak, the technician noticed that the ignition switch cable was fractured causing the security system and electrical system to malfunction. The technician stated that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. However, the contact mentioned that after the repairs the vehicle failed to start until after several attempts and in several occasions it stalled while driving. The vehicle was taken back to dealer. The technician stated that the electronic part in the ignition was not communicating with the key. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
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. I did have one especially dangerous situation with a semi-trailer truck behind me on the highway when the vehicle just died.
1999 Buick Lesabre. Consumer writes in regards to defective ignition switch- anti theft wiring issues. The consumer stated the ignition switch had to be replaced. An examination revealed that one of the anti-theft wires was broken and the second wire had the protective insulation coating cracked through to the copper wire. It appeared that rotation of the cylinder had chafed over time and compromised the integrity of both wires and the cause the security dash light to illuminate and the vehicle not to start.
Electrical complaints in other Lesabre years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1999 Buick Lesabre?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the electrical system of the 1999 Buick Lesabre, 13% of the model year's 209 complaints. The component named most often is horn (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Buick Lesabre electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1999 Buick Lesabre, though it has 2 recalls 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 1999 Buick Lesabre electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 6 fires and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.