Fuel System complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2005 Buick LeSabre. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the fuel gauge sensors failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the fuel gauge sensor failed to provide adequate information regarding the fuel level. The fuel warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, there was an abnormal humming sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the front driver's side hub bearing had failed to function as intended. The contact had replaced the hub bearing three times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,647.
The first incident was around 40,000 miles. The gas gauge would not work, after filling it up the gauge would "stick" or the hand would drop down to the thermostat needle. Very erratic. Carried it to the dealer and naturally, everything appeared to be working. 52,000 miles and the gauge is dead - of course the warranty was out also. It was explained that I would have to replace the entire cluster of gauges and I could not afford that at the time. Car now has 79,000 miles, I have been using the odometer so I will know when I need gas. A few weeks ago, looked at the speedometer and it read my speed as 120 MPH. I immediately pulled over and at a dead stop, the speedometer was setting on 60 MPH. Now I am concerned about the entire cluster readings. The thermostat will jump up to the red, hot reading which is wrong. …
I've owned 5 Buick lesabres, and continue to run two of them (2002 Lesabre with about 180,000 miles, and 2004 Lesabre with over 80,000 miles VIN: [redacted] for the 2004, and [redacted] for the 2002). Both currently owned lesabres have fuel gauge problems. My 2002 showed erratic inaccurate readings, but now is flatlined at empty, even if the tank has just been filled. My 2004 is showing the opposite reaction, showing full, even after a full trip should be sending it toward an empty reading. Something similar happened on a previous Lesabre I owned, and cost me a new fuel pump & gauge running nearly $500. This is obviously a common occurrence if I've had it occur on 3 of five lesabres I've owned. It's also a very common complaint on the internet. Just recently on the 2002, I ran out of gas in the middle of heavy traffic due to gas gauge inaccuracy. Fortunately it was a low speed region. …
While driving home my fuel gauge stopped working. When I got home I turned the car off and then back on and the fuel gauge was now in the 6 position on a clock. Now I have no idea if there is any fuel in the car or not. Luckily I reset the trip meter with every fuel up so I know I can go approximately 300 miles. Although in the winter when we have to idle our car so the fuel mileage goes down and I do not get as many miles on a tank. Hope I don't run out of fuel during the winter. In reading online reviews about this issue it turns out it can get worse and cause the speedometer to stop working. Then I May be speeding and not even know it. I did try and have it fixed but the guy charged me $207 and it did not fix the problem. At the local GM dealership they said they would repair it for $350.
I was driving and proceeded to slow down as I did I heard a loud noise I continued driving about 3 miles when I smelled something burning. I stopped for a red light and noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood on the driver side. I pulled into a parking lot where the car proceeded to ignite on fire and burned before the fire department got there. I had no previous problems with car before this incident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that the fuel leaked on occasion. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic, who diagnosed the failure. The dealer was notified and offered no assistance. The manufacture was not notified. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 110,000. Updated 09/05/12 the consumer stated the fuel leaked from the plastic fuel line located under the hood over the engine. The entire line from the injection entry to the firewall was replaced with high pressure rubber fuel hoses. Updated 09/05/12
I have had issues with my vehicle's oil leaking then burning/smoking off my car. This issue is on my engine's manifold & hasn't been recalled even though the same engine is recalled on other GM models. The engine on my Lesabre is the same 3.8 liter v6 3800 engine that was recalled twice by GM in the past 6 years. My engine had minimal fire in the incidents I experienced but quite a bit of smoke from the area the oil leaks. Once I kill the engine the smoke stops. GM wants to charge for a diagnostic check & wouldn't recognize the issue on the very same engine, viewing it as just a vehicle not recalled even if it has the same faulty part. It caused my car's catalytic converter to fail as it burned through. A fix is costly, so I went to my own independent mechanic to save myself money since GM does not want to take care of issues that they recalled. …
I found out that this gas line leakage issue exist in everyone that I know with this model vehicle. There is a fuel line clip that can be replaced. The clip is inserted at the end of the fuel line that connects to the engine but this clip doesn't last very long once replaced. Eventually the clip won't work anymore as if it is the fuel line itself that is bad. This issues seems to be a defect in this model Buick and is dangerous. I'm just wondering how can such an issue never been on the Buick recall list for this model car. Most people that have this car say that they have smelled the gas fumes and didn't know what it was. The gas actually leaks/ drip from the fuel line's clip onto the hot engine. ( can you say very dangerous) this is a lawsuit waiting to happen!
Related 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.
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.
NHTSA investigations
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Buick Lesabre years have fuel system problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1998 (76), 2000 (60), 1997 (40), 1999 (28) and 2001 (17) model years. Fuel System complaints make up 19% of all complaints for the 1998.
Is there a recall for Buick Lesabre fuel system problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 04V-090 (delivery, Feb 24, 2004); 96V-116 (fuel injection system, Jul 1, 1996). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Buick Lesabre fuel system problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles; 25% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the delivery (43 mentions), followed by the carburetor system (32).
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.