Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Buick LeSabre, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling18
- Electrical system14
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Air bags8
- Fuel system, gasoline7
- Vehicle speed control6
- Power train6
- Structure6
- Suspension5
- Steering4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 7 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 1996 LeSabre vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1996 Buick LeSabre failed the safety check 2.47% of the time — 68% more often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 107,247 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 11.4 L/100 km (about 21 mpg US), CO₂ 262 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeSabre · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 13.6 | 8.7 | 11.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Buick LeSabre.
| 1996099 11 Jul 1996 | Engine THESE VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING THAT CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSS… |
| 1995195 30 Oct 1995 | Lights And Instruments THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 114 - LOCKING SYSTEM AND 208 - SEAT BELT INSTALLATIONS. THE MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE M… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.
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. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER CHIME REMINDER FUNCTIONS, INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES ARE ALSO AFFECTED.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Buick told its dealers about the 1996 Buick LeSabre: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634813 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A REPEAT ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK. *TT |
| 620835 | EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE ENGINE COOLANT CONSUMPTION, OR AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK NEAR OR UNDER THE THROTTLE BODY AREA OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TT |
| 619370 | OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT |
| 619177 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A REPEAT ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK. *TT |
| 619176 | ENGINE COOLANT CONSUMPTION OR COOLANT LEAK (INSPECT FOR MATERIAL DEGRADATION/REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLDS) *TT UPDATED 11/02/07 *NJ |
| 6089996 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT |
| 603085 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THERE IS CORROSION ( RUST ) APPEARING ON THE LEFT AND /OR RIGHT ROCKER PANEL(S). *YC |
| 602751 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE VEHICLE |
| 601769 | INFORMATION ON GROWLING NOISE IN TRANSAXLE DURING FIRST FOUR MINUTES AFTER START UP. *YC |
| 601398 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT ON A GAP BETWEEN THE PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (PSIR) MODULE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TRIM PLATE. *YC |
| 601052 | EXPERIENCING A TRANSAXLE GEAR WHINE NOISE ON COAST DOWN OR LIGHT ACCELERATION BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MPH. *YC |
| 54421 | EXPERIENCE A TRANSAXLE GEAR WHINE NOISE ON COAST DOWN OR LIGHT ACCELERATION. *YC |
| 54328 | EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STEERING COLUMN SNAP OR CLICK NOISE WHEN TURNING. *YC |
| 54327 | COMMENTS OF AN ENGINE OIL LEAK THAT APPEARS TO ORIGINATE TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE; REAR OF ENGINE. *YC |
| 54285 | EXPERIENCING A TRANSAXLE GEAR WHINE NOISE ON COAST DOWN OR LIGHT ACCELERATION. *YC |
| 54065 | COMMENTS ON INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS (FRONT AND/OR REAR DOORS). |
| 54063 | COMMENTS THAT THE PARK BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT SETTING CORRECTLY OR RELEASING PREMATURELY WHILE TRYING TO SET THE PARK BRAKE. *YC |
| 54062 | COMMENTS ON INSUFFICIENT RANGE OF THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM. *YC |
| 53015 | WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED FORCE OR ENGINE LOAD MAY AFFECT AND CAUSE VARIOUS NOISES. *YC |
| 52603 | INTERMITTENT A/C SYSTEM THUMP NOISE ON INITIAL START UP FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PANEL (REPLACE ACCUMULATOR). *TW |
| 52600 | CLN INDICATOR APPEARS ON RADIO DISPLAY AND DOES NOT TURN OFF (RESET CLN INDICATOR WITH THE EJECT BUTTON ON TAPE). *TW |
| 52564 | EXCESSIVE VIBRATION OF ELECTROCHROMIC INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR. *TW |
| 51497 | COLD START RATTLE NOISE (DIAGNOSIS/SERVICE PROCEDURE). *TW |
| 51296 | INTERMITTENT NEUTRAL OR LOSS OF DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR FROM FOURTH GEAR (REPLACE CONTROL VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY). *TW |
| 51240 | A/C SYSTEM FLUTTER AND/OR MOAN NOISE WITH HVAC IN A/C MODES. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation