1986 Buick Lesabre Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1986 Buick Lesabre has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,862,008 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 89V102000 1989-06-16 1,755,897 affected
Defect

A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).

Consequence

SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 86V131000 1986-09-19 106,111 affected
Defect

THE PUSH PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF…

Remedy

REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
2
1crashes3injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
1
STEERING:COLUMN
1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
1
Total complaints20

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Buckle to front driver's side seat belt doesn't latch. Spring in buckle is broken. Part is commonly used in all gmc vehicles. *ak”

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY · reported 2001-05-23

“Engine shut off while driving. Dealer contaced and was aware of the problem. *ak”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · reported 1999-12-07

“No summary listed for this vehicle. *ak”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 1999-06-16

“Consumer was traveling about 70mph on highway and without prior warning left rear tire blewout, consumer's vehicle ran into another vehicle head-on.vehicle was totaled. *ak there were three people injured in accident, the bridgestone/firestone triump I tires, tuwsrs, dot number 00061298 only had…”

TIRES:TREAD/BELT · reported 1999-04-01

“Seat belt buckle will not lock in place. When putting the latch in it, it slips right out. Took to dealer and they don't sell the part anymore. *ak”

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY · reported 1995-12-23

“Tilt steering column bolts work loose over time. *dsh”

STEERING:COLUMN · reported 1995-09-20

“Vehicle stalls when driving. Tt”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · reported 1995-09-06

“Vehicle stalls when driving. Tt”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · reported 1995-09-06

Defect investigations

Investigation C89001 Opened 1989-03-06 · closed 1990-01-16

THROTTLE NON-RETURN

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA87022 Opened 1987-08-27 · closed 1991-11-27

STALLING

SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO…

Investigation EA88019 Opened 1988-01-28 · closed 1990-10-31

HYDRO BOOST

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA89028 Opened 1989-07-28 · closed 1990-07-27

REAR BRAKE PIN

SUMMARY:THESE VEHICLES HAVE REAR DRUM BRAKES.THE PARKING LEVER PIVOTPIN IS HELD BY AN E RING.WHEN THE RING FAILS, PARTS OF THE RING ANDPIN FALL LOOSE INTO THE DRUM AND MAY JAM THE BRAKE, LOCKING THE WHEEL.A STRONGER E RING IS USED IN 1988 AND NEWER CARS.THIS INVESTIGATIONHAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE GMS C BODY CARS…

Investigation EA90017 Opened 1990-03-26 · closed 1991-04-22

BRAKE FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE87038 Opened 1987-07-09 · closed 1988-01-28

HYDROBOOST FAILURE

SUBJECT VEHICLES:CAPRICE, CAPRICE CLASSIC, CUSTOM CRUISER, DEVILLE,ELECTRA, ESTATE WAGON, FLEETWOOD, LESABRE, NINETY-EIGHT, PARISIENNE,PARK AVENUE.(ALL 1984-86 GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDROBOOST II SYSTEMS)ANALYSIS:CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGE SEVERAL PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE POWERSTEERING AND POWER BRAKE SYSTEMS OF…

Investigation PE87041 Opened 1987-08-04 · closed 1987-11-30

THROTTLE SYSTEM FAILURE

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:GM REPORTED KNOWLEDGE OF 137OWNER COMPLAINTS, 317 FIELD REPORTS, AND 2 LAWSUITS, IN ADDITION TO THEREPORTS RECEIVED DIRECTLY BY THE NHTSA.THE REPORTS RECEIVED BY GM CITETHE OCCURRENCE OF 263 ACCIDENTS,INCLUDING 77 INJURY ACCIDENTS, 100 INJURIESAND 1 FATALITY.SEVERAL POSSIBLE…

Investigation PE88107 Opened 1988-09-22 · closed 1989-02-09

POWER STEERING HOSE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE89098 Opened 1989-03-10 · closed 1989-05-17

ANTI LOCK BRAKES

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Investigation PE89101 Opened 1989-03-15 · closed 1989-07-28

REAR BRAKE PIN

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Investigation PE89171 Opened 1989-09-26 · closed 1990-03-26

BRAKE FAILURE

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Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1986 Buick Lesabre as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.