The 1988 Buick Lesabre has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,792,360 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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).
SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
LOW TORQUE OF THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS COULD CAUSE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND/OR POOR PEDAL FEEL IF ATTACHMENT LOOSENS.
THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION OF BRAKEHYDRAULIC UNIT FROM ITS MOUNTING BRACKET AND RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTIONAND AN ACCIDENT.
REPLACE HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS.
OWNERS MANUAL DID NOT INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER USAGE OF REAR SEAT SAFETY BELT SYSTEMS.
VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FMVSS 209.
FURNISH OWNERS WITH UPDATED OWNERS MANUALS THAT CONTAIN THE OMITTED INSTRUCTIONS.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Recurring brake repairs: replacement of rear brake cylinders, brake shoes, machine drums. Mileage at each repair 10,953, 17,124, 25642, 37,753, 48,245. *ak”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1988 buick lesabre. The contact stated that all of the seat belts failed to engage. The dealer has not inspected the vehicle. The vin and engine size were unknown. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 73,000.”
“The steering has been hard since day one and consumer has been patching up vehicle to keep it running. The consumer took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told that the manufacturer made an aluminum rod for that year vehicle. It is rack and pinion steering. *ak *cb *nlm”
“American general gvs after market tires, p205/75r14 size. Tread on left front tire has started to separate from inside.*ak consumer stated left front tire had separating lumps in the inside of the tire, dot number ackc2y6308.*jb”
“While driving vehicle stalls without prior warning. *ak”
“Seat belt clasp failed. Manufacturer no longer carries that part. Dealer is unable to repair due to liablility. State requires seat belts, but vehicle owner is unable to get repaired to original condition. Doesn't seem right nor acceptable!! *ak”
“The roof of my 1988 buick lesabre is peeling and I was wondering if there is a recall to fix this problem?*ak”
“Driver's side door mounted seat belt buckle cannot be latched. *ak”
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
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Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1988 Buick Lesabre as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.