1995 Buick Lesabre: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 178 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (24% of complaints); the 1996 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 1995
1
recalls
178
owner complaints
3
fire reports
100,000
typical failure mileage, mi
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Problems tend to appear late (median 100,000 mi)Weak spot: air bags (24%)3 fire reports
Common problems
Computed from 178 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
Air Bags (airbags and crash sensors)24% · 40 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)10% · 17 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic (brakes)10% · 17 complaints
Structure (body, frame, doors, rust)7% · 12 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling (engine, radiator, overheating)7% · 11 complaints
Seats6% · 10 complaints
“The vehicle stalls without warning. It sometimes stalls while at a stoplight or while driving down the road/highway. I have had a complete tune up along with a fuel pump, crankshaft sensor, camshaft sensor, air mass sensor and god knows what else. I have tried to find out who else has had the problem and they are many and the only common factor is that no one has found a resolution. Thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 1995 buick lesabre. The contact stated that while in traffic, the passenger air bag inadvertently deployed without warning. As a result, the passenger sustained legs injuries that require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2015
“We were driving down the interstate in pa, when the airbag light came on. About ten minutes later the driver's side airbag discharged in my wife's face, then a few seconds later the other side went off. We pulled off the highway, got out of the car, raised the hood, unplugged the horns, started the engine and continued to our destination for 3 hours. As we continued up the highway the rain begun to enter the car and filled up the floorboard of the car mainly on the passenger side. We called our insurance company the next morning to get a claim started but it may not be covered, drove the car back home for over 800 miles and researched what to do. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2013
Show 7 more owner reports
“At 10:15 pm june 21 2012 myself the driver and my nephew 12 years in age got done eating at restaurant got in the 95 buick lesabre entered the key in the ignition did not turn the key over just put it in the ignition sat there for about a minute and talked about what we were going to do next a minute later there was a loud boom looked over to see that the passenger side airbag went off injuring my nephew he suffered really bad bruises to both legs and a nasty bruise to his stomach. Me the driver is having a emotional break over the incident. And my nephew suffering from injuries that hinders some activities he could do during his summer break. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 1995 buick lesabre. The contact stated that while sitting in he vehicle while parked, the passenger and driver side air bags deployed haphazardly and a child was injured from the air bag deployment. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic where the mechanic stated that the entire air bag system needed to be replaced. The contact did not call the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 196,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2011
“While leaving an intersection I was traveling down a slight hill , I heard a strange sound and realized I had no steering the wheel was turning ,but with no control of the car . The car hit a telephone pole that was installed to hold up 4 mailboxes . The engine carriage of the car that is bolted to the frame separated from the frame past the bolts causing the steering connection to come apart , the car is totaled . Thank you gm/ buick engineers . *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2011
“Tl* the contact owns a 1995 buick lesabre. The contact was driving 25 mph when the bolts that held the steering box to the frame fractured, causing limited control of the steering. The vehicle was driven slowly to the dealer who advised the contact that the bolts were fractured but the technician also advised that they would not make any repairs due to the age of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who drilled a new hole replaced the older bolts. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 225,000.”Owner report · Steering · Jul 2011
“Tl* the contact owns a 1995 buick lesabre. The contact stated that the ignition switch failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in the manufacturers recall due to the year of the vehicle. The failure mileage was 48,000. Updated 9/3/14*cn updated 11/26/2014 *js”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2011
“The insulation on the wires of the fuel sending unit, inside the fuel tank, melted to expose bare wiring causing fuel pump to short out. Signs of excessive heat melting the wiring harness/connector, inside the fuel tank, also obvious. Signs of this happening include fuel gauge indicator showing past the full mark and voltage indicator being pulled down to between 7 and 9 volts.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Nov 2010
“Driving my 1995 buick lesabre I drove down and up a slight road variation and then heard a noise I turned right to get to my office upon making the turn I lost all steering I got the car off the road and looked the whole undercarriage cradle was sitting near the ground / I had the car towed .. Upon further inspection the bolts of the cradle( under engine supports were broken. Thank god I wasn't driving on a highway surely myself or someone would have been killed or injured. This car model has many other cases of similar defect I saw on line. This car should be banned from the roads. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jun 2010
When filing, owners marked a crash in 13 of these complaints and injuries in 25 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS95V158000 · Aug 1995
THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP LENS HAS AN INCORRECT AIM PAD NUMBER ON THE LENS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP ON VEHICLES WITH THE CORRECT OUTBOARD LOWER PAD NUMBER.
How other years compare
Check your exact Lesabre by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1995 Buick Lesabre reliable?
NHTSA has 178 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 1995 Buick Lesabre. The most complained-about area is air bags (24% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1995 Buick Lesabre problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 100,000 miles or less.
Does the 1995 Buick Lesabre have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.