1998 Buick Lesabre Consumer Reviews
Most Helpful Reviews
Positive Review
I bought a 1997 Buick Lesabre over three years ago with 55,000 miles and it was in great condition. It now has 117,000 and I recently bought new tires because this car will last a long time. The 3800 engine (3.8L) is one of the best engines ever made, as well as the transmissions. It's been used in 100's of cars over the last 10 years and it is very proven. If you are a used car buyer, the best way to search for a car is go and talk to your local mechanic who works on cars for a living. Ask them what are the proven and reliable cars and if they would buy what you are looking for. Also ask what they drive. If you mention the 3800 engine, it will always be a good response. Also..... this car is a very smooth drive and I like it because it's not over high tech..... and the more technology, bells and whistles a car has, the more that can go wrong with it. I plan to drive this car for at least 200,000 miles. I can change my own oil easily, and I recently changed the plugs and wires and it took me about 20 - 30 minutes. Since I bought it, the only repairs I had was the tension pully and serpentine belt wore out at 100,000 miles, and my son put on new brake pads. Is it my dream car.. no, but lets face it, I paid $5500 three years ago and if I maintine it right, it's like driving for the next 100,000 miles with no payment. Not a bad deal.
VS
Critical Review
We have owned this LeSabre for about 3 years, I was well pleased when we first purchased, but not after the plastic intake manifold's gasket failed without warning. If I had not caught this problem we would be looking for a new car, not just the costs of replacing this part. WARNING for all Buick owners that have the 3800 series engine, check the manifold for moisture often, the gauges wont show a problem even when there is a leak and if you aren't careful you'll end up without an engine.
1998 LeSabre Reviews
Showing 8 of 386 reviews.
Comfort, reliability, fuel economy
Intake gaskets / plenum
Just some background information: I love these cars. My current Lesabre is a 1998 Limited. I also had a 2004 and 2005 in the past. I currently own many vehicles and altogether have owned probably close to 30 cars at this point in my 11 years of driving. I keep going back to these cars. Purchased the 1998 from the second owners, bought new by an elderly couple who ran the car back and forth to Florida. Very well maintained and pampered by all owners including myself. Car has just over 80k miles. Interior is flawless. Exterior is free of dents and scratches. Absolutely no rust. Immaculate undercarriage. Visibility is great, no blind spots. 30+ mpg on the highway. Seats are like sitting on pillows. Very comfortable and roomy car. So simple and convenient to work on. No need to disassemble half the car to replace one part. I love the floaty ride you get from the Buick "dynaride" air suspension. I love the square dash and the warning lights being located up near the defrosters. I like how the dash wraps around and continues into the front door panels. People may consider this a grandpa car but as long as I'm happy, that's all that matters. I have friends, co-workers, and myself who have cars $70,000 and up but we all really enjoy this car. No leaks, no warning lights, no issues whatsoever, I would drive this car cross country right now. No vehicle is 100% perfect, these cars are no exception. These 3800 motors are excellent, ask anyone who has one. They do have a couple flaws. They have small "L" shaped plastic " elbows" that coolant flows through. There are two of them on either side of the belt tensioner as coolant does flow through the housing of the serpentine belt tensioner. These are known to deteriorate from age and engine heat. You can buy a pair of aluminum ones for under $15.00 as a permanent fix. Also, any GM car with the 3800 motor will more than likely need intake gaskets and/or the upper intake plenum replaced. The intake plenum is plastic and can melt around the egr port or warp from engine heat causing coolant leaks. They do make an aftermarket upgraded intake plenum to correct this. It's not the end of the world. I had a very minor coolant leak starting on my 1998. I'm a bookkeeper - not a mechanic and I decided to replace my intake plenum along with the best upper and lower intake gaskets I could buy. It was very easy after watching several videos and concluding how I was going to do it. My best suggestion is to check these faults out before you buy the car or just go ahead and replace them anyhow as preventative maintenance especially if you are keeping the car.
Easy to work on. Dependable, safe, reliable, good
Worn seats, faded dash, not many cons really.
I've had two of these cars in my lifetime this one is a '96 and the other a '95 and I hardly ever had problems breaking down or leaving me stranded. It's technically considered a classic now and although there's some rust underneath it and a crack in the fender it has no engine problems, no leaks, no ticks, or anything! Runs like a top! This '96 Buick has a 2006 Pontiac V.6 3.8 L motor in it which is the same size motor as the original. If you treat your car good, your car will be good to you. Love this car. Reliable. Dependable. Efficient. Effective. Safe. Easy-to-drive.
No issue I know of
I have enjoyed this car but my health is a factor in selling it My son in taken care of it for me and he has lots of knowledge about the car
Bought this car brand new in 1994. It now has 180k on it (published March, 2021). Best car I have ever owned. PROS - 3.8 L Engine - Transmission - Comfort - Reliability (overall) CONS - Lower intake manifold gaskets will need to be replaced - Rocker panels will rust - All of the 6 Sub-Frame bushings will fail and need to be replaced - Water pump replacement will require the engine to be lifted up 6 inches so removal and replacement can take place - Brake lines are steel and WILL RUST OUT! Buick should have installed stainless steel lines. - Gas lines are steel and WILL RUST OUT! Buick should have used plastic lines. Car has 180k and I have replaced the following: - 1 alternator - 6 brake lines (all brake lines, front to rear). - 2 master cylinder - 2 sets of rotors - Gas tank - Gas tank filler neck - Many sensors - etc.
Decent, drives smooth
Its has a 3800 motor in it
There are some small dents
The car is perfect fine. I would recommend of a friend to this, 9 of 10
Pretty reliable. Parts are cheap. Good engine.
A bit of an “old man” car. Poor steering feel
I’ve been driving a 1998 Buick LeSabre for about 10 years off and on. It has been quite reliable. Any repairs that I’ve had to make have been very cheap and they haven’t been numerous. I had to add some oil treatment to the power steering to get it to stop groaning, and mine does go through coolant a little bit. I think I have had to replace the radiator once or twice. General motors put a very bulletproof engine in these things. Even if you’re not good at taking care of a car it’ll probably get to 200,000 miles easy. I’ve seen similar Pontiacs another such with this engine with over 300,000 .
Engine, transmission
Rocker panels, lower intake manifold gaskets.
I purchased this car, brang new, back in October 1994. My car has always been adult driven and never in any accidents. The car has always been very reliable for the (now) 25 years I have owned it.
