RecallMyCar

1981 Buick Lesabre Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1981 Buick Lesabre. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

3 safety recalls for the 1981 Buick Lesabre

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Cables (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 83V077000 Reported 19,108 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Accelerator pump lever retaining pin may loosen after repeated heavy accelerator pedal applications. This could cause the throttle to become stuck in the open position.

    Remedy: Dealer will install a special cotter pin, to retain the accelerator pump pin, and a spring clip thrust washer on the accelerator pump link.

  2. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 81V037000 Reported 93 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The power brake vacuum hoses may fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 106, "brake hoses". The material used in the hoses will not perform according to specifications. The purpose of this regulation is stated as, "to reduce death and injuries occurring as a result of brake system failure from pressure or vacuum…

    Remedy: The vacuum pump inlet and outlet hoses will be replaced free of charge.

  3. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

    NHTSA 80V125000 Reported 4,615 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The involved vehicles may have been assembled with a brake pedal support bracket which was designed for use in diesel engine vehicles. The incorrect bracket may cause the service brakes to remain partially applied, resulting in brake overheating and reduced braking effectiveness.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect vehicles and, if necessary, replace the pedal support bracket at no charge to owner.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1981 Buick Lesabre. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.

Compare Buick Lesabre model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Buick Lesabre model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1967 Buick Lesabre10
1970 Buick Lesabre20
1971 Buick Lesabre31
1972 Buick Lesabre10
1974 Buick Lesabre10
1975 Buick Lesabre30
1976 Buick Lesabre20
1977 Buick Lesabre31
1978 Buick Lesabre20
1979 Buick Lesabre21
1981 Buick Lesabre30
1982 Buick Lesabre11
1983 Buick Lesabre01
1984 Buick Lesabre25
1985 Buick Lesabre15
1986 Buick Lesabre216
1987 Buick Lesabre440
1988 Buick Lesabre321
1989 Buick Lesabre227
1990 Buick Lesabre046
1991 Buick Lesabre030
1992 Buick Lesabre2189
1993 Buick Lesabre1194
1994 Buick Lesabre0158
1995 Buick Lesabre1178
1996 Buick Lesabre298
1997 Buick Lesabre2394
1998 Buick Lesabre1400
1999 Buick Lesabre2209
2000 Buick Lesabre5669
2001 Buick Lesabre0328
2002 Buick Lesabre2310
2003 Buick Lesabre1164
2004 Buick Lesabre0162
2005 Buick Lesabre077
2006 Buick Lesabre03

Checking a specific 1981 Buick Lesabre

How do I know if my 1981 Buick Lesabre has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1981 Buick Lesabre; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Buick dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 80V125000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Buick models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.