RecallMyCar

1988 Buick Lesabre Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1988 Buick Lesabre, and owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
21
owner complaints to NHTSA
20
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 1988 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. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 89V102000 Reported 1,755,897 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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).

    Remedy: Install a new bushing in cruise control servo bail.

  2. Antilock (service brakes)

    NHTSA 88V067000 Reported 1,889 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Low torque of the brake hydraulic unit mounting bolts could cause increased brake pedal travel and/or poor pedal feel if attachment loosens.

    Remedy: Replace hydraulic unit mounting bolts.

  3. Seat belts

    NHTSA 88V006000 Reported 34,574 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Owners manual did not include instructions on proper usage of rear seat safety belt systems.

    Remedy: Furnish owners with updated owners manuals that contain the omitted instructions.

21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1988 Buick Lesabre have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 54,123 miles. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 8 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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 mi”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 27, 2007 · Seat belts

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 17, 2007 · Service brakes, hydraulic

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1988 Buick LeSabre. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20 mpg
City / Highway17 / 26
FuelRegular
EPA classLarge Cars
Engine6 cyl, 3.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

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 1988 Buick Lesabre

How do I know if my 1988 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 1988 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 88V006000).

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.