1990 Buick LeSabre

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

71/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Buick LeSabre, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Electrical system	9	15%
Service brakes	8	13%
Vehicle speed control	7	12%
Seat belts	6	10%
Engine and engine cooling	4	7%
Fuel system	4	7%
Seats	3	5%
Steering	3	5%
Tires	3	5%
Visibility	2	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

THE FRONT MOUNTING BRACKET NEAREST TO THE DOOR, FOR THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT FRACTURED AROUND THE MOUNTING BOLT. THIS ALLOWED THE SEAT TO ROTATE BACKWARD. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Seats

THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF THE PAST 5 YEARS, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS SITE WAS AVAILABLE, SO SUBMITTING NOW. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Steering

WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING THERE IS A CONSTANT SOUND OF AIR ESCAPING. THERE IS AN ANTICIPATION OF THE VEHICLE BACK FIRING AT ALL TIMES. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND USE TWICE AS MUCH FUEL.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

I HAVE A 1990 BUICK LESABRE THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH TILT WHEEL. ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE...I HAD NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. ANYWAY, I THOUGHT "WELL, THE CAR IS JUST AGING" AND DIDN
NHTSA complaint: Steering

THE BRAKES ON A 1990 BUICK LESABRE FAILED IN THE DEALER LOT WHEN I WENT TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR. THEY ASSURED ME THEY WOULD REPAIR THE BRAKES AND CALL ME WHEN THE CAR WAS READY FOR SALE. AFTER THE REPAIR, I PURCHASED THE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *NLM
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CROSSED A ROADWAY, AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO A REPAIR SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1990 Buick LeSabre. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Fuel system 06E043000

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE

Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

The seven scores

Reliability raw	87	excellent
Longevity est.	81	excellent
Maintenance	75	good
Depreciation	54	average
Performance	59	average
Efficiency	36	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 60% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 77% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 51% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 30% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 87: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 81: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1990 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 75: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1990 Buick LeSabre?

Owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 9 of them (15%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1990 Buick LeSabre reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1990 Buick LeSabre last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1990 Buick LeSabre?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.