Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 224 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Buick LeSabre, and it carries 2 recalls. 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 62 | 28% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 23 | 10% |
| Power train | 22 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 19 | 8% |
| Air bags | 13 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 12 | 5% |
| Parking brake | 10 | 4% |
| Structure | 9 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 9 | 4% |
| Tires | 5 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLIN
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
1) DRIVING ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT AT 35MPH, SUDDEN AND HARSH THUD WAS FELT VEHICLE VEERED OUT OF IT'S TRAFFIC LANE, STEERING THE VEHICLE WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. OPERATED BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. 2) INSPECTION REVEALS BOTH
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I OWN A 1992 BUICK LESBARE LIMITED THAT I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE MORNING JAN 14 2003. THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW FREEZEING. I WAS ABOUT 3 MILES FROM HOME WHEN I HAPPENED TO LOOK IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED A
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V015000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES) AND STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS LEAKING TRAN
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND SUFFERED MODERATE NECK PAINS. TH
NHTSA complaint: Structure
92 BUICK LASABRE, BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED HARD TO AVOID ACCIDENT, HOWEVER WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR BECAME COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE BRAKES FADED TO NOTHING. FINAL
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK LESABRE. OCCASIONALLY THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT SECURE THE VEHICLE WHEN PARKED. THE FIRST FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2300. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED FOR ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, AN
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
MY CARS PAINT STARTED PEALING OFF AND NOW ALMOST THE ENTIRE TOP OF MY CAR HAS NO PAINT BUT A GRAY TYPE SURFACE AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE ROOF IS RUSTED. THAT'S JUST ONE THING. THE TRUNK OF MY CAR WHEN I OPEN IT LEAKS THE WAT
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1992 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Risk: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES.
Risk: DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE LEVER RELEASE AND ROADLEVEL. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING IT TO ROLL, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105.
Fix: REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.
| Reliability raw | 75 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 59 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 224 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 62 of them (28%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 75/100 (good) 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.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. 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.