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 204 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 40 | 20% |
| Service brakes | 17 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 16 | 8% |
| Seats | 14 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 12 | 6% |
| Structure | 11 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 10 | 5% |
| Steering | 9 | 4% |
| Seat belts | 9 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. IT SOMETIMES STALLS WHILE AT A STOPLIGHT OR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD/HIGHWAY. I HAVE HAD A COMPLETE TUNE UP ALONG WITH A FUEL PUMP, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, CAMSHAFT SENSOR, AIR MASS SENS
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN TRAFFIC, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED LEGS INJURIES THAT REQUIRE MEDICAL A
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
BOTH (DRIVER AND PASSENGER) FRONTAL AIRBAGS ON MY 1995 BUICK LESABRE DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON ON JUNE 27TH AND 28TH 2015. ON THE 27TH, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT. NO ONE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE LEAVING AN INTERSECTION I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL , I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND AND REALIZED I HAD NO STEERING THE WHEEL WAS TURNING ,BUT WITH NO CONTROL OF THE CAR . THE CAR HIT A TELEPHONE POLE THAT WAS I
NHTSA complaint: Steering
WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE IN PA, WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DISCHARGED IN MY WIFE'S FACE, THEN A FEW SECONDS LATER THE OTHER SIDE WENT OFF. WE PULLED OFF TH
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
AT 10:15 PM JUNE 21 2012 MYSELF THE DRIVER AND MY NEPHEW 12 YEARS IN AGE GOT DONE EATING AT RESTAURANT GOT IN THE 95 BUICK LESABRE ENTERED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION DID NOT TURN THE KEY OVER JUST PUT IT IN THE IGNITION S
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE STEERING BOX TO THE FRAME FRACTURED, CAUSING LIMITED CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SLOWLY TO THE DE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1995 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.
THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP LENS HAS AN INCORRECT AIM PAD NUMBER ON THE LENS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THESE HEAD LAMPS ARE RE-AIMED USING A MECHANICAL AIMING DEVICE THAT UTILIZES THE AIMING PAD NUMERS, THE RESULTANT AIM WOULD BE OUT OF THE SPECIFIED RANGE. THIS MAY
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP ON VEHICLES WITH THE CORRECT OUTBOARD LOWER PAD NUMBER.
| Reliability raw | 70 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 59 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 204 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 40 of them (20%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 70/100 (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 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 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 65/100. 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.