The 1997 Buick LeSabre has 46 fuel system complaints filed with NHTSA — 9% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.
46
Fuel System complaints
9%
Share of year
0
Crash-involved
1
Related recalls
Defect
A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.
“WHEN CONSUMER STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A HUGE EXPLOSION, THEN FIRE BROKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE BATTERY WAS STILL SMOKING, AND THE ENGINE AND WIRES WERE BURNT. RECALL 96V116000 WAS ISSUED FOR THE FUEL CARBURETOR MANIFOLD INTAKE. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT…”
NHTSA has 46 complaints about the 1997 Buick LeSabre fuel system — 9% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the fuel system: 96V116000.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.