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1986 Buick LeSabre

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 LeSabre.

The 1986 Buick LeSabre is a full-size sedan built on GM's B-body platform, with an oil capacity of 4 quarts using 20W-20, 10W-30, or 10W-40 viscosity grades, and it carried three safety recalls from this period. This model year recorded 22 total owner complaints, with engine and engine cooling issues representing the most frequently reported problem area. While the 1986 LeSabre predates the 1990-2006 complaint tracking window captured in the reliability data, the longitudinal trend shows a dramatic decline in owner complaints over time—from a peak of 698 in 2000 down to just 3 by 2006—indicating that later iterations of the LeSabre achieved substantially stronger reliability outcomes than earlier models like the 1986.

Model year2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1986

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type20W-20 / 10W-30 / 10W-40OEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175 alt 12731179
Engine air filter	24577608 alt 06484235
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued · alt 5651803
Spark plug	19366108 alt 19300749
Front wiper blades	22155381
Serpentine belt	22524186 alt 09433741
Thermostat	24506986 alt 03059081

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	196.1 in
Overall width	72 in
Overall height	55.5 in
Wheelbase	110.6 in
Curb weight	3131 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the LeSabre of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.30 sec — 1986 Custom Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1986	Custom Coupe 3.8L V6	10.30 sec	17.74 sec	150 hp	FWD
1987	T-Type Coupe 3.8L V6	9.80 sec	17.20 sec	150 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 20W-20 / 10W-30 / 10W-40 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	ABOVE 40 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	ABOVE 40 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	ABOVE 40 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi.

At 7,500 mi	Carburetor Mounting Fasteners (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The provided federal record does not include 1986; it begins with the 1990 model year, so there are no complaints, recalls, investigations, or TSBs available for the target year. Because 1986 predates the entire dataset, it cannot be compared to the surrounding years in this record or placed on the generation’s trend arc. The available data shows a later generation that generally rises in complaints and technical service bulletins through the mid-1990s, peaks around 1997–2000, then declines toward 2006, but this trajectory does not apply to the 1986 model. Without federal figures for 1986, any assessment of its reliability relative to these years would be unsupported. Given the absence of any target-year data in this record, the 1986 LeSabre cannot be confirmed as a good or bad buy based solely on this source.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 22 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling7

Service Brakes, Hydraulic3

Steering3

Tires2

Seat Belts2

Vehicle Speed Control1

Unknown Or Other1

Wheels1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

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… Remedy: 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…

89V102000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 16/06/1989

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.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific LeSabre. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 24577608 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 19366108

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1986 LeSabre take?

4 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 20 degrees F: 20W-20, 10W-30, 10W-40, 20W-40 OR 20W-50, ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40, BELOW 20 degrees F: 5W-20 OR 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1986 LeSabre have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.