Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 LeSabre.
Defining the 1983 Buick LeSabre by its mechanical baseline, the engine requires a 4-quart oil capacity utilizing 20W-20, 10W-30, or 10W-40 viscosity fluids for proper operation. This straightforward service profile is matched by exceptional dependability, as the model year recorded zero recalls and only a single owner complaint concerning the hydraulic service brakes. When contextualized within the broader LeSabre complaint history spanning 1990 to 2006—a timeline that saw a turbulent peak of 698 complaints in 2000 and a low of just 3 in 2006—the 1983 model's near-flawless record firmly establishes it as a benchmark of reliability in the nameplate's lineage.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
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.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Sport Coupe 5.7L V8 | 12.20 sec | 18.40 sec | 170 hp | RWD |
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, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil | 80W-90 · GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 4.3 qt |
| 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 |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The provided federal year-by-year record spans 1990 through 2006 and displays a clear upward trajectory in complaints, TSBs, and investigations that peaks at 698 complaints and 5 recalls in 2000 before tapering to near-zero levels by 2006. The 1983 model predates this entire dataset, sitting outside that arc, with the only available target-year metrics being a single service brakes, hydraulic complaint alongside zero crash and zero fire complaints. Because the data does not specify a root cause for the lone brake complaint and records no other defect categories, no further failure patterns can be inferred. Relative to the dense complaint and recall activity documented from 1990 onward, 1983 carries a minimal federal footprint. Consequently, based solely on the federal record, 1983 appears to be a good year to buy.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
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.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.