Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1984 LeSabre.
The 1984 Buick LeSabre operates with a 4-quart oil capacity using 20W-20, 10W-30, or 10W-40 viscosity. This specific model year recorded two recalls and seven total owner complaints, with the primary area of concern being Engine & Engine Cooling. When placed within the model's overall complaint history from 1990 to 2006, which saw a high of 698 complaints in 2000 and a low of 3 in 2006, the 1984 iteration demonstrates a low volume of reported issues.
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 1984 Buick LeSabre falls outside the federal record dataset provided, which begins in 1990—six years later. However, the 1984-specific complaint data shows Engine & Engine Cooling issues (4 complaints) and Fire complaints (4) as the primary concerns, with zero crash complaints reported. The year-by-year trend from 1990-2006 reveals a significant spike in complaints beginning around 1997 (440 complaints) and peaking in 2000 (698 complaints, 5 recalls), with TSBs exploding from 57 in 1999 to 361 in 2000 and continuing upward to 583 by 2006. This suggests the later-model LeSabres (1997-2006) experienced substantial reliability issues, likely related to aging platforms and evolving powertrain technologies. Since the 1984 model predates this problematic period and shows relatively modest complaint numbers with no crashes, it represents a simpler, pre-electronics era that may offer better long-term reliability despite its age—though the lack of crash data for 1984 specifically limits full confidence in that assessment. This is a good year to buy if seeking a classic, uncomplicated American cruiser, provided a thorough pre-purchase inspection confirms the engine and cooling system are in good condition given the noted complaint areas.
All 7 complaints on record, top 4 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
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.
RUBBER FUEL HOSE COULD ALLOW A SLOW FUEL LEAK WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE RUBBER FUEL HOSE.
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 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.