TECHNICIAN INDICATED THE ORIGINAL ANTIFREEZE WHICH GM USED IN THE BUICK LESABRE DAMAGED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE HEAD GASKET. BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FUMES FROM THE TOXIC ANTIFREEZE CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO EXPERIENCE NAUSEOUSNESS AND DIZZINESS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *MR
2001 Buick Lesabre complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2001 record →
WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS PRESSED DOWN IT POPS BACK UP. *AK
LEAKS COOLANT. DEALER SAID IT NEEDED AN INTAKE VALVE REBUILD KIT, APPROX. $600. *AK
THE LEFT AND RIGHT TIE ROD WORE BADLY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO WANDER WHILE DRIVING. *AK *NLM CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS HANDLING RIGHT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GET NEW TIRES AND LEARNED THE TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE. *PH
I AM REPORTING WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE 2001 BUICK LASABRE. TONIGHT MY HUSBAND'S BUICK LASABRE WAS PARKED ON AN UPHILL SLOPE. HE POPPED THE TRUNK AND IT WENT UP WHEN HE POPPED IT (AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO). HOWEVER, AS I THEN WENT TO PUT A PACKAGE WITHIN THE TRUNK, THE TRUNK LID CRASHED DOWN ON MY HEAD, INSTEAD OF LOCKING IN A UPWARD POSITION AS IT SHOULD HAVE. I STILL HAVE QUITE A HEADACHE FROM THE IMPACT. EVIDENTLY THIS IS NOT AN INFREQUENT OCCURRENCE; MY HUSBAND SAID THAT HE FEELS THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE MECHANISM WHICH SHOULD HOLD THE LID UP. HE SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED ON AN UPHILL SLOPE. BECAUSE I RARELY DRIVE HIS CAR OR PUT ANYTHING IN THE TRUNK, IT IS THE FIRST TIME I WAS AWARE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. WHEN THIS HAPPENED TONIGHT, MY HUSBAND TOLD ME THAT HE HAD REPORTED THIS DEFECT TO BUICK SOME TIME AGO BUT NEVER GOT A RESPONSE. I SHUDDER TO THINK OF THE TRAGEDY WHICH COULD HAVE OCCURRED IF I HAD BEEN HOLDING ONE OF MY THREE SMALL GRANDCHILDREN AS THE LID CAME CRASHING DOWN ON ME. I DO HOPE YOU INVESTIGATE THIS POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS SITUATION AND SEE THAT BUICK DOES SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *LA
VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER DISCOVERED METAL DEBRIS IN TRANSMISSION PAN. DEALER CLEANED PARTS, REPLACED SUN GEAR AND CARRIERS. RECONDITIONED TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY.*AK
THE CONSUMER REPORTED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS WITH THE VEHICLE. 1)THE TIE ROD ON THE RIGHT SIDE SHIMMIED WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH OR MORE. 2. WHEEL BEARINGS WERE MAKING A HUMMING SOUND WHEN DRIVEN AT 30 MPH. 3. THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND IN THE BRAKES WHEN BRAKING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INVOLVING 2001 BUICK LESABRE. *MR THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS OCCURRED WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACES AND AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE SOLENOID VALVE WAS REPLACED IN THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER IT DID NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE TIRE ROD SNAPED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH
CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH
LTR FM DENIS TWOMEY INQUIRING IF BUICK (TSB) NO. 02-02-008, CORRECT OUTER TIE ROD END REPLACEMENT PART USAGE IS IN EFFECT. TSB# 02-02-32-008. DURING A NYC VEHICLE INSPECTION, THE TIE RODS WERE FOUND TO BE LOOSE. *SCC *CB *JB
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO A TIRE SHOP CENTER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THEY INDICATED THE TIE RODS WERE NOT GOOD. THE CONSUMER THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS.*AK . THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE.*TS *JB
VOLT LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, "CHECK CHARGE SYSTEM" NOTICE WAS DISPLAYED. CAR BEGAN TO STALL. JUST MADE IT TO NEAREST GM (CHEVY) DEALER BARLOW CHEVROLET INC RT 130 & FAIRVIEW ST,DELRAN, NJ 08075. HAD TO WAIT 3 HOURS WHILE NEW ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR WAS LOCATED AND INSTALLED.*AK
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. ALSO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE SHOP, AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. *AK PH *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS USING MORE OIL THAN USUAL. *TT THE CHANGE ENGINE OIL LIGHT HAD COME ON 300 MILES SHORT OF THE 3K MILES TO TRAVEL, WHEN THE CONSUMER TESTED THE OIL, IT WAS 1QT LOW. AT THE END OF THE COMPUTER TEST, THE MILEAGE WAS 14650K MILES. WHEN THE OIL WAS CHECKED AT 829 ADDITIONAL MILES FROM THE LAST VISIT, IT WAS 1/4QT LOW. THE CONSUMER TALKED TO MANY OTHER BUICK OWNERS AND DID NOT FOUND ANOTHER (SAME MAKE/MODEL) WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *SCC *JB
2001 BUICK LESABRE HAS LOOSE TIE ROD ENDS. *MR TSB 02 02 32 008 WAS ISSUED TO CORRECT OUTER OUTER TIE ROD END REPLACEMENT PART. THE VEHICLE HAD LOOSE TIE ROD ENDS DURING INSPECTION. (THE TIE RODS HAD WORN AND WAS REPLACED) *SCC *JB
BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING OUT AND WHEN APPLIED VEHICLE WILL HAVE A HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
THE VEHICLE USED A QUART OF OIL BETWEEN EVERY OIL CHANGE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *JB
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ONCE AT 7000 MILES AND FAILED AGAIN AT 23,000 MILES. BOTH REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *MR *TS *NLM
THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, THEY HAD BEEN FIXED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE DEALER CHANGED THE BULB AND DETERMINED THERE WERE NO OTHER PROBLEMS. *JB
THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING SNAPPED WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO WOBBLE AND MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *JB
BUICK LOST THE BBB DECISION AND DID NOT PERFORM WITHIN THE 40 DAYS ALLOTTED TO REPLACE THE CAR. THE CAR HAS MULTIPLE SAFETY DEFECTS (AIR BAG, TRANSMISSION, BRAKING) THAT THE BBB SAID COULD CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. THEY WANT TO BUY BACK THE CAR AND INSPECT IT SO IT CAN BE RESOLD. *NLM
THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 7000 MILES, AND AGAIN AT 26,000 MILES. *JB....*AK
DURING ROUTINE SERVICE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE 3 HOLD DOWN BOLTS WERE MISSING ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. *TT *JB
CONSUMER WOULD TOUCH THE DOOR AND RECEIVE A STATIC ELECTRICAL SHOCK. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH THE MECHANIC CAN NOT CORRECT. PH
2/9/2001 PURCHASED BUICK LESABRE 1/19/2003 TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ITSELF FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE WHEN EXITING OWNERS GARAGE. 34,000 MILES ON CAR 1/27/2003 ADVISED BY BUICK DEALER THAT TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION. RETURNED TO OWNER AT THIS TIME. 1/28/2003 "NEW" TRANSMISSION SELF DESTRUCTED AT 25 MPH. BUICK DEALER ADVISED THAT A FOREIGN OBJECT HAD CAUSED DAMAGE. 1/31/2003 CAR WITH THIRD TRANSMISSION RETURNED THIS DATE. WE'RE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. *JB
THE CONSUMER'S TIRE JACK IS BROKEN. SCC
WHEN COASTING CONSUMER CAN HEAR A LOUD WINDING NOISE WHICH CAUSES A DISTRACTION. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH
POWER TRAIN - TRANSMISSION. 3.8 LITER ENGINE, TRANSMISSION GEAR FAILURE AT 40,610 ACTUAL MILES ON THE ODOMETER, RESULTING $2,993.00 REPAIRS AT BUD AND RAY'S TRANSMISSION, 237 WEST LAKETON AVENUE, MUSKEGON, MI 49441. ENGINE NUMBER [XXX]. I NOTED THAT THERE ARE A FEW OTHER COMPLAINTS, ON THE RECALL WEB SITE, RELATING TO THE TRANSMISSION (POWER TRAIN). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
CONSUMER STATES WAS HIT FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEATS SHOOK BACK AND FORTH EXCESSIVELY CAUSING OCCUPANTS TO HIT HEADS ON ROOF OF VEHICLE. COLLISION WAS VERY MINOR AND SEATS SHOULD NOT HAVE MOVED. TS
THE HORN DOESN'T SOUND FOR ME AND DEALER SAYS IT CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED BECAUSE OF AIR BAG IN STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE ARTHRITIC HANDS AND CAN NOT PUSH THE HORN HARD ENOUGH OR IN THE CORRECT SPOT TO USE IT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. DEALER SAID THEY HAVE HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. DT
VARIOUS BUICK DEALERS HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 30MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
IN AN EMERGENCY IT IS VERY HARD TO LOCATED THE POSITION OF THE HORN. CONSUMER HAS HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS, WHERE SOMEONE WAS ABOUT TO BACK INTO HIM AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SOUND THE HORN IN TIME. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE HORN IS OF POOR DESIGN. *NLM THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HORN ALSO REQUIRES TOO MUCH PRESSURE TO SOUND. *SCC
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF WITH OUT ANY NOTICE. CONTACTED DEALER. NLM
WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP, CONSUMER NOTICED DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED FORWARD WHILE TURNING CORNERS. CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE, SEAT MOVING SIDE TO SIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS A HARSH DOWN SHIFT WHEN MERGING ON TO A FREEWAY OR GOIND UP A HILL. SHIFTS DOWN TO LOWER GEAR. THE SOLENOID WAS REPLACED AND THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS UPDATED BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE HARSH ENGAGEMENT. ONCE IN A WHILE THE HARSH ENGAGEMENT HAPPENS WHEN GOING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FLUSHED DUE TO SEDIMENT. THE REAR BRAKES STILL MOAN AND ARE SQUEAKY AT LOW SPEEDS. THEY WERE HOSED OFF TO REMOVE THE EXCESS BRAKE DUST FORM THE ROTORS. THE BRAKES PULSATE WHEN BRAKING HARD ON FREEWAYS OR CITY STREETS. THE STEERING LABORS ENGINE WHEN TURNING A CORNER OR BACKING UP. THE POWER STEERING HYDRAULIC HOSES WERE REPLACED. *JG
CAR FAILED TO START AND UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. REVERSED KEY AND CAR STARTED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, CAR DID NOT START BUT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. REVERSED KEY AND CAR STARTED. I'M CONCERNED AS TO DEFECT IN IGNITION THAT MIGHT FAIL AT A FUTURE DATE.*AK
WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE WILL HAVE A HARSH DOWNSHIFT, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO GO INTO SECOND GEAR, BUT GO BACK INTO FIRST GEAR.CONTACTED DEALER.CANNOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK
THE REAR ROTORS WERE HANGING UP, MAKE NOISE, PULSATE, AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT END VIBRATES, THE DOOR ASSEMBLY IS MISALIGNED, STICKS OUT, AND NOISY, THE TIRE WAS CHANGED BUT FAILED BALANCE AND THERES A VIBRATION, THE ENGINE STUMBLES/STALLS, THE INTERIOR CLOTH BY THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE-3 TIMES, CAN HEAR A MOAN COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD, THE ONSTAR ANTENNA FELL APART, THE TORSION ROD VIBRATES, THE STEERING SHUDDERS AT SLOW SPEEDS AND ON TURNS AND THE HOSE/BULLETIN # 99-02-32-007A, POWER STEERING, AND HYDRAULICS HAVE BEEN REPLACED-8 TIMES, THE A/C BLOWS HOT AIR/BULLETIN #990139-004A, AND THE VEHICLE POPS/BANGS WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND MAKING TURNS, THERES A RATTLE NOISE FROM UNDER VEHICLE/POSSIBLE EXHAUST OR AIR PUMP-CAUSE: INTERMEDIATE EXHAUST PIPE RATTLING (INTERNAL) FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO OXIDATION CATALYTIC CONVERTER-REPLACED, WHEEL ALIGNMENT (PULLS TO THE LEFT), THERE WAS A RATTLE NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PILLAR MOLDING/REMOVED THE A-PILLAR TRIM AND INSULATED/ALIGN/AGAINST UPPER DASH, AND GETTING POOR FUEL ECONOMY/IDLE AIR CONTROL-REPPACED. *SCC
THE DRIVER'S SEAT WILL LURCH FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND WILL LURCH BACKWARDS WHEN STOPPING OR APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK THE LEFT FRONT SEAT MOVES FORWARD ON ACCELERATION, IS NOT INSULATED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND FLOOR/REMOVED LEFT SEAT INSULATED AND REINSTALLED. THE PIVOT POINT ON THE DRIVER'S IS LOOSE CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACK. THE ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY, FRONT SEAT POWER SPLIT SEAT-REPLACED. *SCC
I HAVE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT. THE BELT KEEPS GETTING CAUGHT IN THE FLOOR RETRACTOR. WHEN I TRY TO PULL THE BELT UP TO USE, IT GETS STUCK AND HAS TO BE TUGGED ON 5-6 TIMES TO GET IT TO RELEASE. ORANGE BUICK FIRST LOOKED AT IT ON 4/25/02 AND CLAIMED, "BELT OUT OF PLACE CAUSING LOCK TO ENGAGE R&R AND REPOSITION LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR." THAT DID NOT FIX IT AND I BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN ON 7/1/02. THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER A NEW BELT AND REPLACE IT. SUPPOSEDLY, BUICK REALIZED THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM AND HAD REDESIGNED THEIR BELTS. THE REPLACEMENT BELT WAS INSTALLED ON 7/16/02, AND WORKED OKAY FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, AND HAS STARTED THE SAME PROBLEM ALL OVER AGAIN. BECAUSE IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, THEY CAN'T SEEM TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, BUT I KEEP GETTING CAUGHT WITH IT. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT ONE OF THESE TIMES, THE BELT WILL NOT RELEASE AFTER 5 OR 6 TUGS AND THEN I WILL BE FORCED TO DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT THE SEATBELT ENGAGED, WHICH IS BOTH ILLEGAL AND VERY DANGEROUS.*AK
CONSUMER HAS A CONCERN ABOUT THE DEFROSTER QUITTING WHILE IN MOTION. IT JUST STOPS WORKING AND USUALLY STARTS AFTER AN HOUR OF VEHICLE USE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE.*JG
WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ON AND VEHICLE WILL GO DOWN A HILL OR A SMALL INCLINE VEHICLE WILL START TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT CONSUMER INCREASING THE SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOAD AND ALARM SYSTEM CAME ON. WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER HIT HORN AND CENTER PIECE POPPED UP. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *SLC
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE REAR. THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE REAR SEAT HIT THEIR HEAD ON THE REAR DECK ABOVE THE SEAT. CONSUMER FEELS THAT SEATS ARE NOT HIGH ENOUGH AND HEADRESTS ARE NEEDED FOR THE REAR SEATS TO ENSURE PASSENGER SAFETY WHEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. PASSENGER WAS WEARING A SAFETY BELT, BUT RECEIVED HEAD INJURIES. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT THE CONSUMER IN THE REAR WAS TRAVELLING LESS THAN 20MPH. ESTIMATED DAMAGE WAS $2500.00. *SCC
AIR BAG BROKE PLASTIC BUT DID NOT INFLATE; NECK INJURY RESULTED FROM WHIPLASH. *AK
HORN BUTTON IS NOT SENSITIVE ENOUGH, AND HORN BUTTON IS TOO SMALL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE.*JB
THE FRONT END SUSPENSION CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO JERK, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND THE LEFT WINDOW FAILED. *AK *NLM
CONSUMER STATES HORN VERY DIFFCULT TO USE. THE CONSUMER HAS TO USE EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO MAKE IT WORK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM *YH
UNABLE TO TURN OFF HEADLIGHTS USING LIGHT SWITCH UNTIL IGNITION SWITCH IS SWITCHED OFF. HAD CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2001 Buick Lesabre → · Every Lesabre year → · How the figures are calculated →