2001 Buick Lesabre

2001 BUICK LESABRE (42K MILES) THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR AND MOTOR FAILED WITH THE WINDOW IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE $330 FOR THE PART. I DECIDED TO FIX ON MY OWN BY ORDERING THE PART ONLINE FOR $100. I INSPECTED THE ORIGINAL AND NOTED THE USE OF PLASTIC TO DRIVE THE CABLE IN THE MOTOR HOUSING. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW - THERE IS NO WAY THIS WILL HOLD UP TO TIME AND USE. UNLESS THIS IS REVIEWED AND ADDRESSED BY THIS COMMISSION I WILL HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING WITH THE SAME PROBLEMATIC PARTS. GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I BELIEVE THIS WARRANTS A REVIEW. THANKS. *JB

2001 BUICK LESABRE, WINDOW REGULATOR ON FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVERS SIDE BROKE, CAUSING WINDOW GLASS TO DROP RAPIDLY. ON INSPECTION SAME PIECE BROKE ON BOTH, THE TOP PLASTIC GUIDE FOR THE REGULATOR MOTOR CABLE. INSTALLED AN AFTERMARKET PART AFTER FINDING OUT BUICK REPLACES REGULATOR WITH IDENTICAL FAULTY COMPONENTS. AFTERMARKET HAS BEEFED UP GUIDE ON REGULATOR. BOTH FAILURES WERE CAUSED BY NORMAL USE. WINDOW GLASS CANNOT BE SECURED AFTER REGULATOR FAILURE WITHOUT REPLACEMENT. PARTS WERE EXCHANGED DURING PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT. *JB

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 65000 MILES AFTER HAVING ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED ONCE. INITIALLY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TRIED TO BLAME ME FOR THE FAILURE BUT AFTER DEALER DISASSEMBLED TRANSMISSION FOR INSPECTION IT WAS COVERED. ALSO, HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD, RADIO AND STEERING WHEEL CONSTANTLY FAILING, 2 WINDOWS HAVE FAILED IN THE OPEN POSITION, THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT STOPPED WORKING AT 50,000 MILES. THE ONLY THING THAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED IS THE HEATED SEAT. DEALER SAYS IT COSTS TOO MUCH TO FIX. I BOUGHT THE BEST EXTENDED WARRANTY THE DEALER OFFERED AND STILL HAVE TO FIGHT TO GET THINGS FIXED. THIS IS THE LAST TIME I BUY AMERICAN. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IDLING AND EVENTUALLY FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FIVE OR SIX TIMES BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. ONCE A YEAR, FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.

I FOUND THE REAR DRIVER'S WINDOW OPENED ON MY 2001 BUICK LASABRE AND I TRIED TO CLOSE USING THE ELECTRIC CONTROLS - IT WOULD NOT CLOSE. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT VANDALISM BECAUSE I RARELY USE THAT WINDOW. I COULD PULL THE WINDOW UP WITH MY HANDS BUT IT WOULD SLIDE DOWN. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE WINDOW WITH ELECTRIC CONTROLS. CALLED MY DEALER NOECKER BUICK-PONTIAC INC WHO TOLD ME TO FIX THE WINDOW THE REGULATOR (GM#15231245) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REGULATOR COST ME $301.80 PLUS TAX (NOT INCLUDING LABOR). I HAD IT FIXED ON JUNE 20, 2005. THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR THAT DAY WAS 50170 MILES. TWO DAYS AGO ON MARCH 21, 2006 I FOUND THE PASSENGER'S REAR WINDOW OPENED. THE WINDOW WAS INOPERABLE USING THE ELECTRIC CONTROLS. I CAN SLIDE THE WINDOW UP USING MY HANDS AND DUCT TAPE IT SHUT UNTIL I GET THE WINDOW REPAIRED. THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR TODAY IS 57350 MILES. MY FRUSTRATION IS BOTH REAR WINDOWS ARE RARELY USED AND BOTH NEEDED THE REGULATOR REPAIRED. I JUST CALL NOECHER AGAIN AND THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY RECALLS OR "SPECIAL" INSTRUCTION FROM BUICK TO HELP US OWNERS IN THIS SITUATION. AGAIN, THE PERSON ON THE PHONE SAID MOST LIKELY IT WOULD BE THE REGULATOR BUT WILL NOT KNOW FOR SURE UNTIL THEY INSPECT THE WINDOW. I ANTICIPATE ANOTHER $439.99 BILL COMING (INCLUDING PARTS, LABOR AND TAXES). I SEARCHED THE INTERNET INCLUDING THE NHTSA.DOT.GOV WEBSITE AND NOTICE THIS WINDOW/REGULATOR PROBLEM IS COMMON. I FEEL BUICK SHOULD COMPENSATE THE OWNERS OF 2001 BUICK LASABRE FOR THE FAULTY REGULATORS. *NM