IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH. THE ALUMINUM RIM EXPLODED. HOWEVER, THE TIRE WAS NOT DAMAGED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB
2001 Buick Lesabre
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Lesabre years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Buick Lesabre are substantially higher than the model-year median of 24.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lesabre years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
300–25K
4025–50K
5750–75K
2575–100K
34100–150K
16150K+
202 reports with mileage · 126 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports22 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
328 reportsVEHICLE WAS RUNNING BUT TRANSMISSION FAILED TO CHANGE GEARS WHILE SHIFTING. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR CARRIAGE BAN, AND THE SUN GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED DURING A STRORM, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. INFORMED DEALER THAT WIRING WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE 25704865 ARM, WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE TRANSMISSION MOTOR SHAFT STRIPPED THE THREADS. THIS PART WAS REPLACED, NOT THE WIRING. *AK
WE HAVE HAD 2 BUICK LESABRES AND BOTH HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOW REGULATORS. THE WINDOW GETS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION AND WE ARE UNABLE TO RAISE THE WINDOW. WE HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW REGULATOR TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.*AK
RIGHT OUTTER TIE ROD END FORND TO BE LOOSE. DEALER DESCRIBED AS "UNSAFE". VEHICLE MIALEAGE 33675.*AK
THE KEYS TURNED IN THE IGNITION BUT VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. THERE WAS A GAS SMELL. ALSO, ENGINE FELT LIKE IS WAS FLOODING. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
WITHIN A ONE WEEK PERIOD, BOTH OF THE POWER WINDOWS COLLAPSED ON MY MOTHER '01 BUICK LESABRE. I HAD TO MANUALLY PULL UP THE GLASS AND TAPE IT IN THE "UP" POSITION. EVEN SO, THE INTERIOR BECAME VERY WET WHEN IT RAINED A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. TWO OF MY FRIENDS ALSO OWN BUICKS, ALBEIT CENTURY'S, AND THEY HAVE ALSO HAD THE REAR W…
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WITHIN A ONE WEEK PERIOD, BOTH OF THE POWER WINDOWS COLLAPSED ON MY MOTHER '01 BUICK LESABRE. I HAD TO MANUALLY PULL UP THE GLASS AND TAPE IT IN THE "UP" POSITION. EVEN SO, THE INTERIOR BECAME VERY WET WHEN IT RAINED A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. TWO OF MY FRIENDS ALSO OWN BUICKS, ALBEIT CENTURY'S, AND THEY HAVE ALSO HAD THE REAR WINDOWS FALL DOWN WITHIN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. AT A COST OF $500 PER WINDOW TO REPAIR!*AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A TRANSMISSION NOISE, IT STARTED AS A BEARING NOISE AND CONTINUALLY BECAME LOUDER. *BF THE NOSIE PROGRESSED TO A GROWLING NOSIE WHILE IN 4TH GEAR AND IN REVERSE. THE PROBELM WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE PLANETARY SUN GEAR ASSEMBLY. *JB
THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *NM THE BEARING NOISE HAD CONTINUALLY GOTTEN LOUDER EVENTUALLY PROGRESSING TO A GROWLING NOISE IN 4TH GEAR AND WHILE BACKING IN REVERSE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE OWNER REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS WHICH WERE PURCHASED FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SELF SEALED BALL JOINTS WOULD REMEDY THIS DEFECT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE NEW BALL JOINTS ARRIVED FROM THE MANUFACTURER, THE OWNER CUT THROUGH THE NEW BALL J…
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THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE OWNER REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS WHICH WERE PURCHASED FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SELF SEALED BALL JOINTS WOULD REMEDY THIS DEFECT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE NEW BALL JOINTS ARRIVED FROM THE MANUFACTURER, THE OWNER CUT THROUGH THE NEW BALL JOINTS AND THEY HAD NO GREASE SEALED IN THEM AT ALL. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.