IllustrationCONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOSE. ONE ON THE LEFT WAS REPLACED AT 28,000 MILES, AND THE OTHER WAS REPLACED AT 49,000 MILES. ONE OF THE TIE RODS REPLACED WAS ON WARRANTY. BUT, CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE SECOND ONE. THIS WAS NOT NORMAL FOR A 2001 VEHICLE.*AK
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 reportsTHE REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE . *AK *JB
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR STOPPED. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE RESULT OF A "DEFECTIVE BEARING THT CAME APART IN THE FINAL DRIVE OF THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING METAL CONTAMINATION THORUGHOUT THE TRANSAXLE." THIS WAS THE ANALYSIS OF AUSTIN TRANSMISSION. CAR IS A 2…
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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR STOPPED. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE RESULT OF A "DEFECTIVE BEARING THT CAME APART IN THE FINAL DRIVE OF THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING METAL CONTAMINATION THORUGHOUT THE TRANSAXLE." THIS WAS THE ANALYSIS OF AUSTIN TRANSMISSION. CAR IS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE WITH 50,000 MILES. AUSTIN TRANSMISSION SAYS GM HAS "UPDATED PARTS" - PARTS WHICH REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. NO TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL AT 50,000. THIS CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN BY TEENAGERS. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR - AGE 65 BUT I WAS DRIVING IT THAT DAY. *AK
VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAKSINSIDE THE ENGINE. *AK
OPERATING MECHANISMS ON THE REAR WINDOW BROKE CAUSING THE WINDOW TO GO DOWN AND STAY DOWN. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE MECHANISM. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OTHER REAR WINDOW DID THE SAME THING. I THINK THE CABLES ARE DEFECTIVE. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE MECHANISMS? WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE AN IDLER PULLEY AFTER 40,000 MILES.
ROTORS WERE BADLY RUSTED BEFORE CAR HAD 30000 MILES ON IT CAUSING POOR BRAKING AND EXTREME VIBRATION OF CAR WHILE DRIVING. NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL ROTORS AND BRAKES AT 30000 MILE CHECK UP. LEARNED THAT GM HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH RUSTY ROTORS DUE TO ELIMINATION OF CHROMIUM IN THE IRON ALLOYS DURING MANUFACTURING OF ROTORS. VERY COST…
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ROTORS WERE BADLY RUSTED BEFORE CAR HAD 30000 MILES ON IT CAUSING POOR BRAKING AND EXTREME VIBRATION OF CAR WHILE DRIVING. NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL ROTORS AND BRAKES AT 30000 MILE CHECK UP. LEARNED THAT GM HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH RUSTY ROTORS DUE TO ELIMINATION OF CHROMIUM IN THE IRON ALLOYS DURING MANUFACTURING OF ROTORS. VERY COSTLY 30000 MILE CHECK UP AND GM AND DEALER REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROBLEM RATHER THEY SAY ITS "ENVIRONMENTAL". DID NOT HAVE ACCIDENT BUT DID HAVE PROBLEM BRAKING A HIGH SPEEDS. SINCE THIS IS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT I FEEL GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE SUBSTANDARD EQUIPMENT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO THE REGULATOR SHOR…
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WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO THE REGULATOR SHORTING OUT AND THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT OUTER TIE RODS BEING LOOSE. *SC *JB
VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. *MR THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT MOVE FORWARD IN GEAR AND MADE A RATTLING NOISE. *SC *JB
REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS ALLOWS THE VEHICLE'S REAR WHEELS TO LEAVE THE PAVEMENT.*MR WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH AND HITTING ROUGH OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THE REAR OF THE CAR SEEMED TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL LIKE IT WAS HITTING A PATCH OF ICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND FLUID IN THE AIR BAG OF THE REAR SHOCK AB…
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REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS ALLOWS THE VEHICLE'S REAR WHEELS TO LEAVE THE PAVEMENT.*MR WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH AND HITTING ROUGH OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THE REAR OF THE CAR SEEMED TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL LIKE IT WAS HITTING A PATCH OF ICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND FLUID IN THE AIR BAG OF THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS. THE REAR SHOCK WERE REPLACED WITH MONROE SHOCKS. *NM
FRONT INNER BARAKE PADS FRICTION MATERIAL CAME LOOSE FROM BACKING PLATE, IMPEDING BRAKE OPERATION. *AK
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.