IllustrationTECHNICIAN 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
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 reportsWHEN 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, INS…
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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 AN…
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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 BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE TIRE ROD SNAPED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH
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.