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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

7 reports
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35,771 miles · May 1, 2008
Exterior Lighting

WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS DEPRESSED, IT STAYS IN! IE., IT DOES NOT POP BACK OUT LIKE IT SHOULD. EVERY TIME I LEAVE THE CAR, IT TAKES 20 MINUTES FOR THE HEADLIGHT TO GO OUT AUTOMATICALLY. NOTE: I TRIED TO CHECK ON RECALLS ON YOUR WEB SITE, BUT IT DOES NOT SHOW LESABRE AS ONE OF THE MODELS OF MY 2001 BUICK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226416

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2005
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT 2001 BUICK LESABRE LIGHTS MALFUNCTION. *TS (11/16/05) THE LIGHTS WOULD GO DIM. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10143203

8,276 miles · Jun 3, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

2001 BUICK LESABRE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT SET, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD NO REVERSE ABILITY, WATER LEAKING FROM THE COOLANT PUMP, SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED, LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THERE WAS A WHISTLING SOUND COMING FROM AROUND THE WINDOW AREA DUE TO A REVEALING M…

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2001 BUICK LESABRE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT SET, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD NO REVERSE ABILITY, WATER LEAKING FROM THE COOLANT PUMP, SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED, LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THERE WAS A WHISTLING SOUND COMING FROM AROUND THE WINDOW AREA DUE TO A REVEALING MOLDING PIECE, THE STEERING FELT FUNNY AND WAS NOISY WHEN TURNING, THERE WAS ALSO A CLUNK IN THE STEERING, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE RIGHT AND LEFT TIE ROD END, THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT, THE RIGHT REAR CENTER BULB WAS OUT, THE ORIGINAL BATTERY HAD LEAKED ACID CAUSING A HOLE IN FLOOR UNDER THE BACK SEAT, THE LIGHT SWITCH STUCK IN THE ON POSITION, AND THE RIGHT FRONT MARKER LIGHT OUT. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10124783

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2003
Exterior Lighting

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

NHTSA ODI #10019518

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2002
Exterior Lighting

UNABLE TO TURN OFF HEADLIGHTS USING LIGHT SWITCH UNTIL IGNITION SWITCH IS SWITCHED OFF. HAD CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8002113

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2002
Exterior Lighting

AT NIGHT, RAINING, ON INTERSTATE 95 NEAR FREEPORT, ME DRIVER FIDDLING WITH WIPER SPEED CONTROL (HE THINKS), HEADLIGHTS GO OUT FOR 2 TO 4 SECONDS (IT SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY) AND THEN COME BACK ON. WAS ABLE TO REPEAT WHILE PARKED, LATER THAT NIGHT, ALSO RAINING. HAWE NOT TRIED TO REPEAT. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL BUICK DEALER (NOT THE…

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AT NIGHT, RAINING, ON INTERSTATE 95 NEAR FREEPORT, ME DRIVER FIDDLING WITH WIPER SPEED CONTROL (HE THINKS), HEADLIGHTS GO OUT FOR 2 TO 4 SECONDS (IT SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY) AND THEN COME BACK ON. WAS ABLE TO REPEAT WHILE PARKED, LATER THAT NIGHT, ALSO RAINING. HAWE NOT TRIED TO REPEAT. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL BUICK DEALER (NOT THE ONE PURCHASED FROM). MECHANIC UNABLE TO REPEAT, EVEN BY BLOCKING LIGHT SENSOR ON DASH AND SQUIRTING WATER ON RAIN SENSOR ON WINDSHIELD. MECHANIC SAYS HE CALLED SOMEWHERE IN GM AND WAS TOLD THAT IN MAINE, IT IS REQUIRED THAT HEADLIGHTS COME ON WITH WIPERS. REFERRING TO DRIVER'S HANDBOOK, NOTED THAT SETTING THE "TWILIGHT" CONTROL TO OFF MIGHT CAUSE PROBLEM BUT DRIVER DOES NOT RECALL FIDDLING WITH THAT KNOB. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT TWILIGHT KNOB HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY SET TO ZERO. THIS CAR HAS EVERY POSSIBLE OPTION, WANTED OR NOT AND IS PRESUMED TO BE IDIOT-PROOF. IT IS HOWEVER A VERY SCARY SITUATION AND I WANT IT FIXED PLEASE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #756433

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2001
Exterior LightingPower Train

THE VEHICLE VIBRATED NAD THERE WAS NO SECOND GEAR AND NO REVERSE, DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION.*YH

NHTSA ODI #563709

Official recalls

0

No 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

1

EA02030 · 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.