NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
31 reportsClear category filter8,276 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
52,000 miles · Jan 2, 2005
Power Train
ON MY 2001 BUICK LESABRE, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. SINCE WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY ARE REPLACING IT WITH A USED TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS A CONCERN SINCE I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY MILES IT WILL HAVE ON IT. IN ANY EVENT, I DO NOT THINK A TRANSMISSION SHOULD GO OUT AT 50,000 MILES, AND SINCE IT HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSE…
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ON MY 2001 BUICK LESABRE, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. SINCE WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY ARE REPLACING IT WITH A USED TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS A CONCERN SINCE I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY MILES IT WILL HAVE ON IT. IN ANY EVENT, I DO NOT THINK A TRANSMISSION SHOULD GO OUT AT 50,000 MILES, AND SINCE IT HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED IT TO END UP AT THE DEALERSHIP, I AM CONCERNED TAKING IT ANY DISTANCE. THE REASON I PURCHASED A BUICK WAS RELIABILITY, BUT IT HAS BEEN THE MOST UNRELIABLE CAR I HAVE OWNED (I AM 53), AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION GO OUT AND HAVE OWNED CARS SINCE I WAS 18. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10104954
Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2004
Power Train
VEHICLE 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
NHTSA ODI #10103120
50,200 miles · Dec 3, 2004
Power TrainVisibility
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
NHTSA ODI #10102065
25,561 miles · Oct 27, 2004
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #10099051
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2004
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #10101427
50,962 miles · Aug 24, 2004
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #10088495
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2004
Power Train
VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. *MR THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT MOVE FORWARD IN GEAR AND MADE A RATTLING NOISE. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10083744
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2004
Power Train
WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10081495
37,869 miles · Nov 3, 2003
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #10046204
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