Turned the key in ignition just past click and heard a loud bang in engine under hood. I looked under the car and seen flames. Within 18 minutes the whole car was in totally on fire. The volunteer fire department came and put it out. We did a search on the internet and discovered we are not the only ones to experience this.
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
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.
Unknown Or Other complaints
16 reportsREAR WINDOW FALLS DOWN. KNOWN PROBLEM IN BUCKS. VERY COSTLY TEMPORARY FIX AS WINDOW WILL NOT STAY UP FOR LONG AND WILL FALL DOWN AGAIN. MY DAUGHTER HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME FROM SCHOOL IN 10 DEGREE WEATHER AFTER THE WINDOW FELL DOWN. BUICK AND GOVERNMENT PROTECTION AGENCY SHOULD BE ASHAMED.
DASH PEELING UP AT WINDSHIELD ON DRIVERS SIDE ABOUT HALF WAY TO PASSENGERS SIDE
MY DAUGHTER, SON-IN-LAW, AND GRANDSON STOPPED AT MY MOTHER'S HOUSE FOR JUST A FEW MIN. THEN THEY WERE GOING TO DRIVE ON TO MY HOUSE. WE ALL LIVE WITHIN 5 MILES OF EACH OTHER. THEY WERE ALL INSIDE MY MOM'S HOUSE WHEN THEY HEARD AND EXPLOSION. AFTER LOOKING OUTSIDE, THEY SEEN THE CAR ON FIRE. THEY ARE LUCKY TO BE HERE. ITS A …
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MY DAUGHTER, SON-IN-LAW, AND GRANDSON STOPPED AT MY MOTHER'S HOUSE FOR JUST A FEW MIN. THEN THEY WERE GOING TO DRIVE ON TO MY HOUSE. WE ALL LIVE WITHIN 5 MILES OF EACH OTHER. THEY WERE ALL INSIDE MY MOM'S HOUSE WHEN THEY HEARD AND EXPLOSION. AFTER LOOKING OUTSIDE, THEY SEEN THE CAR ON FIRE. THEY ARE LUCKY TO BE HERE. ITS A MIRACLE. YOUR COMPANY SHOULD HAVE TO COMPENSATE THEM FOR MALFUNCTIONING PARTS.
THE DASH PAD IS PEELING AND WARPING AND I FOUND A SITE THAT TOLD ME TO REPORT IT HERE AS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH SEVERAL YEARS OF THE LESABRE.
THE GAS HAND SAID IT WAS FULL, WHEN I DROVE OFF THE PARKING LOT.. I DIDN'T GET OFF THE ROAD, WHEN THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS. CARS BLOWING HORNS.
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR POWER WINDOW MOTORS, THE DASH IS COMING APART AND IS RAISED BLOCKING SOME VISIBILITY AND POTENTIALLY AFFECTING THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN AN ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT BRAKING VIBRATION / PULSATION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON ALL FIVE OF MY BUICK LESABRES
ALL POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED.
IN JUST A FEW WEEKS THE DASH BUCKLED UP ALMOST SIX INCHES BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WINDSHIELD. CONTACTED GM/BUICK AND THEY GOT THE LOCAL DEALER ON THE PHONE WITH US. NEITHER WOULD DO A THING EXCEPT GIVE ME A QUOTE OF $1000 FOR REPLACEMENT. AFTER CHECKING SEVERAL FORUMS ON THIS ISSUE, IT APPEARS THERE IS A DEFI…
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IN JUST A FEW WEEKS THE DASH BUCKLED UP ALMOST SIX INCHES BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WINDSHIELD. CONTACTED GM/BUICK AND THEY GOT THE LOCAL DEALER ON THE PHONE WITH US. NEITHER WOULD DO A THING EXCEPT GIVE ME A QUOTE OF $1000 FOR REPLACEMENT. AFTER CHECKING SEVERAL FORUMS ON THIS ISSUE, IT APPEARS THERE IS A DEFINITE DESIGN/MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. PRIOR TO THIS THE CAR HAD BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND THE INTERIOR DETAILED TO KEEP THINGS LIKE THIS FROM OCCURRING. JUST WAIT UNTIL THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS WHILE SOMEONE IS DRIVING AND IS KILLED OR GRAVELY INJURED. SUCH A SHAME THIS KIND OF SITUATION NEEDS TO OCCUR BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE!
THE LEATHER COVERING ON THE DASH DETACHED FROM THE DASHBOARD AT THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR. OUR CONCERN IS; IF THE CAR IS IN A CRASH WILL THE AIRBAG OR IMPACT CAUSE THE REMAINDER OF THE DASH TO DETACH AND CAUSE ADDITIONAL INJURY TO THE PASSENGERS. BUICK CLAIMS THERE IS NO SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL NOT REPAIR THE …
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THE LEATHER COVERING ON THE DASH DETACHED FROM THE DASHBOARD AT THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR. OUR CONCERN IS; IF THE CAR IS IN A CRASH WILL THE AIRBAG OR IMPACT CAUSE THE REMAINDER OF THE DASH TO DETACH AND CAUSE ADDITIONAL INJURY TO THE PASSENGERS. BUICK CLAIMS THERE IS NO SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL NOT REPAIR THE DASH.
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.
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