IllustrationCAR WENT INTO CRUISE CONTROL ON ITS OWN AND WOULD NOT DIS-ENGAGE. FOUND OUT THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CLIP BROKE. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
10 reportsTHROTTLE VALVE PLATE STICKING. THE GAS PEDAL HAS TO BE STEPPED ON HARD WHEN YOU FIRST START UP AFTER SETTING A WHILE. I'M TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE UNIT USES ON MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES MINE IS ON A 2001 BUICK LESABRE WITH A 3800 ENGINE. WALDECKER PONTIAC, BRIGHTON, MI TOLD ME THIS ITEM WASN'T COVERED ON THE EXTEN…
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THROTTLE VALVE PLATE STICKING. THE GAS PEDAL HAS TO BE STEPPED ON HARD WHEN YOU FIRST START UP AFTER SETTING A WHILE. I'M TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE UNIT USES ON MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES MINE IS ON A 2001 BUICK LESABRE WITH A 3800 ENGINE. WALDECKER PONTIAC, BRIGHTON, MI TOLD ME THIS ITEM WASN'T COVERED ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED (6YR/100000 MILE) I HAD 94,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR AT LEAST 10000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 101600 I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY IT WASN'T A WARRANTED ITEM. THIS ALSO COULD BE CONSTRUED A SAFETY ITEM AS WHEN YOU STEP HARD ON THE PEDAL THE CAR SURGES FORWARD SLIGHTLY. I'M AWARE OF IT SO I AUTOMATICALLY HIT THE PEDAL AND RELEASE. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION DECREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO REGAIN NORMAL ACCELERATION SEVERAL MOMENTS AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BEEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND BACKFIRED WHILE IN MOTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION DECREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO REGAIN NORMAL ACCELERATION SEVERAL MOMENTS AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BEEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND BACKFIRED WHILE IN MOTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD BEEN REPLACED.*AK
CRUISE CONTROL ON/OFF SWITCH FAILURE. *NM
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
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
BUICK LOST THE BBB DECISION AND DID NOT PERFORM WITHIN THE 40 DAYS ALLOTTED TO REPLACE THE CAR. THE CAR HAS MULTIPLE SAFETY DEFECTS (AIR BAG, TRANSMISSION, BRAKING) THAT THE BBB SAID COULD CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. THEY WANT TO BUY BACK THE CAR AND INSPECT IT SO IT CAN BE RESOLD. *NLM
WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ON AND VEHICLE WILL GO DOWN A HILL OR A SMALL INCLINE VEHICLE WILL START TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT CONSUMER INCREASING THE SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
THE FRONT END SUSPENSION CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO JERK, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND THE LEFT WINDOW FAILED. *AK *NLM
SPEED CONTROL SWITCH FAILURE WHICH DEALER HAD REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*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.