Model year record
2001 Buick LeSabre recalls & problems
The 2001 Buick LeSabre has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 328 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is visibility (102 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2001 Buick LeSabre.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2001 Buick LeSabre 4-DR. w/SAB
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
LeSabre
| City / highway | 17 / 27 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| VisibilityPower window devices and controls; Glass, side/rear | 102 | 55,000 mi |
| StructureBody; Body › Door | 50 | 69,500 mi |
| Electrical systemAlternator/generator/regulator; 12v/24v/48v battery | 45 | 59,500 mi |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine | 33 | 78,535 mi |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission | 32 | 50,000 mi |
| SteeringLinkages › Tie rod assembly; Hydraulic power assist system | 30 | 38,308 mi |
| Air bagsFrontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module | 29 | 71,000 mi |
| Engine | 19 | 138,731 mi |
| SuspensionFront; Front › Control arm › Upper arm | 18 | 48,000 mi |
| Unknown or other | 16 | 70,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor | 13 | 28,500 mi |
| SeatsFront assembly › Seat heater/cooler; Front assembly › Power adjust | 11 | 83,527 mi |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Unknown or otherFire
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.
- EngineFire
The contact owned a 2001 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled upon the depression of the accelerator without warning. The contact stated that a black smoke began to emit from the engine as he was able to pull into an independent mechanic shop. The contact immediately exited the vehicle as flames began to emit from the vehicle's engine. Employees from the independent mechanic attempted to assist with the fire as the fire department was called to the scene. Police and fire arrived at the scene as the fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed and the contact was given a police report number(#C221CR384628). No…
- EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE SAW SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WAS UP IN FLAMES. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR INJURIES DUE TO THE FIRE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND COULD EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTIFIED A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
- EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HER HUSBAND TURNED THE IGNITION ON, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACTS HUSBAND NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WHEN HE LIFT THE HOOD, IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACTS HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FRACTURED AND THAT THE COVER HAD BLOWN OFF DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,060.*DT*JB
- EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT'S FATHER OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS, WHEN HIS FATHER WAS ATTEMPTING TO JUMP START THE BATTERY WHEN ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT AND HIS FATHER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED NO ONE WAS INJURED. A DEALER HAD NOT BEEN AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,348.
- Fuel system, gasolineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE IGNITED WITHOUT WARNING UNDER THE HOOD AFTER THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COVER FOR THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND FUEL SYSTEM HAD FLOWN OFF. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA02030 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURES AS THE RECALL AND NHTSA INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE…
- EngineFire
THE CAR WAS OFF AND PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. WHEN THE KEY WAS PUT IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED ON, A LARGE EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD OCCURRED. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, SAW THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE SO PUT IT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. REALLY HEAVY GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CAR TODAY (1 DAY LATER)
- EngineFire
THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS EQUIPPED WITH THE 3800 SERIES ENGINE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE STARTING THE ENGINE. FAMILY MEMBER OWNED A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA WITH IDENTICAL ENGINE WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE HE WAS DRIVING HOME FOR WORK. GM SETTLED WITH THEM FOR A RECALL THAT WAS PLACED ON THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS ENGINE.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESClosedLed to recall 04V090000
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.