NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2001 Buick LeSabre (Page 1 of 2)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,844 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Buick LeSabre electrical problems

electrical problem

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2001 Buick LeSabre Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

Nov 082015

LeSabre

  • 102,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car has twice shutoff during driving. Last time in middle of turn, son ran off road because steering wheel was locked. It is not included in any GM recall for the ignition switch, but symptoms are identical. Dealer has no idea how to repair except to 'try' things. Problem is, if guess is wrong and problem persists, serious accident could happen.

- Spofford, NH, USA

problem #22

Mar 112015

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
Several times beginning in approximately March 2015, my car began to stall while at signal. One time the car quit while driving. The ignition does not work properly, sometimes it will turn the car over to start, other times it will not. I did not know about the recall. I purchased my Buick at a lien sale. I am worried the car may have the problem indicated in the recall. I had two mechanics check the battery (replaced) alternator (tested good) and they checked fuel injection and air intake. The problem continues to happen. I would sincerely appreciate it if a General Motors dealer could please check my car.

- Lancaster, CA, USA

problem #21

May 012006

LeSabre

  • 70,000 miles
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 Lesabre

- Mount Dora, FL, USA

problem #20

Mar 312009

LeSabre

  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

All 4 windows have failed. One of them twice! my dashboard is separating exactly the same way many others have described theirs. I initially had major battery issues (battery is located under back seat on driver's side - how weird is that?). I would drive my car to the store, come out, and it would not start. One time, I opened the trunk to get my jumper cables and when I slammed the trunk lid, the radio came on! then, of course, the car started just fine. After owning this possessed car with major reliability issues for several months, we found an electrical mechanic who discovered a lose wire in the manufacturers electrical work which was somehow connected to the battery. My gas gauge hasn't worked in years. I am always at 3/4 to a full tank. This is otherwise a great car, but I am seriously disappointed that Buick will not stand behind some of these repeat problems, especially the electric motors for the windows and that horrible plastic part that continues to break. Somebody from Buick should read these complaints and do something.

- Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

problem #19

Aug 012014

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • 63,000 miles
When I try to start some times it wont start I have to play with the key for 10 min I don't get any power at all I can here the fuel pump turn on and nothing happens then starts I play with it starts right up then the other thing I notice is when it rains it makes an awful squealing noise.

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #18

Jun 012012

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
Dashboard top is separating and buckling in area between steering wheel and windshield. It started slowly when I first purchased the car and has progressively gotten worse with time. While researching the problem, I found this to be a common issue. I'm worried that as the dashboard separation gets worse, it will affect the passenger air bag and/or vehicle electronics in the dashboard area leading to an accident.

- Wirtz, VA, USA

problem #17

Feb 072014

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • 88,404 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Battery would not hold charge. Had a new computer put in. Did not help. Had a new alternator installed. Did not help. Car caught on fire after about a year of trying to find the cause. Fire marshall said the fuse box shorted and caught the insulation on fire which burned the fuel line into. Car is no longer a problem. Totally gone. Fire was so intense it melted the engine.

- Lexington, NC, USA

problem #16

Nov 272013

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • 71,000 miles
The dash board is seperating at the seams all the way to the air bags. It may lead to possible air bag deployement on passenger side. Please fix this could lead to a very serious accident I communte on a daily basis with my two son 6 and 10. Please do a recall on this vehicle someone could be serious injured please help!

- North Little Rock , AR, USA

problem #15

May 132013

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • 214,000 miles
Rear window regulator have malfunctioned for 3rd time in both rear windows. Oil leaking from valve/heads causing smoke under hood. Door controls shorted out, and electrical problems causing doors to lock and unlock without cause and switching from driver1 to driver2 and back while driving.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #14

Jan 232013

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
The windows of this car are undependable. In case of accident defective motors regulators do not work. All four windows are a problem. This is a safety issue as you would not be able to exit by a window if need be. This is a problem with many of the Buick Lesabre 2001. Buick manufacturing will not admit that there is a problem with their windows. Buick states that the cars are past warranty and therefore will not do any thing about it. I include these two sites as evidence to this fact and how wide spread this problem is. googleads.G.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6617098213423805&output=html&H=90&slotname=7952013016&w=728&lmt=1358582400&flash=11.4.402.265&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aboutautomobile.com%2fcomplaint%2F2001%2fbuick%2flesabre%2fpower%2bwindow&dt=1358997446843&bpp=16&shv=R20130122&jsv=R20121214&prev_slotnames=6969891371&correlator=1358997446734&frm=20&adk=1032090657&ga_vid=657897228.1358997064&ga_sid=1358997064&ga_hid=919312188&ga_fc=1&U_tz=-360&U_his=6&U_java=1&U_H=768&U_W=1280&U_ah=738&U_aw=1280&U_cd=32&U_nplug=0&U_nmime=0&dff=arial&dfs=12&adx=265&ady=1015&biw=1259&bih=644&oid=3&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2furl%3fsa%3dt%26rct%3dj%26Q%3D%26esrc%3ds%26frm%3D1%26source%3dweb%26cd%3D5%26ved%3D0cfgqfjae%26url%3dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.aboutautomobile.com%252fcomplaint%252F2001%252fbuick%252flesabre%252fpower%252bwindow%26ei%3djqqaubwzhsbh0wgf_iggda%26usg%3dafqjcnep6ywawyzgkeyutplih1jjfuubhg%26sig2%3dvlpverp_xpobzytn06rika&docm=8&fu=0&ifi=2&dtd=94&xpc=dgpdfquzhd&P=http%3A//www.aboutautomobile.com www.carcomplaints.com/Buick/Lesabre/2001/windows_windshield/power_window_stopped_working.shtml.

- West Frankfort, IL, USA

problem #13

Jun 072011

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • 112,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Passenger window would not go up July 2011. One week later left rear passenger window would not function. February 2012 right rear window failed. April 2012 left rear window would not go down. Fortunately, it was under warranty. So far, the windows have cost me $735 in less than a year. Catalytic converter rattles a lot in morning when car is cold. Only a matter of time before it will need to be replaced. Was told by aamco can be replaced at Buick's expense, but have not been able to confirm this.

- Cumming, GA, USA

problem #12

Jun 012011

LeSabre

  • 65,000 miles
Rear window does not work, motor is good, switches are good, regulator is good. What GM is telling me is that the door module has lost its program and I need to go to them to reset this at a cost of $125. They don't know why it could have lost the program, but it is quite popular. Just come in and spend money and it "might" work again. Are you kidding? otherwise after the $125 I will have to pay $250 for a new module and they will be kind enough to reset the new one for free. After a $375 plus tax payment!

- Ny, NY, USA

problem #11

May 142010

LeSabre

  • 60,000 miles
I left my window open for about five minutes during a rain storm and the left side buttons on my steering wheel controlling music only works pressing the bottom of the switches. The top of the switches have no result: Therfore I lost my scanning the stations as well as seek downwards. Now 2 months later without any water contact I am now losing my am/fm mode button unless I press like I want to kill it. The window switches for the left rear have now died and I am being told I need to pay for a reset of that left rear door module and then the switch should work ok. What is GM thinking of, making their switches less waterproof than 50 years ago, and why should I have to pay if it is a computer reset. Thanks for no help!, GM.

- 11716, NY, USA

problem #10

Nov 012009

LeSabre

  • miles
2007 the right rear passenger window kept on going down on its own. Had a mechanic rip out floor board and found a defective electrical harness, wire exposed causing ground out. He learned this from a GM mechanic who said it was a know issue. Problem was fixed. 2009 now the same window went down. All windows except drivers will not function, automatic door locks will not work, and when I drive at nite I can see the lights on the passenger side door flicker on for about 10 seconds, again another electrical issue?

- Plymouth, MA, USA

problem #9

Jan 112006

LeSabre

  • 59,000 miles
When the vehicle was purchased, the left rear window regulator was not working. The previous owner said she had a mechanic "fix" it so it would not fall down, as dealer wanted $500. She also said she had replaced the right passenger window regulator. Since I have had it (about a year), the right rear regulator has quit. I also paid a mechanic to "fix" it so it wouldn't fall down. We do not use the back seat. This is a major problem with Lesabre through 4-5 years, yet Buick/GM refuses to issue a recall, only a sb on how to repair it.

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #8

Nov 092008

LeSabre

  • miles
I bought my 2001 Lesabre new and have had an issue with the heat in the radio and cruise controls and system both in the dash and on the steering wheel. It has always been excessively hot. When I asked about this heat in the controls at the dealership, I was simply informed that nothing could be done. It has been this way every day. The dealer did replace the steering wheel cruise control button; but, that did not eliminate the heat.

- Saint Joseph, MO, USA

problem #7

Oct 072008

LeSabre

  • 24,000 miles
Just purchased this vehicle in Florida and drove it back to Massachusetts. While tuning in the radio, I noticed that the radio/cassette area was "hot", very hot....I shut the radio off and continued to monitor the radio section by feeling it. It stayed hot! the radio components on the steering wheel was also hot but not as bad as the radio section itself. What could be wrong with this? I have been checking the Buick Lesabre recalls but have not found any. Certainly this problem is not ok. I have never felt any radio in any car "hot" - and I really mean "hot". I will be taking this car immediately to a Buick dealer. Please let me know if you have any information on this. This is a Buick Lesabre - 2001 with 25000 miles. The older couple that owned it rarely used it and probably never used the radio therefore never noticed the problem. Thank you.

- Canton, MA, USA

problem #6

Nov 012006

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,000 miles
Window motors on all four doors have quit working over the past 3 years. We have three replaced and now two more are broken for a grand total of five window motors. Local dealer has become useless on this matter and neither GM nor the Buick division have responded to multiple inquiries. We have always tried to support american made products, especially GM. The percived "we don't care" attitude has definately changed our thought process about our future vehicle purchases.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #5

Jan 192005

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
Automatic transmission failed at 65000 miles after having already been repaired once. Initially extended warranty company tried to blame me for the failure but after dealer disassembled transmission for inspection it was covered. Also, have had numerous problems with lights on the dashboard, radio and steering wheel constantly failing, 2 windows have failed in the open position, the drivers side heated seat stopped working at 50,000 miles. The only thing that has not been fixed is the heated seat. Dealer says it costs too much to fix. I bought the best extended warranty the dealer offered and still have to fight to get things fixed. This is the last time I buy american.

- High Ridge, MO, USA

problem #4

Mar 162006

LeSabre 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,300 miles
: the contact stated the rear brake, hazard warning and signal lights are inoperable. The dealership was alerted but no appointment has been made.

- Fenton, MI, USA

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