RoadVitals

2000 Buick Lesabre

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
668
Latest Dec 20, 2025
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
5
Latest Feb 24, 2004
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
56
24 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 668 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 Buick Lesabre, most frequently naming the visibility, engine and electrical categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 356 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

Feb 24, 2004
910,873 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.
The risk: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 03054BView on NHTSA.gov

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

Apr 17, 2000
8,132 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKS IN THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT.
The risk: WHEN THE REAR BRAKE PROPORTIONING, ANTILOCK BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, OR STABILITY CONTROL FEATURE IS ACTIVATED IN SOME DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE FEATURE MAY NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULATOR UNIT AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC MODULATOR.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 00035View on NHTSA.gov

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Dec 17, 1999
35,725 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE HEAD LAMP ADJUSTMENT DEVICE HORIZONTAL ADJUSTER MAY NOT MOVE THE HEAD LAMP REFLECTOR WHEN THE SHAFT IS ROTATED IN A NORMAL MANNER DURING AIMING.
The risk: DRIVER VISIBILITY MAY BE IMPAIRED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: AN INSERT CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPTICALLY AIMING THE HEADLAMPS WILL BE PROVIDED TO OWNERS FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL. OWNERS SHOULD FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE IN THE INSERT FOR HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT, RATHER THAN USING THE HORIZONTAL VHAD INDICATOR.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 99062View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA02030ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Oct 22, 2002
Closed Mar 9, 2004

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:DELIVERYLed to recall 04V090000
PE02050ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Jun 13, 2002
Closed Oct 22, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Dec 20, 2025
Fire reported

the 2000 Buick Lesabre is a wonderful car basically a tank with the 3800 SERIES II you cant go wrong but the tiny little plastic part holding the throttle cable will dryrot even with a garage kept car under 150k miles please get them replaced I was driving and then the part came off and it got wrapped around the bracket and it took off I melted the breaks I wasn't stopping due to constant gas so I flipped in down into neutral to stop the vehicle from accelerating after i found a spot to pull it off the road but you can also put your foot under the peddle and pull up on it while pressing the breaks if you cant find a safe area while this is happening but i didnt relise it was happning until i hit 65 because the road i was on was a 55 and before i knew it i was going 90 luciky i live out in the rural areas

NHTSA ID
11706263
Incident
Sep 28, 2025
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 28, 2025
Fire reported

The plastic pice holding the throttle lines snapped off and my cable went under my bracket and it took off I destroyed the Transmission putting it in neutral to stop the vehicle after I had gotten it stoped the fire from the engine was small I will recommend this car and yes I do want another one but it is a common issue I will recomed this car because the body is made out of steel and they are basicly tanks with the 3800 Series II and it was easy for me to spot what was happening and get ahead of it before it got worse I drove 5 miles with this happening before the engine overheated and caught fire

NHTSA ID
11676853
Incident
Jun 27, 2025
Fuel system
Filed May 2, 2022
Fire reported

I started my car in the morning, per my usual routine. After a few seconds, I heard a very loud bang and the car stalled. A few seconds later, there was a large amount of smoke coming from under the hood. I opened the hood to see a large fire had started. My son, who heard the loud bang, came outside and saw the flames from under the hood. He ran into the house, grabbed a fire extinguisher, and attempted to put out the fire. He got the fire out but it was difficult. I had the car looked at by a mechanic and told me that the intake manifold had literally exploded. He has stated that he has never seen anything like this. It appears that the exploding manifold ruptured a fuel line. He told me there was a recall on this vehicle relating to a rupturing manifold and leaking fuel but that my vehicle had already had the recall performed. He thought that the new parts may be defective which is why I am reporting this incident.

NHTSA ID
11463054
Incident
Apr 27, 2022
Fuel systemSteering
Filed Nov 9, 2021

The contact owns a 2000 Buick LeSabre. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the front end of the vehicle started shaking uncontrollably. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle at a slower speed. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the tie rod nuts had failed and the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 99V301000 (Steering). The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they could not repair the vehicle under the recall because the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The contact also stated that the vehicle was experiencing the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V090000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 139,000.

NHTSA ID
11439919
Incident
Nov 5, 2021
Mileage
139,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 26, 2020

GAS LINES ARE RUSTY AND LOOK LIKE THEY ARE ABOUT TO LEAK GAS AND ALSO I GOT STUCK ON HIGHWAY BECAUSE GAS GAUGE DID NOT WORK BECAUSE GROUND WIRE TO SENDER WAS BROKEN

NHTSA ID
11376474
Incident
Nov 5, 2020
Mileage
59,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 26, 2020

ENGINE MOUNTS ARE LOOSE AND NEED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THEY MAKE JERKING SOUNDS WHEN I SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN MAKING FOR EXTRA MOVEMENTS IN CAR

NHTSA ID
11376473
Incident
Nov 5, 2020
Mileage
59,000 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Nov 26, 2020

BRAKE LINES RUSTING EVEN THOUGH I REPLACED THE RUSTY BRAKE LINES BEFORE. THE FIRST TIME THEY ROTTED THROUGH AND I COULD NOT STOP BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS GOING SLOW AND USED EMERGENCY BRAKE.

NHTSA ID
11376472
Incident
Nov 5, 2020
Mileage
59,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 13, 2020

WONT HO IN DRIVE

NHTSA ID
11364056
Incident
Aug 9, 2020
Mileage
130,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP4723J

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIT5099H

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

PIT5099H

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

General Communication

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

24-NA-141

POWER TRAIN

GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or inadequate packaging or shipping. This bulletin advises the dealers to be more careful not to damage the transmissions during removal and to package the core properly for return.

16-NA-383

ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buick Lesabre by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013000
2006300
2005770040.3
20041620036.7
20031641040.9
20023092154.7
20013280143.0
2000Viewing6685258.9
19992092362.2
19984001253.9
19973942259.5
1996982256.1
19951781046.7
19941580042.1
19931941253.8
19921892364.2
1991301148.9
1990461151.0
1989273054.4
1988214352.7
1987405966.8
19861631158.2
1985514
1984524
1983101
1982110
1981030
1979120
1978030
1977130
1976020
1975031
1974010
1972010
1971130
1970020
1967010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.