2000 Buick Lesabre Owner Complaints

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

WONT HO IN DRIVE

NHTSA ID

11364056

Incident

Aug 9, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

CLUNK WHEN TURNING THEN LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN STEERING, MECHANIC FOUND FRACTURED POWER STEERING RACK.

NHTSA ID

11352477

Incident

Aug 10, 2020

Mileage

198,000 mi

I TURN THE IGNITION OVER DIDN'T IT DID NOT EVEN START YET A LOUD WENT BOOM AND UP UNDER THE HOOD WAS BLAZING WITH FIRE THAN MY DOORS LOCKED I COULD NOT GET OUT I HAD TO KICK THE OPPOSITE SIDE AND THEN I GOT OUT I HAD TO CALL SLEEP FIRE RESCUE SQUAD THE FIRE WAS SO BAD IT WAS GOING UP UNDER MY CARPORT AND ALMOST CAUGHT MY ROOF ON FIRE AND ALMOST DID AND DID A LITTLE BIT

NHTSA ID

11331285

Incident

Apr 29, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DUE TO A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE INNER TIE ROD BUSHING HAD RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID

11297707

Incident

Jan 7, 2020

Mileage

93,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK LESABRE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED INTO PIECES. THE CONTACT CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COVER AND FUEL FILTER EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DONATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

11292548

Incident

Dec 31, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

I NEED TO REPORT MY 2000 BUICK LESABRE, APPARENTLY HAS AND OIL LEAK. WHILE DRIVING, YOU CAN SMELL OIL LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST PIPES/MANIFOLD SYSTEM. I READ WHERE SOME ENGINES WITH THE 3.8L ENGINES: CHEVY'S, PONTIAC'S, BUICK REGAL'S ARE BEING RECALLED FOR OIL LEAKING FROM VALVE COVER GASKETS (WHEN HARD BRAKING IS APPLIED) ON TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM PARTS AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE, IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.. I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY 2000 BUICK LESABRE. WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE. I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO BE INVESTIGATED ON THESE MODEL BUICK'S 2000 - 2005, FOR OIL LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM. THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11292300

Incident

Mar 9, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR WAS WET ON THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V114000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AL SERRA BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 6201 SAGINAW RD, GRAND BLANC, MI 48439, (810) 202-0226), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,500.

NHTSA ID

11266818

Incident

Oct 4, 2019

Mileage

71,500 mi

COMPLETE TIRE SEPARATION FROM STEEL BELTS OF TIRE CONSTRUCTION WHILE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. TIRE HAD HIGH AMOUNT OF TREAD LIFE REMAINING BEFOREHAND AND THIS HAPPENED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. VERY DANGEROUS TO OCCUPANTS AND CAUSED PHYSICAL AND AESTHETIC DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE COST OF THE REPAIR WILL BE AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ID

11210156

Incident

May 27, 2019

Mileage

63,431 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. IN ADDITION, THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE MECHANIC'S DIAGNOSIS. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED IT WOULD HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FUEL GAUGE. CAR WAS FIXED REPLACED THE ENGINE HARNESS CONNECTOR. UPDATED 11/20/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11111519

Incident

May 23, 2018

Mileage

98,000 mi

ON TWO OCCASIONS SO FAR IN 2018, MY BUICK ENGINE WOULD START ITSELF. ONCE WHEN I CLOSED THE GLOVE BOX AND ANOTHER TIME WHEN I CLOSED THE PASSENGER DOOR. BOTH TIMES THE IGNITION KEY WAS ABSENT AND THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. MY GUESS IS IGNITION SWITCH. [XXX] - MECHANICAL ENGINEER & COLLEGE AUTO INSTRUCTOR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11111397

Incident

Jul 11, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

I HAD PROBLEM WITH WINDOWS NOT ROLLING UP AND DOWN. AFTER I TOOK MY BUICK TO PEP BOYS 3325 124TH AVE NW COON RAPIDS MN ELECTRIC MECHANIC FOUND OUT THAT MY WINDOW POWER SWITCH IS DAMAGED AFTER RAIN STORM. LATER I EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE: 1 STRANGE ENGINE NOISE WHILE RUNNING 2 PUSHING FORWARD ONCE RELEASE FOOT FROM BRAKE. PEP BOYS MECHANIC LOOKED AT ALL THESE PROBLEMS AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING LOOKS OK BUT I NEED TO GET ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC DONE WITH PEP BOYS. I GOT SCHEDULE FOR THAT. MEANWHILE I ENDED UP IN CAR TRAFFIC PROBLEM BECAUSE OF FIRE OF MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11105197

Incident

Jun 29, 2018

Mileage

10 mi

CPSC: PROGRESSIVE PASSPORT DEVICE PLUGGED IN ODBC READER FOR 2000 BUICK LESABRE. POWER CUT OFF FROM CAR AND BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH. *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *JS

NHTSA ID

11074801

Incident

Oct 8, 2017

CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11060941

Incident

Oct 19, 2017

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE APPARENTLY BECOMES STUCK OPEN, WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO STOP. IT HAS OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR IS IN PARK OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP ON CITY STREETS OR WHEN ACCELERATING ON AN INTERSTATE RAMP.

NHTSA ID

11022733

Incident

Aug 4, 2017

Mileage

195,000 mi

ALL BUT THE 1 DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELTS WONT LOCK IN PLACE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGERS

NHTSA ID

11002717

Incident

Mar 1, 2014

Mileage

244,642 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE. AFTER THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THE CONTACT NOTICED LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CONTACT REPLACED THE GASKET. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME PLANT AS THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 137,000. UPDATED 08/31/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10985765

Incident

May 14, 2017

Mileage

137,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE PARKING IN THE GARAGE, AN ODOR OF HOT BURNING WAX EMITTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL OIL LEAK THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

NHTSA ID

10949759

Incident

Feb 6, 2017

Mileage

183,000 mi

LEAKING OIL ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE WHICH PERMEATES PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS CAR HAS THE 3.8 SERIES LL ENGINE WHICH HAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE REGAL BUT NOT THE LESABRE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM ON THE LESABRE TOO. WHY IS IT NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? OFTEN HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING BUT THE LAST TIME WAS WHEN I HAD JUST PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND SMOKE POURED OUT FROM THE HOOD. USING THE RECIRCULATING AIR SETTING SEEMS TO HELP SMOKE FROM ENTERING THE CABIN. WHY IS THIS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FACTORY RECALL!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10939644

Incident

Jan 3, 2017

Mileage

94,000 mi