RoadVitals

2000 Buick Lesabre Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints 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.
20
Latest Sep 10, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 668 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Buick Lesabre submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalFuel systemTransmission
Filed Sep 10, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND MADE A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED. HE SUSPECTED TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM GAUGE DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK AND THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND WHEN PRESSED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,600 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,145.

NHTSA ID
10202401
Incident
Aug 27, 2007
Mileage
85,600 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 1, 2007

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION MOUNT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10192276
Incident
Jun 1, 2007
Mileage
68,121 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 11, 2006

VACATIONING IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA THE CAR BEGAN TO SHIFT ROUGHLY FROM PARK OR REVERSE TO DRIVE. WITHIN A FEW MILES IT BEGAN TO LURCH WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. I PULLED OFF THE ROADWAY, TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING A RUMBLING NOISE AND FAILED. NO MOVEMENT IN ANY GEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10167824
Incident
Aug 16, 2006
Mileage
101,741 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 16, 2006

WE HEARD A NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. WE TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD WE NEEDED A BEARING IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE 4TH CLUTCH. THE CAR ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES. WE HAD THE PARTS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10162507
Incident
Jul 10, 2006
Mileage
63,165 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 26, 2006

SUSPECTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BEGAN BEFORE THE 36,000 WARRANTY RAN OUT, BUT, SINCE IT COULDN'T BE REPLICATED, I COULDN'T TAKE IT TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. NO PROBLEMS WERE EVER RECOGNIZED BY COMPUTER. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN BACKING FROM THE GARAGE, THE CAR LURCHED TO A NEAR STOP AS IF THE BRAKES HAD BEEN APPLIED. I PULLED FORWARD AND WHEN I BACKED UP, NO PROBLEMS WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE NEXT TIME, PROBABLY MONTHS LATER, HAPPENED WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY UNDER VERY LITTLE ACCELERATION. IT FELT AS IF SOMETHING HAD BOUND UP, THEN, FREED UP 2 TIMES. NOTHING WAS NOTED AGAIN FOR MONTHS. SINCE NEW, THE CAR HAS NOT SHIFTED INTO OVERDRIVE UNTIL THE CAR REACHES AN ENGINE TEMPERATURE OF APPROXIMATELY 160 DEGREES. THE NEXT TIME I NOTICED A PROBLEM WAS WHEN TURNING RIGHT INTO A PARKING PLACE. THE CAR MADE A SINGLE LURCH, AS IF APPLYING THE BRAKES QUITE HARD, THEN PROCEEDED INTO THE PARKING PLACE. THAT WAS PROBABLY A MONTH AGO. DURING THE LAST 2 WEEKS I THINK I'VE NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO OVERDRIVE WHEN COMPLETELY WARMED UP. TWO DAYS AGO WHEN LEAVING A STOP LIGHT WITH TRAFFIC, THE CAR FELT LIKE I HIT A SLICK SPOT FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND AND CONTINUED ON AS NORMAL. I GOT OUT ONTO A U.S. HWY AND WHEN I GOT UP TO ABOUT 55 MPH, I THINK WHEN THE CAR SHIFTED INTO OVERDRIVE IT DOWNSHIFTED ONCE AND THEN AGAIN, RATHER LIKE THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THEN SLOWLY PICKED UP SPEED AGAIN. IT HAPPENED FOR A SECOND TIME. I SLOWLY DROVE TO THE NEXT EXIT AND AFTER STOPPING, HAD TROUBLE GETTING STARTED UP. FINALLY IT MOVED AS IF IT WERE IN ABOUT 3RD GEAR. AFTER THAT TIME, IT IS IN A FORWARD (3RD GEAR) EVEN WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE UP IN PARK AND WHEN IN NEUTRAL. IT HAS NO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2000 LESABRE WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES ON IT. IT'S SUNDAY AND I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT YET. I'M VERY UPSET ABOUT IT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10153742
Incident
Mar 24, 2006
Mileage
35,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 11, 2005

DT: THE VEHICLE WILL SLOW DOWN AND STOP. THE POWER STEERING TIGHTENS UP AND IT JUST STOPPED. . THE PANEL WILL LIGHT UP AND THE VEHICLE WILL DIE . THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERS THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. CONTACTED GM THEN, AND GM TOLD DEALER WHAT TO DO. THEY DID DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND NO CODES WERE FOUND. THIS STARTED HAPPENING ON AUGUST 15, 2003. *AK

NHTSA ID
10132462
Incident
Aug 15, 2003
Mileage
12,205 mi
Transmission
Filed May 6, 2005

2000 BUICK LESABRE DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING PROPERLY.*MR THE P/C SOLENOID SWITCH FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY PROVIDED NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10121453
Incident
Mar 25, 2005
ElectricalFuel systemTransmission
Filed Mar 5, 2005

WE OWN A 2000 BUICK LESABRE. IT WAS GIVEN TO US BY MY FATHER IN-LAW WHO PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN 2000. BOTH OF US HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT BUICK DEALERSHIPS FOR ALL MAINTENANCE INCLUDING OIL CHANGES. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES, FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEMS AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING TO THE OFFICE AND THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN SLOWED DOWN AND THEN CAME TO A STOP. HE DESCRIBED IT AS SOMEONE SHIFTING THE CAR TO FIRST GEAR FROM FOURTH. HOWEVER, THE CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO ONE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND HIM SO HE DIDN'T GET HIT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10112574
Incident
Jan 21, 2005
Mileage
45,658 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 8, 2005

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CAUSING HARD SHIFTS AND SHUDDERING WHEN DRIVING. GM HAS A TSB OUT FOR THIS SYMPTON BUT DENIES ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP TECH CONFIRMED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND REFERED TO BULLITIN #00-07-30-002B PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE ASSEMBLY. GM REFUSES TO PAY FOR EVEN A PORTION OF THE REPAIRS INSPITE OF THEIR TSB INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THIS PERTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED FROM MY FATHER INLAW WITH 81K MILES ON IT. 12/26/04 AND WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. IIF THEY ISSUE A TSB FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM, THEY SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IIN CORRECTIVE REPAIRS AS LAID OUT IN THEIR OWN TSB. GM REFUSES TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10110140
Incident
Dec 29, 2004
Mileage
81,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance+6 more
Filed Nov 22, 2004

WHILE DRIVING DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED MORE THAN ANY OTHER LIGHT. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK OF SEAT LAID AUTOMATICALLY ON ITS OWN. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. UPON HAVING A FULL TANK OF GAS, THE METER WOULD READ EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE DASH, THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD JUMP TO EMPTY, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD GO TO ZERO, THE HEADLIGHT WOULD GO DIM WHEN THE WEATHER WAS RAINY, THERE WAS A RUMBLE IN THE LEFT FRONT END, A SHIMMY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND WHEN RAINING, THE DASH LIGHT WOULD GO FROM BRIGHT TO DIM THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT, THE RADIO WOULD CUT OUT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS INOPERATIVE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP INTO OVERDRIVE ON SLIGHT ACCELERATION, THE AUTOMATIC DOORS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, THERE WERE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF HEAT WOULD START BLOWING COLD AIR, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE THE FUEL GAUGE MILEAGE WOULD NOT STAY ON, THE ELECTRICAL REMOTE WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE ENGINE. *SC

NHTSA ID
10091959
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Mileage
34,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 19, 2004

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 50K MILES. *PH THERE WERE TWO OTHER SAME MAKE/MODEL VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT GM COMPENSATE CONSUMER'S FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE WERE TICKING NOISES UPON ACCELERATION AND THERE WAS A CLUNK SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10066876
Incident
Jan 31, 1901
Transmission
Filed Jan 27, 2004
1 injury reported

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND RUNNING, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING AND PINNED THE CONSUMER BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR BACK INJURIES.

NHTSA ID
10055898
Incident
Jan 15, 2004
Mileage
79,943 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Aug 27, 2003

MULTIPLE DEFECTS WITH TRANSMISSION, CRUISE CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, ENGINE COOLING, ETC.*MR VEHICLE LEAKED COOLANT SO THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER OVER 40-50 MPH. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID
10037720
Mileage
35,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 17, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THE GEAR SUPPORT FAILED IN THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK.

NHTSA ID
10004142
Incident
Jan 2, 2003
Transmission
Filed Jan 14, 2003

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID
10001964
Transmission
Filed May 30, 2002

THERE IS RESISTANCE AND A MOMENTARY DELAY WHEN SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER SINCE JANUARY AND THE DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*JB CONSUMER STATES THAT A MOUNT WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THERE IS STILL A BANG WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, DRIVE TO REVERSE AND PARK TO REVERSE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
8010746
Incident
Oct 15, 2001
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed May 13, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD RAPPING NOISE. DEALER NOTIFED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE ENGINE SKIPS DUE TO DEFECTIVE WIRES AND ALL WIRES WERE REPLACED. THE HEAD GASKET AND VALVE COVER GASKET WERE DEFECTIVE AND WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS REQUESTING REFUND. *YH

NHTSA ID
8009677
Incident
May 2, 2002
EngineTransmission
Filed May 13, 2002

TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, FIRST AT 20,000 MILES, AND OTHER AT 36,000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK. THE CONSUMER HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE SKIPPING DUE TO DEFECTIVE WIRES, A FAILURE WITH THE HEAD GASKET AND VALVE COVER. THE ENGINE BECAME NON-REPAIRABLE AND CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *JG

NHTSA ID
8009676
Incident
Aug 11, 2000
ElectricalSteeringTransmission+1 more
Filed Oct 13, 2000

WINDOW GASKETS REPLACED, WINDOW ELECTRIC MOTOR REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
556028
Transmission
Filed Jul 19, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO START UP BUT ONLY FOR THE VEHICLE TO TURN OFF AGAIN. THIS OCCURRED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS ON THE SAME DAY. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS TO VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE ANY PROBLEMS OR REMEDIES TO DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID
865704
Incident
Jul 18, 2000

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .