2001 Buick Lesabre Body & structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS LIFTING INDEPENDENTLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY WHEN TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLINER WAS TEARING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

NHTSA ID

10823130

Incident

Jan 15, 2016

Mileage

167,000 mi

THE DASH BOARD PEELED UP. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS IN THE AREA WHERE PARTS ARE LOOSE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE BUICK LASABRE. I AM VERY CONCERNED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG CANNOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED WITH THE DASH SITUATION. THE DATE HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER IS NOW DECEASED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705726

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701286

Incident

Mar 31, 2009

Mileage

65,000 mi

2001 BUICK LASABRE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DASH BOARD SEPARATION PROBLEM. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD CAME APART ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND CURLED UP ABOUT FOUR INCHES. THE DASHBOARD SEPARATION HAS SINCE MOVED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE BY THE FRONT AIR BAG. *JB

NHTSA ID

10669022

Incident

Nov 18, 2014

FRONT / TOP OF DASHBOARD SEPARATING AND DELAMINATING FROM THE INTERIOR CABIN OF VEHICLE AND EXPENDING TO A POINT WERE THE ONE PIECE EXPOSING OPEN VOID SPACE AND SETTING OFF SENSORS ON AIR BAGS BY PINCHING AND SENDING A MESSAGE THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE SEEN NO OF SAME MODEL BUICKS WITH SIMILAR DEFECTS AND PROBLEMS FROM 2000 TO 2004 AND NEWER MODELS ON THE ROAD. WHEN REQUESTED FOR EVALUATION FROM TWO BUICK / GM DEALERS THEY HAD NO SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE OR OFFER A SOLUTION TO THE SAFETY ISSUE. REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION TO GM FOR SOLUTION AND NOTICE TO THE OWNERS OF SIMILAR CARS TO REPORT SAME OR SIM. PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662514

Incident

Dec 1, 2006

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DETACHED FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET AND THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIRING UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD WAS EXPOSED AND THE DIRECTIONAL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES WERE SHIFTED TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD AND MOUNTING BRACKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ID

10607779

Incident

Nov 8, 2002

Mileage

24,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597086

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOP PORTION OF THE DASHBOARD PAD DETACHED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. ..UPDATED 08/11/14 *BF UPDATED 08/19/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID

10574675

Incident

Feb 2, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE DASH PAD ON MY 2001 BUICK LE SABRE HAS SEPARATED AND BUCKLED UP APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES IN HEIGHT AND MOSTLY IN FRONT OF MY STEERING WHEEL, HOWEVER IT IS LIFTED 3/4 OF THE WAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASH. IT IS NOW OPEN IN THE FRONT ALONG WHERE IT MEETS THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS LIFTED ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. UPON READING ON LINE, I SEE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2001 THROUGH 2005 BUICKS AND I AM JUST ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO ADD TO THE LIST. THE RISE IN THE DASH CERTAINLY EFFECTS MY VIEW WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE PLACED A THICK PAD ON TOP OF MY DRIVERS SEAT TO RAISE MY BODY. THIS ASSISTS ME, SO I AM ABLE TO PEER OVER THE RAISED DASH WHILE DRIVING. I AM GREATLY CONCERNED THAT THE SEPARATION, IS GOING TO SUDDENLY DEPLOY MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557727

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

Mileage

13,000 mi

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! *TR

NHTSA ID

10554356

Incident

Nov 27, 2013

Mileage

71,000 mi

NOTICED WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR IN 2009 WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A USED DEALERSHIP. A SMALL PIECE OF THE DASH WAS PEELING UP. DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AT THE TIME BUT DASH HAS PRETTY MUCH LIFTED FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE. A LITTLE WORRIED THAT THE PASSENGERS AIRBAG MAY GO OFF.READ MANY FORUMS WHERE OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THERE DASH DOING THE SAME THING. THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. SEEN SEVERAL CARS LIKE MINE IN TOWN AND ALMOST EVERYONE I SEE HAS THE SAME DASH PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM!! *JS

NHTSA ID

10538320

Incident

Aug 6, 2009

THE INTERIOR FRONT DASHBOARD HAS CURLED UP STARTING FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD EXTENDING ACROSS TO THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. UPON RESEARCHING THIS I HAVE FOUND THAT MOST 2001 BUICK LESABRES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. GENERAL MOTORS HAS NOT RECTIFIED THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY RECALL OR RECOURSE. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THIS EFFECTS THE AIRBAGS AND CAUSE THEM TO DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR GOD FORBID KILLED BECAUSE OF AN EXPLODING AIRBAG UNTIL GENERAL MOTORS ACTS ON THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THIS UNFORESEEN DEFECT. PLEASE HELP US OWNERS AND HAVE GENERAL MOTORS RECALL THE 2001 BUICK LESABRE.. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536841

Incident

Jun 12, 2012

THE DASHBOARD BETWEEN THE AIR VENT AND THE STEERING WHEEL UNDERNEATH THE WINDSHIELD IS CURLING UP AND COMING OFF. FROM MY RESEARCH, PRETTY MUCH ALL THE '01 THROUGH '05 BUICKS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND GM IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS WILL ONLY GET WORSE AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE PASSANGER SIDE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY FOR NO REASON AND HARM THE PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE BADLY. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10511686

Incident

May 13, 2013

Mileage

117,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 BUICK LESABRE CUSTOM IN WHICH THE DASHBOARD HAS COME LOOSE FROM THE WINDOW MOLDING AND HAS BUCKLED UP HALF WAY ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF IT GOES ALL THE WAY ACROSS IT CAN CAUSE THE AIRBAG(S) TO DEPLOY POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY. OTHER THAN THIS THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY AN OLDER COUPLE WHO, ALMOST LITERALLY, DROVE IT TO CHURCH AND THE GROCERY STORE. I LOVE MY CAR BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD.

NHTSA ID

10477781

Incident

Sep 21, 2012

Mileage

69,500 mi

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE DASHBOARD. I PURCHASED THE CAR ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. INITIALLY THERE WERE NOT PROBLEMS. AS THE YEARS PROGRESSED, I NOTICED A STEADY SEPARATION OF THE DASHBOARD AND IT STARTED FORMING A VERY VISIBLE HUMP. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND DISCOVERED I WAS NOT ALONE IN EXPRESSING MY CONCERN: HTTP://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-C5295_DS45613. I AM REQUESTING THAT THIS MATTER BE DISCUSSED AND PHYSICALLY LOOKED INTO. GOD FORBID THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY FOR NO REASON AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10475836

Incident

Sep 8, 2009

WINDOW REGULATORS FAIL DUE TO POOR DESIGN ON PART OF MANUFACTUER. WINDOW IS STUCK IN A DOWN POSTION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10471430

Incident

Apr 14, 2012

Mileage

47,850 mi

THE DASH BOARD COVER IS SEPARATING OR "CRUMPLED" I AM CONCERNED THIS CAN CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY IF IT SEPARATES TOO FAR. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER BUICK LESABRES DOING THE SAME THING. HOW CAN THIS ISSUE BE CONDONED BY GM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10469508

Incident

Jul 1, 2008

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD BEGUN SEPARATING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE HEAT AND TEMPERATURE CHANGES, WHICH DETERIORATED THE MATERIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR AND THE DEALER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 10/10/12 *CN UPDATED 10/11/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10469362

Incident

Jun 17, 2011

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE DASHBOARD DETACHED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD DETACHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,134 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,200.

NHTSA ID

10461664

Incident

Jun 10, 2012

Mileage

53,134 mi

IN AUGUST OF 2011 THE DASH PANEL OF MY BUICK LESABRE STARTED TO PULL AWAY FROM THE WINDSHIELD HIDER MOULDING AND A LUMP STARTED TO APPEAR IN BACK OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND MOVE TOWARD THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I AM WORRIED THAT IT WILL AFFECT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM WHICH IS UNDER THE DASH COVER ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN PRODUCTION OF THE DASH PANEL COVER BUT GM WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT OTHER THAN DIRECT ME TO RETURN IT TO THE DEALER AND PAY UPWARDS OF $1000.00 OR MORE TO CORRECT A DEFECT THAT GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. THE YEARS THAT THE LESABRE HAS THIS PROBLEM SPANS AT LEAST 2001 TO 2005 THAT I KNOW OF AND YET THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THE VEHICLES TO REPAIR THE DEFECT THAT THEY PRODUCED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS DEFECT HAS OR WILL IN THE FUTURE CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH BUT LET US NOT WAIT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. A RECALL OF THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES IS MOST DEFINITELY WARRANTED AND SHOULD BE FORCED TO TAKE PLACE BY THE GOVERNMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10461244

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

65,000 mi

MY PARENTS PURCHASED A 2001 BUICK LESABRE FROM THE DEALERSHIP NEW. BOTH PARENTS (FATHER NOW DECEASED) RETIRED AND MOVED TO FLORIDA IN 2001, AND VERY RARELY DROVE THE VEHICLE. MY FATHER PASSED AWAY IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR (2012) AND MY MOTHER ASKED ME IF I WANTED THE CAR. I DROVE TO FLORIDA TO PICK UP THE CAR AND NOTICED THE DASH PANEL WAS ALL BUCKLED AND LOOKED HORRIBLE. I ASKED MY MOTHER WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THOUGHT PERHAPS IT WAS DUE TO THE SOUTH FLORIDA HEAT, BUT MY MOTHER SAID IT STARTED IN 2006 AND THEY HAD BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND WOULD COST OVER $1000 TO REPAIR. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE FOR REPLACEMENT DASH PANELS I DISCOVERED THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN FOR SOMETIME, FLORIDA HEAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND WILL CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10459804

Incident

Mar 1, 2006

Mileage

15,000 mi

THE DASH PAD UNDER THE WINDSHIELD IS STARTING TO BUCKLE AND SEPARATE FROM THE METAL CLAMPS. THIS SEPARATION IS CONTINUALLY GROWING AND MOVING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS LOCATED. WITH THIS MOVEMENT AND CHANGE I AM CONCERNED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT OR THE AIR BAG MAY INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY TO THE PASSENGER, NOT TO MENTION HOW THE DRIVER MAY REACT SHOULD THE AIRBAG DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. GENERAL MOTORS NEEDS TO FIX THIS TO INSURE NOBODY IS INJURED IF THAT HASN'T ALREADY HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10459731

Incident

Mar 1, 2012

Mileage

108,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS DELAMINATING NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 05/10/12

NHTSA ID

10452487

Incident

Jan 28, 2012

Mileage

59,000 mi

THE DASH PAD ON MY 2001 LESABRE, WHICH MY ELDERLY MOTHER PREVIOUSLY OWNED AND MAINTAINED WELL, HAS BUCKLED AND PULLED UP FROM THE DASH BOARD RIGHT ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. IT HAS PULLED OUT OF THE DEFROST PANEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND CURLS UP AND IS BECOMING AN OBSTRUCTION TO MY VIEW. I AM UNABLE TO REATTACH IT AND WORRIED THAT AS IT CONTINUES TO PULL OUT TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, IT WILL POSSIBLY ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR MULTIPLE YEARS OF THE LESABRE MODEL AND GM HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT. I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN WITH OTHER OLDER CAR MODELS AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE LESABRE FOR SOME IN THE EARLY YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449504

Incident

Feb 27, 2012

ANOTHER VERY COMMON DEFECT WITH MULTIPLE YEAR BUICKS BESIDES THE WINDOW REGULATORS THAT BUICK REFUSES TO ADMIT FAULT AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM. THIS IS ABOUT THE DASH COVERING PULLING AWAY FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND LIKELY CAUSE AIR BAG TO DISCHARGE AND SOON WILL OBSTRUCT VISION THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ARE VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR AND GN/BUICK HAS OFFERED NOTHING AS FAR AS I KNOW TO ANYONE. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER ONE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE POWER STEERING HOSE AT 60,000 AND AN AXLE AT 90,000 AND A TIE ROD AT 50,000. AND THEY WONDER WHY SALES FROM JAPAN ARE BOOMING?? *TR

NHTSA ID

10448115

Incident

Oct 1, 2010

Mileage

110,000 mi