2001 Buick Lesabre Engine Problems

The contact owned a 2001 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled upon the depression of the accelerator without warning. The contact stated that a black smoke began to emit from the engine as he was able to pull into an independent mechanic shop. The contact immediately exited the vehicle as flames began to emit from the vehicle's engine. Employees from the independent mechanic attempted to assist with the fire as the fire department was called to the scene. Police and fire arrived at the scene as the fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed and the contact was given a police report number(#C221CR384628). No injuries were reported and no medical assistance was needed. The vehicle remained in the possession of the independent mechanic where it was deemed a total loss. The vehicle was eventually towed to an independent junk yard and destroyed. The dealer nor the manufacturer have yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 191,900.

NHTSA ID

11437748

Incident

Oct 12, 2021

Mileage

191,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE SAW SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WAS UP IN FLAMES. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR INJURIES DUE TO THE FIRE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND COULD EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTIFIED A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11400037

Incident

Mar 5, 2021

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HER HUSBAND TURNED THE IGNITION ON, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACTS HUSBAND NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WHEN HE LIFT THE HOOD, IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACTS HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FRACTURED AND THAT THE COVER HAD BLOWN OFF DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,060.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11388857

Incident

Jan 19, 2021

Mileage

133,060 mi

TL* THE CONTACT'S FATHER OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS, WHEN HIS FATHER WAS ATTEMPTING TO JUMP START THE BATTERY WHEN ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT AND HIS FATHER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED NO ONE WAS INJURED. A DEALER HAD NOT BEEN AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,348.

NHTSA ID

11322142

Incident

Apr 24, 2020

Mileage

131,348 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE IGNITED WITHOUT WARNING UNDER THE HOOD AFTER THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COVER FOR THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND FUEL SYSTEM HAD FLOWN OFF. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA02030 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURES AS THE RECALL AND NHTSA INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID

11181805

Incident

Feb 12, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE CAR WAS OFF AND PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. WHEN THE KEY WAS PUT IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED ON, A LARGE EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD OCCURRED. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, SAW THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE SO PUT IT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. REALLY HEAVY GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CAR TODAY (1 DAY LATER)

NHTSA ID

11060995

Incident

Jan 6, 2018

Mileage

103,297 mi

THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS EQUIPPED WITH THE 3800 SERIES ENGINE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE STARTING THE ENGINE. FAMILY MEMBER OWNED A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA WITH IDENTICAL ENGINE WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE HE WAS DRIVING HOME FOR WORK. GM SETTLED WITH THEM FOR A RECALL THAT WAS PLACED ON THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11039561

Incident

Oct 24, 2017

Mileage

203,000 mi

I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR TO GO TO WORK AND I HEARD A BACKFIRE, MY HUSBAND CAME OUT WONDERING WHAT THAT BANG WAS. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD. HE POPPED THE HOOD TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND FLAMES CAME SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE CLOSED THE HOOD TO SMOTHER THE FIRE, WE HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT' TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. NOW WE ARE WITHOUT A CAR. NOW WHAT!!!! THIS CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND GREAT WORKING ORDER BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

10968566

Incident

Mar 16, 2017

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. WHEN THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE IT MADE A POPPING SOUND AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. MOMENTARILY THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03/16/17*LJ UPDATED 08/11/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10943899

Incident

Jan 2, 2017

THERE WAS AN OIL SMELL WHILE MY CAR WAS RUNNING AND THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DEFROST STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF OIL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE AND IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL THIS LEAK WAS FIXED. I LEFT THE CAR AT HIS SHOP WHILE THE PARTS WERE ORDERED. I LEARNED OF THE GM RECALL OF THE 3800 SERIES ENGINE (OIL SEEPING THROUGH VALVE COVER GASKETS AND CAUSING ENGINE FIRES) AND ASKED MY MECHANIC IF THIS WAS THE SAME OIL LEAKING PROBLEM AND WHY WASN'T THE MODEL, THE 2001 BUICK LESABRE, PUT ON THE RECALL LIST BECAUSE IT HAS THE 3800 SERIES ENGINE IN IT. HE DID NOT KNOW, SO I CALLED GM AND ASK WHY THIS MODEL WASN'T LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE GM SUPPORT STAFF SEARCHED MY VIN NUMBER AND SAID THAT THIS MODEL IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I DECIDED TO CONTINUE WITH THE REPAIR OF THE OIL LEAK, AND MY MECHANIC ORDERED NEW VALVE COVER AND GASKET PARTS. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER DUE TO THE RECALL AND THERE WOULD BE A WAITING PERIOD. AFTER A FEW WEEKS MY MECHANIC CALLED AND SAID THAT THE PARTS WERE IN AND THAT HE WOULD START THE WORK THE NEXT DAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY MECHANIC THAT AS THEY STARTED THE CAR TO MOVE IT FROM PARKING LOT INTO THE WORK BAY THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THEY LIFTED THE HOOD, THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE SO THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH FIRE SUPPRESSION IMMEDIATELY AND NOTIFIED ME. I CALLED THE GM SUPPORT STAFF BACK TO LET THEM KNOW THAT MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT OF AN OIL LEAK HAD PROGRESSED TO AN ENGINE FIRE WHILE WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO ARRIVE AND THE REPAIR TO BEGIN. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, STATIONARY IN THE PARKING LOT PRIOR TO STARTING IT BEFORE THE POP-SOUND AND FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10924380

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

Mileage

144,000 mi

OUR BUICK HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE, BUT WENT TO MOVE IT ONE MORNING. WITH A COLD ENGINE, AS SOON AS WE HIT THE STARTER, THE ENGINE EXPLODED VERY LOUDLY AND STARTED BURNING. AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE INTAKE MANIFOLD, ALONG WITH THE FUEL LINES HAD EXPLODED IN MANY PIECES. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR HAD A RECALL FOR VEHICLE YEARS '98-'00, WHICH THESE MODELS HAD THE SAME CONDITION. HAD I HAD THE HOOD OPEN AT THE TIME, I'D PROBABLY BEEN HURT BY FLYING CHUNKS FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION WHICH COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED BODILY HARM, EVEN FROM FIRE TO THE PASSENGERS INSIDE.

NHTSA ID

10836872

Incident

Jan 30, 2016

Mileage

250,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MANIFOLD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000. UPDATED 04/07/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 04/14/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10823678

Incident

Feb 2, 2014

Mileage

93,000 mi

THE GAS HAND SAID IT WAS FULL, WHEN I DROVE OFF THE PARKING LOT.. I DIDN'T GET OFF THE ROAD, WHEN THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS. CARS BLOWING HORNS.

NHTSA ID

10748844

Incident

Apr 10, 2015

Mileage

137,463 mi

ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF UPON EXELLERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BETWEEN 45 - 55MPH. AND BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER TIME AT LOWER SPEEDS. WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AFTER SITTING A COUPLE OF MINUTES FROM THE START OF THE PROBLEM. BUT OVER TIME, IT BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND HARDER TO RESTART WITH EACH INCIDENT. I'VE TAKEN IT TO 1-DEALER AND 2-SHOPS FOR DIAGNOSTIC BUT, THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. I PARKED THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. WENT OUT TO START IT ONE MORNING AND IT BACK FIRED WITH LOTS OF BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ALWAYS STAYED ON MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND THE CAR RUNS LIKE A CHAMP! WHEN ITS RUNNING.

NHTSA ID

10721195

Incident

Apr 13, 2012

Mileage

72,000 mi

I TRY TO START THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND THEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN THEN I HEARD A BIG LOUD SOUND FROM THE ENGINE A BOOB SOUND. I NOTICE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD. MY BROTHER WAS OUTSIDE WHEN THE LOUD SOUND WENT OFF. MY BROTHER AND I MOVE THE OTHER VEHICLES OUT OF THE WAY SO IT WOULDN'T CATCH ON FIRE. WENT BACK OVER TO THE CAR MY BROTHER TRIED TO PURSUE WITH THE MATTER AND HE NOTICE HE WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE SMOKE WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE IT WAS TO MUCH FOR HIM TO HANDLE SO HE TOLD ME TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND DID THAT. ENGINE WAS ON FIRE SPREADING LARGER SURROUNDING THE TIRES ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHILE THE ENGINE WAS IN FLAMES. THE POLICE CAME AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVE A COUPLES MINUTES AFTER THAT. THEY SPREAD IT DOWN WITH FIRE HOSES AND THAT WAS IT. IT NOT FIXABLE AND IT SCARED VERY BAD THIS IS REALLY BAD SO THAT'S WHY I'M WRITING THIS TO SOLVE THIS MATTER . *TR

NHTSA ID

10692671

Incident

Mar 6, 2015

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON, A LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10692606

Incident

Mar 6, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

ENGINE OF MY 2001 BUICK LE SABRE, V6, 3800 ENGINE, CAUGHT FIRE AFTER AN OIL CHANGE AND SHORT DRIVE HOME. AUTHORIZED MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS ENGINE OIL LEAKED OUT OF GASKET AND ON TOP OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD, TRIGGERING A FIRE THAT QUICKLY MELTED THE PLASTIC WIRE HARNESS COVER AND STARTED BURNING THROUGH THE WIRES. I CAUGHT THE FIRE EARLY AS IT WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT FIRE WAS SPREADING QUICKLY. I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10659374

Incident

Nov 7, 2014

Mileage

240,000 mi

CAR WENT INTO CRUISE CONTROL ON ITS OWN AND WOULD NOT DIS-ENGAGE. FOUND OUT THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CLIP BROKE. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10622539

Incident

Aug 10, 2014

Mileage

123,092 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,243. UPDATED 10/8/14*CN UPDATED 05/18/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10610889

Incident

May 12, 2008

Mileage

109,243 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10610648

Incident

Jun 9, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

MY ENGINE WAS SMOKING AND SMELLED OF BURNING OIL. WENT TOBA MECHANIC AND SAID MY VALVE IS LEAKING OIL ALL OVER MY ENGINE FOR SOME REASON. THIS ENGINE I'VE READ IS PRONE TO ENGINE FIRES. THIS MAYBE A DEFECTIVE ENGINE IN THE BUICK AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557922

Incident

Dec 2, 2013

Mileage

176,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512045

Incident

May 13, 2013

Mileage

214,000 mi

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 $735.00 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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456536

Incident

Jun 7, 2011

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT COOLING FLUIDS WERE LEAKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED UNDER AN EARLIER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10450895

Incident

Mar 2, 2012

IN DECEMBER 2010 I HAD MY 2001 BUICK LESABRE REPAIRED AT SCHEPEL BUICK IN MERRILLVILLE, INDIANA. THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND THE THERMOSTAT BECAUSE OF THE COOLANT LEAKING. I JUST FOUND OUT THE GM KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE DEX COOLANT FOR A LONG TIME AND DIDN'T LET ANYONE KNOW. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER A SCHEPEL BILL AND TALKED TO HIM AND HE SAID THAT HE NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND NEITHER DID GM. ITS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. HE LIED TO ME. HE TOLD ME NOT TO BELIEVE WHAT THE INTERNET SAYS. I AM OUT $779.45 FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR. THE NEVER HAD A RECALL BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO KEEP IT QUITE. I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THEY SHOULD GET AWAY WITH KEEPING IT QUITE WHEN SOMEONE COULD GET HURT AND TO AVOID PAYING FOR THEIR MISTAKE.

NHTSA ID

10391940

Incident

Dec 3, 2010