2001 Buick Lesabre Transmission Problems

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

TRANSMISSION REPAIRED IN 2006 WINDOW SWITCHES REPLACED IN TWO WINDOWS 2007 NOW I HAVE A COOLANT LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265422

Incident

Apr 14, 2009

Mileage

55,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE 2001 BUICK LESABRE HOME THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A HIGH PITCH WHINE AND GRINDING NOISE. AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP, AND I LEARNED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS METAL FATIGUE, AND WHEN ONE OF PARTS BROKE IT DESTROYED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THE REPAIR COST WAS 2600. THE CAR ONLY HAD 61000 MILES ON IT, AND HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR ALL BUT 1000 OF THOSE MILES BY MY 95 YEAR OLD GRAND FATHER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10193875

Incident

Jun 18, 2007

2001 BUICK LESABRE/TRANSMISSION TORE UP 2007/I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY CAR SERVICED REGULARLY/COMPLETE SERVICE EVERYTIME/ALL FLUIDS. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT REBUILT AT A COST OF $1200.00. A CAR SUCH AS THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE OLD AT TODAY'S STANDARDS AND FOR A TRANSMISSION TO TEAR UP COMPLETELY-TO SAY THE LEAST I HAVE QUESTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10188939

Incident

Apr 5, 2007

Mileage

112,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 65000 MILES AFTER HAVING ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED ONCE. INITIALLY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TRIED TO BLAME ME FOR THE FAILURE BUT AFTER DEALER DISASSEMBLED TRANSMISSION FOR INSPECTION IT WAS COVERED. ALSO, HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD, RADIO AND STEERING WHEEL CONSTANTLY FAILING, 2 WINDOWS HAVE FAILED IN THE OPEN POSITION, THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT STOPPED WORKING AT 50,000 MILES. THE ONLY THING THAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED IS THE HEATED SEAT. DEALER SAYS IT COSTS TOO MUCH TO FIX. I BOUGHT THE BEST EXTENDED WARRANTY THE DEALER OFFERED AND STILL HAVE TO FIGHT TO GET THINGS FIXED. THIS IS THE LAST TIME I BUY AMERICAN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10156455

Incident

Jan 19, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

2001 LESABRE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. *TS ***NAR***

NHTSA ID

10154134

Incident

Nov 4, 2005

Mileage

39,559 mi

2001 BUICK LESABRE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT SET, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD NO REVERSE ABILITY, WATER LEAKING FROM THE COOLANT PUMP, SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED, LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THERE WAS A WHISTLING SOUND COMING FROM AROUND THE WINDOW AREA DUE TO A REVEALING MOLDING PIECE, THE STEERING FELT FUNNY AND WAS NOISY WHEN TURNING, THERE WAS ALSO A CLUNK IN THE STEERING, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE RIGHT AND LEFT TIE ROD END, THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT, THE RIGHT REAR CENTER BULB WAS OUT, THE ORIGINAL BATTERY HAD LEAKED ACID CAUSING A HOLE IN FLOOR UNDER THE BACK SEAT, THE LIGHT SWITCH STUCK IN THE ON POSITION, AND THE RIGHT FRONT MARKER LIGHT OUT. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10124783

Incident

Aug 14, 2001

Mileage

8,276 mi

ON MY 2001 BUICK LESABRE, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. SINCE WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY ARE REPLACING IT WITH A USED TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS A CONCERN SINCE I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY MILES IT WILL HAVE ON IT. IN ANY EVENT, I DO NOT THINK A TRANSMISSION SHOULD GO OUT AT 50,000 MILES, AND SINCE IT HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED IT TO END UP AT THE DEALERSHIP, I AM CONCERNED TAKING IT ANY DISTANCE. THE REASON I PURCHASED A BUICK WAS RELIABILITY, BUT IT HAS BEEN THE MOST UNRELIABLE CAR I HAVE OWNED (I AM 53), AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION GO OUT AND HAVE OWNED CARS SINCE I WAS 18. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104954

Incident

Dec 22, 2004

Mileage

52,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING BUT TRANSMISSION FAILED TO CHANGE GEARS WHILE SHIFTING. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR CARRIAGE BAN, AND THE SUN GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103120

Incident

Dec 3, 2004

LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED DURING A STRORM, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. INFORMED DEALER THAT WIRING WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE 25704865 ARM, WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE TRANSMISSION MOTOR SHAFT STRIPPED THE THREADS. THIS PART WAS REPLACED, NOT THE WIRING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10102065

Incident

Nov 24, 2004

Mileage

50,200 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A TRANSMISSION NOISE, IT STARTED AS A BEARING NOISE AND CONTINUALLY BECAME LOUDER. *BF THE NOSIE PROGRESSED TO A GROWLING NOSIE WHILE IN 4TH GEAR AND IN REVERSE. THE PROBELM WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE PLANETARY SUN GEAR ASSEMBLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10099051

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

Mileage

25,561 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR STOPPED. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE RESULT OF A "DEFECTIVE BEARING THT CAME APART IN THE FINAL DRIVE OF THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING METAL CONTAMINATION THORUGHOUT THE TRANSAXLE." THIS WAS THE ANALYSIS OF AUSTIN TRANSMISSION. CAR IS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE WITH 50,000 MILES. AUSTIN TRANSMISSION SAYS GM HAS "UPDATED PARTS" - PARTS WHICH REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. NO TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL AT 50,000. THIS CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN BY TEENAGERS. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR - AGE 65 BUT I WAS DRIVING IT THAT DAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10088495

Incident

Jul 16, 2004

Mileage

50,962 mi

VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. *MR THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT MOVE FORWARD IN GEAR AND MADE A RATTLING NOISE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10083744

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10081495

Incident

Jun 24, 2004

VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER DISCOVERED METAL DEBRIS IN TRANSMISSION PAN. DEALER CLEANED PARTS, REPLACED SUN GEAR AND CARRIERS. RECONDITIONED TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10046204

Mileage

37,869 mi

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INVOLVING 2001 BUICK LESABRE. *MR THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS OCCURRED WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACES AND AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE SOLENOID VALVE WAS REPLACED IN THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER IT DID NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10040572

Incident

Jul 11, 2003

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ONCE AT 7000 MILES AND FAILED AGAIN AT 23,000 MILES. BOTH REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *MR *TS *NLM

NHTSA ID

10021930

Mileage

7,000 mi

BUICK LOST THE BBB DECISION AND DID NOT PERFORM WITHIN THE 40 DAYS ALLOTTED TO REPLACE THE CAR. THE CAR HAS MULTIPLE SAFETY DEFECTS (AIR BAG, TRANSMISSION, BRAKING) THAT THE BBB SAID COULD CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. THEY WANT TO BUY BACK THE CAR AND INSPECT IT SO IT CAN BE RESOLD. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016185

Incident

Dec 3, 2002

Mileage

22,069 mi

THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 7000 MILES, AND AGAIN AT 26,000 MILES. *JB....*AK

NHTSA ID

10014713

Incident

Mar 28, 2003

Mileage

7,000 mi

2/9/2001 PURCHASED BUICK LESABRE 1/19/2003 TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ITSELF FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE WHEN EXITING OWNERS GARAGE. 34,000 MILES ON CAR 1/27/2003 ADVISED BY BUICK DEALER THAT TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION. RETURNED TO OWNER AT THIS TIME. 1/28/2003 "NEW" TRANSMISSION SELF DESTRUCTED AT 25 MPH. BUICK DEALER ADVISED THAT A FOREIGN OBJECT HAD CAUSED DAMAGE. 1/31/2003 CAR WITH THIRD TRANSMISSION RETURNED THIS DATE. WE'RE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10005101

Incident

Jan 19, 2003

Mileage

33,831 mi

POWER TRAIN - TRANSMISSION. 3.8 LITER ENGINE, TRANSMISSION GEAR FAILURE AT 40,610 ACTUAL MILES ON THE ODOMETER, RESULTING $2,993.00 REPAIRS AT BUD AND RAY'S TRANSMISSION, 237 WEST LAKETON AVENUE, MUSKEGON, MI 49441. ENGINE NUMBER [XXX]. I NOTED THAT THERE ARE A FEW OTHER COMPLAINTS, ON THE RECALL WEB SITE, RELATING TO THE TRANSMISSION (POWER TRAIN). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10000623

Incident

Dec 2, 2002

Mileage

40,610 mi

VARIOUS BUICK DEALERS HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. DT

NHTSA ID

770226

Incident

Aug 29, 2002

WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP, CONSUMER NOTICED DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED FORWARD WHILE TURNING CORNERS. CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE, SEAT MOVING SIDE TO SIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS A HARSH DOWN SHIFT WHEN MERGING ON TO A FREEWAY OR GOIND UP A HILL. SHIFTS DOWN TO LOWER GEAR. THE SOLENOID WAS REPLACED AND THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS UPDATED BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE HARSH ENGAGEMENT. ONCE IN A WHILE THE HARSH ENGAGEMENT HAPPENS WHEN GOING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FLUSHED DUE TO SEDIMENT. THE REAR BRAKES STILL MOAN AND ARE SQUEAKY AT LOW SPEEDS. THEY WERE HOSED OFF TO REMOVE THE EXCESS BRAKE DUST FORM THE ROTORS. THE BRAKES PULSATE WHEN BRAKING HARD ON FREEWAYS OR CITY STREETS. THE STEERING LABORS ENGINE WHEN TURNING A CORNER OR BACKING UP. THE POWER STEERING HYDRAULIC HOSES WERE REPLACED. *JG

NHTSA ID

8018350

WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE WILL HAVE A HARSH DOWNSHIFT, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO GO INTO SECOND GEAR, BUT GO BACK INTO FIRST GEAR.CONTACTED DEALER.CANNOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8017671

Incident

Feb 19, 2001

THE VEHICLE VIBRATED NAD THERE WAS NO SECOND GEAR AND NO REVERSE, DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION.*YH

NHTSA ID

563709

Incident

Aug 1, 2001