RoadVitals

2001 Buick Lesabre Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
101
Latest Mar 24, 2015
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.
31%
of 328 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Buick Lesabre submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 101 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 visibility

The 25 most recent of 101, in the owner's own words

Body & structureElectricalVisibility
Filed Mar 24, 2015

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
Visibility
Filed Aug 16, 2014

ONE DAY I NOTICED A SMALL SEPARATION OF THE DASH BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. OVER TIME THE SEPARATION GREW AND GREW UNTIL ITS UP SEVERAL INCHES RIGHT IN MY SIGHT LINE AND HAS SPREAD ALMOST THE LENGTH OF THE DASH TO PASSENGER SIDE CREATING A HAZARDOUS CONDITION OF THE AIRBAG BEING EXPOSED. THERE IS A CHAT FORUM WITH MANY MANY BUICK LESABRE OWNERS WITH SAME CONDITION AND WE CAN NOT GET ANY HELP/RESPONSE FROM GM OTHER THAT REPLACING THE DASH AND A HIGH COST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10625706
Incident
Aug 17, 2011
Visibility
Filed Jul 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED TO CLOSE OR OPEN THE SIDE WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,386.

NHTSA ID
10607788
Incident
May 25, 2007
Mileage
66,386 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed May 15, 2013

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
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jan 23, 2013

THE WINDOWS OF THIS CAR ARE UNDEPENDABLE. IN CASE OF ACCIDENT DEFECTIVE MOTORS REGULATORS DO NOT WORK. ALL FOUR WINDOWS ARE A PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT BY A WINDOW IF NEED BE. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE BUICK LESABRE 2001. BUICK MANUFACTURING WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR WINDOWS. BUICK STATES THAT THE CARS ARE PAST WARRANTY AND THEREFORE WILL NOT DO ANY THING ABOUT IT. I INCLUDE THESE TWO SITES AS EVIDENCE TO THIS FACT AND HOW WIDE SPREAD THIS PROBLEM IS. HTTP://GOOGLEADS.G.DOUBLECLICK.NET/PAGEAD/ADS?CLIENT=CA-PUB-6617098213423805&OUTPUT=HTML&H=90&SLOTNAME=7952013016&W=728&LMT=1358582400&FLASH=11.4.402.265&URL=HTTP%3A%2F%2FWWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM%2FCOMPLAINT%2F2001%2FBUICK%2FLESABRE%2FPOWER%2BWINDOW&DT=1358997446843&BPP=16&SHV=R20130122&JSV=R20121214&PREV_SLOTNAMES=6969891371&CORRELATOR=1358997446734&FRM=20&ADK=1032090657&GA_VID=657897228.1358997064&GA_SID=1358997064&GA_HID=919312188&GA_FC=1&U_TZ=-360&U_HIS=6&U_JAVA=1&U_H=768&U_W=1280&U_AH=738&U_AW=1280&U_CD=32&U_NPLUG=0&U_NMIME=0&DFF=ARIAL&DFS=12&ADX=265&ADY=1015&BIW=1259&BIH=644&OID=3&REF=HTTP%3A%2F%2FWWW.GOOGLE.COM%2FURL%3FSA%3DT%26RCT%3DJ%26Q%3D%26ESRC%3DS%26FRM%3D1%26SOURCE%3DWEB%26CD%3D5%26VED%3D0CFGQFJAE%26URL%3DHTTP%253A%252F%252FWWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM%252FCOMPLAINT%252F2001%252FBUICK%252FLESABRE%252FPOWER%252BWINDOW%26EI%3DJQQAUBWZHSBH0WGF_IGGDA%26USG%3DAFQJCNEP6YWAWYZGKEYUTPLIH1JJFUUBHG%26SIG2%3DVLPVERP_XPOBZYTN06RIKA&DOCM=8&FU=0&IFI=2&DTD=94&XPC=DGPDFQUZHD&P=HTTP%3A//WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/BUICK/LESABRE/2001/WINDOWS_WINDSHIELD/POWER_WINDOW_STOPPED_WORKING.SHTML. *TR

NHTSA ID
10494523
Incident
Jan 23, 2013
Mileage
50,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Aug 19, 2012

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
Body & structureTransmissionVisibility
Filed Aug 6, 2012

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
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Apr 26, 2012

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
Body & structureSteeringSuspension+1 more
Filed Feb 15, 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
Visibility
Filed Dec 12, 2011

TL* THE DRIVER OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE REAR DRIVER'S WINDOW DROPPED DOWN INTO ITS DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10439390
Incident
Dec 8, 2011
Visibility
Filed Sep 13, 2011

2001 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER STATES ALL FOUR WINDOW MECHANISMS FAILED IN RAPID SUCCESSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A PLASTIC HOOK. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED IT WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10424910
Incident
Sep 1, 2011
Visibility
Filed Jul 16, 2011

WE HAVE HAD ALL 4 OF OUR WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED ON OUR 2001 BUICK LESABRE WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. THE WINDOWS FALL DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. IT HAS COST US $200 EACH TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I PERSONALLY WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER BUICK IF THIS IS THE WAY GM HANDLES THINGS. ALSO, THE DASHBOARD SKIN HAS PEELED AWAY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND SLOWLY PROCEEDING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TT

NHTSA ID
10413159
Incident
Sep 25, 2009
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jul 10, 2011

2001 BUICK LESABRE LIMITED 'DASH MAT' HAS SEPARATED AND BUCKLED IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING A VISIBILITY ISSUE AND IS SEEMS TO CONTINUE TO BE SEPARATING TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG - BASED ON MY ONLINE RESEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AMONGST 2000 - 2005 LESABRE OWNERS. I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND AM NOT SURE IF HEAT IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10411677
Incident
Jul 3, 2011
Mileage
49,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 26, 2010

WE ARE BEYOND THREE REPLACEMENTS ON WINDOW REGULATORS FOR OUR 2001 BUICK LESABRE IN 2010 ALONE AND WE'VE LEARNED SOME PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED 4-6 WITHIN A SHORT SPAN OF TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10362515
Incident
Oct 15, 2010
Visibility
Filed Sep 12, 2010

2001 BUICK LESABRE REAR WINDOW ASSEMBLY FAILED ON BOTH SIDES, COST $400 EACH TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10355098
Incident
Aug 20, 2010
Mileage
101,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 29, 2010

REAR WINDOWS FAILED WITHIN 2 DAYS OF EACH OTHER. RARELY USED WINDOWS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10352624
Incident
Aug 22, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 17, 2010

MY 2001 BUICK LASABRE, ALL FOUR POWER WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED IN A 2-3 YEAR TIME, VEHICLEEHAD 55,000 WHEN FAILURES OCCURRED, FAILURE WAS IN THE CONNECTION OF OF THE CABLE ATTACHMENT TO THE WINDOW LIFT REGULATOR. PLASTIC RETAINERS HAD SPLIT ALLOWING CABLE TO PULL LOOSE. WINDOWS CANNOT BE OPERATED WHEN FAILURE OCCURS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10349926
Incident
Jun 22, 2010
Mileage
55,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 15, 2010

HAD TO REPLACE RR WINDOW REGULATOR, WINDOW WOULD NOT OPERATE. THIS IS THE SECOND REGULATOR THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED (LR WINDOW). I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE EMOLOYEES THAT SHE HAD 3 WINDOW REGULATORS TO GO BAD. JUST ABOUT EVERYONE I TALKED TO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10349475
Incident
Aug 10, 2010
Mileage
84,745 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 5, 2010

ON BUICK LESABRE, I HAVE HAD DEFECTS ON MY BACK WINDOWS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS THE WINDOWS FALL DOWN AND THEY WILL NOT GO BACK UP. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY MOTHER'S BUICK LESABRE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10341470
Incident
Jul 3, 2010
Visibility
Filed Apr 21, 2010

DEFECTIVE WINDOW REGULATOR. WILL NOT POWER WINDOW BACK UP AFTER IT IS POWERED DOWN. GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH A REDESIGN OF CHEAP PLASTIC PART CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND THEN ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A $400 REPAIR FOR EACH WINDOW AND ALL FOUR WINDOWS ARE LIKELY TO FAIL WEATHER THEY ARE USED OR NOT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10326875
Incident
Mar 10, 2010
Mileage
51,230 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Nov 17, 2009

2007 THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW KEPT ON GOING DOWN ON ITS OWN. HAD A MECHANIC RIP OUT FLOOR BOARD AND FOUND A DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL HARNESS, WIRE EXPOSED CAUSING GROUND OUT. HE LEARNED THIS FROM A GM MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WAS A KNOW ISSUE. PROBLEM WAS FIXED. 2009 NOW THE SAME WINDOW WENT DOWN. ALL WINDOWS EXCEPT DRIVERS WILL NOT FUNCTION, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT WORK, AND WHEN I DRIVE AT NITE I CAN SEE THE LIGHTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FLICKER ON FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS, AGAIN ANOTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10292618
Incident
Nov 1, 2009
Visibility
Filed Aug 9, 2009

2001 BUICK LASABRE ALL FOUR WINDOWS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THREE WINDOWS THREE MONTHS APART. I'M NOW DRIVING WITH THE FOURTH WINDOW TO BE REPLACED. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE CHEAP PLASTIC USED. IT COULD CAUSE A REAL SERIOUS PROBLEM,THE GLASS CRACKS,BE HAPPY IT DOESN'T HIT YOU OR A GRANDCHILD. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279858
Incident
Aug 8, 2006
Visibility
Filed Apr 20, 2009

THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE ALL FAILED, THE REGULATOR AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY IN ITS ENTIRETY IS REPLACED. I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT THE FAILED PART RATHER THAN THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY IS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266113
Incident
Dec 1, 2008
EngineTransmissionVisibility
Filed Apr 15, 2009

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
Visibility
Filed Nov 26, 2008

2001 BUICK LESABRE WITH THE PROBLEMS OF FAILING POWER REGULATORS. HAVE HAD TWO DIE IN LESS THEN A MONTH. FRONT AND REAR DRIVERS SIDE....REAR ONE HARDLY EVER USED, BUT WAS THE FIRST TO FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10249900
Incident
Nov 26, 2008
Mileage
73,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .