Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Buick Lesabre submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
The transmission doesn't shift correctly even after it's warmed up it is erratic and rough while connecting the transmission gears and jerks very hard at most times. The power steering is not working correctly and makes it difficult to drive at all with the combined issues I'm very concerned about my and my family safely
WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS WARMER DURING TRANSIT, THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO SLIP. IT GETS WORSE AND THE DURATION OF THE SLIP BEGINS TO. LAST LONGER.
BUICK 2003 LESABRE TSB I NEED THE SERVICE BULITONS ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR SHUDDER ,HARSH SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING AND HEATED UP PROPERLY
TRANSMISSION BUMPS SOME TIMES
WE BOUGHT THE CAR DECEMBER 29,2015, THE CAR HAD 102,0215, AND DROVE IT TO THE DOCTOR ON OUR WAY BACK, THE WOULD MAKE A "CLUNKING" SOUND FROM TRANS-AXLES, AND WE NOTICE THAT THE DASH BOARD CAME UP AND IT HAS HARDWARE SCREWS ACROSS THE DASH AS IF TO HOLD IT DOWN. *TR
AUTOATICE TRANSMISSION SLIPS
WHEN THE LESABRE WAS RELIABLE; IT WAS RELIABLE. HOWEVER, WHEN ISSUES STARTED TO OCCUR, THEY WERE MASSIVE. AT APPROX 90K MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT WITH NO WARMING AND WAS INSTANTLY. AFTER THAT THE CAR STILL HAD ISSUES WITH THE DRIVE, TRANSMISSION AND GEARS. THE FUEL PUMP AND INTAKE MANIFOLDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. AS OF 2014 I CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT CURRENTLY RUNS VERY HARD AND WHEN IDLE AND IN TRAFFIC (VERY SCARY) WILL RANDOMLY CUT OFF WITH ZERO WARNING OR EVEN BEGIN TO SMOKE. THERE IS THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY SMOKE AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN TO THE MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE MAIN ISSUE SO THAT IT CAN BE REPAIRED. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING. ANYONE HAVE ANY SOLUTIONS? I KEEP READING PLENTY OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE(S) SO I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT GM/BUICK HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON PARTS FOR THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, ETC. *TR
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS (BOTH LOWER AND UPPER) HAVE FAILED RESULTING IN COOLANT LOSS. POORLY DESIGNED PLASTIC GASKETS ARE NO LONGER USED BUT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT RESULTS IN SAFETY ISSUE IF COOLANT IS COMPLETELY DEPLETED ON THE HIGHWAY RESULTING IN FAILURE OF VEHICLE TO DRIVE DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
GAS PEDAL STICKS WHEN GOING FORWARD AFTER USING REVERSE. *TR
TRANSMISSION SHUDDER &HARD SHIFTS. *KB
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CONSUMER FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SEAT. AFTER SEVEN VISITS TO THE DEALERS, THEY REPLACED THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE TIRES BALANCED 8 TIMES AND HAS BOUGHT 7 NEW TIRES. *JB THE VIBRATING CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAD A DRIVELINE SHIMMY AT HIGHER SPEED THAT WAS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS OUT OF BALANCE AND THE FRONT LEFT REAR WHEEL WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND WAS CORRECTED, VIBRATIONS WERE STILL EVIDENT DURING SUBSEQUENT ROAD TEST AND THREE TIRES WERE FOUND OUT OF BALANCE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES AND WHEELS WEREN'T THE PROBLEM. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A DRIVELINE SHIMMY AT A HIGHER SPEED. *JB
(1) BAD CV JOINT/HALF SHAVES UPON DELIVERY OF VEHICLE (2) FAILURE WILL CAUSE LOSS OF POWER AND FRONT WHEEL LOCKUP WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. 3) NOTHING WAS DONE. G M REP. STATED VEHICLE IS WITHIN CORPORATE SPECIFICATIONS.*AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .