FaultScore

2001 Buick Lesabre suspension problems

18 of the 460 complaints about the 2001 Buick Lesabre are about the suspension — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 48,000 miles.

B

18

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Suspension 9 50.0%
Front 2 11.1%
Rear 1 5.6%
Wheel Bearing 1 5.6%
Shock Absorber 1 5.6%
Upper ARM 1 5.6%
Lower Ball Joint 1 5.6%
Upper Ball Joint 1 5.6%
HUB 1 5.6%

Suspension across every Buick Lesabre year

1997 20 20.6%
1998 16 16.5%
1999 19 19.6%
2000 24 24.7%
2001 18 18.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 190,000 miles Beverly, MA

SUSPENSION

I BOUGHT A CAR ON JUNE 17TH I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR SO I TOLD THE WOMAN I BOUGHT IT FROM I WANTED IT INSPECTED BEFORE I MADE A DECISION TO BUY IT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SAFE SHE BROUGHT IT TO HER INSPECTION STATION IN IT GOT IN INSPECTION STICKER STATING THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AS I DROVE IT HOME I NOTICED THAT IT WAS BOUNCING UP AND DOWN IN THAT THE FRONT-END AND BACK-END WOULD HIT THE GROUND I HAD A FRIEND LOOK AT IT THAT KNOWS ABOUT CARS AND TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT AND BACK STRUTS WERE COMPLETELY GONE AND IT ALSO HAD FOR BALD TIRES AND THERE IS OIL SPLATTERED ALL OVER THE ENGINE I CONTACTED THE WOMAN I BOUGHT IT FROM AND SHE WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS AND WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH GIVING ME MY MONEY BACK I ALSO WENT BACK TO THE INSPECTION STATION AND ASKED HOW THE HECK DID THIS CAR GET IN INSPECTION STICKER I WAS TOLD TO LEAVE I NEED ADVICE AND WHERE I SHOULD GO FROM HERE

NHTSA complaint #11001309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles High Point, NC

SUSPENSION

HANKOOK OPTIMO H727 TIRES WERE INSTALLED ALL THE WAY AROUND IN MID 2012. AFTER ABOUT 15,000 MILES, THE CAR BEGAN TO WOBBLE/VIBRATE NOTICEABLY AT SPEEDS OVER ABOUT 45 MPH. TIRES HAD BEEN REGULARLY ROTATED, AND THAT HAS BEEN DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS SINCE THE WOBBLE BEGAN. AT THE LAST ROTATION, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE TIRES WERE "CHOPPING" AND THAT WAS CAUSING THE VIBRATION/WOBBLE.

NHTSA complaint #10565514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Cary, NC

SUSPENSION

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??

NHTSA complaint #10448115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Seaboard, NC

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE OWNER REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS WHICH WERE PURCHASED FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SELF SEALED BALL JOINTS WOULD REMEDY THIS DEFECT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE NEW BALL JOINTS ARRIVED FROM THE MANUFACTURER, THE OWNER CUT THROUGH THE NEW BALL JOINTS AND THEY HAD NO GREASE SEALED IN THEM AT ALL. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10096717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Seaboard, NC

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE OWNER REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS WHICH WERE PURCHASED FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SELF SEALED BALL JOINTS WOULD REMEDY THIS DEFECT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE NEW BALL JOINTS ARRIVED FROM THE MANUFACTURER, THE OWNER CUT THROUGH THE NEW BALL JOINTS AND THEY HAD NO GREASE SEALED IN THEM AT ALL. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10096717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Terrace, CA

SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS ALLOWS THE VEHICLE'S REAR WHEELS TO LEAVE THE PAVEMENT.*MR WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH AND HITTING ROUGH OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THE REAR OF THE CAR SEEMED TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL LIKE IT WAS HITTING A PATCH OF ICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND FLUID IN THE AIR BAG OF THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS. THE REAR SHOCK WERE REPLACED WITH MONROE SHOCKS.

NHTSA complaint #10083381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hemet, CA

SUSPENSION

VEHICLE DANCED SIDEWAYS WHEN IT WENT OVER BUMPS. *PH THIS WOULD OCCUR AT BOTH HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10057265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Palm Coast, FL

SUSPENSION

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WANDERED INTO OTHER LANES OF TRAFFIC AND ALSO BOUNCED. THE DEALER AGREED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA complaint #10055273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spokane, WA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

THE CONSUMER REPORTED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS WITH THE VEHICLE. 1)THE TIE ROD ON THE RIGHT SIDE SHIMMIED WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH OR MORE. 2. WHEEL BEARINGS WERE MAKING A HUMMING SOUND WHEN DRIVEN AT 30 MPH. 3. THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND IN THE BRAKES WHEN BRAKING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10042290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,308 miles Raleigh, NC

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO A TIRE SHOP CENTER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THEY INDICATED THE TIE RODS WERE NOT GOOD. THE CONSUMER THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS.*AK . THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE.*TS

NHTSA complaint #10026218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Whitesville, NY

SUSPENSION:REAR

THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING SNAPPED WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO WOBBLE AND MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #10018216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUN City, AZ

SUSPENSION

THE REAR ROTORS WERE HANGING UP, MAKE NOISE, PULSATE, AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT END VIBRATES, THE DOOR ASSEMBLY IS MISALIGNED, STICKS OUT, AND NOISY, THE TIRE WAS CHANGED BUT FAILED BALANCE AND THERES A VIBRATION, THE ENGINE STUMBLES/STALLS, THE INTERIOR CLOTH BY THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE-3 TIMES, CAN HEAR A MOAN COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD, THE ONSTAR ANTENNA FELL APART, THE TORSION ROD VIBRATES, THE STEERING SHUDDERS AT SLOW SPEEDS AND ON TURNS AND THE HOSE/BULLETIN # 99-02-32-007A, POWER STEERING, AND HYDRAULICS HAVE BEEN REPLACED-8 TIMES, THE A/C BLOWS HOT AIR/BULLETIN #990139-004A, AND THE VEHICLE POPS/BANGS WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND MAKING TURNS, THERES A RATTLE NOISE FROM UNDER VEHICLE/POSSIBLE EXHAUST OR AIR PUMP-CAUSE: INTERMEDIATE EXHAUST PIPE RATTLING (INTERNAL) FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO OXIDATION CATALYTIC CONVERTER-REPLACED, WHEEL ALIGNMENT (PULLS TO THE LEFT), THERE WAS A RATTLE NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PILLAR MOLDING/REMOVED THE A-PILLAR TRIM AND INSULATED/ALIGN/AGAINST UPPER DASH, AND GETTING POOR FUEL ECONOMY/IDLE AIR CONTROL-REPPACED. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #8017672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Oaklohoma City, OK

SUSPENSION:FRONT

THE FRONT END SUSPENSION CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO JERK, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND THE LEFT WINDOW FAILED. *AK *NLM

NHTSA complaint #8007449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moline, IL

SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH EXTREME VIBRATIONS OCCURS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK BROKE. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE DASH. CONSUMER ATTACHED ADMINISTRATIVE NUMBER VSS20010150 WHICH STATES THAT SOME CUSTOMERS COMMENT ON SHAKING/VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR, OR SEAT, IT ALSO STATES TO INSPECT MISSING BALANCE WEIGHTS, AND TIRES, POSSIBLY TIRE RELATED.

NHTSA complaint #8000987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUN City, AZ

SUSPENSION

WHEN DRIVING 50-70 MPH STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES, REPLACED TIRES/REBALANCED WHEELS. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #897143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Timmonsville, SC

SUSPENSION

WHENEVER TRAVELING BETWEEN 50-70MPH VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. VIBRATION FELT IN STEERING WHEEL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND FRONT SEAT. VEHICLE WAS CONTROLLABLE. EVEN WITH LESS SPEED THERE WOULD BE VIBRATIONS. HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 TIMES FOR THIS REOCCURRING PROBLEM.*AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #892044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flusing, MI

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHILE HANDLING VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH, VEHICLE WILL NOT TRACK IN WINDY CONDITIONS PROPERLY, AND DRIFTS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. ALSO, IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE 5 TIMES; HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES STEERING NEEDS CONSTANT CORRECTION TO AVOID DRIFTIN IN WINDY CONDITIONS AND HEAVY TRAFFIC. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #885655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Seaford, NY Crash 1 injured

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH FRONT CONTROL ARM BROKE, TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT UNABLE TO. VEHICLE PULLED TO RIGHT AND CONSUMER SIDESWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DAMAGE $ 2600, GMC SAID IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT, AND THEY WOULD EXCHANGE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #876636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2001 Buick Lesabre problems

← Full 2001 Buick Lesabre report