Problems · by component
2001 Buick Lesabre engine and engine cooling problems
29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Buick Lesabre cite engine and engine cooling, 9% of all 335 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
29
9% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“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”
“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”
“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”
“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.”
“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.”
Showing 6 of 29 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.