2001 BUICK LESABRE Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

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

Mileage: 93,000

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

Mileage: 93,000

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

Mileage: 147,000

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

Mileage: 176,000

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

Mileage: 112,000

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.

OIL LEAK ON 2001 BUICK LESABRE. NOT ONLY WAS LEAKING FROM SENDING UNIT, BUT FROM VALVE COVERS. OBVIOUSLY IS LEAKING ON ENGINE, AS I SMELL HOT OIL AND AT TIMES SEE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT HOOD. A RECALL: EA07008 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA07008 HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR VARIOUS GM MODELS INCLUDING BUICK REGAL, ALL WITH THE 3.8 ENGINE, HOWEVER THE LESABRE IS NOT LISTED. THIS AFOREMENTIONED RECALL INDICATED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, SO CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 97,000

ENGINE: OIL LEAKING SOMEWHERE, AS SMELL THE HOT OIL AND SOMETIMES SMOKE COMES OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. LOCAL SERVICE DETERMINED MAIN LEAK WAS OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT AND ADDITIONAL LEAK FROM VALVE COVERS. REPAIR COST FOR JUST OIL SENDING UNIT: $167. THE COST ESTIMATE FOR VALVE COVERS: ~$300. DECIDED TO FORGO THAT FOR NOW. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

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

Mileage: 55,000

I AM TRYING TO GET INFORMATION ON A RECALL FOR MY 2001 BUICK LESABRE. I SPOKE WITH BUICK AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS, BUT APPARENTLY BEING THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. I AM NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE MOTOR. I HAVE 73,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER STATES IT IS AGE AND MILEAGE. I AM NOT SURE!!!!!! I FEEL IF THERE WAS A RECALL DUE TO A DEFECTIVE GASKET WHICH CAUSED THESE LEAKS THEN I SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL??? FROM WHAT I COULD LEARN FROM YOUR SITE BUICK HAD A RECALL FOR THEIR REGAL AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. IT IS GM RECALL. #07035. I KNOW I HAVE A LESABRE,BUT IT SEEMS TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. IS THERE A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE ALSO??IT SUPPOSEDLY IS AFFECTING OVER 20,764 VEHICLES AND THE 2001-2003 MODELS WON'T BE NOTIFIED RIGHT AWAY. PRIOR YEARS WERE NOTIFIED APRIL 2008. I AM A SECOND OWNER SO NOT SURE IF I WOULD EVER BE NOTIFIED. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

Mileage: 72,071

THROTTLE VALVE PLATE STICKING. THE GAS PEDAL HAS TO BE STEPPED ON HARD WHEN YOU FIRST START UP AFTER SETTING A WHILE. I'M TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE UNIT USES ON MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES MINE IS ON A 2001 BUICK LESABRE WITH A 3800 ENGINE. WALDECKER PONTIAC, BRIGHTON, MI TOLD ME THIS ITEM WASN'T COVERED ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED (6YR/100000 MILE) I HAD 94,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR AT LEAST 10000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 101600 I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY IT WASN'T A WARRANTED ITEM. THIS ALSO COULD BE CONSTRUED A SAFETY ITEM AS WHEN YOU STEP HARD ON THE PEDAL THE CAR SURGES FORWARD SLIGHTLY. I'M AWARE OF IT SO I AUTOMATICALLY HIT THE PEDAL AND RELEASE. *JB

Mileage: 85,000

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LA SABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL 03034 ON AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LEACHMAN BUICK IN BOWLING GREEN THE FIST WEEK OF FEBRUARY 2007 FOR SAFETY REPAIR, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STATUS FOR THE SAFETY REPAIR WAS CLOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD THE ORIGINAL RECALL INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING SOMETIMES AND STALLS OCCASIONALLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 90000 MILES.*AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

Mileage: 90,000

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

Mileage: 10,336

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

Mileage: 8,276

CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE. DEALER SERVICE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF UPPER PLENUM AND GASKET. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BUICK ENGINES.

CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE. DEALER SERVICE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF UPPER PLENUM AND GASKET. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BUICK ENGINES.

CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE. DEALER SERVICE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF UPPER PLENUM AND GASKET. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BUICK ENGINES.

VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAKSINSIDE THE ENGINE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. A FEW DAYS LATER THE SAME EXACT THING OCCURRED. EACH TIME, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND IGNITION WIRES *JB

Mileage: 61,000

TECHNICIAN INDICATED THE ORIGINAL ANTIFREEZE WHICH GM USED IN THE BUICK LESABRE DAMAGED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE HEAD GASKET. BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FUMES FROM THE TOXIC ANTIFREEZE CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO EXPERIENCE NAUSEOUSNESS AND DIZZINESS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *MR

Mileage: 100

TECHNICIAN INDICATED THE ORIGINAL ANTIFREEZE WHICH GM USED IN THE BUICK LESABRE DAMAGED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE HEAD GASKET. BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FUMES FROM THE TOXIC ANTIFREEZE CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO EXPERIENCE NAUSEOUSNESS AND DIZZINESS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *MR

Mileage: 100

LEAKS COOLANT. DEALER SAID IT NEEDED AN INTAKE VALVE REBUILD KIT, APPROX. $600. *AK

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. ALSO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE SHOP, AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. *AK PH *JB

Mileage: 42,156

THE VEHICLE WAS USING MORE OIL THAN USUAL. *TT THE CHANGE ENGINE OIL LIGHT HAD COME ON 300 MILES SHORT OF THE 3K MILES TO TRAVEL, WHEN THE CONSUMER TESTED THE OIL, IT WAS 1QT LOW. AT THE END OF THE COMPUTER TEST, THE MILEAGE WAS 14650K MILES. WHEN THE OIL WAS CHECKED AT 829 ADDITIONAL MILES FROM THE LAST VISIT, IT WAS 1/4QT LOW. THE CONSUMER TALKED TO MANY OTHER BUICK OWNERS AND DID NOT FOUND ANOTHER (SAME MAKE/MODEL) WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *SCC *JB

THE VEHICLE USED A QUART OF OIL BETWEEN EVERY OIL CHANGE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *JB

Mileage: 15,000

WHEN COASTING CONSUMER CAN HEAR A LOUD WINDING NOISE WHICH CAUSES A DISTRACTION. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF WITH OUT ANY NOTICE. CONTACTED DEALER. NLM

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

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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE DAY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, WHILE DRIVING HOME THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEAREST DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED, IN WHICH THE EGR VALVE CONNECTOR WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER FIVE DAYS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE COULD NOT PROMISE THAT THE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN OFF AND TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM WITH THEM, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE PROGRAM BOARD, AND THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED UNTIL BUICK SEES HOW MANY OTHER VEHICLES ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.(LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF CLIENT.)*JB

WHEN DRIVING CAR VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY AT ALL SPEEDS, CAUSE 3 TIRES OUT OF ROUND. A POPPING NOISE FROM EXHAUST WHEN STARTING COLD, CAN NOT LOCATE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME.