Is the 2001 Buick LeSabre a bad year?
328 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other LeSabre years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2001 Buick LeSabre are in line with other LeSabre years. Visibility and wipers and body structure stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2001 LeSabre owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 55,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 101 (31%) | 44k–79k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 50 (15%) | 50k–92k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 38 (12%) | 24k–71k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 31 (9%) | 35k–79k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 29 (9%) | 38k–107k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 29 (9%) | 28k–100k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 17 (5%) | 44k–98k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 12 (4%) | 35k–108k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 10 (3%) | 32k–117k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 41 (13%) | 91k–145k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Tires | 5 (2%) | 33k–50k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 17 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 55,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 328 complaints: 10 mention a crash · 22 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 4 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Feb 2022.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Engine will shut off upon exelleration at highway speeds between 45 - 55MPH. And became more frequent over time at lower speeds.
Passenger window would not go up july 2011. One week later left rear passenger window would not function. February 2012 right rear window failed.
There was an oil smell while my car was running and the passenger side of the defrost stopped working. I took the vehicle into my mechanic.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 55,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2001 Buick LeSabre: 0
No recall campaign lists this model year.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Buick: 98
Repair instructions Buick sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2001 Buick LeSabre. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Engine compartment fires
Neighbouring years
2000 LeSabre: 669 complaints, keep it · 2002 LeSabre: 310 complaints, keep it.
Every Buick LeSabre year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · All LeSabre years side by side
Other Buick models: Buick Century · Buick Enclave · Buick Encore · Buick Encore GX · Buick Envision · Buick LaCrosse · Buick Lucerne · Buick Park Avenue · Buick Rainier · Buick Regal · Buick Rendezvous · Buick Terraza · Buick Verano. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2001 Buick LeSabre a bad year?
328 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other LeSabre years. At 55,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Buick LeSabre?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: visibility and wipers (101), body structure (50), electrical system (38), transmission and drivetrain (31), air bags (29).
How many recalls does the 2001 Buick LeSabre have?
No recall campaign lists this model year in NHTSA data. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.