10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 33,760 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Failure of transmission mount.
- Keller, TX, USA
Vacationing in northern Minnesota the car began to shift roughly from park or reverse to drive. Within a few miles it began to lurch when starting from a stop. I pulled off the roadway, transmission was making a rumbling noise and failed. No movement in any gear.
- Papillion, NE, USA
We heard a noise in the front of the car. We took it to the repair shop and was told we needed a bearing in the transmission and the 4th clutch. The car only has 63,000 miles. We had the parts replaced.
- Paris, MO, USA
Suspected transmission problems began before the 36,000 warranty ran out, but, since it couldn't be replicated, I couldn't take it to a dealer for diagnosis. No problems were ever recognized by computer. The first time was when backing from the garage, the car lurched to a near stop as if the brakes had been applied. I pulled forward and when I backed up, no problems were encountered. The next time, probably months later, happened when making a left turn out of our driveway under very little acceleration. It felt as if something had bound up, then, freed up 2 times. Nothing was noted again for months. Since new, the car has not shifted into overdrive until the car reaches an engine temperature of approximately 160 degrees. The next time I noticed a problem was when turning right into a parking place. The car made a single lurch, as if applying the brakes quite hard, then proceeded into the parking place. That was probably a month ago. During the last 2 weeks I think I've noticed a slight vibration when the transmission shifted into overdrive when completely warmed up. Two days ago when leaving a stop light with traffic, the car felt like I hit a slick spot for a fraction of a second and continued on as normal. I got out onto a U.S. hwy and when I got up to about 55 mph, I think when the car shifted into overdrive it downshifted once and then again, rather like the brakes were being applied. I pulled to the side of the road then slowly picked up speed again. It happened for a second time. I slowly drove to the next exit and after stopping, had trouble getting started up. Finally it moved as if it were in about 3rd gear. After that time, it is in a forward (3rd gear) even when starting the vehicle up in park and when in neutral. It has no reverse. The vehicle is a 2000 Lesabre with only 53,000 miles on it. It's Sunday and I haven't taken it to see what's wrong with it yet. I'm very upset about it.
- Saint James, MO, USA
2000 Buick Lesabre developed problems with shifting properly. The P/C solenoid switch failed which caused the vehicle to shift erratically while being driven. The consumer contacted the manufacturer about this problem but the since the vehicle was out of warranty they provided no financial assistance.
- Dallas, TX, USA
The vehicle will slow down and stop. The power steering tightens up and it just stopped.. the panel will light up and the vehicle will die. This vehicle has been to the dealers three times. The first time dealer said nothing was wrong. Contacted GM then, and GM told dealer what to do. They did diagnostic testing and no codes were found. This started happening on August 15, 2003.
- Medina, OH, USA
We own a 2000 Buick Lesabre. It was given to us by my father in-law who purchased it brand new in 2000. Both of us have always had the car serviced at Buick dealerships for all maintenance including oil changes. We have had several electrical failures, fuel injector problems and now the transmission went out with only 45,000 miles. My husband was driving to the office and the car all of a sudden slowed down and then came to a stop. He described it as someone shifting the car to first gear from fourth. However, the car is an automatic. Luckily, there was no one immediately behind him so he didn't get hit.
- Middleton, WI, USA
Transmission failure, causing hard shifts and shuddering when driving. GM has a tsb out for this sympton but denies any problem with the transmission. Dealership tech confirmed with diagnostic test and refered to bullitin #00-07-30-002B pressure control solenoid valve assembly. GM refuses to pay for even a portion of the repairs inspite of their tsb indicating a problem with this perticular make and model. The vehicle was purchased used from my father inlaw with 81K miles on it. 12/26/04 and was very well maintained. Iif they issue a tsb for this specific problem, they should take some responsibility iin corrective repairs as laid out in their own tsb. GM refuses to own up to this problem.
- Webster, NY, USA
While driving dash lights illuminated intermittently. The air bag light illuminated more than any other light. Also, the driver's side back of seat laid automatically on its own. This incident happened while the consumer was driving. Upon having a full tank of gas, the meter would read empty. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The consumer was told that there was an electrical problem. There was a noise in the dash, the fuel gauge would jump to empty, the speedometer would go to zero, the headlight would go dim when the weather was rainy, there was a rumble in the left front end, a shimmy when the brakes were applied and when raining, the dash light would go from bright to dim the air bag light was intermittent, the radio would cut out, the driver's seat was inoperative, the transmission would slip into overdrive on slight acceleration, the automatic doors were inoperative, the cruise control was inoperative, there were intermittent loss of heat would start blowing cold air, the oil pressure light would come on while the fuel gauge mileage would not stay on, the electrical remote was inoperative, and there was a leak in the engine.
- Indian Orchard, MA, USA
The transmission failed at 50K miles. There were two other same make/model vehicles with the same problem. The consumer suggested that GM compensate consumer's for this problem. There were ticking noises upon acceleration and there was a clunk sound when the vehicle was placed in reverse.
- Whiting, NJ, USA
While the vehicle was in park and running, the vehicle shifted to drive without warning and pinned the consumer between the house and the vehicle. The consumer suffered minor back injuries.
- Vidor, TX, USA
Multiple defects with transmission, cruise control, fuel system, engine cooling, etc. Vehicle leaked coolant so the upper and lower intake manifold were replaced. In addition, the vehicle would lose power over 40-50 mph.
- West Hartford, CT, USA
The consumer states that the vehicle has been in the shop twice for transmission problems, the dealer has been unable to properly diagnose the problem.
- Brooklyn, NY, USA
There is resistance and a momentary delay when shifting. The vehicle has been taken to dealer several times. The vehicle has been at the dealer since January and the dealer can not duplicate the problem. Consumer states that a mount was replaced, however there is still a bang when shifting from park to drive, drive to reverse and park to reverse.
- Molmuth, ME, USA
While driving 65 mph engine started to make a loud rapping noise. Dealer notifed and informed consumer that engine needed to be replaced. The transmission failed twice and was replaced by the dealer. The engine skips due to defective wires and all wires were replaced. The head gasket and valve cover gasket were defective and were replaced. The engine was defective and was replaced. The consumer was requesting refund.
- Avon, CT, USA
Transmission had to be replaced on two separate occasions, first at 20,000 miles, and other at 36,000 miles. Dealer notified.. the consumer has also experienced the engine skipping due to defective wires, a failure with the head gasket and valve cover. The engine became non-repairable and consumer had to have it replaced.
- Avon, CT, USA
Transmission failed.
- Greenacres, FL, USA
While driving on the highway vehicle completely shut off. Consumer was able to start up but only for the vehicle to turn off again. This occurred on 3 different occasions on the same day. There were no prior warnings to vehicle shutdown. Dealership could not duplicate any problems or remedies to defect.
- Roslyn Heights, NY, USA
- Columbia, SC, USA