Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Buick Lesabre owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Buick Lesabre. While the vehicle was parked outside, the contact noticed that the floor was wet on the front and rear passenger sides. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 00V114000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to al serra Buick GMC (located at 6201 saginaw rd, grand blanc, mi 48439, [phone]), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 71,500.
While driving the vehicle on dry pavement at approximately 30 MPH I heard a chime and the ABS light illuminated on the dash board. The light went out the next time I drove the car and then returned. This light signifies that I have "lost" the benefit of ABS braking on this vehicle. This condition could jeopardize the safety of the driver and occupants as braking efficiency could be dramatically reduced.
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 …
My wife was driving our 2000 Buick Lesabre ltd home from work and her brakes went to the floor when she tried to stop at a traffic light. She was able to stop, but the brakes were barely there. She was able to get the car home without incident, and I checked it out when she got home. I found that there was almost no brake fluid left in the reservoir. I took my other vehicle to the store and bought some brake fluid and refilled the reservoir and checked under the vehicle for leaks. I found that the brake lines had rotted out in the center of the vehicle between the rear wheels, directly behind the compressor motor for the load leveling shocks that are on this vehicle. I took it to the local Buick dealership the next day, and they confirmed what I had found, that the rear brake lines were rusted and rotted out. …
On December 12, 2009, I was driving down the road and made a right hand turn. At that time, my car made a loud noise (my husband thought I ran over a trash can) the brakes immediately came on and the car pulled to the right. I moved forward again and immediately the brakes came on again and pulled the right. The stability system activated came on. I had to drive very slow to get my car home and this happened the whole way. I was very close to my home. A computer has been put on the car and the codes don't make sense to the mechanic. The car was then towed to the garage, has been there since 12/17/09 and they can not figure out what is going on. If I would have been out on the highway we would have been killed. What auto co. Would put a system on your vehicle that would throw your brakes on for no reason.
On May 22 police report number [redacted] wife lost control and reported vehicle would not stop and the brakes needed to be checked..repairs were made and today on July 15 vehicle was driven home and engine was racing and would not slow down. Vehicle was turning 4100 RPM and would not idle.the car normally runs at 65 at 2000 rpms so 4100 RPM would be in excess of 100 MPH. Cruise was taken off however vehicle continued to speed out of control.all attempts to get vehicle to slow down failed. The vehicle is in driveway I have not reported this to the dealer yet.dealer unaware of accident.accident occurred on wet roads and the accelerator May have stuck then. I know something is wrong...help me it May save a life.
While driving this vehicle the bolts on my rear brake pad broke in half and the car was unable to move forward, had to drive my car backwards home luckily I was only a block away from home. The 2 front windows will not roll up or down, keep having to replace the hose that leads to my radiator, when I make right turns the car vibrates, two front seat belts have stop locking all together and this vehicle has never been in any sort of crash or accident, front dash is starting to lift considerably. I adore my vehicle and I'm not looking forward to getting rid of it, but there are too many problems to deal with on this car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that the vehicle was started and the anti-lock braking system warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed an electronic test and advised that they would have to replace the edcm and a modulator for the electronic braking control module for the braking system. The manufacturer was notified who stated there was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 00V114000: (service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components), but the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 71,522.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that the brakes were constantly engaged to some degree; the vehicle would make a grinding noise and the rotors would get hot. The contact discovered loose nuts on the vacuum booster and exhaust fumes were being emitted into the cabin. The contact called the manufacturer and referenced recall 99V238000 (service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum) but was informed that the vehicle was not included. The vehicle had not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 43,000.
I was driving and came to a red light. Upon pressing my brakes, it made a loud crunching/grinding noise and the car started skidding as if I was driving on ice, but there was no ice on the ground. My ABS light came on. I assumed it was the brakes that needed changing. Took the car to the mechanic and put new brakes on the car. ABS light still comes on and it is not stopping correctly. I have tried resetting the battery, as suggested on the Buick website. That didn't help the situation. Light still is on, and car is not stopping correctly.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles have internal fluid leaks in the brake hydraulic control unit.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ABS hydraulic modulator unit and if necessary, replace the hydraulic modulator.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The brake booster to pedal assembly attachment nuts May be loose.
Remedy: Dealers will replace any missing brake booster to brake pedal assembly nuts and tighten all four (4) nuts to specified torque.
Brake complaints in other Lesabre years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2000 Buick Lesabre?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the brakes of the 2000 Buick Lesabre, 7% of the model year's 669 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Buick Lesabre brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-114 (foundation components, Apr 17, 2000); NHTSA recall 99V-238 (vacuum, Aug 27, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Buick Lesabre brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.