Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Buick Lesabre owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
All 4 windows have failed. One of them twice! My dashboard is separating exactly the same way many others have described theirs. I initially had major battery issues (battery is located under back seat on driver's side - how weird is that?). I would drive my car to the store, come out, and it would not start. One time, I opened the trunk to get my jumper cables and when I slammed the trunk lid, the radio came on! Then, of course, the car started just fine. After owning this possessed car with major reliability issues for several months, we found an electrical mechanic who discovered a lose wire in the manufacturers electrical work which was somehow connected to the battery. My gas gauge hasn't worked in years. I am always at 3/4 to a full tank. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that the dashboard was lifting independently and the steering wheel shook violently when turned in either direction. In addition, the headliner was tearing. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 167,000.
In August of 2011 the dash panel of my Buick Lesabre started to pull away from the windshield hider moulding and a lump started to appear in back of the steering wheel and move toward the drivers side of the vehicle. I am worried that it will affect the airbag deployment system which is under the dash cover on the passengers side of the vehicle. I went on line and found that hundreds of people are having the same problem and this is definitely a defect in production of the dash panel cover but GM will do nothing about it other than direct me to return it to the dealer and pay upwards of $1000.00 or more to correct a defect that GM is responsible for. The years that the Lesabre has this problem spans at least 2001 to 2005 that I know of and yet they refuse to recall the vehicles to repair the defect that they produced. …
My parents purchased a 2001 Buick Lesabre from the dealership new. Both parents (father now deceased) retired and moved to florida in 2001, and very rarely drove the vehicle. My father passed away in February of this year (2012) and my mother asked me if I wanted the car. I drove to florida to pick up the car and noticed the dash panel was all buckled and looked horrible. I asked my mother what had happened and thought perhaps it was due to the south florida heat, but my mother said it started in 2006 and they had brought it back to dealer multiple times and was told it was not a warranty issue and would cost over $1000 to repair. After searching online for replacement dash panels I discovered this is a problem with the vehicle and has been for sometime, florida heat had nothing to do with it, I believe this is a manufacturing defect and will cause the airbag to deploy causing injury.
The dash pad on my 2001 Buick le sabre has separated and buckled up approximately six inches in height and mostly in front of my steering wheel, however it is lifted 3/4 of the way across the entire dash. It is now open in the front along where it meets the windshield. It has lifted almost all the way to the passenger side air bag. Upon reading on line, I see that this is a very common problem for 2001 through 2005 buicks and I am just another complaint to add to the list. The rise in the dash certainly effects my view while driving. I have placed a thick pad on top of my drivers seat to raise my body. This assists me, so I am able to peer over the raised dash while driving. I am greatly concerned that the separation, is going to suddenly deploy my passenger side air bag.
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.** answer required*** 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.
Front / top of dashboard separating and delaminating from the interior cabin of vehicle and expending to a point were the one piece exposing open void space and setting off sensors on air bags by pinching and sending a message that the air bags are defective. I have seen no of same model buicks with similar defects and problems from 2000 to 2004 and newer models on the road. When requested for evaluation from two Buick / GM dealers they had no solution to the issue or offer a solution to the safety issue. Request for investigation to GM for solution and notice to the owners of similar cars to report same or sim. Problems.
2001 Buick Lesabre VIN [redacted] dash pad has been peeling upward toward windshield. Started in front of steering wheel and has migrated across to the passenger side. Also peeling apart on corners and above glove box. As the passenger side has worsened, there is a noise that I suspect is coming from the passenger side air bag. I am concerned about a deployment of the passenger side air bag. The dash looks to be a blast away unit when the air bag is deployed. If the passenger side air bag were to deploy under normal driving conditions it May obscure the view of the driver.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that the dashboard had begun separating from the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the failure was caused by the heat and temperature changes, which deteriorated the material. The vehicle was not repair and the dealer offered no further assistance. The manufacturer was notified who stated that the vehicle was not under warranty and to have the vehicle taken back to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased for a diagnostic. The failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 61,000. Updated 10/10/12 updated 10/11/2012
2001 Buick lasabre dash is peeling up between steering wheel and windshield. Started peeling up within a few years of car being manufacturer's. Per local dealership, Buick will not cover expense to repair. This has become a real safety issue as you can barely see over the dash as it is sticking up so high and I have concerns that the air bag will deploy on the passenger side as the dash continues to peel all the way across the dash. Someone is going to get severely injured or killed if Buick does not fix this factory defect. Buick should issue a national recall to repair a defective dash.
Body complaints in other Lesabre years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2001 Buick Lesabre?
NHTSA has 50 complaints about the body & structure of the 2001 Buick Lesabre, 15% of the model year's 328 complaints. The component named most often is body (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Buick Lesabre body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2001 Buick Lesabre. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Buick Lesabre body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 3 injuries to body & structure 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.