Most common 2005 Buick Lesabre problems
Share of the 77 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Lesabre complaints by model year
Best Lesabre years: 2005, 1996, 2003. Years to avoid: 2000, 1998, 1997. Compare all years →
What 2005 Buick Lesabre owners say
Electrical system all 25 →
Tl contact owns a 2005 Buick Lesabre. While driving approximately 15 MPH, all of the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument control panel. The contact also smelled a burning odor and noticed flames erupting from the trunk of the vehicle. The flames spread to the entire vehicle. All of the locks melted, which nearly prevented her from exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was completely destroyed. An investigator from the fire department stated that the battery underneath the rear passenger seat failed and caused the fire. The contact has a copy of the police report and pictures of the failed incident. She called the manufacturer, but did not receive a response. The failure and current mileages were 20,000. Updated 02/10/09. Updated 02/11/09.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, smoke was emitting from under the rear seat. The contact was able to pull over to further assess the failure. The contact diagnosed that the electrical chords were overheated and the medal had become unbearably hot. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure and the current mileage was 123,000.
Brakes
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 50 MPH down a steep hill under normal road conditions, the hydraulic brakes failed and the vehicle crashed into a lake. There was no warning prior to the incident. The contact and a passenger sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was towed to the insurance company, who could not find the cause for the brake failures and deemed the vehicle totaled. Odi #10160493 can be used in comparison to this issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that after releasing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without any warning. The contact stated that as a result of the failure she crashed into another vehicle. The dealer and the manufacturer were made aware of the problem. There were no injuries. The approximate failure mileage was 39,900.
Transmission & drivetrain
At approximately 24,000 miles I started feeling a harder than normal shift between second and third gears. By the time the odometer reached 26,000 miles the shift was somewhat severe with a pause between second and third. I took the car to the local dealer who supposedly installed some type of "kit" which did not eliminate but greatly reduced the problem. I now have 37,000 miles on the car and the problem is getting progressively worse once again as well as hard shifting between first and second and sometimes when I shift from drive to reverse while the car is not moving. I have not returned to the dealer because I am now 1000 miles over the warranty and the first time I took it in the dealer told me the repair would take one day and kept it nine days. I emailed Buick with a complaint but got no reply.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Buick Lesabre. While driving 30 MPH, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the engine compartment. The engine then stopped running. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle and placed the gears in the correct position, but the vehicle would not move. The vehicle was towed to a shop and they could not figure out what was wrong with the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer and they stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission is currently being replaced. Through online research, the contact discovered numerous complaints on this defect and believes it should be recalled. The current and failure mileages were 48,000. Updated 09/16/08 updated 09/24/08.
2005 Buick Lesabre engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Buick Lesabre a good car?
Based on 77 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Lesabre rates better than average: 71% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Lesabre at the same age. It is one of the best Lesabre years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Buick Lesabre?
The electrical system — 25 complaints, 32% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the brakes (9) and transmission & drivetrain (8).
How many recalls does the 2005 Buick Lesabre have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Buick Lesabre. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Lesabre?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 1996 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 1998 and 1997. See the full Buick Lesabre years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Buick Lesabre problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 52,000 miles; 47% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.