Steering complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I own a 2005 Buick Lesabre. While driving 60 MPH or greater, the front wheels, steering wheel and the floor boards shake and vibrate. Took to dealer at 415 miles and they said to return when car had 500 miles. At 1292 miles dear replaced steering shaft. The dealer replaced tires.; however, the failure continued to occur. Took back car again then went to another dealer. They said one of the tires had a nail. I replaced all four tires ( not from dealer) hoping problem would go away and it did not. I took the vehicle to back to 2nd dealer and they stated that the vehicle had to be forced balanced and have wheel alignment. The dealer made the repair ($400.00); however, the failure continued to occur. As of may28, 2005 the dealer had not repaired the vehicle and said it was an inherent problem. The current mileage was 11,081 and failure started from time car was purchased.
Passenger side outer tie rod premature bushing joint failure. Excessive wear made it difficult to maintain straight line control of vehicle. Vehicle would wonder back and forth badly, and turns were delayed as a result of the premature wear in the tie rod joint. Mileage when diagnosed, 49505 on July 6,2010. Mileage at completion of repair was 49515 on July 7,2010. Fortunately this early failure of outer tie rod was found before a catastrophic failure occurrence on the freeway. Outer tie rod replace with an after market unit.
Drove to the store, transmission was hard shifting and then wouldn't hardly move at all. Almost got hit three x!! Very tramatized. How is it that on just one of many web pages 400 people had this problem 140 complained about it! that's just one website! how has this problem not been fixed and recalled?
The car feels very unstable, it wobbles and wanders at speeds over 40 MPH. It is made worse with winds over 10 MPH, going down hill, on an uneven surface, when a truck is passing and a speeds around 60-65 MPH. If all these symptoms come together the car is very very unstable. The feeling is very similar to going over a grooved road surface.
The transmission doesn't shift correctly even after it's warmed up it is erratic and rough while connecting the transmission gears and jerks very hard at most times. The power steering is not working correctly and makes it difficult to drive at all with the combined issues I'm very concerned about my and my family safely
Tl contact owns a 2003 Buick Lesabre. The contact drove over a pot hold and the swerved off the road as it became difficult to control the vehicle. On one occasion, the vehicle went off the road and crashed into a mailbox. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but the failure could not be duplicated. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000 and the current mileage was 37,107. Updated 01/13/11 the consumer also stated the dashboard is peeling. Updated 04.19.11
Beginning about August of 2015 until now, oct 2015, the engine of my Buick le sabre has begun to stop running while driving. When that occurs I lose my power steering and power brakes. Tonight (oct 7, 2015) it happened four times on the way home. I made it home safely fortunately but I will not drive the car again until it is fixed. Last week I had both a mobile mechanic and an auto shop (purcell) look at it and they can not diagnose the problem. They call it an intermittent defect. What I have experienced sounds exactly like the description of the experience of the automobiles that GM has recalled, although my year, make, and model are not on the list that I found on the internet. My experience is so similar that I want my ignition switch replaced by GM before I will drive the car again. Please advise. Thanks.
Trip check showed: fuel leak under engine cover, front wheel drive shaft oil leaking fluid, power steering leaking fluid. Air bag light came on after the horn was hit hard, after about 20 minutes it went of, technician couldn't find anything wrong with it.
Related recalls (2)
Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Certain passenger vehicles were built with missing or under-torqued steering gear attachment bolts. If a bolt is missing, the driver May notice uneven steering response or unusual noises during turns.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for presence and proper torque of both steering gear bolts. Owner notification began April 5, 2002.
Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The inner tie rod nuts are loose and can result in separation of a tie rod.
Remedy: Dealers will check and adjust the vehicle toe-in and tighten the inner tie rod nuts to the specified torque.
Frequently asked questions
Which Buick Lesabre years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (47), 2001 (29), 1997 (25), 1998 (15) and 2002 (13) model years. Steering complaints make up 7% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Buick Lesabre steering problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 02V-067 (gear box (other than rack and pinion), Mar 6, 2002); 99V-301 (tie rod assembly, Oct 29, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Buick Lesabre steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles; 45% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the linkages › tie rod assembly (30 mentions), followed by the hydraulic power assist system (14).
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.