2000 Buick LeSabre ltd review from North America
"A classy looking maintenance nightmare"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Intake manifold is made of phenolic resin - a very old plastic material. It warps leaking antifreeze into the cylinders - essentially bleeding superheated steam into the guts of the engine. Factory recall fix (put lock tight on three bolts) doesn't work. Intake manifolds had to be replaced at 35,000 miles. "Permanently lubricated" tie rods also had to be replaced at 35,000 miles. Both these problems are common, according to the dealer service supervisor. He relates that many engines have been replaced by the dealership because of the intake manifold problem, and that no design changes to remedy this problem have been made in the model years 2000-2004. Cheap plastic part in power window assembly breaks with slightest pressure. Replacing the entire assembly is costly (approximately $500 with labor.) Air conditioning ducts to back seat pull apart and cannot be kept connected.
General comments?
Car compares favorably with most GM products.
Recommended reviews
| A great car!! |
|
| 1999 - LeSabre Limited 3.8 Series II Perfectly acceptable vehicle |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Year of manufacture | 2000 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 6 cy Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 8 miles |
| Most recent distance | 36000 miles |
| Previous car | Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz 300D T |
| Date of Entry | 25th June, 2004 |