1997 Buick Lesabre: complete transmission failure

9 of the 393 complaints about the 1997 Buick Lesabre describe complete transmission failure.

owner complaints: 9
of this car's complaints: 2%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 11 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Complete transmission failure by model year

2005
1
2003
2
2002
1
2001
10
2000
6
1998
6
1997
9
1996
4
1993
2

What owners say

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Transmission · 52,000 miles · NE

Hello, I had a problem with my car hesitating going up a small grade or sometimes just driving down the road and took it back to the dealer. They told me it was a spark plug and fixed it. The problem continued and I took it to another dealer who said I needed a new transmission. Besides a new transmission, they also replaced the intake manifold gasket and put new brakes on the front with rotors. The receipt from the garage says the transmission had an 1870 trouble code. My car was purchased new and had 52,000 miles on it. The total cost was 4200.00. I asked the gm people for help with this expense as I am a single mother working 2 jobs and did not get a reply. I took out another loan to pay for this. Now, with almost 80,000 miles, the transmission is doing the same thing and my friend with a computer says it is the 1870 trouble code (when the check engine light comes on). I can not afford to spend another 4000.00 for another transmission.

Filed Dec 31, 2001 · Transmission · CT

Transmission failure at 5k.returned in 30 sec.started to exper. Harsh shifting. Deal. Could not find cause. At 60k had trans teardown.found manf.prolem that caused failure at 5k.gm would offer no assist. Pre existing did not apply.to old to many miles.

Filed Aug 16, 2001 · Brakes, Electrical · NE

I had taken this vehicle back to the buick dealership where I purchased it at 34k miles and told them it had a "miss" and that it "hesitated" driving down the road. They said it was a spark plug and replaced one. The last time I took it to another buick dealer it needed 4,200.00 to make it road worthy including a new water pump, new transmission, new brakes and rotors. The service code on the car should have indicated failure of these parts when I took it to the first dealer.