IllustrationDRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW FAILED. ACTUATOR BROKEN. AFTER REVIEW ON INTERNET LEARNED THAT DEFECTIVE ACTUATOR VERY COMMON ON BUICK LESABRE. *NM
2002 Buick Lesabre
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Lesabre years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Buick Lesabre are substantially higher than the model-year median of 24.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lesabre years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
410–25K
4825–50K
4650–75K
3675–100K
31100–150K
18150K+
220 reports with mileage · 90 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility. Review the 115 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports12 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
310 reportsTL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON CHECKING THE OIL ON THE 2002 BUICK LESABRE WITH 46000 FAILURE MILEAGE HE DISCOVERED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. THIS HAD BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. ALSO, HAD A 1996 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88 T WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
REPLACED LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AUG 2005 (50500 MI) THEN IN DEC 2006 (73600 MI) HAD TO REPLACE RIGHT ONE. SUSPECT THOSE FAILURES HAVE BEEN FACTOR IN ROTORS NEEDING TO BE TURNED. *JB
BEFORE LEAVING TO COLLEGE STATION TO GO VISIT OUR DAUGHTER WE STOPPED AT DISCOUNT TIER TO HAVE THE TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED. DURING THE CHECK THE TECH NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A VERY NOTICEABLE BULGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES WALLS WERE BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. HE CALLED IT A TIRE DEFECT AND HIS RECOMMENDATION WAS TO H…
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BEFORE LEAVING TO COLLEGE STATION TO GO VISIT OUR DAUGHTER WE STOPPED AT DISCOUNT TIER TO HAVE THE TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED. DURING THE CHECK THE TECH NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A VERY NOTICEABLE BULGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES WALLS WERE BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. HE CALLED IT A TIRE DEFECT AND HIS RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED IN ORDER TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I DID PAY FOR A NEW TIRE AND HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE THEN DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS ON THE OTHER 3 TIRES. I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR 3 NEW TIRES. WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY TAHOE SINCE THEN. *JB
2002 BUICK LASABRE. WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE. I HAVE NOT REPLACED IT YET. THE MOTOR WORKS FINE, IT IS THE PLASTIC REGULATOR THAT FAILS. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PURCHASE JUST THE REGULATOR WITHOUT THE MOTOR. APPEARS TO BE A VERY HIGH NUMBER OF THESE FAILURES, YET BUICK REFUSES TO RECALL THE PART OR SUPPLY THE PART MINUS THE MO…
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2002 BUICK LASABRE. WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE. I HAVE NOT REPLACED IT YET. THE MOTOR WORKS FINE, IT IS THE PLASTIC REGULATOR THAT FAILS. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PURCHASE JUST THE REGULATOR WITHOUT THE MOTOR. APPEARS TO BE A VERY HIGH NUMBER OF THESE FAILURES, YET BUICK REFUSES TO RECALL THE PART OR SUPPLY THE PART MINUS THE MOTOR, WHICH WOULD COST SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE CURRENT PRICE OF $400. *NM
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE WHEN THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT HE FOUND A SMALL CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT HAS NOT BEEN TO THE BUICK DEALER, AND THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE CRACK WAS POSSIBLY CAUSED BY AN ERROR IN THE VEH…
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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE WHEN THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT HE FOUND A SMALL CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT HAS NOT BEEN TO THE BUICK DEALER, AND THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE CRACK WAS POSSIBLY CAUSED BY AN ERROR IN THE VEHICLES COMPUTER. *AK
TL* -THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 2002 BUICK LE SABRE (FAILURE MILEAGE: 60000) AT 25 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE. WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND DIDN'T SEEM TO INCREASE SPEED. *JB UPDATED 02/16/07. *JB
POWER WINDOW REGULATORS CONTINUE TO FAIL. IF NOT FIXED PROPERLY COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO INDIVIDUALS AND VEHICLE. FAILURE IS VERY COMMON AND DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN DESIGN. *NM
THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MADE A POP NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING. THE WINDOW THEN SLOWLY SLID DOWN INTO THE DOOR. THE WINDOW NOW WILL NOT RETURN TO THE UP POSITION. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE DURING POOR DRIVING CONDITIONS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE DISTRACTED BY ANYTHING COMING THROUGH THE WINDOW; SNOW, RAIN, ETC. IT IS ALSO…
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THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MADE A POP NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING. THE WINDOW THEN SLOWLY SLID DOWN INTO THE DOOR. THE WINDOW NOW WILL NOT RETURN TO THE UP POSITION. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE DURING POOR DRIVING CONDITIONS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE DISTRACTED BY ANYTHING COMING THROUGH THE WINDOW; SNOW, RAIN, ETC. IT IS ALSO A PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A CHILD SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE A CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT AND I KEEP THE CHILD LOCKS ENGAGED TO KEEP HIM FROM OPENING THE DOOR BUT WHAT IS TO STOP HIM FROM GOING OUT THE WINDOW EVEN IF I HAVE THE WINDOWS LOCKED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS CHEAP PLASTIC PARTS USED IN THE WINDOW REGULATOR THAT BREAK EVEN IF THE WINDOW IS NOT USED. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED ONE WINDOW REGULATOR AND NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THIS ONE AS WELL. I KNOW GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY REIMBURSED ME FOR THE FIRST ONE BUT REFUSE TO DO SO ON THIS ONE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SAID THAT IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF IF THE WINDOWS WILL FAIL, BUT WHEN. THERE ARE MANY WEBSITES ON THE INTERNET OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO LOOK AFTER THE CONSUMER AND NOT THE CORPORATION. I HAVE DETAILED IN THIS LETTER THE POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH HAZARD IF THE WINDOW FAILS AND CAUSES A DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER, PERSONAL SAFETY, AND PERSONAL SECURITY OF CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEAT. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, BOTH SIDE WINDOWS IN THE REAR BEGAN TO SLIP DOWN INTO THE DOOR, CAUSING AN INABILITY TO PROPERLY SECURE THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE FROM RAIN. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, BOTH SIDE WINDOWS IN THE REAR BEGAN TO SLIP DOWN INTO THE DOOR, CAUSING AN INABILITY TO PROPERLY SECURE THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE FROM RAIN. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO REPLACED THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.
Official recalls
202V222000 · Air Bags:frontal
Aug 9, 2002
CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
02V067000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
Mar 6, 2002
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LEFT BOLT IS MISSING AND THE RIGHT MOUNTING STRAP FAILS, STEERING CONTROL IS LOST AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PRESENCE AND PROPER TORQUE OF BOTH STEERING GEAR BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 5, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300 OR CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.