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2003 Buick Lesabre

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Lesabre years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Buick Lesabre are substantially higher than the model-year median of 24.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

119 reports with mileage · 45 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.

  • Structure. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

21 reports
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90,410 miles · Mar 10, 2014
Air BagsStructureVisibility/wiper

MY FRONT DASHBOARD HAS BEEN GRADUALLY COMING UNATTACHED NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IT IS HINDERING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. MY DAUGHTER IS JUST LEARNING TO DRIVE AND WE HAVE DECIDED IT IS NOT SAFE FOR HER TO USE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE HER VIEW OF THE ROAD IS BLOCKED BY THE LIFTED DASHBOARD. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY H…

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MY FRONT DASHBOARD HAS BEEN GRADUALLY COMING UNATTACHED NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IT IS HINDERING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. MY DAUGHTER IS JUST LEARNING TO DRIVE AND WE HAVE DECIDED IT IS NOT SAFE FOR HER TO USE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE HER VIEW OF THE ROAD IS BLOCKED BY THE LIFTED DASHBOARD. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY HAZARD AND I CANNOT BELIEVE BUICK HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT WHICH IS AFFECTING SO MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568259

46,573 miles · Jul 22, 2012
Air BagsStructure

DASHBOARD HAS WARPED AND SEPARATED FROM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. ACCORDING TO EXPERIENCED AUTO MECHANIC FRIENDS OF MINE, DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL MOST LIKELY BE COMPROMISED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE BUICKS! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? CHECK THIS WEB…

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DASHBOARD HAS WARPED AND SEPARATED FROM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. ACCORDING TO EXPERIENCED AUTO MECHANIC FRIENDS OF MINE, DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL MOST LIKELY BE COMPROMISED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE BUICKS! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? CHECK THIS WEBSITE AND YOU'LL SEE HOW PROLIFIC A PROBLEM THIS IS! HTTP://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-C5295_DS45613 NOT TO MENTION THE MONEY LOST BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO SELL THESE LEMONS. 2000-2005 BUICK OWNERS ARE IN DANGER. AND YOU'VE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT! IF THIS WAS TOYOTA, YOU WOULD HAVE RECALLED EVERY CAR THEY MAKE AND FINED THEM ANOTHER 50 MILLION DOLLARS. STOP THE HYPOCRISY. INTELLIGENT AMERICANS SEE THROUGH THIS SELECTIVE PUNISHMENT. DO YOUR JOB! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466927

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2011
Air BagsStructure

I HAVE A 2003 BUICK LESABRE THAT THE DASH HAS COME UNGLUED AND HAS BUCKLED UP HALF WAY ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. THE DASH IS MAINLY AFFECTED IN THE AREA INFRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT IS GETTING WORSE AND SPREADING TOWARDS THE CENTER AND PASSENGER SIDE. I'M REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. SO AFRAID THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT WORK CORREC…

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I HAVE A 2003 BUICK LESABRE THAT THE DASH HAS COME UNGLUED AND HAS BUCKLED UP HALF WAY ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. THE DASH IS MAINLY AFFECTED IN THE AREA INFRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT IS GETTING WORSE AND SPREADING TOWARDS THE CENTER AND PASSENGER SIDE. I'M REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. SO AFRAID THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT WORK CORRECTLY IN AN EMERGENCY, OR EVEN WORSE, THAT THE AIRBAGS GO OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON! I HAVE FRIENDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS AN INTERNET LINK WITH A BUICK LESABRE FORUM WHERE MANY OTHER DISSATISFIED LESABRE OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THEREFORE, I KNOW MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY TOLD ME GM WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. AN ESTIMATE OF $525.49 WAS GIVEN JUST FOR A NEW UPPER DASH. THIS DID NOT INCLUDE LABOR. PLEASE HELP!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10426384

47,000 miles · Aug 29, 2011
Air BagsStructure

THE UPPER DASH PAD IS PEELING FROM ITS BACKING, OPENING A 1" GAP APPROXIMATELY A FOOT ACROSS, IN FRONT OF THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DEFROSTER GRILLE HOUSING. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM, REQUESTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. GM CREATED A CASE FILE (#71-969127956) AND I WAS DENIED ANY ASS…

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THE UPPER DASH PAD IS PEELING FROM ITS BACKING, OPENING A 1" GAP APPROXIMATELY A FOOT ACROSS, IN FRONT OF THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DEFROSTER GRILLE HOUSING. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM, REQUESTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. GM CREATED A CASE FILE (#71-969127956) AND I WAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE. I THEN REQUESTED TO SPEAK WITH THE GM DISTRICT REP, WHO ALSO DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE AND WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE KNOWING OF BUICK HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE I OBTAINED IS $1080.20. I FIRST OBSERVED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 47,000 MILES. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS ENCLOSED IN THIS PAD AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE SPLIT IN THE DASH EXTENDS FAR ENOUGH, IT COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 48,000 MILES AND ASIDE FROM THIS PROBLEM, IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY PENDING ACTION NHTSA MAY BE CONSIDERING TO FORCE GM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT, WHICH HAS BEEN HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED TO YOU BY SEVERAL OTHER BUICK OWNERS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC IN VEHICLE DEFECT MATTERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10422369

60,000 miles · Nov 4, 2010
Air Bags

THE VINYL DASH PAD IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER STARTED TO SHRINK TOWARD THE STEERING WHEEL AND RAISE UPWARD AND IS NOW UP ABOUT 1 -1/2 INCHES AND IS PROGRESSING TOWARD THE PASSENGERS SIDE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT WHEN THE PASSENGERS DASH PAD AREA RISES UPWARD WILL THIS CAUSE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG TO DEPLOY?

NHTSA ODI #10364763

17,000 miles · Aug 22, 2007
Air BagsSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INFLATER DEVICE IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE STATED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. SHE HAS HAD THE PART REPLACED, BUT BUICK DOES NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CONTACT HEARS AN OCCASIONAL SQUEAKI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INFLATER DEVICE IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE STATED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. SHE HAS HAD THE PART REPLACED, BUT BUICK DOES NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CONTACT HEARS AN OCCASIONAL SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI #10200439

73,490 miles · Aug 9, 2007
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT COVERED IN GE AUTO WARRANTY SERVICES 4 STAR PLUS CONTRACT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER OF WHICH I PURCHASED IT FROM AND FOUND OUT IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY CRASH SENSOR BUT NOT COVERED, COST WAS $95 FOR A 5 MIN DIAGNOSTIC, ERROR CODE READING TAKEN OFF THE C…

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AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT COVERED IN GE AUTO WARRANTY SERVICES 4 STAR PLUS CONTRACT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER OF WHICH I PURCHASED IT FROM AND FOUND OUT IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY CRASH SENSOR BUT NOT COVERED, COST WAS $95 FOR A 5 MIN DIAGNOSTIC, ERROR CODE READING TAKEN OFF THE CONTROL COMPUTER FOR THE AIRBAG. SAFETY FEATURE FAILURE IS NOT COVERED BY MANUFACTURER, DEALER OR WARRANTY. HAVE NOT AT THIS TIME CORRECTED FAILURE, PRICE FOR REPAIR WAS $300 ON TOP OF $95 DIAGNOSTIC. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10198957

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2004
Air Bags

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK *LA

NHTSA ODI #10059831

23,000 miles · Jul 6, 2004
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED LOST OF BRAKING POWER. THE CONSUMER PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE C…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED LOST OF BRAKING POWER. THE CONSUMER PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD COME DOWN TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10072282

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AN AVIS RENTAL ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS HIT THE DRIVERS SIDE OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10050191

Official recalls

1

02V222000 · 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.