IllustrationINSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIM AND BRIGHTENED, DASH REPLACED AND CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKED ALL BY ITSELF WHILE CAR WAS PARKED WITH NO ONE INSIDE, ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKS. *AK
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.
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
270–25K
3125–50K
2550–75K
1775–100K
13100–150K
6150K+
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
Electrical System complaints
15 reportsDASHBOARD LIGHTS INTERMITTENT ON / OFF. HEADLIGHT FAILURES AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
SMALL LIGHTS BURN OUT EXCESSIVELY AND COST A FORTUNE TO HAVE REPLACED. EXAMPLES STEERING WHEEL BUTTON LIGHTS, CLIMATE CONTROL ID (GREEN) LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS ON TRUNK LID. *NM
THE CONSUMER STATED THE HORN WAS MOUNTED ALONG WITH THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY, WHICH MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *AK *JB *NLM
THE CONSUMER STATED THE HORN WAS DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE AND THE PLASTIC MATERIAL USED TO MANUFACTURER THE HORN MADE IT HARD TO PUSH DOWN. *NLM A GM REPRESENTATIVE WITNESSED THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO BLOW THE HORN AND IN AN EMERGENCY IT MAY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE. THE CONSUMERS WIFE HAD ARTHRITIS AND…
Read full complaint
THE CONSUMER STATED THE HORN WAS DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE AND THE PLASTIC MATERIAL USED TO MANUFACTURER THE HORN MADE IT HARD TO PUSH DOWN. *NLM A GM REPRESENTATIVE WITNESSED THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO BLOW THE HORN AND IN AN EMERGENCY IT MAY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE. THE CONSUMERS WIFE HAD ARTHRITIS AND WAS UNABLE TO BLOW THE HORN UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES. *SCC *JB
Official recalls
102V222000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.