IllustrationDASHBOARD LIGHTS INTERMITTENT ON / OFF. HEADLIGHT FAILURES AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
5 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIM OR BRIGHTEN THE LIGHTS THEY INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WERE THE DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED THE DIMMER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 02/13/06. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL ADVISED TO PUSH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER DOWN UNTIL HE COULD SEE THE FLASHING ARROW, NOT ALL OF THE WAY DOWN. THE WAY IT SAID TO DO, IF TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND WHEN MAKING A LANE CHANGE, THE LEVER WILL RETURN ON ITS OWN TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THIS DOES WORK…
Read full complaint
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL ADVISED TO PUSH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER DOWN UNTIL HE COULD SEE THE FLASHING ARROW, NOT ALL OF THE WAY DOWN. THE WAY IT SAID TO DO, IF TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND WHEN MAKING A LANE CHANGE, THE LEVER WILL RETURN ON ITS OWN TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THIS DOES WORK PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER THINKS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUSH THE LEVER ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN MAKING A LANE CHANGE AS ONE DOES WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS THE DESIGN OF THE CAR.*AK UPDATE 11/16/05. *JB
THE CONSUMER OWNS BOTH A 1993 BUICK ROADMASTER AND A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE ROADMASTER HAD POOR LIGHTING IN BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS AND THE HIGHBEAMS ON THE LESABRE WERE EXTREMELY BRIGHT. *BF *TC
THE OWNER HAD DIFFICULTY WITH PROPER ILLUMINATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE OWNER DESCRIBED THE DIFFICULTY AS A " SHADOW ", WHICH CONSTANTLY DISTRACTED HIM WHILE DRIVING. THE SERVICE MANAGER WROTE TO THE COMPANY ABOUT THE ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS NOT ILLUMINATING PROPERLY. *NLM THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM CA…
Read full complaint
THE OWNER HAD DIFFICULTY WITH PROPER ILLUMINATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE OWNER DESCRIBED THE DIFFICULTY AS A " SHADOW ", WHICH CONSTANTLY DISTRACTED HIM WHILE DRIVING. THE SERVICE MANAGER WROTE TO THE COMPANY ABOUT THE ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS NOT ILLUMINATING PROPERLY. *NLM THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE FIXED. *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.