IllustrationThe transmission doesn't shift correctly even after it's warmed up it is erratic and rough while connecting the transmission gears and jerks very hard at most times. The power steering is not working correctly and makes it difficult to drive at all with the combined issues I'm very concerned about my and my family safely
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
Power Train complaints
18 reportsWHEN THE VEHICLE GETS WARMER DURING TRANSIT, THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO SLIP. IT GETS WORSE AND THE DURATION OF THE SLIP BEGINS TO. LAST LONGER.
BUICK 2003 LESABRE TSB I NEED THE SERVICE BULITONS ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR SHUDDER ,HARSH SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING AND HEATED UP PROPERLY
TRANSMISSION BUMPS SOME TIMES
WE BOUGHT THE CAR DECEMBER 29,2015, THE CAR HAD 102,0215, AND DROVE IT TO THE DOCTOR ON OUR WAY BACK, THE WOULD MAKE A "CLUNKING" SOUND FROM TRANS-AXLES, AND WE NOTICE THAT THE DASH BOARD CAME UP AND IT HAS HARDWARE SCREWS ACROSS THE DASH AS IF TO HOLD IT DOWN. *TR
AUTOATICE TRANSMISSION SLIPS
WHEN THE LESABRE WAS RELIABLE; IT WAS RELIABLE. HOWEVER, WHEN ISSUES STARTED TO OCCUR, THEY WERE MASSIVE. AT APPROX 90K MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT WITH NO WARMING AND WAS INSTANTLY. AFTER THAT THE CAR STILL HAD ISSUES WITH THE DRIVE, TRANSMISSION AND GEARS. THE FUEL PUMP AND INTAKE MANIFOLDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. AS OF 2014 I CO…
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WHEN THE LESABRE WAS RELIABLE; IT WAS RELIABLE. HOWEVER, WHEN ISSUES STARTED TO OCCUR, THEY WERE MASSIVE. AT APPROX 90K MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT WITH NO WARMING AND WAS INSTANTLY. AFTER THAT THE CAR STILL HAD ISSUES WITH THE DRIVE, TRANSMISSION AND GEARS. THE FUEL PUMP AND INTAKE MANIFOLDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. AS OF 2014 I CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT CURRENTLY RUNS VERY HARD AND WHEN IDLE AND IN TRAFFIC (VERY SCARY) WILL RANDOMLY CUT OFF WITH ZERO WARNING OR EVEN BEGIN TO SMOKE. THERE IS THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY SMOKE AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN TO THE MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE MAIN ISSUE SO THAT IT CAN BE REPAIRED. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING. ANYONE HAVE ANY SOLUTIONS? I KEEP READING PLENTY OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE(S) SO I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT GM/BUICK HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON PARTS FOR THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, ETC. *TR
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS (BOTH LOWER AND UPPER) HAVE FAILED RESULTING IN COOLANT LOSS. POORLY DESIGNED PLASTIC GASKETS ARE NO LONGER USED BUT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT RESULTS IN SAFETY ISSUE IF COOLANT IS COMPLETELY DEPLETED ON THE HIGHWAY RESULTING IN FAILURE OF VEHICLE TO DRIVE DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
GAS PEDAL STICKS WHEN GOING FORWARD AFTER USING REVERSE. *TR
TRANSMISSION SHUDDER &HARD SHIFTS. *KB
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.