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2004 Buick Lesabre

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Lesabre years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Buick Lesabre are substantially higher than the model-year median of 24.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
162Owner complaints

Model-year median: 24

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2004 Buick Lesabre

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 162 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 66 reports
  • Structure: 19 reports
  • Air Bags: 14 reports
  • Power Train: 12 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 8 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    328
    2001    310
    2002    164
    2003    162
    2004    77
    2005    3
    2006
    Compare all Lesabre years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Electrical System
    66    Structure
    19    Air Bags
    14    Power Train
    12    Engine And Engine Cooling
    8
    All reported categories
    Exterior Lighting
    8    Fuel/propulsion System
    8    Tires
    8    Unknown Or Other
    8    Engine
    7    Seats
    6    Suspension
    6    Visibility
    6    Fuel System, Gasoline
    5    Steering
    5    Vehicle Speed Control
    5    Seat Belts
    4    Service Brakes
    3    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    3    Visibility/wiper
    2    Wheels
    2    Child Seat
    1    Electronic Stability Control (esc)
    1    Equipment Adaptive/mobility
    1    Service Brakes, Air
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    126 reports with mileage · 36 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.

    • Electrical System. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Structure. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    4 crash reports5 fire reports8 injury reports

    Seat Belts complaints

    4 reports
    Clear category filter
    Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2020
    Exterior LightingPower TrainSeat Belts

    I CONTINUE SMELLING AN OIL-BURNING SMELL AND MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL CONTINUE TO GO OUT AND I HAVE REPLACED TO BLUB OVER AND OVER

    NHTSA ODI #11319438

    129,400 miles · Aug 6, 2014
    Seat Belts

    FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS, AFTER STARTING, THEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON SEAT BELT, THE BELT OFTEN LOCKS UP AND I CANNOT PULL IT OUT TO HOOK IT UP. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, IT FINALLY UNLOCKS SO I CAN PUT IT ON. THIS HAPPENS APPROX. 1-4 TIMES PER WEEK (I USUALLY DRIVE DAILY). SOMETIMES ONLY THE FIRST TIME IN A DAY WHEN I START THE CAR. IT I…

    Read full complaint

    FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS, AFTER STARTING, THEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON SEAT BELT, THE BELT OFTEN LOCKS UP AND I CANNOT PULL IT OUT TO HOOK IT UP. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, IT FINALLY UNLOCKS SO I CAN PUT IT ON. THIS HAPPENS APPROX. 1-4 TIMES PER WEEK (I USUALLY DRIVE DAILY). SOMETIMES ONLY THE FIRST TIME IN A DAY WHEN I START THE CAR. IT IS FRUSTRATING, AND CAUSES ME TO WORRY THAT SOMETIME IT MAY NOT UNLOCK AND I WILL BE FORCED TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE BELT ONLY. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10619406

    Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2011
    Seat Belts

    2004 BUICK LASABRE - NOTICED THE FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE ATTACHED TO THE SEAT RATHER THAN THE FRAME OF THE CAR. DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE THEREFORE ONLY BELTED TO THE SEAT WHICH CAN BECOME DISLODGED DURING AN ACCIDENT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10381670

    Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2007
    Electrical SystemSeat BeltsSuspension

    SHIMMY IN STEERING COLUMN. RECOMMENDED TIRES BE ROTATED AND BALANCED. DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. APPOX. 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE,NOTICED ELECTRICAL ODOR WHEN HEAT BUTTON ON SEAT WAS TURNED ON. NOW SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE STICKS WHEN IT RECOILS. NOISE UNDER HOOD. UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. CLUSTER WENT OUT AND NONE OF THE GAUG…

    Read full complaint

    SHIMMY IN STEERING COLUMN. RECOMMENDED TIRES BE ROTATED AND BALANCED. DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. APPOX. 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE,NOTICED ELECTRICAL ODOR WHEN HEAT BUTTON ON SEAT WAS TURNED ON. NOW SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE STICKS WHEN IT RECOILS. NOISE UNDER HOOD. UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. CLUSTER WENT OUT AND NONE OF THE GAUGES WORK EXCEPT THE ODOMETER. THIS IS A 2004 LESABRE WITH 57,000 MILES. *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10184902

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

    Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.