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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.

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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

What owners actually said

162 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2011
Air BagsCrash

MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE CUSTOM AND CRASHED INTO IRON GATE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10396842

160,000 miles · Apr 15, 2011
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE REST OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE DASH HAS BEGUN TO MALFUNCTION APPARENTLY THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM SINCE THERE ARE LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE ONLINE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINTS.. NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING BIG ISSUE.. NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE, BIG ISSUE. AND NOT KNOWING HE RUNNING …

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THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE REST OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE DASH HAS BEGUN TO MALFUNCTION APPARENTLY THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM SINCE THERE ARE LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE ONLINE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINTS.. NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING BIG ISSUE.. NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE, BIG ISSUE. AND NOT KNOWING HE RUNNING TEMPERATURE OF THE VEHICLE IS A EVEN BIGGER ISSUE.. BUICK HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME AND SHOULD HAVE ALREADY TAKEN ACTION. INSTEAD THEY STOPPED BUILDING THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AND NOW IT COSTS EVEN MORE FOR THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10396036

63,000 miles · Mar 3, 2011
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATED SEAT WOULD OVERHEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 05/04/11 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THEY REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE WIT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATED SEAT WOULD OVERHEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 05/04/11 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THEY REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE CONSUMER FIRST PAYING A NON-REFUNDABLE CHARGE OF $55 TO $100.

NHTSA ODI #10386353

100,400 miles · Mar 1, 2011
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE DIRECTIONAL SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE DIRECTIONAL SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 7,000 MILES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,400. UPDATED 5/2/11 *CN UPDATED 05/13/11

NHTSA ODI #10386090

48,000 miles · Feb 23, 2011
Electrical System

THE TACHOMETER AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES ON MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE HAVE FAILED. THE NEEDLES HAVE BECOME STUCK IN THE RED ZONES OF THEIR RESPECTIVE GAUGES. THIS BEGAN APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO WHEN MY CAR HAD LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS RECENTLY SHOWN SIGNS OF SPORADIC STICKING, SO I CANNOT BE CERTAIN MY VEHICL…

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THE TACHOMETER AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES ON MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE HAVE FAILED. THE NEEDLES HAVE BECOME STUCK IN THE RED ZONES OF THEIR RESPECTIVE GAUGES. THIS BEGAN APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO WHEN MY CAR HAD LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS RECENTLY SHOWN SIGNS OF SPORADIC STICKING, SO I CANNOT BE CERTAIN MY VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT THE CORRECT SPEED. BASED ON SIMILAR POSTINGS ON THIS SITE AS WELL AS NUMEROUS INTERNET SITES, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT EXISTS, THEREFORE BUICK SHOULD BE ORDERED TO MAKE NECESSARY REPAIRS AT THEIR COST. A BUICK DEALER TOLD ME THIS WOULD COST OVER $300 TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384128

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

58,500 miles · Jan 22, 2011
Electrical System

MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE WITH 58500 MILES IS SHOWING INITIAL SIGNS OF FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS HAS STARTED WITH THE TACHOMETER FAILING TO REGISTER CORRECTLY AND THE FUEL GAUGE PEGGING BEYOND THE FULL POSITION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEXT COMPONENT FAILURE WILL LIKELY BE THE SPEEDOMETER. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE VEHIC…

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MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE WITH 58500 MILES IS SHOWING INITIAL SIGNS OF FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS HAS STARTED WITH THE TACHOMETER FAILING TO REGISTER CORRECTLY AND THE FUEL GAUGE PEGGING BEYOND THE FULL POSITION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEXT COMPONENT FAILURE WILL LIKELY BE THE SPEEDOMETER. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE SAFE TO OPERATE. THIS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM REPRESENTS ANOTHER SERIOUS SAFETY DESIGN FLAW BY GENERAL MOTORS THAT MUST BE CORRECTED BY GM BEFORE IT CONTRIBUTES TO AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO INCUR CHARGES TO HAVE THIS OBVIOUS PROBLEM CORRECTED. THE NHTSA SHOULD ISSUE A PRODUCT RECALL AND HOLD GM RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM AT GM'S EXPENSE.

NHTSA ODI #10379145

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND EXITING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMALLY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. HE THEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC FITTING HAD BECOME MOIST ON THE E…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND EXITING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMALLY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. HE THEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC FITTING HAD BECOME MOIST ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE O-RING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE ONLY OTHER OPTION OF REPAIRING THE FAILURE WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 02/09/11*LJ UPDATED 04/29/11

NHTSA ODI #10369518

135,000 miles · Oct 25, 2010
Electrical System

WHILE TRAVELING ON VACATION AT DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS ABOVE SEA LEVEL. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS EITHER SHOWING A SPEED FASTER OR SLOWER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED (CHECKED W/ A GPS DEVICE). IT FIRST APPEARED WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL ON A CURVY ROAD. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS SHOWING 20-25, BUT WE WERE ACTUALLY GOING ABOUT 65. WE WERE ABLE TO CONT…

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WHILE TRAVELING ON VACATION AT DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS ABOVE SEA LEVEL. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS EITHER SHOWING A SPEED FASTER OR SLOWER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED (CHECKED W/ A GPS DEVICE). IT FIRST APPEARED WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL ON A CURVY ROAD. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS SHOWING 20-25, BUT WE WERE ACTUALLY GOING ABOUT 65. WE WERE ABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED AND SLOW DOWN. ANOTHER DAY, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS SHOWING 120 MPH AND WE WERE DRIVING 70. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362340

500 miles · Oct 16, 2010
Suspension

MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE HAS HAD FRONT VIBRATION SINCE IT WAS NEW. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACE TWICE, TWO WHEELS HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO SLIGHT IMPERFECTIONS, WHEELS HAVE BEEN BALANCE NUMEROUS TIME. THE DEALER DID SOME EXTENSIVE TESTING AND EVENTUALLY THE VIBRATION WAS WITHIN MANUFACTURER'S TOLERANCE. THEY REFUSED TO TAKE FURTHER …

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MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE HAS HAD FRONT VIBRATION SINCE IT WAS NEW. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACE TWICE, TWO WHEELS HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO SLIGHT IMPERFECTIONS, WHEELS HAVE BEEN BALANCE NUMEROUS TIME. THE DEALER DID SOME EXTENSIVE TESTING AND EVENTUALLY THE VIBRATION WAS WITHIN MANUFACTURER'S TOLERANCE. THEY REFUSED TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION. THE FRONT END CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AND THE CAR NOW HAS 33,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360798

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.