Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
230–25K
2025–50K
2750–75K
3075–100K
20100–150K
6150K+
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
118,568 miles · Jan 11, 2015
Exterior Lighting
WHEN SWITCHING HEADLIGHTS FROM HIGH TO LOW AND LOW TO HIGH BEAM OCCASIONALLY THE LIGHTS GO DARK. THIS IS A SCARY SITUATION AT HIGH SPEEDS. LUCKILY THE LIGHTS USUALLY COME BACK ON IF THE LEAVER IS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ONLY FIX IS A NEW SWITCH ASSEMBLY AT OVER $500 JUST FOR THE SWITCH NOT TO MENTION T…
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WHEN SWITCHING HEADLIGHTS FROM HIGH TO LOW AND LOW TO HIGH BEAM OCCASIONALLY THE LIGHTS GO DARK. THIS IS A SCARY SITUATION AT HIGH SPEEDS. LUCKILY THE LIGHTS USUALLY COME BACK ON IF THE LEAVER IS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ONLY FIX IS A NEW SWITCH ASSEMBLY AT OVER $500 JUST FOR THE SWITCH NOT TO MENTION THE LABOR COST. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE '07 BUICK LA CROSSE HAD A RECALL ON THIS SWITCH. I SUSPECT THAT MY '04 LA SABRE MAY HAVE A SIMILAR SWITCH. THERE ARE A TWO OTHER FUNCTIONS ON THIS SWITCH, L/R SIGNAL, WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS, ALL OF WHICH WORK WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I GOT NO SATISFACTION FROM MY GM DEALER WHEN I REQUESTED HELP WITH THE REPAIR COST. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10671634
60,000 miles · Aug 22, 2014
Service BrakesWheels
WHEN STOPPING ON DRY PAVEMENT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR FAILED. AFTER THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BREAKS WOULD NOT ENGAGE. EVERY TIME I APPLIED MY BRAKES THE CAR WOULD SHIMMY AND WAS DANGEROUS TO CONTROL, I PAID FOR THE REPAIR BUT IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIME SINCE THEN MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO STOP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10627642
20,000 miles · Aug 16, 2014
Structure
DASH HAS STARTED TO BUCKLE UP IN FRONT OF DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IMPACTS THE VISIBILITY OF THE DRIVER AND MIGHT IMPAIR (OR CAUSE) THE IMPROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10625799
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…
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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
55,000 miles · Jul 21, 2014
Air BagsEquipment Adaptive/mobilityStructure
THE DASHBOARD ON THE VEHICLE HAS COME LOOSE FROM THE GRILL UNDER THE WINDOW AND IS RISING UP. IT HAS RELEASED ALMOST ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO IT HAS EXPOSED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10615079
130,000 miles · Jul 1, 2014
Power Train
VERY COMMON KNOW PROBLEM OF THE 4T65E TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED IN THESE CARS IS A PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID AND/OR THE SHIFT SOLENOIDS FAIL PREMATURELY DUE TO A POORLY CONSTRUCTED PARTS. A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED BY MANUFACTURER WARNING OF THE PROBLEM AND TO USE A MUCH MORE SUPERIOR PART TO REPLACE THE BAD ONES. THIS HAPPE…
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VERY COMMON KNOW PROBLEM OF THE 4T65E TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED IN THESE CARS IS A PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID AND/OR THE SHIFT SOLENOIDS FAIL PREMATURELY DUE TO A POORLY CONSTRUCTED PARTS. A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED BY MANUFACTURER WARNING OF THE PROBLEM AND TO USE A MUCH MORE SUPERIOR PART TO REPLACE THE BAD ONES. THIS HAPPENS ACROSS A NUMBER OF VEHICLES AND GM REFUSES TO RECALL SAID PART EVEN AFTER KNOWING IT IS A FAILED PART. THE PROBLEM IT CAUSES IS THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO HIGH PRESSURE MODE AND CAUSES HARD UP SHIFTS. THERE IS A UNOFFICIAL WORK AROUND THAT INVOLVES INSTALLING AFTER MARKET PARTS TO STOP THE HARD SHIFTS.GM HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS PERSONALLY TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL DUE TO COST OF RECALLING AND REPAIRING. ESPECIALLY IN CARS THAT THIS HAS CAUSED PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. AND THEY SAY THEY ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO DO SO. THE SAD THING IS I JUST ASKED FOR THE UPDATED PART SO I COULD PERSONALLY INSTALL IT BECAUSE I DO BETTER WORK THAN THEIR GARAGES AND WOULDN'T TRUST THEM TO CHANGE A TIRE LET ALONE TOUCH A TRANSMISSION. I AM CAPABLE OF INSTALLING THE PARTS I JUST WANT THE UPDATED ONE FOR FREE SINCE IT IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED ON THEIR PART TO BEGIN WITH. THIS PROBLEM IS MUCH LIKE THE COOLANT PROBLEM GM CLAIMS DIDN'T EXIST UNTIL THEY WERE SUED FOR IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10607251
53,000 miles · Jun 24, 2014
Steering
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 5 OR 6 WEEKS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10605477
62,496 miles · Jun 21, 2014
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS 90. SOMETIMES STAYS ON 0 NO MATTER WHAT SPEED I AM DRIVING. I SPOKE TO A DEALER AND HE INDICATED THAT IT MAY BE THE GAUGE CLUSTER AND WOULD COST ABOUT $400 TO $500. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITUATION, WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10604952
90,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014
Electrical System
AT APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES MY FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. IT WILL EITHER SAY FULL OR EMPTY NO INBETWEEN. IT IS NOT ACCURATE NOR IS THE LOW FUEL LIGHT. TO GET IT FIXED I HAD IT ESTIMATED AT AROUND $600..... JUST ANOTHER REASON NOT TO BUY A AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10598672
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2014
Electrical System
2004 SILVERADO & 2004 BUICK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BOTH VEHICLES NEED A NEW CLUSTER AND THE NEEDLE ON THE MILE INDICATOR IS AT 120. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE GAS GAUGE HAS NOT WORKED FOR TWO YEARS. ALSO, HE HAD NO IDEA HOW FAST HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONSUMER STATED HAVING BOTH VEHICLES REPAIRED, WOULD COST $1000.00…
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2004 SILVERADO & 2004 BUICK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BOTH VEHICLES NEED A NEW CLUSTER AND THE NEEDLE ON THE MILE INDICATOR IS AT 120. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE GAS GAUGE HAS NOT WORKED FOR TWO YEARS. ALSO, HE HAD NO IDEA HOW FAST HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONSUMER STATED HAVING BOTH VEHICLES REPAIRED, WOULD COST $1000.00 *JB
NHTSA ODI #10595091
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.
2004 Buick Lesabre Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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