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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 · Aug 25, 2013
Electrical System

MY SPEEDOMETER OR RPM OR FUEL GAUGES DO NOT WORK THIS IS NOT SAFE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY WHAT CAN WE DO TO FIX THIS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10537144

35,876 miles · Aug 13, 2013
Structure

SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT MY MOTHER. DASHBOARD COVER STARTED LIFTING AND PULLING OUT FROM UNDER WINDSHIELD COWLING ABOUT JUNE 2009 AND IS TRAVELING ACROSS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THERE IS AN AIRBAG. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THE LIFTING AND CREASING IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER IS A SAFETY DISTRACTION AND THAT IF IT CONTINUES TO THE PAS…

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SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT MY MOTHER. DASHBOARD COVER STARTED LIFTING AND PULLING OUT FROM UNDER WINDSHIELD COWLING ABOUT JUNE 2009 AND IS TRAVELING ACROSS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THERE IS AN AIRBAG. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THE LIFTING AND CREASING IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER IS A SAFETY DISTRACTION AND THAT IF IT CONTINUES TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG THAT AIRBAG MAY GET SET OFF UNEXPECTEDLY, ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD. IT IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS ON THE INTERNET. IS THERE, OR WILL THERE BE, A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MY MOTHERS SAFETY WHILE SHE IS DRIVING THIS CAR. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #10535611

63,900 miles · Jul 24, 2013
Structure

THE DASHBOARD HAS SEPARATED MORE THAN HALF WAY ACROSS, AND HAS RAISED OVER ONE INCH IN SOME AREAS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL AFFECT THE AIRBAGS,EITHER RENDERING THEM INEFFECTIVE OR ALLOWING THEM TO DEPLOY WHILE I AM DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10531541

60,000 miles · Jun 29, 2013
Air BagsStructure

TOP OF DASH BOARD (MAT,PAD) IS BOWING UP INTO THE FIELD OF DRIVING VISION AND IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRONT PART OF THE DASHBOARD. THE SEPARATION IS CREEPING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND THERE IS CONCERN THAT BOTH AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY. GM REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE AS A DEFECTIVE DASH PROBLEM AND WILL DO NOTHI…

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TOP OF DASH BOARD (MAT,PAD) IS BOWING UP INTO THE FIELD OF DRIVING VISION AND IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRONT PART OF THE DASHBOARD. THE SEPARATION IS CREEPING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND THERE IS CONCERN THAT BOTH AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY. GM REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE AS A DEFECTIVE DASH PROBLEM AND WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP REPAIR/REPLACE THE PART. TO GET A GOOD FEEL FOR THE PREVALENCE OF THIS ISSUE, GO TO CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-C5295_DS45613 AND READ ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND FRUSTRATIONS OF DEALING WITH GM. I HAVE EVEN SEEN OTHER BUICKS DRIVING WITH THIS PROBLEM. WHY WON'T THEY ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM AND GET THEM FIXED?? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522424

82,000 miles · Jun 19, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

PARKED CAR, TURNED OFF ENGINE AND LOCKED CAR. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THEN A SMALL EXPLOSION AND A RAGING FIRE. CAR WAS TOTALED IN 5-8 MINUTES. FIRE ENGINES CALLED AND PUT OUT FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520627

66,300 miles · May 3, 2013
Structure

FEBRUARY WAS THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THAT THE TOP OF THE DASH WAS BULGING UPWARD AND SEPARATING FROM THE MAIN DASH (ONLY EASILY SEEN FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE). THE SEPARATION IS PROPAGATING PAST THE HALF WAY POINT AND I FEAR IT COULD INTERFERE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG, OR IN THE CASE OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT THE WHOLE UPPER…

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FEBRUARY WAS THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THAT THE TOP OF THE DASH WAS BULGING UPWARD AND SEPARATING FROM THE MAIN DASH (ONLY EASILY SEEN FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE). THE SEPARATION IS PROPAGATING PAST THE HALF WAY POINT AND I FEAR IT COULD INTERFERE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG, OR IN THE CASE OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT THE WHOLE UPPER DASH COULD BE PROJECTED INTO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH BUICK LESABRE CARS FROM 2000 THRU 2005. SAME DESIGN, NEVER CHANGED. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER TOLD THEM THE DASH PAD WAS PEELING, WITCH IS UNTRUE. THE ENTIRE UPPER SECTION, ABOUT A QUARTER OF AN INCH THICK, IS DEFORMING AND SEPARATING FROM THE DASH. I HAVE PHOTOS IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. MY GM REPORT NUMBER IS: [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510572

20,000 miles · Jan 29, 2013
EngineEngine And Engine CoolingFire

OWNER PURCHASED A 2004 BUICK LESABRE, VIN [XXX] (?BUICK?), WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS. ON OCTOBER 14, 2010, OWNER DROVE THE BUICK FROM THE GROCERY STORE, RETURNED TO HER HOME, AND PARKED THE BUICK IN THE ATTACHED GARAGE OF HER HOME AND PROCEEDED TO RETRIEVE HER GROCERIES FROM THE TRUNK OF THE BUICK. AFTER SHE RETR…

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OWNER PURCHASED A 2004 BUICK LESABRE, VIN [XXX] (?BUICK?), WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS. ON OCTOBER 14, 2010, OWNER DROVE THE BUICK FROM THE GROCERY STORE, RETURNED TO HER HOME, AND PARKED THE BUICK IN THE ATTACHED GARAGE OF HER HOME AND PROCEEDED TO RETRIEVE HER GROCERIES FROM THE TRUNK OF THE BUICK. AFTER SHE RETRIEVED HER GROCERIES FROM THE TRUNK OF THE BUICK, OWNER NOTICED A FIRE AT THE FRONT OF THE BUICK. THE FIRE SPREAD FROM THE BUICK TO THE OWNER'S HOME, AND IT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE BUICK AND TO THE HOME. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE BUICK. ON MARCH 12, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED A RECALL, IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000, IN RESPONSE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE TO OCCUR IN 207,542 AUTOMOBILES MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS FROM 1997 TO 2003 AND CONTAINED A 3.8L ENGINE (?2008 RECALL?). OWNER'S BUICK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE 2008 RECALL. ON APRIL 21, 2009, GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED ANOTHER RECALL, IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000, IN RESPONSE TO THE POTENTIAL OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN 1,497,516 AUTOMOBILES MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS FROM 1997 TO 2003 (?2009 RECALL?). OWNER?S BUICK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE 2009 RECALL. A DEFECTIVE ROCKER COVER GASKET IN THE BUICK ALLOWED ENGINE OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AND THE HEAT OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS SUFFICIENT TO IGNITE THE OIL AND CAUSE THE FIRE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495074

86,800 miles · Jan 22, 2013
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER READING INTERMITTENTLY AT LEAST 20 MPH LOWER THAN ACTUAL VEHICLE SPEED ON HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493817

100,000 miles · Dec 24, 2012
Air BagsVisibility/wiper

DASHBOARD COVER STARTED LIFTING AND PULLING OUT FROM UNDER WINDSHIELD COWLING ABOUT JUNE 2012 AND IS TRAVELING ACROSS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THERE IS AN AIRBAG. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THE LIFTING AND CREASING IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER IS A SAFETY DISTRACTION AND THAT IF IT CONTINUES TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG THAT AIRBAG MAY GE…

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DASHBOARD COVER STARTED LIFTING AND PULLING OUT FROM UNDER WINDSHIELD COWLING ABOUT JUNE 2012 AND IS TRAVELING ACROSS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THERE IS AN AIRBAG. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THE LIFTING AND CREASING IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER IS A SAFETY DISTRACTION AND THAT IF IT CONTINUES TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG THAT AIRBAG MAY GET SET OFF UNEXPECTEDLY, ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD. IT IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS ON THE INTERNET. IS THERE, OR WILL THERE BE, A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490023

46,258 miles · Aug 15, 2012
Structure

I OWN THE LASABRE CUSTOM. DASHBOARD HAS BUCKLED 1/2 WAY BETWEEN THE FRONT OF THE DASHBOARD TO THE CHASSIS IN FRONT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AND SPREAD ACROSS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. DASHBOARD HAS SEPARATED AWAY FROM THE CHASSIS AND IS NOW 90% FREE-FLOATING ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD AND WILL BE COMPLETELY DISENGAGED SOON. THIS WILL L…

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I OWN THE LASABRE CUSTOM. DASHBOARD HAS BUCKLED 1/2 WAY BETWEEN THE FRONT OF THE DASHBOARD TO THE CHASSIS IN FRONT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AND SPREAD ACROSS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. DASHBOARD HAS SEPARATED AWAY FROM THE CHASSIS AND IS NOW 90% FREE-FLOATING ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD AND WILL BE COMPLETELY DISENGAGED SOON. THIS WILL LIKELY DEPLOY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND UPON DEPLOYMENT THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG WILL RELEASE WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOVEMENT. INJURY OR DEATH TO BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER IS EMINENT, AS WELL AS THE SAFETY TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CONSIDERING THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER 2000-2005 BUICK LASABRE CUSTOMERS GOING BACK 4 YEARS TO CURRENT, THERE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND A RECALL IS IN ORDER. SHOULD THERE BE A DEATH BEFORE THIS IS VALIDATED? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470816

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.