IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,889.
2001 Buick Lesabre
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Lesabre years
Owner complaints for the 2001 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
300–25K
4025–50K
5750–75K
2575–100K
34100–150K
16150K+
202 reports with mileage · 126 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.
- Visibility. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports22 fire reports9 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
29 reportsTHE DASH BOARD IS MELTING AWAY AN IT HAS LIFTED UP THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAD AN I THINK THATS A SAFEY HAZARD CAUSE IF I WAS TO GET INTO A FINDER BENDER OR A BAD CAR WRECK THE PASSENGER AIR WILL NOT COME OUT. AN I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER MAKE AN MODELS JUST LIKE MINES
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR POWER WINDOW MOTORS, THE DASH IS COMING APART AND IS RAISED BLOCKING SOME VISIBILITY AND POTENTIALLY AFFECTING THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN AN ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT BRAKING VIBRATION / PULSATION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON ALL FIVE OF MY BUICK LESABRES
FRONT / TOP OF DASHBOARD SEPARATING AND DELAMINATING FROM THE INTERIOR CABIN OF VEHICLE AND EXPENDING TO A POINT WERE THE ONE PIECE EXPOSING OPEN VOID SPACE AND SETTING OFF SENSORS ON AIR BAGS BY PINCHING AND SENDING A MESSAGE THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE SEEN NO OF SAME MODEL BUICK…
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FRONT / TOP OF DASHBOARD SEPARATING AND DELAMINATING FROM THE INTERIOR CABIN OF VEHICLE AND EXPENDING TO A POINT WERE THE ONE PIECE EXPOSING OPEN VOID SPACE AND SETTING OFF SENSORS ON AIR BAGS BY PINCHING AND SENDING A MESSAGE THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE SEEN NO OF SAME MODEL BUICKS WITH SIMILAR DEFECTS AND PROBLEMS FROM 2000 TO 2004 AND NEWER MODELS ON THE ROAD. WHEN REQUESTED FOR EVALUATION FROM TWO BUICK / GM DEALERS THEY HAD NO SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE OR OFFER A SOLUTION TO THE SAFETY ISSUE. REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION TO GM FOR SOLUTION AND NOTICE TO THE OWNERS OF SIMILAR CARS TO REPORT SAME OR SIM. PROBLEMS. *TR
DASHBOARD TOP IS SEPARATING AND BUCKLING IN AREA BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD. IT STARTED SLOWLY WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE WITH TIME. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. I'M WORRIED THAT AS THE DASHBOARD SEPARATION GETS WORSE, IT WILL AFFECT THE PASSE…
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DASHBOARD TOP IS SEPARATING AND BUCKLING IN AREA BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD. IT STARTED SLOWLY WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE WITH TIME. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. I'M WORRIED THAT AS THE DASHBOARD SEPARATION GETS WORSE, IT WILL AFFECT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND/OR VEHICLE ELECTRONICS IN THE DASHBOARD AREA LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR
THE DASH PAD ON MY 2001 BUICK LE SABRE HAS SEPARATED AND BUCKLED UP APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES IN HEIGHT AND MOSTLY IN FRONT OF MY STEERING WHEEL, HOWEVER IT IS LIFTED 3/4 OF THE WAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASH. IT IS NOW OPEN IN THE FRONT ALONG WHERE IT MEETS THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS LIFTED ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR B…
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THE DASH PAD ON MY 2001 BUICK LE SABRE HAS SEPARATED AND BUCKLED UP APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES IN HEIGHT AND MOSTLY IN FRONT OF MY STEERING WHEEL, HOWEVER IT IS LIFTED 3/4 OF THE WAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASH. IT IS NOW OPEN IN THE FRONT ALONG WHERE IT MEETS THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS LIFTED ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. UPON READING ON LINE, I SEE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2001 THROUGH 2005 BUICKS AND I AM JUST ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO ADD TO THE LIST. THE RISE IN THE DASH CERTAINLY EFFECTS MY VIEW WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE PLACED A THICK PAD ON TOP OF MY DRIVERS SEAT TO RAISE MY BODY. THIS ASSISTS ME, SO I AM ABLE TO PEER OVER THE RAISED DASH WHILE DRIVING. I AM GREATLY CONCERNED THAT THE SEPARATION, IS GOING TO SUDDENLY DEPLOY MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. *TR
THE DASH BOARD IS SEPERATING AT THE SEAMS ALL THE WAY TO THE AIR BAGS. IT MAY LEAD TO POSSIBLE AIR BAG DEPLOYEMENT ON PASSENGER SIDE. PLEASE FIX THIS COULD LEAD TO A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT I COMMUNTE ON A DAILY BASIS WITH MY TWO SON 6 AND 10. PLEASE DO A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE SOMEONE COULD BE SERIOUS INJURED PLEASE HELP! *TR
THE DASH BOARD IS SEPERATING AT THE SEAMS ALL THE WAY TO THE AIR BAGS. IT MAY LEAD TO POSSIBLE AIR BAG DEPLOYEMENT ON PASSENGER SIDE.
VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT END ACCIDENT WITH AN SUV AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY BUICKS AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO GOOD REASON AND CAUSED ME TO REAR END A FELLOW EMPLOYEE AT A LIGHT. I WAS DUMBFOUNDED BY THE ACCIDENT AND WAS WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE I RECALLED NO RED LIGHT OR SEEING BRAKE LIGHTS. I AM SO HAPPY THAT MY FELLOW EMPLOYEE ARE NOT DETRI…
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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY BUICKS AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO GOOD REASON AND CAUSED ME TO REAR END A FELLOW EMPLOYEE AT A LIGHT. I WAS DUMBFOUNDED BY THE ACCIDENT AND WAS WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE I RECALLED NO RED LIGHT OR SEEING BRAKE LIGHTS. I AM SO HAPPY THAT MY FELLOW EMPLOYEE ARE NOT DETRIMENTALLY INJURED BY THIS. THE BAG APPARENTLY SHOCKED ME AND THE DASHBOARD BLINDED ME SO I HAD NO WAY TO REACT.. I SURE HOPE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ADDRESS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT. I THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT THE TIME. I AM ALSO EXPECTING BUICK TO REPLACE MY CAR AT THE SAME VALUE ATLEAST. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
1EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.