IllustrationTHE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE DASH IS SEPARATING FROM THE FIREWALL OF THE MOTOR. THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DASH
2003 Buick Lesabre
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Lesabre years
Owner complaints for the 2003 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
270–25K
3125–50K
2550–75K
1775–100K
13100–150K
6150K+
119 reports with mileage · 45 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.
- Structure. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
21 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
WE BOUGHT THE CAR DECEMBER 29,2015, THE CAR HAD 102,0215, AND DROVE IT TO THE DOCTOR ON OUR WAY BACK, THE WOULD MAKE A "CLUNKING" SOUND FROM TRANS-AXLES, AND WE NOTICE THAT THE DASH BOARD CAME UP AND IT HAS HARDWARE SCREWS ACROSS THE DASH AS IF TO HOLD IT DOWN. *TR
RECALL
2003 BUICK LE SABRE. DASHBOARD IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL. ELECTRONIC PARTS ARE EXPOSED. AS A RESULT, AIRBAG AND OTHER SAFETY SENSORS AND WIRING IS EXPOSED. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE DASH IS PULLING AWAY TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE AIRBAG IS HOUSED. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF ISSUES ON THE I…
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2003 BUICK LE SABRE. DASHBOARD IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL. ELECTRONIC PARTS ARE EXPOSED. AS A RESULT, AIRBAG AND OTHER SAFETY SENSORS AND WIRING IS EXPOSED. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE DASH IS PULLING AWAY TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE AIRBAG IS HOUSED. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF ISSUES ON THE INTERNET. THE DASH HAS PULLED AWAY OVER 2" IN THE CENTER. IT IS DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AND IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYS, IT WILL CREATE AN ACCIDENT. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD BE HAPPY WITH A FIX, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A REPLACEMENT. *TR
ENTERED VEHICLE AND NOTICED DASHBOARD BUCKLING ON DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. AFRAID TO START VEHICLE BECAUSE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY. *TR
MY FRONT DASHBOARD HAS BEEN GRADUALLY COMING UNATTACHED NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IT IS HINDERING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO A PROBLEM FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM.. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY HAZARD AND I CANNOT BELIEVE BUICK HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT WHICH IS AFFECTING SO MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. I…
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MY FRONT DASHBOARD HAS BEEN GRADUALLY COMING UNATTACHED NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IT IS HINDERING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO A PROBLEM FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM.. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY HAZARD AND I CANNOT BELIEVE BUICK HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT WHICH IS AFFECTING SO MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. I OWN TWO BUICK LESABRES AND IT HAPPENED TO BOTH OF THEM. *TR
DASHBOARD HAS WARPED AND SEPARATED FROM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. ACCORDING TO EXPERIENCED AUTO MECHANICS, DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL MOST LIKELY BE COMPROMISED. IT ALSO AFFECTS VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE BUICKS! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHI…
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DASHBOARD HAS WARPED AND SEPARATED FROM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. ACCORDING TO EXPERIENCED AUTO MECHANICS, DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL MOST LIKELY BE COMPROMISED. IT ALSO AFFECTS VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE BUICKS! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? CHECK THIS WEBSITE AND YOU'LL SEE HOW PROLIFIC A PROBLEM THIS IS! HTTP://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-C5295_DS45613 NOT TO MENTION THE MONEY LOST BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO SELL THESE CARS. 2000-2005 BUICK OWNERS ARE IN DANGER. AND YOU'VE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT! DO YOUR JOB! *TR
AT A LITTLE OVER 40,000 MILES, I NOTICE A HUMP IN THE DASH COVER IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SEPARATION AND LIFTING HAS NOW STRETCHED TO NEAR CENTER DASH. IF IT CONTINUES, I'M AFRAID IT MAY POSSIBLY EFFECT AIR BAG OPERATION OR PASSENGER SAFETY. *TR
DASH PANEL IS SEPARATING FROM FRAME , STARTED IN FRONT OF DRIVER & PROGRESSING TOWARDS PASSENGER SIDE WHERE AIR BAG IS LOCATED WHICH IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY PROBLEM ,NOT TO MENTION RESALE OR TRADE IN. *TR
Official recalls
102V222000 · Air Bags:frontal
Aug 9, 2002
CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.