IllustrationThe contact owns a 2003 Buick LeSabre. The contact stated that their trunk failed to remain in the open position when needed. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
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
Structure complaints
57 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD INADVERTENTLY BECOME UNGLUED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD INADVERTENTLY BECOME UNGLUED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALL WAS ASSOCIATED WITH HE VIN. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
LETTER FROM CONGRESSWOMAN FOXX ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2003 BUICK LESABRE DEFECT ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED AND RAISED ABOUT TWO INCHES. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD DETACHED, INCLUDING THE AIR BAG HOUSING AREA. THE LOOSENED DASHABOARD DISTORTED THE CONTACT'S VISION WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD DETACHED, INCLUDING THE AIR BAG HOUSING AREA. THE LOOSENED DASHABOARD DISTORTED THE CONTACT'S VISION WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
THE DASHBOARD PANEL IS SEPARATING AT THE FRONT WHERE IT MEETS THE DEFROSTER COWLING. THE SEPARATION IS INCREASING ALONG THE FRONT OF THE DASH FROM DRIVER TO PASSENGER SIDE, AND IS STARTING TO CURL UP CONSIDERABLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IT IS UNKNOWN HOW MUCH FURTHER THE SEPARATION/CURLING WILL CONTINUE, AND IS BEGINNING TO AFFECT T…
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THE DASHBOARD PANEL IS SEPARATING AT THE FRONT WHERE IT MEETS THE DEFROSTER COWLING. THE SEPARATION IS INCREASING ALONG THE FRONT OF THE DASH FROM DRIVER TO PASSENGER SIDE, AND IS STARTING TO CURL UP CONSIDERABLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IT IS UNKNOWN HOW MUCH FURTHER THE SEPARATION/CURLING WILL CONTINUE, AND IS BEGINNING TO AFFECT THE VISION OF THE DRIVER JUST ABOVE THE HOOD. I ADDITION, OTHER COMPONENTS UNDER THE DASHBOARD ARE BEGINNING TO BE EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SUGGESTS THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE, WITH MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS, RANGING FROM OBSCURED DRIVER VISION, TO POTENTIAL OR POSSIBLE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT DUE TO EXPOSED COMPONENTS. INVESTIGATION ALSO SUGGESTS THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM, NOR PROVIDING ADEQUATE SOLUTIONS FOR REPAIR DESPITE NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASH PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT WHERE THE AIR BAG WAS HOUSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS PEELING WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
THE DASH COVER HAS STARTED TO BUCKLE IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
2003 BUICK LESABRE DASH PAD DASH PAD IS BUCKLING FROM THE FRONT, AT THE WINDSHIELD EDGE OF THE PAD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD BEGAN SEPARATING AND EXPANDING DOWN TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
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.