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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
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47,000 miles · Aug 29, 2011
Air BagsStructure

THE UPPER DASH PAD IS PEELING FROM ITS BACKING, OPENING A 1" GAP APPROXIMATELY A FOOT ACROSS, IN FRONT OF THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DEFROSTER GRILLE HOUSING. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM, REQUESTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. GM CREATED A CASE FILE (#71-969127956) AND I WAS DENIED ANY ASS…

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THE UPPER DASH PAD IS PEELING FROM ITS BACKING, OPENING A 1" GAP APPROXIMATELY A FOOT ACROSS, IN FRONT OF THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DEFROSTER GRILLE HOUSING. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM, REQUESTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. GM CREATED A CASE FILE (#71-969127956) AND I WAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE. I THEN REQUESTED TO SPEAK WITH THE GM DISTRICT REP, WHO ALSO DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE AND WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE KNOWING OF BUICK HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE I OBTAINED IS $1080.20. I FIRST OBSERVED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 47,000 MILES. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS ENCLOSED IN THIS PAD AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE SPLIT IN THE DASH EXTENDS FAR ENOUGH, IT COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 48,000 MILES AND ASIDE FROM THIS PROBLEM, IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY PENDING ACTION NHTSA MAY BE CONSIDERING TO FORCE GM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT, WHICH HAS BEEN HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED TO YOU BY SEVERAL OTHER BUICK OWNERS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC IN VEHICLE DEFECT MATTERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10422369

67,000 miles · Aug 28, 2011
Structure

THE DASHBOARD STARTED COMING UP BY THE WINDSHIELD, WITHIN 3 OR 4 WEEKS THE WHOLE DASH IS BUCKLING, COMING UP ALL THE WAS ACROSS THE DASHBOARD AND THE DASHBOARD IS MOVING TOWARD DRIVER AND PASSENGER. WE TOOK IT TO BE LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THE WINDSHIELD WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED & A NEW DASH PUT IN, OVER $3000! OUR CAR IS I…

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THE DASHBOARD STARTED COMING UP BY THE WINDSHIELD, WITHIN 3 OR 4 WEEKS THE WHOLE DASH IS BUCKLING, COMING UP ALL THE WAS ACROSS THE DASHBOARD AND THE DASHBOARD IS MOVING TOWARD DRIVER AND PASSENGER. WE TOOK IT TO BE LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THE WINDSHIELD WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED & A NEW DASH PUT IN, OVER $3000! OUR CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION EXCEPT FOR THIS MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I HAVE FOUND ONLINE MULTITUDES OF SAME PROBLEM WITH BUICK LASABRE'S. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE AIR BAGS ARE AFFECTED. PLEASE GET GM TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423373

100,000 miles · Jun 13, 2011
Structure

DASH SEPARATION BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD MAY CAUSE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE , AND IS ALSO A VISUAL OBSTRUCTION . IN BOTH INSTANCES DEATH MAY BE POSSIBLE . DEALER RESPONSE IS VERY MINIMAL AT BEST ,BUT THEIR CONCERN AS IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE IS SINCERE . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10406207

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2011
Structure

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2003 BUICK LESABRE BEGAN TO SEPARATE AND PEEL AWAY FROM THE BODY AND BUCKLE OUT TOWARD THE PASSENGER SECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CANNOT BE PUSHED BACK INTO PLACE. IT WILL VERY LIKELY PROPOSE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE AIR BAGS NEED TO BE DEPLOYED OR MAY EVEN CAUSE PREMATURE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10404221

70,000 miles · Apr 26, 2011
Structure

RE: 2003 BUICK LASABRE LIMITED. DASH BOARD HAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. IT IS ALL BUCKLED UP AND COULD POSE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG IF IT PULLS AWAY ANY FARTHER. HUNDREDS OF BUICK LASABRE OWNERS HAVE FILED THE SAME COMPLAINT AS MINE. WHAT HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE BUICK ISSUES A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT WHICH P…

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RE: 2003 BUICK LASABRE LIMITED. DASH BOARD HAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. IT IS ALL BUCKLED UP AND COULD POSE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG IF IT PULLS AWAY ANY FARTHER. HUNDREDS OF BUICK LASABRE OWNERS HAVE FILED THE SAME COMPLAINT AS MINE. WHAT HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE BUICK ISSUES A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT WHICH POSES A SAFETY HAZARD? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10397955

80,000 miles · Apr 21, 2011
Structure

DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRONT OF DASHBOARD AND IS CURLING UP ON DRIVER SIDE OF CAR AND HEADING FOR THE PASSENGERS SIDE AND THE AIR BAG. I AM AFRAID THAT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WILL HAPPEN WHEN IT REACHES THAT SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10397049

41,250 miles · Mar 9, 2011
Structure

I HAVE A 2003 BUICK LASABRE THE DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING AND RAISING UP. IT STARTS IN FRONT OF STEERING WHEEL AND GOES HALF WAY TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE CAR. IT HAS CAME APART ABOUT TWO INCHES AND IS RAISED UP ABOUT THREE INCHES ,AND GETTING WORSE. THE CAR IS NOT LEFT OUT SIDE,SO I DON'T THINK IT IS FROM THE SUN. IF THIS SE…

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I HAVE A 2003 BUICK LASABRE THE DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING AND RAISING UP. IT STARTS IN FRONT OF STEERING WHEEL AND GOES HALF WAY TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE CAR. IT HAS CAME APART ABOUT TWO INCHES AND IS RAISED UP ABOUT THREE INCHES ,AND GETTING WORSE. THE CAR IS NOT LEFT OUT SIDE,SO I DON'T THINK IT IS FROM THE SUN. IF THIS SEPARATION REACHES ON ACROSS THE DASH(AND THE WAY IT IS GOING,IT WILL) THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO THE PERSON IT HITS, OR CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS SAME MODEL BUICK, AND THAT GM WONT ADMIT THEY HAVE A DESIGN OR WORKMANSHIP PROBLEM AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THE CARS FOR REPAIR. SHAME ON YOU GM. I HAVE OWNED GM CARS SINCE 1957 AND THEY WERE GREAT CARS. PLEASE OWN UP TO THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM AND FIX IT . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10386942

32,000 miles · Mar 1, 2011
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10386068

38,000 miles · Dec 14, 2010
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL PAD WAS BUCKLING UP AND PEELING BACK FROM ITS HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL PAD WAS BUCKLING UP AND PEELING BACK FROM ITS HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. UPDATED 02/07/11 *BF UPDATED 02/11/11

NHTSA ODI #10370620

2,000 miles · Dec 4, 2010
Structure

DASH PEELING . STARTED AT THE CENTER AND HAS SPREAD ABOUT 50% ACROSS. AIRBAG LIGHT HAS FLASHED SEVERAL TIMES. HAVE CONTACTED BUICK SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS. NO RESULTS. BOUGHT CAR 12-11-02. STARTED PEELING IN JULY 6 OR AUGUST 6, 2003. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369170

Official recalls

1

02V222000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.