← New search

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 →

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

Suspension complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
140,000 miles · Jan 13, 2020
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC NOTICED ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SPRING SUSPENSION WAS CORRODED THROUGH. IN ADDITION DUE TO THE CORROSION ON THE TOP OF THE SPRING, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE SUPPORT CAUSING THE VEH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC NOTICED ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SPRING SUSPENSION WAS CORRODED THROUGH. IN ADDITION DUE TO THE CORROSION ON THE TOP OF THE SPRING, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE SUPPORT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB PION BUICK GMC DEALER, (333 MEMORIAL DR, CHICOPEE, MA 01020, (413) 598-8377) WHERE THEY NOTICED THE CORROSION BUT DID NOT RECOMMEND TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RUST UNDERNEATH WERE PRISTINE AND THE SPRING LEANING ON THE FRAME PUSHING THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST ALL SUPPORT, THE SPRING WAS PRE-FLOATING AT THE TOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140.000.

NHTSA ODI #11299054

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2014
EngineSuspension

2003 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 2009 WITH 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. FOUR AND A HALF YEARS LATER, THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AGAIN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.. ALSO, THE LEVEL RIDE COMPRESSOR HAD TO BE …

Read full complaint

2003 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 2009 WITH 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. FOUR AND A HALF YEARS LATER, THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AGAIN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.. ALSO, THE LEVEL RIDE COMPRESSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10568381

36,000 miles · Sep 12, 2006
Suspension

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT END SHIMMIED. NEW STRUTS, MOTOR MOUNTS, TWO AXLES AND FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. THE CONTACT INSTALLED NEW TIRES THINKING THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIRES, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10167936

7,918 miles · Nov 16, 2004
SuspensionTires

VIBRATION, WHICH BECOME GREATER WITH SPEED, IS FELT ON THE FLOOR, FRONT SEAT & STEERING WHEEL: VIBRATION BECOMES WORSE ON A CURVE. THE PROBLEM IS GREATEST ON AN EXTREMELY SMOOTH RUBBERIZED BLACK TOPPED ROAD.ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED, ROTATED & REPLACED: DRIVE TRAIN REALINED: TRANSMISSION DAMPER KIT INSTALLED. PROBLEM CONTINUE…

Read full complaint

VIBRATION, WHICH BECOME GREATER WITH SPEED, IS FELT ON THE FLOOR, FRONT SEAT & STEERING WHEEL: VIBRATION BECOMES WORSE ON A CURVE. THE PROBLEM IS GREATEST ON AN EXTREMELY SMOOTH RUBBERIZED BLACK TOPPED ROAD.ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED, ROTATED & REPLACED: DRIVE TRAIN REALINED: TRANSMISSION DAMPER KIT INSTALLED. PROBLEM CONTINUES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100026

8,000 miles · Aug 16, 2004
Power TrainSuspension

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CONSUMER FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SEAT. AFTER SEVEN VISITS TO THE DEALERS, THEY REPLACED THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE TIRES BALANCED 8 TIMES AND HAS BOUGHT 7 NEW TIRES. *JB THE VIBRATING CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAD A DRIVELINE SHIMMY AT HIGHER SPEED TH…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CONSUMER FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SEAT. AFTER SEVEN VISITS TO THE DEALERS, THEY REPLACED THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE TIRES BALANCED 8 TIMES AND HAS BOUGHT 7 NEW TIRES. *JB THE VIBRATING CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAD A DRIVELINE SHIMMY AT HIGHER SPEED THAT WAS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS OUT OF BALANCE AND THE FRONT LEFT REAR WHEEL WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND WAS CORRECTED, VIBRATIONS WERE STILL EVIDENT DURING SUBSEQUENT ROAD TEST AND THREE TIRES WERE FOUND OUT OF BALANCE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES AND WHEELS WEREN'T THE PROBLEM. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A DRIVELINE SHIMMY AT A HIGHER SPEED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10083514

9,000 miles · Dec 12, 2003
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING. DEALER REPLACED THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL AND TIRE, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10050451

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2003
SuspensionTires

SHAKES & VIBRATIONS IN STEERING WHEEL & FLOOR OF VEHICLE, DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO BALANCE TIRES WITHOUT MUCH SUCCESS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10041329

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.