Illustration215/70R15 98T Tire purchased 10 days prior blew-out , resulting in total loss of vehicle.
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
Tires complaints
7 reportsMY '03 BUICK LESABRE HAD A STABILITY PROBLEM. WHILE IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA, I TOOK IT TO PAT CLARK BUICK AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT TWO OF MY TIRES WERE SEPARATED. THE REMAINING TWO HAD BUBBLES PROTRUDING FROM THE TREAD. THE TIRES HAD 49,993 MILES ON THEM AND THESE TIRES WERE ON THE TIRES WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN '03. *TR
TIRE BULGED OUT AND LOST PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A NEW 2003 BUICK LESABRE, BOUGHT IN NOV, 2003. THE TIRES WERE GENERAL TIRES, BRAND "AMERI-GS60". AS I WAS ON A LONG RANGE TRIP, THE TIRE NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT; THE TIRE STORE SAID TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE STEEL BELT HAD …
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TIRE BULGED OUT AND LOST PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A NEW 2003 BUICK LESABRE, BOUGHT IN NOV, 2003. THE TIRES WERE GENERAL TIRES, BRAND "AMERI-GS60". AS I WAS ON A LONG RANGE TRIP, THE TIRE NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT; THE TIRE STORE SAID TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE STEEL BELT HAD GIVEN WAY.*JB
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…
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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
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAY CONSUMER'S WIFE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SHE THOUGHT THAT CONSUMER RAN OVER SOMETHING, BUT INSTEAD IT WAS A TIRE. CONSUMER TOOK THE TIRE TO A TIRE REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE BLEWOUT FROM THE INSIDE SIDEWALL AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT THE DEFECTIVE TIRE …
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WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAY CONSUMER'S WIFE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SHE THOUGHT THAT CONSUMER RAN OVER SOMETHING, BUT INSTEAD IT WAS A TIRE. CONSUMER TOOK THE TIRE TO A TIRE REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE BLEWOUT FROM THE INSIDE SIDEWALL AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS A RECALLED TIRE. *AK *NM
WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE TIRE BLEW OUT AT THE SIDEWALL. *AK
SHAKES & VIBRATIONS IN STEERING WHEEL & FLOOR OF VEHICLE, DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO BALANCE TIRES WITHOUT MUCH SUCCESS. *JB
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.