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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.

About this comparison →
164Owner complaints

Model-year median: 24

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
669
2000328
2001310
2002164
2003162
200477
20053
2006
Compare all Lesabre years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Structure
57Air Bags
21Power Train
18Electrical System
15Visibility
12
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
11Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Engine
8Engine And Engine Cooling
8Suspension
7Tires
7Exterior Lighting
5Fuel System, Gasoline
5Steering
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Service Brakes
4Seats
3Visibility/wiper
3Electronic Stability Control
1Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

5 reports
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150,000 miles · Nov 25, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. AFTER CRASHING INTO A TREE STUMP, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE AND MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, FOOT, CHES…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. AFTER CRASHING INTO A TREE STUMP, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE AND MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, FOOT, CHEST, NECK, BACK AND KNEE INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MIDDLE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRAIN AND KNEE INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10660853

130,000 miles · Mar 3, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

STOPPED CAR IN PARKING LOT, TURNED OFF ENGINE. RETURNED TO CAR, STARTED ENGINE AND PUT IN REVERSE. CAR TOOK OFF WHEN THROTTLE BODY STUCK WIDE OPEN. CAR MADE WIDE CIRCLE'S, I TRIED TO STOP BY PUSHING ON BRAKE PEDAL, AFTER HITTING SEVERAL CEMENT PARKING CURBS AND THEN STRIKING ANOTHER CAR I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR STOPPED AND TURNED…

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STOPPED CAR IN PARKING LOT, TURNED OFF ENGINE. RETURNED TO CAR, STARTED ENGINE AND PUT IN REVERSE. CAR TOOK OFF WHEN THROTTLE BODY STUCK WIDE OPEN. CAR MADE WIDE CIRCLE'S, I TRIED TO STOP BY PUSHING ON BRAKE PEDAL, AFTER HITTING SEVERAL CEMENT PARKING CURBS AND THEN STRIKING ANOTHER CAR I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR STOPPED AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566786

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

GAS PEDAL STICKS WHEN GOING FORWARD AFTER USING REVERSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532793

23,000 miles · Jul 6, 2004
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED LOST OF BRAKING POWER. THE CONSUMER PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE C…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED LOST OF BRAKING POWER. THE CONSUMER PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD COME DOWN TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10072282

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE SURGED AND DROVE OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10029641

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.