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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

Visibility complaints

12 reports
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71,000 miles · Sep 16, 2014
Visibility

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE REAR DRIVERS DOOR WAS CLOSED, THE GLASS WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED. THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. ADDITIONALLY, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WINDOWS. THE MANUFACTUR…

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TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE REAR DRIVERS DOOR WAS CLOSED, THE GLASS WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED. THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. ADDITIONALLY, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WINDOWS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10633564

25,000 miles · Aug 13, 2013
StructureVisibility

DASHBOARD ON 2003 LESABRE LIMITED IS SEPARATING NEAR THE WINDOW OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS VIEW. CAR ONLY HAS 25,000 I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND WILL HOLD GM RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THIS OBSTRUCTION. PLEASE ADVISE ME HOW TO PROCEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535112

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2011
Visibility

I HAVE A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. TWO MONTHS AGO MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING AND WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. I HAD TO HAVE THE COMPLETE WINDOW CONTROL REPLACED. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. YESTERDAY MY FRONT PASSENGER. SIDE WINDOW DID THE SAME THING. IT A…

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I HAVE A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. TWO MONTHS AGO MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING AND WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. I HAD TO HAVE THE COMPLETE WINDOW CONTROL REPLACED. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. YESTERDAY MY FRONT PASSENGER. SIDE WINDOW DID THE SAME THING. IT ALSO WON'T GO UP EITHER, SO OBVIOUSLY NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10419353

2,000 miles · Dec 2, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LASABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASH DETACHED FROM THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 01/18/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASH HAS CONTINUED TO PEEL TO THE RIGHT OF THE AIR BAG AND THE LIGHT HAS …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LASABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASH DETACHED FROM THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 01/18/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASH HAS CONTINUED TO PEEL TO THE RIGHT OF THE AIR BAG AND THE LIGHT HAS STARTED TO FLASH INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SUNVISOR BROKE OFF. THE ABS LOCKED-UP WHEN THE CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE. UPDATED EVOQ 03/02/11

NHTSA ODI #10368708

1,730 miles · Jul 23, 2010
Visibility

ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO MY BACK WINDOW WENT DOWN WOULD NOT COME BACK UP HAD TO REPLACE REGULATOR MOTOR TODAY MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DONE THE SAME THING. SAFETY HOW CAN YOU DRIVE SAFELY WHEN YOU ARE CONTINUOUSLY HAVE TO CHECK ON KIDS IN CAR. 2003 BUICK LESABRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344979

25,000 miles · Jun 8, 2010
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED DOWNWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW AND REGULATOR MOTOR ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE REGULATOR MOTOR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED DOWNWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW AND REGULATOR MOTOR ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE REGULATOR MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE FAILURE WOULD MOST LIKELY RECUR IN ALL OF THE OTHER WINDOWS. THE FAILURE HAS SINCE RECURRED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE BOTH WINDOWS AND REGULATOR MOTOR ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 49,176. UPDATED 07/29/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR A THIRD TIME. UPDATED 08/05/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10335291

27,900 miles · Nov 19, 2008
Visibility

I PURCHASED THE CAR ON A CLOUDY DAY. WHEN I DID, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THERE WAS A SCRATCH IN THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A USED CAR, IT WAS SOLD AS IS. IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY, NOT THEIRS. I THINK IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE OF THEM TO SELL A CAR WITH A SCRATCHED WINDSHIELD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249351

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2008
Visibility

BOTH ELECTRIC WINDOWS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR ROLLED DOWN AND THEN WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236170

36,179 miles · Oct 25, 2007
Visibility

I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER WINDOW ON MY 2003 BUICK LESABRE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR ASSEMBLY. IT SEEMS THAT THE CABLE WHICH RAISES AND LOWERS THE WINDOW IS ATTACHED TO A PLASTIC PART, WHICH FAILS. POOR QUALITY CONSTRUCTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10206926

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2007
Visibility

I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER WINDOWS ON 2003 BUICK LESABRE. I HAVE REPLACE 2 WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR ASSEMBLIES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CABLE WHICH RAISES AND LOWERS THE WINDOW IS ATTACHED TO A PLASTIC PART, WHICH FAILS. *JB UPDATED 09/27/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10202383

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.