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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 →

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

What owners actually said

164 reports
67,000 miles · Jul 21, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO FUNCTION . THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 030525008, DATED OCTOBER 2003…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO FUNCTION . THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 030525008, DATED OCTOBER 2003, FOR THE ABS JUMPER HARNESS (PART # 103141677). THE SERVICE BULLETIN STATED THAT BOTH WIRING JUMPER HARNESS' SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #10344570

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

75,843 miles · Mar 3, 2009
Electrical System

SMALL LIGHTS BURN OUT EXCESSIVELY AND COST A FORTUNE TO HAVE REPLACED. EXAMPLES STEERING WHEEL BUTTON LIGHTS, CLIMATE CONTROL, RADIO BUTTONS (WHICH CANNOT BE REPLACED). REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 4 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260532

111,000 miles · Jan 14, 2009
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING ON I95 IN GEORGIA ON THE WAY TO FLORIDA 12-28-08 MY 2003 BUICK LESABRE TRANSMISSION STARTED BUCKING AND JOLTING CAR AS IT SHIFTED. TOOK TO GARAGE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP, THIS CAR HAD THE TRANSMISSION OIL REPLACED AT RECOMMENDED 50,000 MILES, BESIDES THE 2200 DOLLARS TO REPLACE …

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WHILE DRIVING ON I95 IN GEORGIA ON THE WAY TO FLORIDA 12-28-08 MY 2003 BUICK LESABRE TRANSMISSION STARTED BUCKING AND JOLTING CAR AS IT SHIFTED. TOOK TO GARAGE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP, THIS CAR HAD THE TRANSMISSION OIL REPLACED AT RECOMMENDED 50,000 MILES, BESIDES THE 2200 DOLLARS TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION WE HAD TO GET HOTEL ROOM, MEALS AND A RENTAL CAR TO CONTINUE TRIP AS THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE DELIVERED RIGHT AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255107

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

73 miles · Aug 19, 2008
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFire

I WAS DRIVING AND PROCEEDED TO SLOW DOWN AS I DID I HEARD A LOUD NOISE I CONTINUED DRIVING ABOUT 3 MILES WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE THE CAR PROCEEDED TO IGNITE ON FIRE AND BURNED BEFORE THE FIR…

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I WAS DRIVING AND PROCEEDED TO SLOW DOWN AS I DID I HEARD A LOUD NOISE I CONTINUED DRIVING ABOUT 3 MILES WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE THE CAR PROCEEDED TO IGNITE ON FIRE AND BURNED BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE. I HAD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH CAR BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238927

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

49,993 miles · Apr 20, 2008
Tires

MY '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

NHTSA ODI #10225179

47,692 miles · Feb 12, 2008
Power Train

THIS INCIDENT IS REGARDING A SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A 2003 BUICK LESABRE, PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2003. IN JANUARY OF 2008, WITH 47,692 MILES ON THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE INCIDENT - THE VEHICLE LURCHED, BUCKED, RAPIDLY PICKED UP SPEED AND RAPID…

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THIS INCIDENT IS REGARDING A SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A 2003 BUICK LESABRE, PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2003. IN JANUARY OF 2008, WITH 47,692 MILES ON THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE INCIDENT - THE VEHICLE LURCHED, BUCKED, RAPIDLY PICKED UP SPEED AND RAPIDLY LOST SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS SITUATION WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS TO BOTH MYSELF, PASSENGERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS. MY REMEDY WAS TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE VEHICLE REPAIR CENTER EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH POST-1997 BUICKS, IN WHICH THERE IS A TYPICALLY FAULTY TRANSMISSION. HE CITED THAT HE MAY SEE CLOSE TO 100 SIMILAR CASES PER YEAR. IN FACT, WHILE I WAS DISCUSSING MY CAR WITH HIM ANOTHER POST-1997 BUICK CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT A CHRONIC MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT EXISTS THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER WITH A PRODUCT RECALL OR WARRANTY CONCESSION FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217822

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

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.