← 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

What owners actually said

164 reports
63,000 miles · Oct 10, 2012
Structure

DASHBOARD SEPARATION IN FRONT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT IS NOW SEPARATING TOWARD THE PASSENGER CABIN, IT IS MY CONCERN THAT THIS WILL CAUSE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TO DEPLOY WHILE IN MOTION, THIS STARTED AROUND JULY OF 2011 AND I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER BUICK OWNERS WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT DOWN TO THE MINUTE D…

Read full complaint

DASHBOARD SEPARATION IN FRONT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT IS NOW SEPARATING TOWARD THE PASSENGER CABIN, IT IS MY CONCERN THAT THIS WILL CAUSE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TO DEPLOY WHILE IN MOTION, THIS STARTED AROUND JULY OF 2011 AND I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER BUICK OWNERS WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT DOWN TO THE MINUTE DETAIL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479591

120,000 miles · Sep 22, 2012
Structure

THE DASH PAD HAS BUCKLED BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD. POSSIBLE AIR BAG PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476748

60,000 miles · Sep 21, 2012
Structure

DASH PAD CURLING WAY UP WHERE DASH MEETS WINDOW. FROM DRIVERS SIDE TO PASSENGER SIDE. I SEE FROM DIFFERENT WEB SITES THAT THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR FLAW FOR GM. IMPEDES VISION TO SEE TRAFFIC AHEAD. GM NOR DEALERS WILL ADDRESS THE PROBLEM FOR A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476711

105,000 miles · Sep 9, 2012
Structure

..THE DASH PAD ON MY 2003 BUICK LESABRE IS SEPARATING FROM THE DASH, SO FAR IS HALFWAY ACROSS TO PASSENGER SIDE...AFRAID THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY IF IT GOES MUCH FURTHER..THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE AUTOMOBILE, STILL RUNS GOOD AT 108M MILES..UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT THROUGHOUT BUICK LESABRES...WHY IS GM AND BUIC…

Read full complaint

..THE DASH PAD ON MY 2003 BUICK LESABRE IS SEPARATING FROM THE DASH, SO FAR IS HALFWAY ACROSS TO PASSENGER SIDE...AFRAID THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY IF IT GOES MUCH FURTHER..THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE AUTOMOBILE, STILL RUNS GOOD AT 108M MILES..UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT THROUGHOUT BUICK LESABRES...WHY IS GM AND BUICK NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS PROBLEM AS DEFECT AND RECALLING THESE VEHICLES..AS GOOD AS THESE CARS ARE, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM OR BUICK AUTOMOBILE!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474377

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2012
Structure

THE DASH COVER IS SEPARATING AHEAD OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DASH IS RAISING UP STARTING TO CAUSE VISIBILITY ISSUES. VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY GO ACROSS THE DASH INTO THE AIRBAG AREA AND CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471632

46,573 miles · Jul 22, 2012
Air BagsStructure

DASHBOARD HAS WARPED AND SEPARATED FROM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. ACCORDING TO EXPERIENCED AUTO MECHANIC FRIENDS OF MINE, DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL MOST LIKELY BE COMPROMISED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE BUICKS! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? CHECK THIS WEB…

Read full complaint

DASHBOARD HAS WARPED AND SEPARATED FROM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. ACCORDING TO EXPERIENCED AUTO MECHANIC FRIENDS OF MINE, DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL MOST LIKELY BE COMPROMISED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE BUICKS! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? CHECK THIS WEBSITE AND YOU'LL SEE HOW PROLIFIC A PROBLEM THIS IS! HTTP://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-C5295_DS45613 NOT TO MENTION THE MONEY LOST BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO SELL THESE LEMONS. 2000-2005 BUICK OWNERS ARE IN DANGER. AND YOU'VE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT! IF THIS WAS TOYOTA, YOU WOULD HAVE RECALLED EVERY CAR THEY MAKE AND FINED THEM ANOTHER 50 MILLION DOLLARS. STOP THE HYPOCRISY. INTELLIGENT AMERICANS SEE THROUGH THIS SELECTIVE PUNISHMENT. DO YOUR JOB! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466927

80,000 miles · Jul 6, 2012
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEAKED ON OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEAKED ON OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 09/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL LEAKED FROM THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD OVER THE ENGINE. THE ENTIRE LINE FROM THE INJECTION ENTRY TO THE FIREWALL WAS REPLACED WITH HIGH PRESSURE RUBBER FUEL HOSES. UPDATED 09/05/12

NHTSA ODI #10464468

46,000 miles · Mar 21, 2012
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD COVER WAS DELAMINATING FROM THE FRONT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD COVER WAS DELAMINATING FROM THE FRONT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI #10452486

35,000 miles · Mar 19, 2012
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD BECOME FRACTURED AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG NOT TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD BECOME FRACTURED AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG NOT TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10452297

81,000 miles · Feb 23, 2012
Structure

THE DASHBOARD HAS SEPARATED FROM THE BASE AT THE WINDSHIELD IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND HAS POPPED UP. IT WAS ABOUT AN INCH LONG AND UP IN DECEMBER BUT HAS PROGRESSED TO NOW HALF-WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD AND IS STICKING UP ABOUT 4 INCHES. I HAVE READ OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM HAVING A CONCERN ABOUT IT CREATING A PROBLEM…

Read full complaint

THE DASHBOARD HAS SEPARATED FROM THE BASE AT THE WINDSHIELD IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND HAS POPPED UP. IT WAS ABOUT AN INCH LONG AND UP IN DECEMBER BUT HAS PROGRESSED TO NOW HALF-WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD AND IS STICKING UP ABOUT 4 INCHES. I HAVE READ OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM HAVING A CONCERN ABOUT IT CREATING A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS. THE EXPENSE OF REPAIR HAS BEEN QUOTED AT ABOUT $1,200 PARTS AND LABOR. THAT IS TOO EXPENSIVE. WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS. POSSIBLY TRADE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10449122

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.