IllustrationDASH BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD IS COMING APART. LOOKED ON INTERNET AND IT SAYS BUICKS BETWEEN 2000 AND 2005 HAS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS, AIR BAG COULD COME OUT IF DASH KEEPS SPLITTING. THE DASH BOARD IS SPLITTING.
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
What owners actually said
164 reportsDASH SEPARATION BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD MAY CAUSE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE , AND IS ALSO A VISUAL OBSTRUCTION . IN BOTH INSTANCES DEATH MAY BE POSSIBLE . DEALER RESPONSE IS VERY MINIMAL AT BEST ,BUT THEIR CONCERN AS IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE IS SINCERE . *TR
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2003 BUICK LESABRE BEGAN TO SEPARATE AND PEEL AWAY FROM THE BODY AND BUCKLE OUT TOWARD THE PASSENGER SECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CANNOT BE PUSHED BACK INTO PLACE. IT WILL VERY LIKELY PROPOSE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE AIR BAGS NEED TO BE DEPLOYED OR MAY EVEN CAUSE PREMATURE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
2003 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE GASKET DEVELOPED A LEAK, WHICH ALLOWED COOLANT TO GET INTO THE OIL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT 46,333 MILES AND THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT 71,193 MILES. THE CAUSE OF …
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2003 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE GASKET DEVELOPED A LEAK, WHICH ALLOWED COOLANT TO GET INTO THE OIL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT 46,333 MILES AND THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT 71,193 MILES. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS ALLEGED TO BE AN INCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN THE GM DEX-COOL COOLANT WHICH WAS INTRODUCED IN 1995 AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET MATERIAL WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND/OR SEIZE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *JB
RE: 2003 BUICK LASABRE LIMITED. DASH BOARD HAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. IT IS ALL BUCKLED UP AND COULD POSE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG IF IT PULLS AWAY ANY FARTHER. HUNDREDS OF BUICK LASABRE OWNERS HAVE FILED THE SAME COMPLAINT AS MINE. WHAT HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE BUICK ISSUES A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT WHICH P…
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RE: 2003 BUICK LASABRE LIMITED. DASH BOARD HAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. IT IS ALL BUCKLED UP AND COULD POSE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG IF IT PULLS AWAY ANY FARTHER. HUNDREDS OF BUICK LASABRE OWNERS HAVE FILED THE SAME COMPLAINT AS MINE. WHAT HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE BUICK ISSUES A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT WHICH POSES A SAFETY HAZARD? *TR
DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRONT OF DASHBOARD AND IS CURLING UP ON DRIVER SIDE OF CAR AND HEADING FOR THE PASSENGERS SIDE AND THE AIR BAG. I AM AFRAID THAT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WILL HAPPEN WHEN IT REACHES THAT SIDE. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 BUICK LASABRE THE DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING AND RAISING UP. IT STARTS IN FRONT OF STEERING WHEEL AND GOES HALF WAY TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE CAR. IT HAS CAME APART ABOUT TWO INCHES AND IS RAISED UP ABOUT THREE INCHES ,AND GETTING WORSE. THE CAR IS NOT LEFT OUT SIDE,SO I DON'T THINK IT IS FROM THE SUN. IF THIS SE…
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I HAVE A 2003 BUICK LASABRE THE DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING AND RAISING UP. IT STARTS IN FRONT OF STEERING WHEEL AND GOES HALF WAY TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE CAR. IT HAS CAME APART ABOUT TWO INCHES AND IS RAISED UP ABOUT THREE INCHES ,AND GETTING WORSE. THE CAR IS NOT LEFT OUT SIDE,SO I DON'T THINK IT IS FROM THE SUN. IF THIS SEPARATION REACHES ON ACROSS THE DASH(AND THE WAY IT IS GOING,IT WILL) THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO THE PERSON IT HITS, OR CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS SAME MODEL BUICK, AND THAT GM WONT ADMIT THEY HAVE A DESIGN OR WORKMANSHIP PROBLEM AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THE CARS FOR REPAIR. SHAME ON YOU GM. I HAVE OWNED GM CARS SINCE 1957 AND THEY WERE GREAT CARS. PLEASE OWN UP TO THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM AND FIX IT . *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS BUCKLING TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE AIR BAG AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DAMAGE COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS BUCKLING TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE AIR BAG AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DAMAGE COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS SIMPLY THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 2/23/11 *CN UPDATED 04/28/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL PAD WAS BUCKLING UP AND PEELING BACK FROM ITS HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL PAD WAS BUCKLING UP AND PEELING BACK FROM ITS HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. UPDATED 02/07/11 *BF UPDATED 02/11/11
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.