← New search

2004 Buick Lesabre

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Lesabre years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Buick Lesabre are substantially higher than the model-year median of 24.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

126 reports with mileage · 36 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports5 fire reports8 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

66 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2024
Electrical System

The backup camera will stay in 'night' brightness mode for 15 seconds while backing out of the garage into daylight. This makes the video screen usless until the 15 second delay is over. I have asked several times at the dealership since I purchased this vehicle new, and they say nothing can be done. Not only is this a huge s…

Read full complaint

The backup camera will stay in 'night' brightness mode for 15 seconds while backing out of the garage into daylight. This makes the video screen usless until the 15 second delay is over. I have asked several times at the dealership since I purchased this vehicle new, and they say nothing can be done. Not only is this a huge safety issue but it also is an enviromental issue as may times I must wait in the driveway with the car needlessly idling until the 15 seconds is up. This is seems to be a simple software update to remove the delay when the car is in reverse.

NHTSA ODI #11594152

15 miles · Jul 19, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TAKATA RECALL WIRE HARNESS AND BACK SEAT BELT NOT WORKING ,LOCKING IN MOTION

NHTSA ODI #11112305

98,000 miles · Jul 3, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD FRACTURED ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRACTURE HAD SPREAD TO THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRACTURE COULD IMPEDE VISIBILITY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACT…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD FRACTURED ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRACTURE HAD SPREAD TO THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRACTURE COULD IMPEDE VISIBILITY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #11002852

70,000 miles · Mar 21, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM THE SUB STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH EXPOSED THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE DASHBOARD WOULD MOVE BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS COULD INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY CAUSING AN I…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM THE SUB STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH EXPOSED THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE DASHBOARD WOULD MOVE BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS COULD INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY CAUSING AN INJURY OR DEATH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THAT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10967438

62,000 miles · Mar 19, 2017
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

THE GAUGES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STOP WORKING. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS STOPPED WORKING I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE AND NOT KNOW HOW FAST I AM DRIVING. THE GAS GAUGE HAS STOP WORKING I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN MY CAR I HAVE TO FILL THE TANK AND CHECK IT EVERY TWO WEEKS SO I WILL NOT RUN OUT OF GAS.

NHTSA ODI #10967038

98,139 miles · Dec 21, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

J & K MITCHELL CASEY, IL.62420 PURCHASED ON 4/11/2014, 98,104 MILEAGE. HEADLAMPS GO OFF AT NITE DRIVING, VERY UNNERVING, FUEL GAGE, HAYWIRE FROM THE START, WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE WOULD ACCELERATE WHEN TURNING RIGHT. SWAYING/SUSPENSION, WHEN TURNING, DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, REPORTED THIS MANY TIMES AND TAKEN INTO DEALER..HOWEVER, N…

Read full complaint

J & K MITCHELL CASEY, IL.62420 PURCHASED ON 4/11/2014, 98,104 MILEAGE. HEADLAMPS GO OFF AT NITE DRIVING, VERY UNNERVING, FUEL GAGE, HAYWIRE FROM THE START, WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE WOULD ACCELERATE WHEN TURNING RIGHT. SWAYING/SUSPENSION, WHEN TURNING, DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, REPORTED THIS MANY TIMES AND TAKEN INTO DEALER..HOWEVER, NEVER TAKEN CARE OF. ONLY THING FIXED WAS SOLENOID. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10936638

67,000 miles · Dec 6, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #10930123

75,000 miles · Sep 16, 2015
Electrical SystemSeats

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK DURING MY 20 MINUTE COMMUTE DURING THE WINTER, I HAD THE SEAT HEATER ON IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. IT FELT UNUSUALLY WARM BUT I WAS EXTREMELY COLD AND LEFT IT ON. AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR MY HUSBAND ASKED "WHAT'S THAT SMELL"? HE LOOKED AT THE SEAT AND THERE WAS A QUARTER SIZE SINGE HOLE WHERE THE HEA…

Read full complaint

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK DURING MY 20 MINUTE COMMUTE DURING THE WINTER, I HAD THE SEAT HEATER ON IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. IT FELT UNUSUALLY WARM BUT I WAS EXTREMELY COLD AND LEFT IT ON. AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR MY HUSBAND ASKED "WHAT'S THAT SMELL"? HE LOOKED AT THE SEAT AND THERE WAS A QUARTER SIZE SINGE HOLE WHERE THE HEATER COIL BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER, HE THEN TURNED ME AROUND AND LOOKED AT THE BACK OF MY WOOL COAT- THERE WAS A CORRESPONDING HOLE IN THE NEW WOOL COAT THAT I HAD JUST BOUGHT. I AM ASKING FOR THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE COAT- $180.

NHTSA ODI #10764673

155,000 miles · Jul 2, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AT ALL POSITIONS. WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACCESSORY POSITION, IT CAUSED THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AT ALL POSITIONS. WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACCESSORY POSITION, IT CAUSED THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ODI #10731764

95,718 miles · Jun 16, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineFuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATED FROM EMPTY TO FULL, BUT NEVER FULLY DISPLAYED THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATED FROM EMPTY TO FULL, BUT NEVER FULLY DISPLAYED THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,718. UPDATED 8/10/15*CN THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED TWICE. UPDATED 10/29/15.*JB UPDATED 03/29/16.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD ALWAYS INDICATE IT WAS FULL. HOWEVER, THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. UPDATED 05/17/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10725611

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.