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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.

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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
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55,500 miles · Feb 11, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,500.

NHTSA ODI #10563837

79,000 miles · Sep 26, 2013
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING MY RECENTLY PURCHASED 2004 BUICK LESABRE LIMITED AT 60 MPH, MY SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY WENT TO 95 MPH AND TACHOMETER WENT TO 1500 AND WILL NOT MOVE.. EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER STAYS AT 95 MPH AND 1500 RPM RESPECTIVELY. DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH CLUST…

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WHILE DRIVING MY RECENTLY PURCHASED 2004 BUICK LESABRE LIMITED AT 60 MPH, MY SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY WENT TO 95 MPH AND TACHOMETER WENT TO 1500 AND WILL NOT MOVE.. EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER STAYS AT 95 MPH AND 1500 RPM RESPECTIVELY. DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH CLUSTERS AND STEPPER MOTORS. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 80K MILES, BUT I HAVE READ WHERE THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED AT AS LITTLE AS 20K MILES. COMPLETELY UNFAIR THAT GM MAKES YOU RELY ON HEADS UP DISPLAY FOR A SPEED.. VERY UNSAFE I FEEL BECAUSE THIS DRAWS YOUR EYES FROM ROAD CONSTANTLY. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10545442

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2013
Electrical System

MY SPEEDOMETER OR RPM OR FUEL GAUGES DO NOT WORK THIS IS NOT SAFE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY WHAT CAN WE DO TO FIX THIS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10537144

86,800 miles · Jan 22, 2013
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER READING INTERMITTENTLY AT LEAST 20 MPH LOWER THAN ACTUAL VEHICLE SPEED ON HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493817

92,994 miles · Mar 30, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FUNCTIONING ERRATICALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD HAVE T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FUNCTIONING ERRATICALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 06/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN ON MAY 11, 2012. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES WERE LEAKING. UPDATED 06/06/12. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10453591

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2012
Electrical System

I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IN 2009. THE WEATHER WAS COLD, AND I ATTRIBUTED IT'S DISFUNCTION TO THE COLD. THEN THE OTHER GAUGES STARTED TO SHOW MALFUNCTION. WHEN IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT NONE OF THE GAUGES WERE CORRECT, I WENT TO TWO GM DEALERS AND RECEIVED NO CONCERN FROM EITHER O…

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I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IN 2009. THE WEATHER WAS COLD, AND I ATTRIBUTED IT'S DISFUNCTION TO THE COLD. THEN THE OTHER GAUGES STARTED TO SHOW MALFUNCTION. WHEN IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT NONE OF THE GAUGES WERE CORRECT, I WENT TO TWO GM DEALERS AND RECEIVED NO CONCERN FROM EITHER OF THEM. THEY DID NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY KNEW OF A PROBLEM. I HAD TO PAY $400 TO REPLACE THE DASH CLUSTER. ABOUT THIS TIME I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVROLET REGARDING THE RELAY RESISTOR OR WIRING CONNECTOR ON MY SILVERADO, SAYING THEY COULD OVERHEAT AND THE HVAC BLOWER MIGHT NOT FUNCTION. I WAS GIVEN 10 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST, TO HAVE THIS CORRECTED IF NECESSARY. I CALLED GM AND ASKED WHY THEY WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE TRUCK BUT WOULD NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM WITH THE BUICK. AGAIN, NO CONCERN WAS SHOWN. THE PERSON I SPOKE TO WAS IN THE PHILIPPINES! WHY WOULD SHE CARE? WE'RE ASKEDTO BUY AMERICAN, BUT WE HAVE TO TALK TO SOMEONE IN THE PHILIPPINES WHEN THERE'S A PROBLEM! ALSO, I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS, ALL OF THEM, INSIDE AND OUT. COULDN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY I'VE HAD TO CHANGE! AT THE PRESENT TIME, WE HAVE NO RADIO AND HEATER LIGHTS. GOODBYE GM, HELLO HONDA! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10444953

46,000 miles · Dec 9, 2011
Electrical System

AS WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN A BACK ROAD AT ABOUT 35MPH, I NOTICED THAT MY DASH SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 85MPH. IT SEEMED LIKE THE GAUGE WOULD GO UP, BUT WOULD NOT COME BACK DOWN. LUCKILY, I HAVE A HEADS-UP DISPLAY THAT HAS ALWAYS SHOWN THE CORRECT SPEED. LATER, MOST OF THE REST OF MY DASH GAUGES BEGAN RANDOMLY DOING THE SAME THI…

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AS WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN A BACK ROAD AT ABOUT 35MPH, I NOTICED THAT MY DASH SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 85MPH. IT SEEMED LIKE THE GAUGE WOULD GO UP, BUT WOULD NOT COME BACK DOWN. LUCKILY, I HAVE A HEADS-UP DISPLAY THAT HAS ALWAYS SHOWN THE CORRECT SPEED. LATER, MOST OF THE REST OF MY DASH GAUGES BEGAN RANDOMLY DOING THE SAME THING -- THEY'D GO UP, BUT NOT COME BACK DOWN. THE ONLY GAUGE THAT SEEMED UNAFFECTED WAS MY FUEL GAUGE -- UNTIL LAST WEEK. IT, TOO, IS DOING THE SAME THING. I'M SEEING LOTS OF WEB ADS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, WHICH MEANS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS, SINCE, IF I RUN OUT OF GAS ON A MAJOR ROAD DURING ICY WEATHER (WHICH WE HAVE MUCH OF THE YEAR HERE IN WISCONSIN), IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. IF THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, IT'S NOT A RANDOM CHANCE FAILURE -- IT'S A DEFECT IN DESIGN, MATERIALS OR "WORKMANSHIP" (WHICH INCLUDES AUTOMATED PROCESSES). PLEASE ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439213

42,000 miles · Dec 9, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE LIGHTS ON MY HEATER CONSOLE BEGAN TO GO OUT, ONE BY ONE OVER A ONE WEEK PERIOD. OBVIOUSLY ALL THESE BULBS WERE MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME TINE TO THE VERY SAME SPECS! AFTER FINDING OUT FROM Y SERVICE SHOP THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT (AT A COST OF OVER $600 JUST FOR THE PART), I FOUND SOME BULBS FROM RADIO SHA…

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THE LIGHTS ON MY HEATER CONSOLE BEGAN TO GO OUT, ONE BY ONE OVER A ONE WEEK PERIOD. OBVIOUSLY ALL THESE BULBS WERE MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME TINE TO THE VERY SAME SPECS! AFTER FINDING OUT FROM Y SERVICE SHOP THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT (AT A COST OF OVER $600 JUST FOR THE PART), I FOUND SOME BULBS FROM RADIO SHACK THAT I SOLDERED IN MYSELF (THROUGH FIXYA.COM - SO MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM). SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MORE BULBS ON OTHER SWITCHES (WINDOW CONTROLS, STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, RADIO) ALSO WENT OUT. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF YOU HAVE DRIVERS HUNTING IN THE DARK FOR CONTROLS AS THEY ARE DRIVING. TEXTING IS BAD ENOUGH, BUT FUMBLING IN THE DARK FOR YOUR OWN CAR'S CONTROLS AND TRYING TO CORRECT A BUTTON YOU PUSHED INADVERTENTLY CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439209

75,000 miles · Sep 17, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

I BOUGHT THIS CAR MAY 2010 FROM GREGORY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP IN NEW CASTLE DE. I IMMEDIATELY HAD A PROPBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER THE DAY I BOUGHT IT, TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WASNT A BIG DEAL, THIS PROBLEM WAS COVERED BY BY WARRANTY AND I WOULD JUST NEED TO PAY A $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL B…

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR MAY 2010 FROM GREGORY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP IN NEW CASTLE DE. I IMMEDIATELY HAD A PROPBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER THE DAY I BOUGHT IT, TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WASNT A BIG DEAL, THIS PROBLEM WAS COVERED BY BY WARRANTY AND I WOULD JUST NEED TO PAY A $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL BUICK DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY I BOUGHT FROM THE DEALER AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS. MY NEXT ISSUE IS THE GAS GAUGE STARTED TO MESS UP; WRONG READINGS AND GAS LEVELS LEFT ME OUT OF GAS AND VERY UPSET. I WILL BE TAKING THIS BACK TO BUICK TO SEE IF I AM AT ALL ELIGIBLE TO RECIEVE RECALL BENEFITS OR SOMETHING BECAUSE THE AMOUNT TO FIX THESE ISSUES ARE GREATER THAN I CAN AFFORD WITHIN THE YEAR AND SOME CHANGE OF OWNING THE VEH. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY I DID RESEARCH AND DO A CARFAX ON THE CAR AND IT CAME BACK WITH ACCURATE MILEAGE, ONE OWNER AND NO ACCIDENTS AND I JUMPED ON IT, ONLY TO HAVE A NICE CAR WITHOUT A WORKING SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE. I THOUGHT BUICKS WERE GOOD SOLID CARS...... *TT

NHTSA ODI #10425863

23,565 miles · Jun 22, 2011
Electrical System

MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE STARTED HAVING SPEEDOMETER TROUBLE IN JAN. 2011. IT STARTED SHOWING THE CAR GOING SLOWER THEN IT ACTUALLY IS. IT DOESN'T DO IT RIGHT AWAY BUT AFTER AWHILE ON A LONG DRIVE. IT GETS WORSE THE LONGER YOU DRIVE IT. IT CAN SHOW IT GOING UP TO 30 MPH SLOWER THEN IT IS. ALSO THE GAS GAUGE STARTED FLUCTUATING AND B…

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MY 2004 BUICK LESABRE STARTED HAVING SPEEDOMETER TROUBLE IN JAN. 2011. IT STARTED SHOWING THE CAR GOING SLOWER THEN IT ACTUALLY IS. IT DOESN'T DO IT RIGHT AWAY BUT AFTER AWHILE ON A LONG DRIVE. IT GETS WORSE THE LONGER YOU DRIVE IT. IT CAN SHOW IT GOING UP TO 30 MPH SLOWER THEN IT IS. ALSO THE GAS GAUGE STARTED FLUCTUATING AND BEING ERRATIC AND NOW ALSO THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALSO SHOWS RUNNING HOT WHEN IT IS NOT. THE CAR PRESENTLY HAS LESS THEN 25,000 MILES SINCE NEW. HOW SAFE CAN THIS BE WHEN YOU CAN'T TRUST THE SPEEDOMETER. GOING TOO FAST OR TOO SLOW? ALWAYS UNSURE, ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE GAUGES? SECOND GUESSING YOUR DRIVING DECISIONS! THE GAS GAUGE AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE GIVE A DIFFERENT READING EACH TIME YOU DRIVE IT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AS OF YET. I WILL BE STOPPING AT THE RACINE, WI. BUICK DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW TO SEE IF THEY WILL WARRANTY THE PROBLEM THIS COMING WEEK 6/22/2011. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10408436

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.