Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
230–25K
2025–50K
2750–75K
3075–100K
20100–150K
6150K+
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
What owners actually said
162 reports
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…
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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
Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2022
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other
Car has hard shift's that get worse when the car is up to temperature. Fuel gauge show's false reading. Two window regulators failed.
NHTSA ODI #11493411
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2022
Fuel/propulsion System
fuel vapor system leaks gas fumes into car. Replaced all fuel lines, pulled tank, renewed canister. 10 months later fumes are again entering car cabin. 105,000 total miles.
NHTSA ODI #11492448
Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2021
Power TrainSteeringWheels
Drove to the store, transmission was hard shifting and then wouldn't hardly move at all. Almost got hit three x!! Very tramatized. How is it that on just one of many web pages 400 people had this problem 140 complained about it! that's just one website! how has this problem not been fixed and recalled?
NHTSA ODI #11437729
116,500 miles · Jun 30, 2021
Service Brakes, Air
The contact owns a 2004 Buick LeSabre. The contact stated while driving 35 mph and depressing on the brake pedal, the brake pedal went straight to the floor and the vehicle gradually decreased in speed to a stop. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact continued driving to his residence. The vehicle was taken…
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The contact owns a 2004 Buick LeSabre. The contact stated while driving 35 mph and depressing on the brake pedal, the brake pedal went straight to the floor and the vehicle gradually decreased in speed to a stop. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact continued driving to his residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the brake lines were leaking brake fluid. The independent mechanic repaired the vehicle however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same independent mechanic and three additional brake lines were replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the contact was concerned that after inspecting the vehicle himself, he became aware that one of the brake lines was rusted which might cause the failure to recur. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage approximately was 116,500.
NHTSA ODI #11422945
Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2021
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE POWER TRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE POWER TRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11397606
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2020
Exterior LightingPower TrainSeat Belts
I CONTINUE SMELLING AN OIL-BURNING SMELL AND MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL CONTINUE TO GO OUT AND I HAVE REPLACED TO BLUB OVER AND OVER
NHTSA ODI #11319438
99,990 miles · Sep 8, 2019
Unknown Or Other
WHEN FIRST STARTING UP CAR AND THEN PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL, EITHER IN REVERSE OR FORWARD, THERE IS A SURGE, LIKE THE CABLE IS STICKING. NOT SURE WHY, MAYBE DUE FROM AGE OF CAR OR AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL ISSUE. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED ABOUT 85% OF ITS LIFE.
NHTSA ODI #11253977
140,000 miles · Feb 10, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control
THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY ACCELERATES AS HIGH AS 50-60MPH WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR HAS TO BE THROWN IN NEUTRAL OR STOPPED SOME PLACE SAFE, AT WHICH POINT IT REVS UP PAST 3000 RPM UNTIL THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED TO THROTTLE IT BACK DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS IN REVERSE WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AS WELL, WHICH …
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THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY ACCELERATES AS HIGH AS 50-60MPH WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR HAS TO BE THROWN IN NEUTRAL OR STOPPED SOME PLACE SAFE, AT WHICH POINT IT REVS UP PAST 3000 RPM UNTIL THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED TO THROTTLE IT BACK DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS IN REVERSE WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AS WELL, WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO DO THIS UPON STARTING OR WHILE IT IS WARMING UP. IT CAN BE ON ANY STREET OR HIGHWAY AND AT ANY SPEED WHEN IT STARTS REVVING HIGH. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, BUT CLUSTERS SOMETIMES SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW AS CONSTANT AND THEN GOING A MONTH WITHOUT DOING IT AT ALL. IT DOES SEEM TO BE MORE LIKELY TO ACCELERATE AFTER HITTING A DIP (LIKE NEAR WHERE A DRAIN IS IN A PARKING LOT) BUT THAT MAY BE JUST COINCIDENTAL. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH A TUNE UP DONE AND THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED ALONG WITH SOME OTHER TROUBLE-SHOOTING WITH THE THROTTLE AT A COST (THUS FAR) OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. THE VEHICLE IS DOING THIS SO FREQUENTLY IN THE LAST FEW DAYS THAT IS HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA ODI #11176068
200,000 miles · Dec 2, 2018
Engine
THE ENGINE STALLS AND JERKED WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND TRYING TO GO THE GEARS DIDN'T SHIFT LIKE USUAL. DRIVING LONG DISTANCES IT DOESN'T DO THIS UNTIL YOU'RE DRIVING AND STOPPING EVERY SO OFTEN. SOMETIMES TURNING INTO A PLACE THE ENGINE WOULDN'T GO AND ALMOST CAUSED CRASHES.
NHTSA ODI #11155414
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.
2004 Buick Lesabre Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year