Problems · by component
2002 Buick Lesabre structure problems
52 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Buick Lesabre cite structure, 16% of all 322 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
52
16% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH CAUSED THE PANEL TO RAISE AND OBSCURE THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 11/29/16*LJ *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE CHECKING THE WINDOW MOTOR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING INSIDE THE DOOR WAS POORLY ASSEMBLED. EVERY TIME IT RAINED, THE WINDOW REGULATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. UPDATED 7/21/15*CN UPDATED 9/23/15 *JS”
“1. DASHBOARD SEPARATING FROM WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING 3" GAP CAUSING PARTIAL OBSTRUCTION. NOW IS SEPARATING MORE AT DRIVERS' SIDE NEAR STEERING WHEEL, AND ABOUT 75% PULLED AWAY AT THIS TIME. CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY AND INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR. CANNOT FIX EASILY AND CONSIDER IT CRITICAL DEFECT AND INFERIOR WORKMANSHIP. NOT ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR OR ABLE TO SELL IT! 2. ELECTRIC WINDOWS IN BACK PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED. $$ 3. LIGHT SWITCH CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS AND RECENTLY STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION. HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY TO TURN OFF. THIS JUST HAPPENED LAST NIGHT AND WAS INCONVENIENCED GREATLY !! 4. HEADLINER FALLING DOWN AND WAS REPAIRED TWICE. NOW IS FALLING DOWN WHERE IT WAS NOT REPAIRED!”
“DASHBOARD MATERIAL APPEARS TO BE FAULTY, AND DASHBOARD IS NOW RAISED IN THE AIR ON DRIVERS SIDE (NEAR WINDSHIELD), PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTING VIEW. IF THE COMPLETE DASHBOARD COMES LOOSE AND SEPARATES, THIS MAY FULLY BLOCK VIEW RESULTING IN POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES. *TR”
“IN 2008 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND DASHBOARD POPPED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO LOOK OUT THE SIDE WINDOW AND PULL THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY I WAS DRIVING, IF I HAD NOT BEEN IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE I WOULD HAVE HAD TO STOP THE CAR IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. BUICK HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OR OFFER HELP WITH THE DASHBOARD WARPING TILL IT POPS UP AND BLINDS THE DRIVER. I AM SURE IT WOULD AFFECT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS AS WELL. THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH MANY OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND BUICK JUST LOOKS THE OTHER WAY. *TR”
“WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON NOV. 1, 2013, THE DASHBOARD PAD WAS ALREADY BUCKLING. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? THIS CAR ONLY HAS 30000 MILES ON IT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ANYONE RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT. *TR”
Showing 6 of 52 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.