Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Buick Lesabre problems
Owners filed 167 complaints about the 2003 Buick Lesabre with NHTSA between Apr 2003 and May 2025. The most-cited component is structure (57).
Complaints
167
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure57
- Air bags21
- Power train18
- Electrical system16
- Visibility12
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Service brakes, hydraulic10
- Engine8
- Tires7
- Suspension7
- Steering5
- Vehicle speed control5
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Exterior lighting5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
12
18
5
9
14
5
2
13
17
13
6
26
9
2
2
2
4
3
1
1
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 18 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Structure
57 reports
“The contact owns a 2003 Buick LeSabre. The contact stated that their trunk failed to remain in the open position when needed. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.”
Air bags
21 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
Power train
18 reports
“The transmission doesn't shift correctly even after it's warmed up it is erratic and rough while connecting the transmission gears and jerks very hard at most times. The power steering is not working correctly and makes it difficult to drive at all with the combined issues I'm very concerned about my and my family safely”
Electrical system
16 reports1 fire
“FIRST ELECTRICAL... MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING BAD RAIN RIGHT AFTER COMING OUT THE TUNNEL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC NO ACCIDENT I KNEW ROAD ENOUGH TO PULL OVER.. GOT FIXED REPLACED WIPER MOTOR 3 TIMES AND THE WIPER SWITCH WIPERS STILL GO WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON... THEN MY DASH KEEPS GETTING DIM AND MY ABS,TRACTION ,AND BRAKE LIGHTSARE ON AND I'VE HAD THAT FIXED STILL KEEPS STAYING LIT.... I GET REGULAR OIL CHANGES AT WALMART EVERY 3000 MILES THERES FLUID LEAKING FROM VALVE COVER THAT I HAD REPLACED ...THINGS I REPLACED ON CAR SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN INSPECTED.. MY DASH WAS LIFTED WHEN I PURCHASED VEHICLE USED ALSO SAID IT WAS FINE MVA MADE THEM REINSPECT CAR N ITS STILL LIFTED I ALSO KNOW IT WONT PASS INSPECTION LIFTED”
Visibility
12 reports
“TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE REAR DRIVERS DOOR WAS CLOSED, THE GLASS WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED. THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. ADDITIONALLY, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WINDOWS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.”
Engine and engine cooling
10 reports
“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”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.