2002 Buick LESABRE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
310 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 220 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls is the most frequently named component, appearing in 82 of 310 complaints (26.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 25 | 8.1% |
| Braking behavior | 20 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 3.5% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 3.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 82 |
| Structure | 33 |
| Air Bags | 26 |
| Visibility | 21 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 10 |
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 82; Structure: 33; Air Bags: 26; Visibility: 21; Engine: 16; Electrical System: 11; Unknown Or Other: 11; Structure:Body: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 41 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 48 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 46 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 36 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 31 |
| 150,000 and above | 18 |
Under 25,000: 41; 25,000 to 49,999: 48; 50,000 to 74,999: 46; 75,000 to 99,999: 36; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 18
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (48). 90 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 37 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 36 |
| 2007 | 28 |
| 2008 | 30 |
| 2009 | 17 |
| 2010 | 25 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 19 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 13; 2003: 37; 2004: 12; 2005: 13; 2006: 36; 2007: 28; 2008: 30; 2009: 17; 2010: 25; 2011: 17; 2012: 19; 2013: 6; 2014: 13; 2015: 16; 2016: 10; 2017: 4; 2018: 5; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10037960 · 2003-10-10 (October 10, 2003)
FRONT END VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE HAD BEEN BALANCED/ WHEEL BEARINGS HAD BEEN REPLACED, AND A STEERING DAMPENER WAS INSTALLED. NONE OF THESE REPAIRS REMEDIED THE PROBLEM; CAUSE NOT DETERMINED. TSB# 000310007A DID NOT REFERENCE THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE AREA REPRESENTATIVE CONCLUDED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION. HE ALSO STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TS *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 1,825 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041222 · 2003-10-04 (October 4, 2003)
I HAVE A PROBLEM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF I COULD GET ANY ASSISTANCE OR ADVICE AS WHO I MIGHT CONTACT TO HELP SEE IF I CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I PURCHASED TWO TIRES FROM BIG O TIRES-OCEANSIDE, 499 COLLEGE BLVD, OCEANSIDE, CA 92057 -[phone removed]. I WAS TOLD THAT THESE WERE VERY GOOD TIRES WITH LOW NOISE. ? 50,000 MILE RATED TIRE. I HAD THEM INSTALLED THESE TWO NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT OF MY CAR, WHICH REPLACED THE ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES. I DRIVE 500-1000 MILES PER WEEK. AFTER MY FIRST WEEK THE NOISE WAS LIKE HAVING A MOTORCYCLE IN MY CAR …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041222 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005966 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT DOES NOT FIT SECURELY AROUND LAP OR SHOULDER. THE BELT ALSO DOES NOT LOCK. IF BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED ABRUPTLY DOES NOT TIGHTEN. THE BELT WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED IN 09/02, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS WITH NEW BELT. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 11,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009711 · 2003-03-14 (March 14, 2003)
A THIN COAT OF ICE COVERED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WHICH CAUSED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE BRAKES TO FAIL. *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001762 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
CONSUMER HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS. ALSO, EVERY TIME CONSUMER TURNS OFF VEHICLE AT NIGHT TIME ,HE COMES BACK NEXT MORNING , AND HAS NO BATTERY. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED, AND WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. TS......*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003904 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE "HILLS" RESULTING IN CONSUMER BEING STRANDED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING INTERMITTENTLY FOR OVER A YEAR DUE TO BATTERY GROUND CABLE BEING LOOSELY ATTACHED TO VEHICLE'S FRAME. AS A RESULT, CABLE WOULD COME UNATTACHED, CAUSING CAR TO STALL. BATTERY WAS INSTALLED UNDER VEHICLE'S REAR SEAT. TS.....*AK THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003904 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001578 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TURNING A CORNER, THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP.SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001578 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018496 · 2003-05-10 (May 10, 2003)
I HAVE A 2002 BUICK LASABRE, WITH 49000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE BAD ON IT, THE TIE RODS ARE WORE OUT AND NOW, THE ROTORS HAVE RUSTED AND ARE FALLING APART. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022838 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN SHIFTING DOWN TO A LOW SPEED VEHICLE MADE CLUNKY NOISE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED TRANSMISSION FOUR TIMES, AND STILL PROBLEM RECURRING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025760 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)
ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. WOULD NOT RESTART. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP (SHORT) AND REPLACED. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED 1 WEEK LATER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025760 at NHTSA ↗