U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Buick LESABRE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

164 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

50,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 119 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 164 complaints (23.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	26	15.9%
Braking behavior	16	9.8%
Transmission and shifting	12	7.3%
Electrical and battery issues	5	3.0%
Engine operation	4	2.4%
Fuel system concerns	2	1.2%

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.

Structure

Air Bags

Structure:Body

Electrical System

Unknown Or Other

Power Train

Engine

Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls

Structure: 39; Air Bags: 17; Structure:Body: 15; Electrical System: 11; Unknown Or Other: 11; Power Train: 10; Engine: 8; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 7

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 6

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 45 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.

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2003: 12; 2004: 18; 2005: 4; 2006: 9; 2007: 12; 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

Pattern summary

Structure leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 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 10041329 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)

SHAKES & VIBRATIONS IN STEERING WHEEL & FLOOR OF VEHICLE, DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO BALANCE TIRES WITHOUT MUCH SUCCESS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041329 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050451 · 2003-12-12 (December 12, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING. DEALER REPLACED THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL AND TIRE, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050451 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10026196 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)

WHILE THE DRIVER EITHER ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD ALMOST TOUCH THE FLOOR. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK *PH *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 1,902 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026196 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10059499 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)

THE DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, STOPPED, TOOK HIS FOOT OFF OF THE PEDAL AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY SWUNG FREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED BRAKE PEDAL BECOME DISCONNECTED. THE CLIP, SPACER, AND RETAINER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059499 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10100026 · 2004-11-16 (November 16, 2004)

VIBRATION, WHICH BECOME GREATER WITH SPEED, IS FELT ON THE FLOOR, FRONT SEAT & STEERING WHEEL: VIBRATION BECOMES WORSE ON A CURVE. THE PROBLEM IS GREATEST ON AN EXTREMELY SMOOTH RUBBERIZED BLACK TOPPED ROAD.ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED, ROTATED & REPLACED: DRIVE TRAIN REALINED: TRANSMISSION DAMPER KIT INSTALLED. PROBLEM CONTINUES.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 7,918 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100026 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10175554 · 2006-12-08 (December 8, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS NOTICED AROUND THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE FUEL LINE ON THE ENGINE RUBBED TOGETHER WITH THE TRANSMISSION CABLE CAUSING A HOLE IN ONE OF THE HOSES, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION CABLE RUBBED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE , WHICH CAUSED GAS TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175554 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10344570 · 2010-07-21 (July 21, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO FUNCTION . THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 030525008, DATED OCTOBER 2003, FOR THE ABS JUMPER HARNESS (PART # 103141677). THE SERVICE BULLETIN STATED THAT BOTH WIRING JUMPER HARNESS' SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES …

Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10344570 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10632878 · 2014-09-12 (September 12, 2014)

2003 BUICK LE SABRE. DASHBOARD IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL. ELECTRONIC PARTS ARE EXPOSED. AS A RESULT, AIRBAG AND OTHER SAFETY SENSORS AND WIRING IS EXPOSED. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE DASH IS PULLING AWAY TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE AIRBAG IS HOUSED. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF ISSUES ON THE INTERNET. THE DASH HAS PULLED AWAY OVER 2" IN THE CENTER. IT IS DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AND IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYS, IT WILL CREATE AN ACCIDENT. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD BE HAPPY WITH A FIX, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A REPLAC…

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10632878 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10072799 · 2004-05-18 (May 18, 2004)

(1) BAD CV JOINT/HALF SHAVES UPON DELIVERY OF VEHICLE (2) FAILURE WILL CAUSE LOSS OF POWER AND FRONT WHEEL LOCKUP WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. 3) NOTHING WAS DONE. G M REP. STATED VEHICLE IS WITHIN CORPORATE SPECIFICATIONS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072799 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10362698 · 2010-10-27 (October 27, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING AT LEAST 60 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT NO FAILURE CODES WOULD GENERATE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE IGNITION KEY BUT IT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS THAT THE VEHICLE STALLING IN TRAFFIC COULD CAUSE A MAJOR CRASH AND DID NOT FEEL SAFE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362698 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10551380 · 2013-11-07 (November 7, 2013)

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH A FAULTY WITH THE GAS CAP. THE ALERT I RECEIVE ON THE CAR STATES THAT THE GAS CAP IS LOOSE, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE THOROUGHLY CHECKED OUT BY MY MECHANIC AND HE IS STUMPED AS TO HOW TO FIX THIS. WE HAVE REPLACED THE GAS CAP SEVERAL TIMES, HE HAS PERFORMED NUMEROUS CHECKS TO SEE IF THERE IS A LEAK IN THE GAS TANK OR FUEL LINES, ALL TO NO AVAIL. HE CANNOT DETECT A LEAK. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNFIXED AND WITH T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10551380 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10641358 · 2014-10-04 (October 4, 2014)

WHEN THE LESABRE WAS RELIABLE; IT WAS RELIABLE. HOWEVER, WHEN ISSUES STARTED TO OCCUR, THEY WERE MASSIVE. AT APPROX 90K MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT WITH NO WARMING AND WAS INSTANTLY. AFTER THAT THE CAR STILL HAD ISSUES WITH THE DRIVE, TRANSMISSION AND GEARS. THE FUEL PUMP AND INTAKE MANIFOLDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. AS OF 2014 I CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT CURRENTLY RUNS VERY HARD AND WHEN IDLE AND IN TRAFFIC (VERY SCARY) WILL RANDOMLY CUT OFF WITH ZERO WARNING OR EVEN BEGIN TO SMOKE. THERE IS THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF OIL AND ANTIFR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10641358 at NHTSA ↗