2004 Buick LESABRE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
162 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
63,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 126 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 162 complaints (21.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 9.9% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 7.4% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 6.8% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 3.1% |
| 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 35 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 27 |
| Structure | 16 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Power Train | 7 |
Electrical System: 35; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 27; Structure: 16; Air Bags: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Engine: 7; Power Train: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 27 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 30 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 30; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 6
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 36 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2004: 11; 2005: 10; 2006: 3; 2007: 5; 2008: 9; 2009: 14; 2010: 12; 2011: 17; 2012: 12; 2013: 10; 2014: 17; 2015: 14; 2016: 9; 2017: 6; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10114992 · 2005-03-07 (March 7, 2005)
BUICK LESABRE 2004, PROBLEM WITH DIMMING OF THE PANEL LIGHTS. *BF THE LIGHTS WOULD DIM THEN AFTER A FEW MILES WOULD BRIGHTEN AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 352 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133884 · 2005-08-23 (August 23, 2005)
DT: THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER LIGHTS BEGAN TO SCATTER AND ILLUMINATED WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED, THE BATTERY AND AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF. WHEN CONSUMER GOT HOME SHU OFF AENGINE AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART TO SEE IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE WAS NO POWER IN THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CALLED BUICK ROADSIDE ASSSITANCE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. A TOW TRUCK WAS SENT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BUICK DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG BECAU…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133884 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067044 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN STOPPING OR BACKING UP. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS WORSE WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 2-3 TIMES AND THE LAST TIME HE WAS TOLD THAT MANUFACTURING ENGINEERS WERE INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE FELT LIKE IT WAS SKIPPING. *AK THE VIBRATION COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, SEAT'S AND FLOOR BOARDS. WHEN IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUTTER. THE REAR SEAT MIDDLE ARM REST CUP HOLDER HAD COME APART. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067565 · 2004-04-21 (April 21, 2004)
I PURCHASED A USED 2004 BUICK LESABRE WITH 18000 MILES. I CAN FEEL A VIBRATION IN MY FEET, SEAT, AND THE STEERING WHEEL AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH. THE DEALER CHECKED THE TIRES AND REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SAYING IT WAS OUT OF ROUND AND THAT ALL THE OTHER TIRES WERE IN BALANCE AND WITHIN SPEC.S. I HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR SEVERALS DAY NOW AND I CAN'T DISCERN ANY IMPROVEMENT. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT. BACK THIS MORNING AND THEY RECOMMENDED I PURCHASE A $566 SET OF NEW TIRES! I THINK THE PROBLEM IS IN THE DRIVETRAIN BUT THEY WON'T EVEN DISCUSS THAT PO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090743 · 2004-09-10 (September 10, 2004)
SEPT.3,2004 MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT A 2004 BUICK LASABRE NEW,.WITH ABOUT 90 MILES ON THE CAR AT INTERSTATE SPEED I NOTICED THE CAR HAD A SLIGHT VIBERATION AND A SLIGHT PULLING TO THE RIGHT,THE DRIVERS SEAT AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER SEAT ALSO BECAME VARY UNCOMFORTABLE,I FELT LIKE I WAS FIGHTING THE CAR THE WHOLE TRIP TO FLA.THE FUTHER WE DROVE THE WORSE ALL PROBLEMS GOT,WE GOT AS FAR AS DAYTONA BEACH,FL. WHEN THESE CONDITIONS GOT SO BAD I STOPPED THE TRIP AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASST.AFTER TALKING TO THE DEALERIN FLORIDA (NOT THE SELLING DEALER) I W…
Owner-reported narrative. 90 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135168 · 2005-09-02 (September 2, 2005)
SUDDEN AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY FAILURE OF BRAKE PEDAL ON 2004 BUICK LESABRE. PEDAL SNAPPED AND WENT TO FLOOR, NO BRAKES. OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I PUT CAR IN PARK TO STOP FORWARD MOTION AND AVOID HITTING MY SON'S CAR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 33,026 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067726 · 2004-04-23 (April 23, 2004)
CAR STALLS OUT WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE, THIS HAS HAPPENED 25-30 TIMES IN THE 5 MONTHS SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING U-TURNS OR BACKING OUT INTO TRAFFIC.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091593 · 2005-05-06 (May 6, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. WHILE ACCELERATING THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, THEN IT STALLED. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BUT THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HE WAS UNSURE IF THE ENGINE WAS NEW(AS ORDERED) OR REBUILT. *BF *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 1,194 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342199 · 2010-07-09 (July 9, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED. THE FRONT WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION CASING BROKE IN HALF. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEGAN TO SLIP PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER HAD PREVIOUSLY ADJUSTED THE COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLE; YET THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THIS THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION HAD CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 118000.
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10453591 · 2012-03-30 (March 30, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FUNCTIONING ERRATICALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 06/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN ON MAY 11, 2012. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE TRANSMISSION COO…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,994 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220895 · 2008-03-12 (March 12, 2008)
I HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK FILLER NECK AS IT CRACKED. MY CAR HAD 45,000 SOME MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. ($473) BUICK SAID IT WAS THE RESULT OF FREEZING/ THAWING TEMPERATURES IN WINTER. THEN MY ASHTRAY DOOR BROKE - IT WON'T STAY CLOSED ON IT'S OWN. BUICK WANTED $300 - 400 TO FIX THAT. I'M USING VELCRO. THEN MY ODOMETER NEEDLE STOPPED WORKING AND JUST HANGS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE EVERY LIGHT BULB IN THE CAR AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH HEATING/AIR PANEL AREA HAVE GONE OU…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10715666 · 2015-05-11 (May 11, 2015)
I'VE OWNED 5 BUICK LESABRES, AND CONTINUE TO RUN TWO OF THEM (2002 LESABRE WITH ABOUT 180,000 MILES, AND 2004 LESABRE WITH OVER 80,000 MILES VIN: [XXX] FOR THE 2004, AND [XXX] FOR THE 2002). BOTH CURRENTLY OWNED LESABRES HAVE FUEL GAUGE PROBLEMS. MY 2002 SHOWED ERRATIC INACCURATE READINGS, BUT NOW IS FLATLINED AT EMPTY, EVEN IF THE TANK HAS JUST BEEN FILLED. MY 2004 IS SHOWING THE OPPOSITE REACTION, SHOWING FULL, EVEN AFTER A FULL TRIP SHOULD BE SENDING IT TOWARD AN EMPTY READING. SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENED ON A PREVIOUS LESABRE I OWNED…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10715666 at NHTSA ↗