Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Buick Lesabre submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,889.
THE DASH BOARD IS MELTING AWAY AN IT HAS LIFTED UP THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAD AN I THINK THATS A SAFEY HAZARD CAUSE IF I WAS TO GET INTO A FINDER BENDER OR A BAD CAR WRECK THE PASSENGER AIR WILL NOT COME OUT. AN I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER MAKE AN MODELS JUST LIKE MINES
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR POWER WINDOW MOTORS, THE DASH IS COMING APART AND IS RAISED BLOCKING SOME VISIBILITY AND POTENTIALLY AFFECTING THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN AN ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT BRAKING VIBRATION / PULSATION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON ALL FIVE OF MY BUICK LESABRES
FRONT / TOP OF DASHBOARD SEPARATING AND DELAMINATING FROM THE INTERIOR CABIN OF VEHICLE AND EXPENDING TO A POINT WERE THE ONE PIECE EXPOSING OPEN VOID SPACE AND SETTING OFF SENSORS ON AIR BAGS BY PINCHING AND SENDING A MESSAGE THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE SEEN NO OF SAME MODEL BUICKS WITH SIMILAR DEFECTS AND PROBLEMS FROM 2000 TO 2004 AND NEWER MODELS ON THE ROAD. WHEN REQUESTED FOR EVALUATION FROM TWO BUICK / GM DEALERS THEY HAD NO SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE OR OFFER A SOLUTION TO THE SAFETY ISSUE. REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION TO GM FOR SOLUTION AND NOTICE TO THE OWNERS OF SIMILAR CARS TO REPORT SAME OR SIM. PROBLEMS. *TR
DASHBOARD TOP IS SEPARATING AND BUCKLING IN AREA BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD. IT STARTED SLOWLY WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE WITH TIME. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. I'M WORRIED THAT AS THE DASHBOARD SEPARATION GETS WORSE, IT WILL AFFECT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND/OR VEHICLE ELECTRONICS IN THE DASHBOARD AREA LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR
THE DASH PAD ON MY 2001 BUICK LE SABRE HAS SEPARATED AND BUCKLED UP APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES IN HEIGHT AND MOSTLY IN FRONT OF MY STEERING WHEEL, HOWEVER IT IS LIFTED 3/4 OF THE WAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASH. IT IS NOW OPEN IN THE FRONT ALONG WHERE IT MEETS THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS LIFTED ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. UPON READING ON LINE, I SEE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2001 THROUGH 2005 BUICKS AND I AM JUST ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO ADD TO THE LIST. THE RISE IN THE DASH CERTAINLY EFFECTS MY VIEW WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE PLACED A THICK PAD ON TOP OF MY DRIVERS SEAT TO RAISE MY BODY. THIS ASSISTS ME, SO I AM ABLE TO PEER OVER THE RAISED DASH WHILE DRIVING. I AM GREATLY CONCERNED THAT THE SEPARATION, IS GOING TO SUDDENLY DEPLOY MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. *TR
THE DASH BOARD IS SEPERATING AT THE SEAMS ALL THE WAY TO THE AIR BAGS. IT MAY LEAD TO POSSIBLE AIR BAG DEPLOYEMENT ON PASSENGER SIDE. PLEASE FIX THIS COULD LEAD TO A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT I COMMUNTE ON A DAILY BASIS WITH MY TWO SON 6 AND 10. PLEASE DO A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE SOMEONE COULD BE SERIOUS INJURED PLEASE HELP! *TR
THE DASH BOARD IS SEPERATING AT THE SEAMS ALL THE WAY TO THE AIR BAGS. IT MAY LEAD TO POSSIBLE AIR BAG DEPLOYEMENT ON PASSENGER SIDE.
VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT END ACCIDENT WITH AN SUV AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY BUICKS AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO GOOD REASON AND CAUSED ME TO REAR END A FELLOW EMPLOYEE AT A LIGHT. I WAS DUMBFOUNDED BY THE ACCIDENT AND WAS WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE I RECALLED NO RED LIGHT OR SEEING BRAKE LIGHTS. I AM SO HAPPY THAT MY FELLOW EMPLOYEE ARE NOT DETRIMENTALLY INJURED BY THIS. THE BAG APPARENTLY SHOCKED ME AND THE DASHBOARD BLINDED ME SO I HAD NO WAY TO REACT.. I SURE HOPE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ADDRESS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT. I THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT THE TIME. I AM ALSO EXPECTING BUICK TO REPLACE MY CAR AT THE SAME VALUE ATLEAST. *TR
MY PARENTS PURCHASED A 2001 BUICK LESABRE FROM THE DEALERSHIP NEW. BOTH PARENTS (FATHER NOW DECEASED) RETIRED AND MOVED TO FLORIDA IN 2001, AND VERY RARELY DROVE THE VEHICLE. MY FATHER PASSED AWAY IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR (2012) AND MY MOTHER ASKED ME IF I WANTED THE CAR. I DROVE TO FLORIDA TO PICK UP THE CAR AND NOTICED THE DASH PANEL WAS ALL BUCKLED AND LOOKED HORRIBLE. I ASKED MY MOTHER WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THOUGHT PERHAPS IT WAS DUE TO THE SOUTH FLORIDA HEAT, BUT MY MOTHER SAID IT STARTED IN 2006 AND THEY HAD BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND WOULD COST OVER $1000 TO REPAIR. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE FOR REPLACEMENT DASH PANELS I DISCOVERED THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN FOR SOMETIME, FLORIDA HEAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND WILL CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY. *TR
THE DASH PAD UNDER THE WINDSHIELD IS STARTING TO BUCKLE AND SEPARATE FROM THE METAL CLAMPS. THIS SEPARATION IS CONTINUALLY GROWING AND MOVING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS LOCATED. WITH THIS MOVEMENT AND CHANGE I AM CONCERNED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT OR THE AIR BAG MAY INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY TO THE PASSENGER, NOT TO MENTION HOW THE DRIVER MAY REACT SHOULD THE AIRBAG DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. GENERAL MOTORS NEEDS TO FIX THIS TO INSURE NOBODY IS INJURED IF THAT HASN'T ALREADY HAPPENED. *TR
THE DASH PAD ON MY 2001 LESABRE, WHICH MY ELDERLY MOTHER PREVIOUSLY OWNED AND MAINTAINED WELL, HAS BUCKLED AND PULLED UP FROM THE DASH BOARD RIGHT ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. IT HAS PULLED OUT OF THE DEFROST PANEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND CURLS UP AND IS BECOMING AN OBSTRUCTION TO MY VIEW. I AM UNABLE TO REATTACH IT AND WORRIED THAT AS IT CONTINUES TO PULL OUT TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, IT WILL POSSIBLY ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR MULTIPLE YEARS OF THE LESABRE MODEL AND GM HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT. I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN WITH OTHER OLDER CAR MODELS AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE LESABRE FOR SOME IN THE EARLY YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR
DASH MAT SEPARATION BULGE IN FRONT OF STEERING WHEEL MOVING TOWARD PASS AIRBAG. *KB
2001 BUICK LESABRE VIN [XXX] DASH PAD HAS BEEN PEELING UPWARD TOWARD WINDSHIELD. STARTED IN FRONT OF STEERING WHEEL AND HAS MIGRATED ACROSS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. ALSO PEELING APART ON CORNERS AND ABOVE GLOVE BOX. AS THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS WORSENED, THERE IS A NOISE THAT I SUSPECT IS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE DASH LOOKS TO BE A BLAST AWAY UNIT WHEN THE AIR BAG IS DEPLOYED. IF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WERE TO DEPLOY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IT MAY OBSCURE THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LASABRE. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE AIRBAG MODULE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE CONTACT WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80000.
CAR WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND FIRST THEN FORCED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT. THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO BOTH FRONT AND REAR. THE IMPACT TO THE FRONT FAILED TO ACTIVATE EITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIRBAG ,YET CAUSED ENOUGH DAMAGE TO INDICATE A FORCE BEYOND THE ACTIVATION POINT WAS RECEIVED. *TR
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. SM
AIR BAG LIGHTS COME ON FOR WEEKS AT A TIME, THEN GO BACK OFF. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WOULD COST A LOT OF MONEY JUST TO GET IT CHECKED. *TR
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT INCIDENT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED RESETTING THE AIRBAG. THE DEALER RESET THE AIRBAG, AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT LATER ILLUMINATED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE AIRBAG WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY ,AND COULD NOT OFFER ANY EXPLANATION. NO FURTHER REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS RENDERED THE AIR BAGS INOPERATIVE. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. *AK AFTER TWO TRIES, THE DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM IN THE SYSTEM. *SC *JB
BUICK LOST THE BBB DECISION AND DID NOT PERFORM WITHIN THE 40 DAYS ALLOTTED TO REPLACE THE CAR. THE CAR HAS MULTIPLE SAFETY DEFECTS (AIR BAG, TRANSMISSION, BRAKING) THAT THE BBB SAID COULD CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. THEY WANT TO BUY BACK THE CAR AND INSPECT IT SO IT CAN BE RESOLD. *NLM
THE HORN DOESN'T SOUND FOR ME AND DEALER SAYS IT CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED BECAUSE OF AIR BAG IN STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE ARTHRITIC HANDS AND CAN NOT PUSH THE HORN HARD ENOUGH OR IN THE CORRECT SPOT TO USE IT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. DEALER SAID THEY HAVE HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 30MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOAD AND ALARM SYSTEM CAME ON. WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER HIT HORN AND CENTER PIECE POPPED UP. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *SLC
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .