Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Buick Lesabre submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 118 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 118, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITH THE HEATING SYSTEM ACTIVATED, COLD AIR EMITTED FROM THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE CHECKING THE WINDOW MOTOR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING INSIDE THE DOOR WAS POORLY ASSEMBLED. EVERY TIME IT RAINED, THE WINDOW REGULATORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. UPDATED 7/21/15*CN UPDATED 9/23/15 *JS
1. DASHBOARD SEPARATING FROM WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING 3" GAP CAUSING PARTIAL OBSTRUCTION. NOW IS SEPARATING MORE AT DRIVERS' SIDE NEAR STEERING WHEEL, AND ABOUT 75% PULLED AWAY AT THIS TIME. CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY AND INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR. CANNOT FIX EASILY AND CONSIDER IT CRITICAL DEFECT AND INFERIOR WORKMANSHIP. NOT ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR OR ABLE TO SELL IT! 2. ELECTRIC WINDOWS IN BACK PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED. $$ 3. LIGHT SWITCH CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS AND RECENTLY STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION. HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY TO TURN OFF. THIS JUST HAPPENED LAST NIGHT AND WAS INCONVENIENCED GREATLY !! 4. HEADLINER FALLING DOWN AND WAS REPAIRED TWICE. NOW IS FALLING DOWN WHERE IT WAS NOT REPAIRED!
WINDOW MOTORS ON ALL WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. IF A CRASH HAD OCCURRED I WOULD BE UNABLE TO OPEN WINDOW TO ESCAPE IF UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR. TALKED TO BUICK AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOW MOTORS, I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH OTHER BUICK LESABRE OWNERS (AT LEAST 100) AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE WINDOW MOTORS FAILING AND NEEDING REPLACEMENT MULTIPLE TIMES WITH A FEW OWNERS STATING BEING UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AFTER A CRASH BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT OPEN THE VEHICLE WINDOWS. AGAIN BUICK HAS NOT OFFERED ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER NOR HAVE THEY EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *TR
THIS I HAVE FOUND OUT ONLINE IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR I HAD A FEW WINDOWS SUDDENLY DROP ON ME & I FIGURED OUT THE WINDOW MOTORS IN 2 WERE BROKEN, HOWEVER WHEN THEY DROPPED I ALSO FOUND OUT ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN MY DOOR WERE DAMAGED FROM THE WINDOW MOTOR FAILURE, SO NOW ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR I HAVE NO MIRROR ADJUSTMENT, NO UNLOCK/LOCK BUTTON FOR SAFETY IN DANGEROUS AREAS I DRIVE, SOME WINDOWS (HAD ALL 4 MOTORS REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME) WORK & SOME DON'T FROM CERTAIN AREAS, I EVEN FOUND AFTER I USED MY RIGHT REAR WINDOW MOTOR, THE TRUNK POPPED OPEN! SO TO FIX THE PROBLEM I PERSONALLY HAD TO DISCONNECT THE NEW WINDOW MOTOR AS WELL AS THE TRUNK. ALSO FOR COMFORT IN HEAT MY HEATED SEAT DOESN'T WORK FROM MY DRIVER DOOR. MY CAR RUNS PERFECT BUT THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR OWNERS LONG AGO FOR 2000-2005 BUICK LESABRES. *TR
2002 BUICK LESABRE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE HAD DEFECTIVE DRUMS, THAT MELTED AND SEVERED THE FRONT BRAKE WIRING, EXACTLY AT THE POINT WHEN THE BRAKE SYSTEM WIRES TRAVELED FROM THE ENGINE AND ENTERED THE BRAKE DRUMS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE HAD POOR GAS MILEAGE, THE THREE OUT OF THE FOUR WINDOWS COLLAPSED IN THE DOWN POSITION, AND WOULD NOT COME BACK UP. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ENGINE AND THE HOOD WERE DEFECTIVE, AS THE PAINT ON THE HOOD MELTED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DROPPED INTO THE DOOR PANEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDOWS WOULD FALL INTO THE DOOR PANEL SUDDENLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR HAD FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.
THIS IS REGARDING RECENT REPLACEMENT OF BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATORS. RESEARCH HAS PROVEN THAT MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED OVER THE YEARS WITH NO RECALL. I WOULD HOPE FOR FINANCIAL HELP, $1000 TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS, AS THE MINIMUM RESPONSE; AND ALSO, I HOPE FOR A RECALL TO HELP THE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE SUFFERED GREAT FINANCIAL COSTS AND SAFETY. I HAVE BEEN DIRECTED BY MY FATHER, [XXX], ORIGINAL AND PRESENT OWNER OF THIS 2002 BUICK, TO HELP HIM BE A RESPONSIBLE CONSUMER/CUSTOMER. MY FATHER OF 88 YEARS STILL BELIEVES IN AMERICAN MADE CARS, ESPECIALLY IN GM. HE HAS BEEN WATCHING, LIKE MANY AMERICANS, FOR A "COME BACK" IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY THE CORRECTION OF PROBLEMS THAT CLEARLY HAS A LARGE DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLAINTS AS THIS ONE. I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HONOR HIS FAITHFULNESS IN PERHAPS A SMALL FINANCIAL WAY, AND PERHAPS EVEN IN A GREATER WAY THROUGH A RECALL. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE DASHBOARD ON THE VEHICLE STARTED BUCKLING AT LEAST 5 YEARS AGO. THE BUCKLING IS SEVERE AND EXTENDS ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASH. THE WINDOWS HAVE ALSO BROKEN. I HAVE HAD THREE OF THEM REPAIRED AND ONE IS STILL BROKEN.*JB
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A FEW DAYS BEFORE DECEMBER 3, 2011, AND I HEARD A LOUD "POP" SOUND FROM THE BACK SEAT OF MY CAR. ON THE 3RD, I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND STARTED HEARING THE SOUND OF AN OPEN WINDOW IN THE BACK SEAT. I TRIED TO CLOSE THE BACK-RIGHT WINDOW WITH THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR, BUT IT DIDN'T MOVE THE WINDOW (I HEARD THE MOTOR RUNNING, THOUGH). I THEN PARKED THE CAR AND GOT OUT TO TRY TO PULL/PUSH THE WINDOW SHUT, BUT IT WOULD NOT STAY ALL THE WAY UP. IT HAD STARTED WITH JUST AN INCH OR SO BEING OPEN, BUT EVENTUALLY IT SLID DOWN SO IT WAS ONLY ABOUT HALFWAY UP. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE ( HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/BUICK/LESABRE/2002/WINDOWS_WINDSHIELD/WINDOW_REGULATOR_BROKE.SHTML ), THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR, BUT BUICK IS SAYING THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE TO DECLARE A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE WINDOW REGULATOR. I DISAGREE. FROM WHAT I'VE READ, REPAIRING A SINGLE WINDOW WITH THIS PROBLEM CAN COST UP TO $300 PLUS LABOR, AND USUALLY WHEN ONE WINDOW GOES BAD, THE OTHERS ARE SOON TO FOLLOW. I DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE PAYING $1200 FOR WINDOWS IN A CAR I ONLY PAID $5000 FOR USED... *TR
AT APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES, MY 2002 BUICK LESABRE'S REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER WHILE A CHILD WAS IN THE BACK SEAT. IT JUST FELL DOWN, AND BARELY MISSED HARMING THE CHILD. THREE DAYS LATER, I REPLACED THE PART. FOUR DAYS AFTER THAT, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DID THE EXACT SAME THING. I REPLACED THE PART. TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT, BOTH THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATORS WENT OUT. THOSE PARTS WERE REPLACED. FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT AGAIN. WITHIN TWO WEEKS, ALL FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS HAD GONE OUT FOR A SECOND TIME. THEY WERE ALL REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME. SIX MONTHS LATER, AND NOW THREE OF THE FOUR ARE OUT AGAIN. (ONLY THE DRIVER'S WINDOW REMAINS WORKING AT THIS POINT.) I HAVE SPENT OVER $1,500 IN JUST OVER A YEAR, GETTING PARTS REPLACED FOR THE WINDOWS AND STILL THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I HAVE SPENT $98.50 ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF TAPE TO TRY TO FIND ONE THAT WILL HOLD THE WINDOWS UP, SO THEY DO NOT BREAK WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD NO LUCK FINDING ONE THAT HOLDS FOR MORE THAN A DAY OR TWO. THIS IS AN EXTREME DANGER TO EVERYONE IN MY CAR, ALONG WITH OTHERS ON THE ROAD, BECAUSE I HAVE TO USE SO MUCH TAPE TO HOLD THEM UP THAT I CANNOT SEE MY MIRRORS PROPERLY. I HAVE TO TRAVEL WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN MY CAR WITH CHILD SAFETY SEATS, BUT I CANNOT TRUST THE WINDOWS TO STAY UP AND AM TIRED OF CONSTANTLY BEING SCARED THAT ONE WILL COME DOWN AND BREAK NEAR THE CHILDREN, BUT HAVE ALREADY SPENT SO MUCH TRYING TO FIX IT THAT I CANNOT POSSIBLY SINK ANY MORE MONEY INTO 'FIXING' SOMETHING THAT IS NOW APPARENT WILL NEVER BE 'FIXED'. *TR
THE REAR WINDOW DRIVERS SIDE JUST FELL DOWN, WON'T GO BACK UP. HAVE BEEN TOLD THUS IS COMMON AND IS FROM GM BAD PARTS FOR WINDOW REGULATORS. *TR
DASH PAD COMING LOOSE, BOWING UP IN FRONT OF DRIVER, BECOMING DETACHED IN CRUCIAL AREA AT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. TO REPAIR WILL COST AROUND $950 PARTS AND LABOR. ALSO WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN WINDOWS THAT ARE USED THE LEAST. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW ABRUPTLY RELEASED IN A DOWNWARD POSITION WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. RECENTLY, THE REAR DRIVER WINDOW EXHIBITED THE SIMILAR FAILURE AS THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATED 02/23/11 *BF UPDATED 02/28/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS HAVE FALLEN INTO THE DOOR AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WINDOW REGULATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND HAD CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE LAST REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW MOTORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO REMAIN STUCK. THE DEALER MADE FOUR ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.
2002 BUICK LESABRE - POWERED REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE 2X. *TR
BOTH FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS FAILED TO GO UP AFTER PUT IN THE DOWN POSITION. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH WIDOW REGULATOR'S AT A COST OF 450.00. ONLY 60,732 MILES ON THE CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR PANEL AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY NINE MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE WINDOW WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
WINDOW FALLS INTO THE DOOR WITHOUT INPUT FROM DRIVER OR PASSENGER. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BUICK LESABRE CARS AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY GM AS A DESIGN DEFECT. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 YEAR BUICK LESABRE WHERE THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS WOULD NOT RAISE UP OR DOWN FULLY. I HAD TO MANUALLY RAISED EACH WINDOW NY HAND TO CLOSE IT IF ACCIDENTALLY LOWERED BY A PASSENGER. WE GOT ONE OF OUR WINDOWS REPLACED FOR $600. I BOUGHT THE OTHER PART FOR OUR REAR WINDOW FOR ABOUT 60 DOLLARS AND HAD A MECHANIC PLACED IN MUCH CHEAPER THAN THE FORMER DEALERSHIP CHARGED. WITH ONE OF THE CHILD-PROOF REAR WINDOWS NOW LOCKED WITH A PIECE OF WOOD HOLDING IT UP IN THE DOOR WINDOW THIS MAKES IT VERY UNSAFE IF THIS CAR EVER IS SUBMERGED IN WATER OR SOME OTHER COMPROMISING POSITION WITH THE REAR PASSENGER NEEDING TO ESCAPE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THE GLASS ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FELL INTO THE WINDOW MOUNT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE CABLE MOTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE, STATING THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
SECOND TIME A POWER WINDOW HAS DROPPED WITHIN 4 MONTHS. FIRST WAS THE PASSENGER REAR IN JANUARY 2010, SECOND WAS FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW MAY 2010. SEEMS THE POWER WINDOW REGULATORS ARE RUNNING A METAL CABLE OVER A PLASTIC PULLEY WHEEL AND USING A PLASTIC SPOOL ON THE MOTOR. WHEN THE PLASTIC PULLEY WHEEL BREAKS THE CABLE MISALIGNS ON THE SPOOL AND THE WINDOW DROPS AND IS INOPERABLE. COSTS OF REPAIRS IS OVER $460.00 USD. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 BUICK LESABRE, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW MADE A CRUNCHING NOISE AND THEN JUST SANK DOWN INTO THE DOORFRAME. SO I GUESS I'LL BE EITHER REPLACING THE WINDOW REGULATOR OR HAVING THE WINDOW PERMANENTLY CLOSED. I'VE ALREADY REPLACED ONE REGULATOR (DRIVER'S SEAT) AND HAD ONE OTHER WINDOW CLOSED (BACK SEAT, PASSENGER SIDE). FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. SECOND WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. LATEST EVENT WAS YESTERDAY. *TR
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
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