RoadVitals

2003 Buick Lesabre Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Apr 21, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 164 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Buick Lesabre submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Airbags
Filed Apr 21, 2019

THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE DASH IS SEPARATING FROM THE FIREWALL OF THE MOTOR. THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DASH

NHTSA ID
11202723
Incident
Apr 2, 2019
Mileage
160,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 24, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10727038
Incident
Jun 1, 2015
Mileage
200,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 30, 2015

WE BOUGHT THE CAR DECEMBER 29,2015, THE CAR HAD 102,0215, AND DROVE IT TO THE DOCTOR ON OUR WAY BACK, THE WOULD MAKE A "CLUNKING" SOUND FROM TRANS-AXLES, AND WE NOTICE THAT THE DASH BOARD CAME UP AND IT HAS HARDWARE SCREWS ACROSS THE DASH AS IF TO HOLD IT DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10679870
Incident
Jan 7, 2015
Mileage
102,225 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 22, 2014

RECALL

NHTSA ID
10649290
Incident
Oct 22, 2014
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Sep 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 REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10632878
Incident
Feb 3, 2014
Mileage
88,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 26, 2014

ENTERED VEHICLE AND NOTICED DASHBOARD BUCKLING ON DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. AFRAID TO START VEHICLE BECAUSE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10616533
Incident
Jul 25, 2014
Mileage
181,219 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jun 23, 2014

MY FRONT DASHBOARD HAS BEEN GRADUALLY COMING UNATTACHED NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IT IS HINDERING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO A PROBLEM FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM.. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY HAZARD AND I CANNOT BELIEVE BUICK HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT WHICH IS AFFECTING SO MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. I OWN TWO BUICK LESABRES AND IT HAPPENED TO BOTH OF THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10605208
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
115,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jun 23, 2014

DASHBOARD HAS WARPED AND SEPARATED FROM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. ACCORDING TO EXPERIENCED AUTO MECHANICS, DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL MOST LIKELY BE COMPROMISED. IT ALSO AFFECTS VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE BUICKS! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? CHECK THIS WEBSITE AND YOU'LL SEE HOW PROLIFIC A PROBLEM THIS IS! HTTP://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-C5295_DS45613 NOT TO MENTION THE MONEY LOST BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO SELL THESE CARS. 2000-2005 BUICK OWNERS ARE IN DANGER. AND YOU'VE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT! DO YOUR JOB! *TR

NHTSA ID
10605207
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
89,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jun 9, 2014

AT A LITTLE OVER 40,000 MILES, I NOTICE A HUMP IN THE DASH COVER IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SEPARATION AND LIFTING HAS NOW STRETCHED TO NEAR CENTER DASH. IF IT CONTINUES, I'M AFRAID IT MAY POSSIBLY EFFECT AIR BAG OPERATION OR PASSENGER SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10597235
Incident
May 30, 2013
Mileage
43,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Mar 17, 2014

DASH PANEL IS SEPARATING FROM FRAME , STARTED IN FRONT OF DRIVER & PROGRESSING TOWARDS PASSENGER SIDE WHERE AIR BAG IS LOCATED WHICH IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY PROBLEM ,NOT TO MENTION RESALE OR TRADE IN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10572991
Incident
Feb 1, 2005
Mileage
10,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureVisibility
Filed Mar 10, 2014

MY FRONT DASHBOARD HAS BEEN GRADUALLY COMING UNATTACHED NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IT IS HINDERING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. MY DAUGHTER IS JUST LEARNING TO DRIVE AND WE HAVE DECIDED IT IS NOT SAFE FOR HER TO USE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE HER VIEW OF THE ROAD IS BLOCKED BY THE LIFTED DASHBOARD. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY HAZARD AND I CANNOT BELIEVE BUICK HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT WHICH IS AFFECTING SO MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568259
Incident
Jul 4, 2009
Mileage
90,410 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jul 22, 2012

DASHBOARD HAS WARPED AND SEPARATED FROM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. ACCORDING TO EXPERIENCED AUTO MECHANIC FRIENDS OF MINE, DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL MOST LIKELY BE COMPROMISED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE BUICKS! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? CHECK THIS WEBSITE AND YOU'LL SEE HOW PROLIFIC A PROBLEM THIS IS! HTTP://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-C5295_DS45613 NOT TO MENTION THE MONEY LOST BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO SELL THESE LEMONS. 2000-2005 BUICK OWNERS ARE IN DANGER. AND YOU'VE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT! IF THIS WAS TOYOTA, YOU WOULD HAVE RECALLED EVERY CAR THEY MAKE AND FINED THEM ANOTHER 50 MILLION DOLLARS. STOP THE HYPOCRISY. INTELLIGENT AMERICANS SEE THROUGH THIS SELECTIVE PUNISHMENT. DO YOUR JOB! *TR

NHTSA ID
10466927
Incident
Jul 15, 2009
Mileage
46,573 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Sep 20, 2011

I HAVE A 2003 BUICK LESABRE THAT THE DASH HAS COME UNGLUED AND HAS BUCKLED UP HALF WAY ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. THE DASH IS MAINLY AFFECTED IN THE AREA INFRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT IS GETTING WORSE AND SPREADING TOWARDS THE CENTER AND PASSENGER SIDE. I'M REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. SO AFRAID THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT WORK CORRECTLY IN AN EMERGENCY, OR EVEN WORSE, THAT THE AIRBAGS GO OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON! I HAVE FRIENDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS AN INTERNET LINK WITH A BUICK LESABRE FORUM WHERE MANY OTHER DISSATISFIED LESABRE OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THEREFORE, I KNOW MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY TOLD ME GM WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. AN ESTIMATE OF $525.49 WAS GIVEN JUST FOR A NEW UPPER DASH. THIS DID NOT INCLUDE LABOR. PLEASE HELP!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10426384
Incident
Sep 1, 2005
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Aug 29, 2011

THE UPPER DASH PAD IS PEELING FROM ITS BACKING, OPENING A 1" GAP APPROXIMATELY A FOOT ACROSS, IN FRONT OF THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DEFROSTER GRILLE HOUSING. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM, REQUESTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. GM CREATED A CASE FILE (#71-969127956) AND I WAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE. I THEN REQUESTED TO SPEAK WITH THE GM DISTRICT REP, WHO ALSO DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE AND WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE KNOWING OF BUICK HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE I OBTAINED IS $1080.20. I FIRST OBSERVED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 47,000 MILES. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS ENCLOSED IN THIS PAD AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE SPLIT IN THE DASH EXTENDS FAR ENOUGH, IT COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 48,000 MILES AND ASIDE FROM THIS PROBLEM, IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY PENDING ACTION NHTSA MAY BE CONSIDERING TO FORCE GM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT, WHICH HAS BEEN HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED TO YOU BY SEVERAL OTHER BUICK OWNERS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC IN VEHICLE DEFECT MATTERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10422369
Incident
Jul 1, 2011
Mileage
47,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 4, 2010

THE VINYL DASH PAD IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER STARTED TO SHRINK TOWARD THE STEERING WHEEL AND RAISE UPWARD AND IS NOW UP ABOUT 1 -1/2 INCHES AND IS PROGRESSING TOWARD THE PASSENGERS SIDE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT WHEN THE PASSENGERS DASH PAD AREA RISES UPWARD WILL THIS CAUSE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG TO DEPLOY?

NHTSA ID
10364763
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
60,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Aug 22, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INFLATER DEVICE IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE STATED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. SHE HAS HAD THE PART REPLACED, BUT BUICK DOES NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CONTACT HEARS AN OCCASIONAL SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID
10200439
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
17,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 9, 2007

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT COVERED IN GE AUTO WARRANTY SERVICES 4 STAR PLUS CONTRACT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER OF WHICH I PURCHASED IT FROM AND FOUND OUT IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY CRASH SENSOR BUT NOT COVERED, COST WAS $95 FOR A 5 MIN DIAGNOSTIC, ERROR CODE READING TAKEN OFF THE CONTROL COMPUTER FOR THE AIRBAG. SAFETY FEATURE FAILURE IS NOT COVERED BY MANUFACTURER, DEALER OR WARRANTY. HAVE NOT AT THIS TIME CORRECTED FAILURE, PRICE FOR REPAIR WAS $300 ON TOP OF $95 DIAGNOSTIC. *JB

NHTSA ID
10198957
Incident
Aug 1, 2007
Mileage
73,490 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 15, 2004

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK *LA

NHTSA ID
10059831
Incident
Dec 3, 2003
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jul 6, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED LOST OF BRAKING POWER. THE CONSUMER PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD COME DOWN TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10072282
Incident
Apr 29, 2004
Mileage
23,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 8, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AN AVIS RENTAL ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS HIT THE DRIVERS SIDE OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10050191
Airbags
Filed Dec 5, 2003
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I WAS HIT HEAD ON. MY VEHICLE A BUICK LESABRE 2003 AND THE VEHICLE WHICH HIT ME, A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAG ON MY BUICK LESABRE DID NOT DEPLOY, THUS CAUSING ME PHYSICAL INJURIES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10049276
Incident
Jul 17, 2003
Mileage
18,714 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .