Complaints
209
Crashes
12
Fires
5
Injuries
9
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2003 Buick Lesabre Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#139 complaints
Structural Problems
Avg mileage:60,845 mi
#217 complaints
Airbags
Avg mileage:92,494 mi
Crash-related:1
#315 complaints
Body Structure
Avg mileage:68,492 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Buick Lesabre.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structural Problems | 39 | — | — | 60,845 mi | |
| Airbags | 17 | 1 | — | 92,494 mi | |
| Body Structure | 15 | — | — | 68,492 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 11 | — | 1 | 50,324 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 10 | — | — | 84,724 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 8 | — | 3 | 117,994 mi | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 7 | — | — | 20,970 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 6 | — | — | 41,230 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 | 2 | — | 22,888 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 5 | 1 | — | 29,970 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | 3 | — | 101,000 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Trunk Lid | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Instrument Cluster | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 | — | — | — |
Structural Problems
39
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
60,845
Airbags
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
92,494
Body Structure
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
68,492
Electrical Faults
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
50,324
Transmission / Drivetrain
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,724
Engine Problems
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
117,994
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
20,970
Suspension Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
41,230
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
22,888
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
29,970
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
101,000
Automatic Transmission
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wipers & Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Horn
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Trunk Lid
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Buick Lesabre. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Buick Lesabre Years
2003 Buick Lesabre — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2003 Buick Lesabre reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2003 Buick Lesabre has 209 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Structural Problems with 39 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2003 Buick Lesabre?
Top reported problems: Structural Problems (39 complaints, avg 60,845 mi); Airbags (17 complaints, avg 92,494 mi); Body Structure (15 complaints, avg 68,492 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2003 Buick Lesabre?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 66,257 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2003 Buick Lesabre?
NHTSA complaints for the 2003 Buick Lesabre include 12 crash-related reports, 5 fire reports, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2003 Buick Lesabre have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2003 Buick Lesabre as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2003 Buick Lesabre?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Buick Lesabre reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2003 Buick Lesabre
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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