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2002 Buick LesabreProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 310 owner complaints about the 2002 Buick Lesabre, most often about the visibility. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

2002 Buick Lesabre
39
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.5× the Lesabre median · #5 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints31042 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage53kVisibility, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 19, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2002 Buick Lesabre has problems

310 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Visibility1150
Structure516
Air bags3712
Electrical system241
Engine and engine cooling181
Engine168
Steering130
Service brakes, hydraulic130
Power train130
15 other systems6611

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2002 Buick Lesabre recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Air bags: frontal

Recall 02V-222 · Aug 9, 2002 · 133,221 vehicles

Risk. PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)

Recall 02V-067 · Mar 6, 2002 · 249 vehicles

Risk. IF THE LEFT BOLT IS MISSING AND THE RIGHT MOUNTING STRAP FAILS, STEERING CONTROL IS LOST AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Buick.

Mileage at failure

When do visibility problems start?

53kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 85 visibility complaints. 86% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
19under 30k miles73under 100k miles12100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Visibility

40 owners mentioned a cost

$500median

Middle half: $448 – $617

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2002 vs. every other Lesabre year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Lesabre median. How we score

'67'70'71'72'74'75'76'77'78'79'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2002 Buick Lesabre, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02030 · closed Mar 9, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-090
In owners' words

What Lesabre owners report

Recent visibility complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 10748713 · Aug 14, 2015 · 68,000 miles
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…
Complaint 10721544 · May 26, 2015 · 24,000 miles
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…
Complaint 10678765 · Jan 25, 2015 · 62,000 miles

Own a 2002 Lesabre?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.