Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Buick Lesabre
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Buick Lesabre has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 164 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #02V222000 GM/AIR BAG INFLATOR NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Structure 57 complaints
- Air Bags 21 complaints
- Power Train 18 complaints
- Electrical System 15 complaints
- Visibility 12 complaints
- Unknown or Other 11 complaints
Of the 164 complaints on file, 9 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 164 complaints, owners report 9 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$9,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Buick LeSabre has a below-average reliability due to structural and airbag concerns, coupled with frequent power train and electrical system issues reported by owners.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| structure | 80,000–120,000 miles | $400–$1,000 | very common |
| airbags | 50,000–90,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
| power train | 70,000–110,000 miles | $600–$1,800 | common |
| electrical system | 60,000–100,000 miles | $300–$750 | common |
| service brakes | 40,000–80,000 miles | $200–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil and filter changes
- brake inspections and servicing
- tire rotations and balancing
- coolant flushes
- transmission fluid changes
- battery inspections
- belt and hose checks
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- structure creaking or movement
- airbag warning light
- trouble shifting gears
- flickering dashboard lights
- brake pedal softness
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Buick Lesabre at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.