2002 Buick Lesabre problems
Owners have filed 381 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Buick Lesabre. Wipers, windshield & visibility is the most reported problem area, at 31% of complaints. Next are body & structure (13%) and air bags (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 381 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Wipers, windshield & visibility 32% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 17 and 16
- Injuries and deaths
- 20 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 60,000 miles 268 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 38 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 42 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 51 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 55 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 21 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 26 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 10 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 7 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 9 |
What the data shows
Of the 268 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 60,000 miles. For wipers, windshield & visibility specifically, the median reported mileage is about 53,000 miles (89 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 17 complaints mention a crash; 16 complaints mention a fire; 20 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 16 model years of the Buick Lesabre with enough data (176 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 35 MPH the vehicle went out of control, hit a ditch and ran into a tree on the passenger side door. At the time of the accident it was snowing and the traction control light illuminated for a second before loss of control. The air bags did not deploy. The dealer has not been contacted and no repairs have been made. The two occupants of the vehicle sustained injuries and a police report was filed. Updated 3/9/2006 -
Tl* the contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2002 buick lesabre. The contact was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the failure. While driving 45 MPH around a curve, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to slow down or stop the vehicle. The contact sustained lacerations to the face and a right knee injury, which popped out of place. Medical attention was sought.
Upon starting the vehicle engine turns over approximately 3 times before the vehicle starts. This failure has almost caused an accident while attempting to merge onto a highway. Dealership ran an diagnostic test in which no failure code was found, although the failure occurred 3 times .
Accelerator pedal requires excessive amount of force to depress the pedal. This results in a noticeable surge when going forward from a stopped position. It almost feels as if there is spring holding the throttle open and there is a break point at which the spring lets loose before the throttle opens. A visual inspection of the throttle and throttle body did not reveal any obstructions or binding cable. The floor mats are not a factor in this problem.