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KLUNK
KLUNK

2002 Buick Lesabre

The Verdict

42 Proceed with Caution

The 2002 Buick Lesabre has 319 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (189 complaints) and electrical (59 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 42/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Buick Lesabre, consider the 2005 model year which has 75% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2005 has 75% fewer complaints

View the 2005 Buick Lesabre dashboard →

42

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

02V067000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH MISSING OR UNDER-TORQUED STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT BOLTS. IF A BOLT IS MISSING, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE UNEVEN STEERING RESPONSE OR UNUSUAL NOISES DURING TU...

Risk

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

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PRESENCE AND PROPER TORQUE OF BOTH STEERING GEAR BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 5, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON ...

Reported Jun 3, 2002

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20003794011413916
200117910605928
200218916594213
20038113352315
2004467732610
200520930117

By Category

Body
189
Electrical
59
Engine
42
Brakes
16
Transmission
13

By Severity

1
159
2
126
3
7
4
27

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THE ENGINE VALVE COVER WAS FAULTY AND OIL HAD LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE LOCAL DEALER WALLINGFORD BUICK LOCATED AT 1122 OLD NORTH COLONY RD, WALLINGFORD, CT 06492 AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

67mo ago
Transmission 1

THE FRAME OF MY CAR FELL OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGH WAY AFTER I HAD ALREADY REPORTED THE PROBLEM AND HAD BEEN DENIED SERVICES TO GET IT FIXED.

68mo ago
Brakes 4

WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO STOP, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL AND WAS MOVING MY FOOT OVER TO THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY SPEED UP; I HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKE EXTRA HARD TO STOP IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MORE THAN ONCE. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. I HAD ONE PARKING LOT ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.

71mo ago
Body 4

CPSC: THE HEATED SEAT IN MY VEHICLE HAS BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT.*DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *JS

87mo ago
Body 1

IN A SMALL TOWN, APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT THE HIGHWAY CROSSROAD WITH 2-3 VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND STARTED BRAKING. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY REVVED, I MOVED MY FOOT TO TRY TO RAISE THE ACCELERATOR AND IT WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR; IT WOULD NOT RAISE. I IMMEDIATELY PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND AS PULLING AS CLOSE TO CURB AS POSSIBLE, I SHUT THE IGNITION OFF, THEN PLACED IN PARK. IT HAD TO BE TOWED BACK HOME UNTIL WE CAN DEAL WITH IT. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO ACT QUICKLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT ANY DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR PERSON.

88mo ago
Body 4

THE HEATED SEATED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT IS BURNING A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT.

91mo ago
Engine 4

WAS DRIVING AND AS I PULLED TO REDLIGHT VEHICLE SMELLED OF GAS BUT BURST INTO FLAMES FROM THE MOTOR

92mo ago
Body 2

WINDOW MOTOR HAS GONE OUT NUMEROUS TIMES ON FRONT 2 WINDOWS AND HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED.LAST TIME DRIVERS SIDE WAS REPAIRED WAS 4-17-2014.THAT WAS 3RD REPAIR .HAS SINCE BROKEN AGAIN BUT I DID NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN. BACK DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FELL OPEN WHILE ON INTERSTATE 2 YEARS AGO. MY CAR IS GARAGE KEPT WITH AROUND 60,000 MILES.THESE ISSUES STARTED WITHIN 3 OR 4 YEARS AFTER I PURCHASED IT NEW. THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE I TAKE MY CAR SAYS THEY HAVE SEEN MANY LESABRES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.GM DOESN'T SEEM TO FEEL THERE IS A PROBLEM.I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I HAVE WRITTEN AND CALLED THEM SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT MY CONCERNS.JUST WISH THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR POOR ENGINEERING.

96mo ago
Engine 4

DROVE CAR 0.2 MILES PARKED CAR WENT INTO WALMART CAR WAS SEEN SMOKING IN PARKING LOT ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE FIRE DEPT CAME TALKED TO AUTO SHOP THEY SAID IT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE MANY TIMES DUE TO A MANUFACTURER ISSUE

98mo ago
Brakes 4

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. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE SEAT BELT, BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ULTIMATE TOWING AND RECOVERY. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED.

101mo ago
Engine 4

ON STARTUP THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED BREAKING THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE AND CATCHING THE ENGINE ON FIRE

103mo ago
Body 2

12-1-10 86587M, BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 1-21-15 119486M, RIGHT FRONT OUTER TIE ROD REPLACED.

109mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT FELL ASLEEP AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE, FRACTURED EYE SOCKETS, AND HEAD INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V222000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

110mo ago
Electrical 4

GOT. INTO A. ACCIDENT ON 6 /9/2017 I WAS TRAVELING 35 TO37 MLS. PER HOUR A DARK BLUE VAN TRIED TO GO BEFORE ME COMING THE OPPOSITE WAY COMING TOWARDS ME SHE TURN IN FOUNT OF ME I HIT HER ON PASSAGE SIDE OF VAN IT WAS A MAJOR ACCIDENT NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WE WERE ON PERKINS ST OF AKRON OHIO. [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

110mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

114mo ago
Electrical 1

SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED - WARMING UP AT IDLE - IN 4 DEGREE F OUTSIDE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE - HAVING BEEN IN HIGH WIND CONTAINING SANDY DIRT PARTICLES OVERNIGHT - VEHICLE UNOCCUPIED - STATIONARY IN RESIDENCE DRIVEWAY. *TR

116mo ago
Electrical 2

CAR PARKED IN HOME DRIVEWAY UNOCCUPIED, SITTING STILL, RUNNING TO WARM UP IN VERY COLD AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE (5 DEGREES F. SIDE AIR BAGS ON PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED DAMAGING THE SEATS AND INTERIOR TRIM.

116mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LEAKED OIL AND COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 01/23/2017*CT *CN

117mo ago
Electrical 4

DRIVING VEHICLE ON ROAD IN SUBDIVISION WHEN GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL STRIKING A GARAGE DOOR AND WALL WITH GREAT IMPACT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES. CAR WAS TOTALED. NO ELSE IN CAR. *TR

118mo ago
Electrical 4

MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE BUICK WAS TOTALED BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE WAS GOING STRAIGHT AND AN SUV MADE A SHORT LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF HIM AND HER DRIVERS SIDE COLLIDED WITH HIS ENTIRE FRONT END.

119mo ago

319 total

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