Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Buick Lesabre owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Malfunctioning air bag. We hit a deer and the impact deployed both front air bags. The passenger air bag came out at an angle so as to hit my husband,(who was in the passenger seat) in the groin area. The air bag ruptured his right testicle and he had to have surgery. This has caused us to owe some extensive medical bills at this point. We had insurance, but it will not pay all of the bills. I feel that we should not be responsible for any medical bills for this type of accident,since it was caused by the air bag not deploying as it should have.
The horn will sound without pressing the horn button(s) when the car is in motion or unoccupied. This occurs when the weather is cold. I have researched this online and it is apparently an issue for many owners. Part of the air bag contracts during the winter months pressing on part of the horn button. The only way to shut it off is to pull the horn fuse. I am concerned this May lead to an electrical fire if the horn sounds for too long or an air bag malfunction. Also, the vehicle has to be driven without the ability to use the horn.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and the key was turned in the ignition switch, the driver side air bag deployed. The contact stated that approximately 20 minutes later the passenger side air bag also deployed. The driver sustained facial cuts, bruises, a fractured cheekbone and whiplash that required medical attention. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 197,000. The VIN was not available.
While driving consumer's vehicle was hit on the passenger's side and the front air bags inadvertently deployed. Driver's side air bag caught on fire after the driver was evacuated. The interior of the vehicle was consumed by the fire. Driver sustained minor injuries, and was transported to the hospital. Fire department confirmed that the fire started from driver's side air bag.
I was driving the car slowing down for an intersection and the driver side airbag deployed without warning. The horn began to blow and while looking for a spot to safely pull over, the passenger side airbag deployed.
I was driving to work early in the morning on a paved town road when the driver's side air bag suddenly deployed. A few seconds later, the passenger's side air bag also suddenly deployed. The air bags obstructed my vision both in front and on the side. I was able to pull the car off the road without getting into an accident, but this could have caused a crash because of my obstructed vision there was no injury involved. The car had passed a maine safety inspection in May 2009, so there was no indication that a problem existed at the time that I purchased the car in June 2009 from a friend. The deployment of the air bags tore up the middle of the steering wheel and the dashboard on the passenger's side. The local dealership did nothing to correct the failure, but said the car should not be driven.
My boyfriend was driving my car. I was in the passenger's seat. We had just pulled away from the curb and were going about 20 MPH. For no reason, the passenger's side airbag deployed. We didn't hit anything, and nothing hit us. We pulled over and got out. The car was filled with smoke. I had pain in my abdomen and couldn't hear out of my right ear. The windshield on my side of the car(passenger's side) was broken from the impact. He took me to the local er to be checked out and I was examined and released with contusions of right knee, abdomen and right ear. It was a terrifying experience and scared us both very much. I reported this to my insurance carrier the next morning. My boyfriend was not injured.
Dt: the consumer stated the horn will not stop blowing, and the air bag assembly is making a noise. The sound is coming out of the steering wheel. When driving the horn just starts blowing out of nowhere, it just starts blowing, specifically states the consumer. When pressing the horn pad it will stop sometimes. One has to press in a certain spot. The car is a 1997 Buick Lesabre. The consumer is going to call and see what GM can do. This has been happening for two weeks.
Not my vehicle. Vehicle was involved in a traffic collision and the driver's airbag deployed. A fire broke out in the steering column after deployment. There was no apparent damage to the passenger section of the vehicle from the mild to moderate crash. Driver escaped apparent injury. This is the first fire resulting from an airbag deployment of which I am aware. This is an important life safety issue. L.a.co.f.d. Incident report # 00-055018.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 70 MPH on normal dry road conditions, the driver side airbag deployed without warning. The 17 year-old driver suffered first degree burns on the right forearm, and was taken to a hospital. The vehicle was not seen by a dealer, however the manufacturer was contacted. The manufacturer determined that the inflater module May corrode, causing inadvertent deployment of the airbag. Updated 12/15/06.
Airbag complaints in other Lesabre years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1997 Buick Lesabre?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Buick Lesabre, 8% of the model year's 394 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Buick Lesabre airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1997 Buick Lesabre, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Buick Lesabre airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 115,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 17 crashes, 2 fires and 17 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.