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 2001 Buick Lesabre owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was driving home from work at 45 miles per hour when my buicks air bag deployed for no good reason and caused me to rear end a fellow employee at a light. I was dumbfounded by the accident and was wondering what happened because I recalled no red light or seeing brake lights. I am so happy that my fellow employee are not detrimentally injured by this. The bag apparently shocked me and the dashboard blinded me so I had no way to react.. I sure hope that this problem is address to the fullest extent. I thankful that I was not driving on the interstate at the time. I am also expecting Buick to replace my car at the same value atleast.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Buick Lesabre. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being operated, the air bag sensor warning light suddenly illuminated. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 206,889.
I have had to replace all four power window motors, the dash is coming apart and is raised blocking some visibility and potentially affecting the air bag deployment in an accident. In addition, it seems to me that braking vibration / pulsation has been a problem on all five of my Buick lesabres
Car was struck from behind first then forced into the car in front. This resulted in damage to both front and rear. The impact to the front failed to activate either driver or passenger airbag ,yet caused enough damage to indicate a force beyond the activation point was received.
My parents purchased a 2001 Buick Lesabre from the dealership new. Both parents (father now deceased) retired and moved to florida in 2001, and very rarely drove the vehicle. My father passed away in February of this year (2012) and my mother asked me if I wanted the car. I drove to florida to pick up the car and noticed the dash panel was all buckled and looked horrible. I asked my mother what had happened and thought perhaps it was due to the south florida heat, but my mother said it started in 2006 and they had brought it back to dealer multiple times and was told it was not a warranty issue and would cost over $1000 to repair. After searching online for replacement dash panels I discovered this is a problem with the vehicle and has been for sometime, florida heat had nothing to do with it, I believe this is a manufacturing defect and will cause the airbag to deploy causing injury.
The dash pad on my 2001 Buick le sabre has separated and buckled up approximately six inches in height and mostly in front of my steering wheel, however it is lifted 3/4 of the way across the entire dash. It is now open in the front along where it meets the windshield. It has lifted almost all the way to the passenger side air bag. Upon reading on line, I see that this is a very common problem for 2001 through 2005 buicks and I am just another complaint to add to the list. The rise in the dash certainly effects my view while driving. I have placed a thick pad on top of my drivers seat to raise my body. This assists me, so I am able to peer over the raised dash while driving. I am greatly concerned that the separation, is going to suddenly deploy my passenger side air bag.
Front / top of dashboard separating and delaminating from the interior cabin of vehicle and expending to a point were the one piece exposing open void space and setting off sensors on air bags by pinching and sending a message that the air bags are defective. I have seen no of same model buicks with similar defects and problems from 2000 to 2004 and newer models on the road. When requested for evaluation from two Buick / GM dealers they had no solution to the issue or offer a solution to the safety issue. Request for investigation to GM for solution and notice to the owners of similar cars to report same or sim. Problems.
2001 Buick Lesabre VIN [redacted] dash pad has been peeling upward toward windshield. Started in front of steering wheel and has migrated across to the passenger side. Also peeling apart on corners and above glove box. As the passenger side has worsened, there is a noise that I suspect is coming from the passenger side air bag. I am concerned about a deployment of the passenger side air bag. The dash looks to be a blast away unit when the air bag is deployed. If the passenger side air bag were to deploy under normal driving conditions it May obscure the view of the driver.
The dash pad under the windshield is starting to buckle and separate from the metal clamps. This separation is continually growing and moving from the drivers side of the dash panel to the passenger side where the front passenger air bag is located. With this movement and change I am concerned that the passenger air bag will not deploy in an accident or the air bag May inadvertently deploy causing injury to the passenger, not to mention how the driver May react should the airbag deploy unexpectedly. General motors needs to fix this to insure nobody is injured if that hasn't already happened.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Buick lasabre. While examining the vehicle the contact noticed that the airbag light had appeared on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the airbag module was replaced, however the contact was still experiencing the failure. While traveling 45 MPH the frontal airbags exploded without warning. The vehicle has not been diagnosed. The failure mileage was 71000 and the current mileage was 80000.
Airbag complaints in other Lesabre years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2001 Buick Lesabre?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Buick Lesabre, 9% of the model year's 328 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Buick Lesabre airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2001 Buick Lesabre. 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 2001 Buick Lesabre airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 11 injuries 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.