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 2002 Buick Lesabre owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. [redacted].
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.
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.
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.
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 -
While driving 30 MPH vehicle was hit on driver side door, driver door was penetrated 8-10 inches. Driver side air bag did not deploy, driver front air bag deployed. Driver suffered bruised kidney and multiple injuries on left side of body. Vehicle was totalled. Ts manufacturer not willing to do anything about side air bags.
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.
The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision while driving at 25 MPH. Upon impact, neither the driver side or the passenger side air bags deployed. The manufacturer and dealership were unable to indicate why the air bags failed to deploy.
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.
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.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
Certain passenger, Mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began August 15, 2002.
Airbag complaints in other Lesabre years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2002 Buick Lesabre?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Buick Lesabre, 12% of the model year's 310 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Buick Lesabre airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-222 (frontal, Aug 9, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Buick Lesabre airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 26% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 11 crashes, 0 fires and 7 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.