Headlight complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
My headlights would not come on or would go off intermittently while driving . I had to drive with the high beams on. A preliminary recall notice came to me telling me to drive with the high beams on, until they figured out the issue. After about 6 to 9 months they issued a recall. They indicated it was a "module", I took the car in to have the module replaced. It did not fix the problem. I took it back in and talked to the service manager. He investigated the issue and said that the module was not making contact with connections inside the module / fuse box. He said it was a box issue and wanted to charge me $500 for a new box. Please note, no damage or tampering has ever done on said box. This did not make sense to me. He said he was sorry and tried to give me a "break" on the price. …
The headlights just stopped working. It is not the bulb as the lights come on when I lock or unlock the car using the fob. I was driving down the road and the headlights just stopped working, this was in the middle of the night with no street lights. I just had the car in the shop two months ago for the same problem. There has to be an issue with the car and the headlights. I love this car but I can't drive at night as I have no lights and can't keep taking it to the shop and paying out money every couple of months to fix the same problem.
When switching headlights from high to low and low to high beam occasionally the lights go dark. This is a scary situation at high speeds. Luckily the lights usually come back on if the leaver is depressed several times. I have been told that the only fix is a new switch assembly at over $500 just for the switch not to mention the labor cost. I understand that the '07 Buick la crosse had a recall on this switch. I suspect that my '04 la sabre May have a similar switch. There are a two other functions on this switch, l/r signal, windshield wipers/washers, all of which work without a problem. I got no satisfaction from my GM dealer when I requested help with the repair cost.
J & k mitchell casey, il.62420 purchased on 4/11/2014, 98,104 mileage. Headlamps go off at nite driving, very unnerving, fuel gage, haywire from the start, while driving, engine would accelerate when turning right. Swaying/suspension, when turning, driving down the road, reported this many times and taken into dealer..however, never taken care of. Only thing fixed was solenoid.
Dt: the contact owns a 2002 Buick Lesabre. The owner's manual advised to push the turn signal lever down until he could see the flashing arrow, not all of the way down. The way it said to do, if turning left or right and when making a lane change, the lever will return on its own to its original position. This does work properly. The consumer thinks this is a safety issue because one should be able to push the lever all the way down when making a lane change as one does when turning left or right. The dealer said this was the design of the car. Update 11/16/05.
Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to dim or brighten the lights they intermittently go out. The vehicle was taken to the dealership were the dealership discovered the dimmer switch needed to be replaced. Updated 02/13/06.
1. Dashboard separating from windshield and causing 3" gap causing partial obstruction. Now is separating more at drivers' side near steering wheel, and about 75% pulled away at this time. Critical safety problem because air bags May deploy and injury or death could occur. Cannot fix easily and consider it critical defect and inferior workmanship. Not able to safely drive the car or able to sell it! 2. Electric windows in back passenger and driver side had to be replaced. $$ 3. Light switch control malfunctions and recently stuck in the "on" position. Had to disconnect battery to turn off. This just happened last night and was inconvenienced greatly !! 4. Headliner falling down and was repaired twice. Now is falling down where it was not repaired!
When I accidentally ( with out my knowing that I had bumped the parking light switch) bumped the parking light switch while adjusting the dash lights while driving after dark the head lights went out, I had no idea why the head lights went out. It was a good thing that I was only driving about 5 to 10 mile per hour and was able to stop with out an accident. It took me a while to figure out why the head lights had gone out, I pushed all the light switches until finding out that I had accidentally pushed the parking light switch. I notified Buick customer service and they said that there was nothing wrong with the lights, that the head lights were designed to go out when the parking light switch was pushed. They refused to take any action of any kind what so ever. If your head lights go when driving 65 MPH after dark, that it is a serious safety problem.
Related recalls (2)
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not conform to the requirements of FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the head lamp adjustment device horizontal adjuster May not move the head lamp reflector when the shaft is rotated in a normal manner during aiming.
Remedy: An insert containing instructions for optically aiming the headlamps will be provided to owners for the owner's manual. Owners should follow the procedure in the insert for headlamp aim adjustment, rather than using the…
Exterior lighting › Headlights
The driver side headlamp lens has an incorrect aim pad number on the lens. This does not comply with FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver side headlamp on vehicles with the correct outboard lower pad number.
Frequently asked questions
Which Buick Lesabre years have headlight problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (20), 1995 (10), 1997 (8), 2001 (8) and 2004 (8) model years. Headlight complaints make up 3% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Buick Lesabre headlight problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 99V-355 (headlights, Dec 17, 1999); 95V-158 (headlights, Aug 4, 1995). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Buick Lesabre headlight problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles; 27% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the headlights (29 mentions), followed by the turn signal (11).
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.