Is the 2002 Buick LeSabre a bad year?
310 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other LeSabre years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2002 Buick LeSabre are in line with other LeSabre years. Visibility and wipers and body structure stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 LeSabre owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 53,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 118 (38%) | 34k–74k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 51 (16%) | 42k–78k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 37 (12%) | 41k–116k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 29 (9%) | 41k–136k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 24 (8%) | 23k–75k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 18 (6%) | 22k–68k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Steering | 13 (4%) | 20k–79k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 13 (4%) | 28k–73k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 11 (4%) | 51k–142k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Tires | 9 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 53,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 310 complaints: 15 mention a crash · 12 mention a fire · 15 report an injury · 4 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Aug 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The 2002 Buick LeSabre has the same engine as the 2000 Pontiac grand prix, which is covered in the recent recall 15V701.
2002 Buick LeSabre 3.8 l engine would be hard to start after it was driven and restarted after 15 minutes (Or more) of being off.
Noticed lots of white smoke coming out tail pipe while driving. Very unusual. Car then stopped on freeway. Had to get pushed by another car to side if freeway.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 53,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2002 Buick LeSabre: 2
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. Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
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 turns. If the left bolt is missing and the right mounting strap fails, steering control is lost and a vehicle crash could result.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Buick: 111
Repair instructions Buick sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 Buick LeSabre. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Engine compartment fires
Neighbouring years
2001 LeSabre: 328 complaints, keep it · 2003 LeSabre: 164 complaints, keep it.
Every Buick LeSabre year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · All LeSabre years side by side
Other Buick models: Buick Century · Buick Enclave · Buick Encore · Buick Encore GX · Buick Envision · Buick LaCrosse · Buick Lucerne · Buick Park Avenue · Buick Rainier · Buick Regal · Buick Rendezvous · Buick Terraza · Buick Verano. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2002 Buick LeSabre a bad year?
310 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other LeSabre years. At 53,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Buick LeSabre?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: visibility and wipers (118), body structure (51), air bags (37), engine (29), electrical system (24).
How many recalls does the 2002 Buick LeSabre have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 02V-222), Steering (NHTSA 02V-067). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.