Buick Regal Complaints (1998)

302 consumer complaints on file.

#10140583October 24, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, AND WHEN HE TURNED IT BACK ON, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE AND BRAKE LIGHT WOULD BE ON. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, AND HE FOUND THE GROUND ON THE SAFETY BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED. HE FOUND A RECALL ON WEB LINE, BUT ACCORDING TO BUICK, THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135701September 7, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
I TOOK CAR MY CAR INTO A SHOP TO HAVE CHECKED OUT, ONE OF MY COMPLAINTS WAS THAT MY STEERING APPEARED TO BE LOOSE AND NOT TURNING RIGHT WHEN I TURN LEFT ESPECIALLY. ALTHOUGH THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN CONTINUOUSLY IT HAS BECOME A BIG CONCERN OF MINE. IT SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE I DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MECHANIC LOOKED UP AND FOUNDED THAT A RECALLED HAD BEEN PLACED ON THIS MAKE OF AUTO. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS IMMEDIATELY, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALLED. THIS PROBLEM IS SERIOUS AND I WILL LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYWAY YOU CAN ASSIST ME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124920August 5, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
DT: THE VEHICLE TURNS PROPERLY TO THE RIGHT, BUT WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, IT FEELS AS THOUGH THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP BEING REPAIRED, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH RACK AND PINION. VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE CURRENT RECALL.*AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129971July 25, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE AIR BAG WAS PUSHING THROUGH THE DASHBOARD ON THE CONSUMERS 1998 BUICK REGAL. SHE NOTICED THIS ON 7-21-05. SHE TOOK IT IN ON THE 22ND AND THEY SAID THE CLIP WAS BROKEN. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD GLUE IT DOWN BUT THEN IT MIGHT NOT WORK IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THEY SAID THAT RIGHT NOW, IF ANYONE WAS RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, IT MIGHT KILL THEM AND IT WOULD BREAK THE WINDOW. SHE IS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS NOT TALKED TO GENERAL MOTORS. THERE IS NO AIR BAG LIGHT ON IN THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS NOT WRECKED THE CAR. SHE HAS ONLY HAD THE CAR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND IT WAS NOT LIKE THAT AT A ALL WHEN SHE BOUGHT IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128695July 14, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
HAVE 1998 BUICK REGA GS. ONLY 55000 MILES. HAVE HAD SEVERAL ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED OVER LIFE OF VEHICLE. SAME PROBLEM EVEN WHILE UNDER WARRENTY. DEALER ORIGINALLY TURNED ROTORS. DEALER APPEARED TO BE AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM RETURNED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. AFTER SEVERAL ROTORS AND BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENTS OUT OF WARRENTY I FINALLY REPLACED ROTORS WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE CROSS DRILLED AND SLOTTED ROTOR (ASSUMING A HEAT PROBLEM) BUT TO NO AVAIL. VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLANTLY AT TIMES WHEN BRAKES APPLIED AND ROTORS ALWAYS WARPED. I BELIEVE GM WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM FROM ONSET BUT REFUSES TO RECALL VEHICLE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS VEHICLE DID THIS FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED IT NEW IN DECMEBER OF 1997 BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A NEW FORM OF ANTILOCK BRAKED THAT PULSATED. FEAR THAT IF SOLD TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL, VEHICLE BRAKES MAY FAIL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127480July 5, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OPERATION OF THE TURN SIGNAL CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL, AFFECTIGN THE POWER STEERING AND ABS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124943June 10, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
I WAS DRIVING ON AC EXPRESSWAY WHEN MY STEERING FAILED. I COULD TURN RIGHT BUT WAS BLOCKED FROM TURNING LEFT. AFTER SOME TIME I COULD FORCE THE CAR TO GO LEFT, BUT IT FORCED THE GEAR BEARING TO SLIP AND NOW THE STEERING WHEEL IS 180 DEGREES UPSIDE DOWN AT STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR REPAIRED YET. IT IS STILL INOPERABLE. THIS REGAL WAS MADE IN CANADA IN APRIL OF 1998, MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AFTER THE BUICK REGAL RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM ASKING FOR AN INVESTIGATION FROM ODI SO THAT IF ALL 1998 AND 1999 REGALS HAVE THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THAT THEIR OWNERS BE NOTIFIED THAT STEERING MAY FAIL WHILE DRIVING. ONLY THE 1998 REGAL OWNERS WHO HAD CARS BUILT FROM 1/1/97 TO 10/15/97 HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED SO FAR. AND WITH MY VEHICLE BEING MANUFACTURED SIX MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL, IT WASN'T JUST BUILT WITH AN ERRANT 'OLD' PART, AS G.M. CLAIMS, BUT WHICH CAN BE REFUTED BY ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS SINCE THEN. OWNERS MUST BE INFORMED, AS THE REGALS WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD WITH THE PITCH THAT THE CARS COULD GO 200,000 MILES BEFORE WEARING OUT DUE TO THE 'W' WHEEL BASE. AND OWNERS LIKE MYSELF MAY TRY TO DRIVE THAT FAR- NOT KNOWING THAT THE STEERING FAILS AT AROUND 100,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118027April 18, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING MY WIFE'S 1998 BUICK REGAL WHEN I HEARD A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND NOISE. I HAD FOUND OUT THAT BOTH OF THE REAR WINDOWS HAD FALLEN AS IF THEY WERE OFF TRACK, BUT THESE WERE ELECTRIC WINDOWS. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FELL AS WELL. I CALLED 3 DIFFERENT BUICK DEALERS WHO ALL TOLD ME THAT THE REGULATORS ON MY YEAR MODEL HAVE A VERY BAD TENDANCY TO GO OUT. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE REGULATOR FOR EACH WINDOW IS $400.00 PLUS LABOR. I SPOKE TO BUICK'S CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO SAID THAT THEY HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A COMPLAINT ON THIS, BUT I HAVE FOUND COUNTLESS FORUMS ONLINE WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OF TWO OR MORE WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONING ALL AT ONE TIME...THIS IS NO COINCEDENCE. ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S JUST A FEW WINDOW PROBLEMS, UNFORTUNATELY WHEN IT RAINS THE WINDOWS FALL AND MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAVE ENDED UP IN A VERY WET CAR TRYING TO COME HOME. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AS I HAVE ALSO HAD THE WIRES IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR SHORT OUT AND MELT. THIS HAS HINDERED THE VIEW FROM MY MIRROR AS WELL AS LEAKED BLACK GOO ALL OVER MY CONSOLE. WHEN I TOLD THIS TO BUICK THEY DIDN'T SEE IT AS A PROBLEM. I HAVE ONE OTHER COMPLAINT THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE NOT PROPERLY DONE. THEY WORK AND DON'T WORK WHENEVER THE MOOD STRIKES THEM. THIS IS VERY DISCONCERNING WHEN I HAVE CHILDREN TO PUT IN THE BACK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112672March 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. IT CUT OFF NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE TRYING TO GET TO MY DESTINATION EACH TIME I TURNED ON THE TURN SIGNALS. REPLACED BATTERY & TESTED ALTERNATOR BEFORE TAKING TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THEY DIAGNOSED IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE & REPLACED. NO LONGER HAVE PROBLEM WITH IT CUTTING OFF BUT THE SECURITY LIGHT NOW GOES ON & OFF ON A REGULAR BASIS. ALSO SLUGGISH WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113472March 4, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CAUSING LEAKAGE OF THE ANTIFREEZE THAT EVENTUALLY LEAKED OUT THE EXHAUST PIPE. THIS LED TO OTHER REPAIRS THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112235February 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NUMEROUS FAILURES - POWER WINDOWS(SAME WINDOW 2X), HEATER/AC BLOWER MOTOR, TURN SIGNALS (SAME DIRECTION 3X), ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, ENGINE STRUT BRACKETS, LEAKY GASKET VALVE COVERS. CURRENT UNRESOLVED PROBLEM - FAILURE TO START ALTHOUGH BATTERY IS FINE. REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND STARTER YET STILL FAILS REGULARLY. NEXT REPAIR, REPLACE A WIRE IN STEERING COLUMN THAT CONTACTS THE CHIP IN THE KEY???*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111851February 20, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NOT SURE OF THE PROBLEM W/ MY 98 BUICK REGAL GS. IT HAS 59,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE PAST 10 MONTHS ON A REGULAR BASIS. HAVE REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, BATTERY, AND AM NOW ON THE 3RD NEW FUEL PUMP. PUT OVER $5,000 INTO THIS CAR. NO PREVIOUS HISTORY OF PROBLEMS. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER. IT HAS COMPLETELY CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 6 TIMES, 3 OF THOSE WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED ON EASTER, 2004 AND ARE STILL CONTINUING TO DATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105323December 27, 2004
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A RECALL CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BEARINGS. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN AGAIN SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER STATED THE REPAIR ONLY CONSISTED OF ONE PART, AND THAT PART HAD BEEN REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ,AND STATED THAT THE CONSUMER WAITED TOO LONG, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD. NHTSA RECALL STEERING GEAR BEARINGS 03V527000.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103831December 15, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
RECALL 03V527000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BEARINGS. VEHICLE IS HAVING PROBLEMS MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THE WINDING NOISE GETS LOUD, AND STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK......UPON MAKIN GLEFT HAND TURNS STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. NEEDS STEERING RACK TO CORRECT PROBLEM. REVIEWED A RECALL NOTICE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME RACK PROBLEM. YETR THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089945August 27, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER TRIED TO TURN LEFT BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN LEFT. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN RIGHT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081963August 19, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP, STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RECALL 03V527000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BEARING FAILURE. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH EXERTING MORE EFFORT WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE TWO FRONT TIRES DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR AND HAD TO GET A FRONT END WHEEL ALIGNMENT WHICH WAS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE RACK. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081676August 16, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER FELT THAT THE VEHICLE'S SEAT WAS GETTING TOO WARM. CONSUMER STOPPED AT A REST STOP TO USE THE FACILITIES AND RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE. UPON RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE SMOKED. CONSUMER MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE HEATED SEATS IN THE VEHICLE THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REFUSED TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT EH HEAT SEAT WIRING MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE WHICH LEFT A HOLE IN THE SEAT ABOUT 6 INCHES IN DIAMETER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072079August 16, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT LOST POWER BRAKES AND STEERING WITHIN 5 SECONDS. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. FOLLOWING THIS, THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME. THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THIS FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A BAD IGNITION SWITCH. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082991July 30, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
PLENUM INTAKE GASKET LEAK ON SECOND ENGINE. 1998 REGAL WITH 2000 REGAL ENGINE. $750.00 TO FIX!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075715July 19, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE. THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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