Buick Regal Complaints
3,261 consumer complaints on file.
- #10408056June 22, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1997 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE EXPLODED AFTER EXITING. *TGW
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10407654June 20, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
RADIATOR WAS DRAINED, FLUSHED AND REFILLED WITH RECOMMENDED DEXCOOL COOLANT. THEN STARTED TO LEAK ABOUT A PINT A DAY. DEALER SAID THAT FOR $700.00 THEY CAN REPLACE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT) WITH STEEL ONES. ON A LIMITED INCOME, I CANNOT HAVE THAT DONE YET. I DAILY ADD A PINT OF COOLANT TO PREVENT ENGINE OVERHEATING. I HAVE TO CLEAN MY GARAGE FLOOR EVERY MORNING FROM THE LEAKING. **TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10406921June 15, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH HE NOTICED SMOKE RELEASING FROM THE VENTS. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE HOOD WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VIN INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT MENTION IF A FIRE OR POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILES WERE 180,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10406816June 14, 2011PARKING BRAKE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE WAS IN WHAT THE CONTACT BELIEVED TO BE AN UNSAFE POSITION ON THE CONSOLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE LEVER WAS INADVERTENTLY HIT, IT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A HALT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABRUPTLY STOP WITHOUT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 07/21/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS EN ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE WHICH CAN BE ENGERGIZED BY LIFTING A SWITCH ON THE MIDDLE CONSOLE. IT IS USED WHEN PARKING ON AN INCLINE. THERE IS NO NORMAL FOOT OR HAND LEVER FOR EMERGENCY BRAKING. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A BRAKE ASSIST FEATURE DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE DRIVER IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND IT IS NOT EPB. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE EPB CAN BE ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING IN ANY GEAR POSITION. THE CONSUMER STATED IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, IT WOULD BRING THE VEHICLE TO AN ABRUPT STOP SENDING EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10406276June 14, 2011AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 22 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE FOUR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ABRUPTLY WITH A LOUD NOISE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUSTAINED BODY BRUISES AS A RESULT OF THE EXTENSIVE FORCE DURING THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND DECLARED THE AIR BAG DEFECT AS A PRODUCT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,133. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HIT THE CURB AND THE AIR BAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. 01/30/12
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405844June 10, 2011WHEELS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THE ALUMINUM CASTING AROUND THREE OF THE FOUR RIMS WAS PEELING OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THIS HAD BECOME A KNOWN FAILURE AND IT WAS HARD TO RE-SEAL THE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405860June 10, 2011POWER TRAIN
2011 BUICK REGAL HAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AS THE FOOT IS TRANSFERRED FROM ACCELERATOR TO BRAKE WHEN APPROACHING STOP LIGHT. GM COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM. HAD TO TRADE VEHICLE IN FOR NEW CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405693June 9, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT MENTION IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES OR IF A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE IN THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILES WAS 115,027.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10398501May 2, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY AND MORE OFTEN IN SEVERE WINTER WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10397496April 26, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1992 BUICK REGAL, EVERYTIME I OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, IT BURNS THE FUSE FOR THE COURTESY LIGHTS, RADIO, CASSETTE PLAYER, ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS. I AM AFRAID IT MIGHT BURN THE CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10396872April 20, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ODOMETER LIGHT IT DOES NOT SHOW THE MILEAGES OF THE CAR I JUST BOUGHT IT, AND IT HASN'T SHOWN UP YET. ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ARE ON EXCEPT THIS ONE. CAN'T PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10397591April 18, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT THIS VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL DOES. FIRST IF YOU TRY TO USE THE RESUME FEATURE, IT ACCELERATES WILDLY SO YOU HAVE TO HIT THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE IT. SECOND, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE SET AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY JUST GO TO MAXIMUM ACCELERATION AND AGAIN YOU MUST USE THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE IT. THIRD AND MOST RECENT, WHILE DRIVING THROUGH TOWN WITH THE CRUISE ON BUT NOT ENGAGED, THE CRUISE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE TAKES OFF AT FULL ACCELERATION ALL BY ITSELF. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. GM HAS NO IDEA WHERE TO LOOK OTHER THAN REPLACING ABOUT $900.00 WORTH OF PARTS. IN CHECKING ON THIS SITUATION, I FOUND NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF THIS SAME DEFECT WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10396011April 15, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON MULTIPLE BUT INTERMITTENT OCCASIONS, WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS ENGAGED ALL DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS FLASH AND THE VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING. I WAS FORTUNATE IN THAT IT NEVER OCCURRED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, BUT IT STILL REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT DANGER. ON ONE PARTICULAR OCCASION, IT FAILED TO RESTART AND I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED GM DEALER WHO KEPT IT FOR SEVEN DAYS BUT FAILED TO FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD, THEY REPLACED "BROKEN AND LOOSE CONNECTORS ON THE FUSE BOX." WHEN THE PROBLEM RECURRED TWO DAYS LATER, I RETURNED TO THE GM DEALER WHO, DESPITE KEEPING THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER THREE DAYS, STILL FAILED TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL SPECIALIST BUT FIRST SEARCHED THE INTERNET UNDER "2003 BUICK ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS", AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM THAT GM WAS AWARE OF (A GM CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE HAD REPLIED ON ONE OF THE FORUMS - EDMUNDS.COM? - THAT GM READS THESE FORUMS). HAVING LEARNED FROM THE FORUMS THAT THE MOST PROBABLE CAUSE WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH, I TOOK IT TO AN AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL SPECIALIST WHO FOUND A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH AND REPLACED IT. (REGRET OLD PART NO LONGER AVAILABLE). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10393680March 30, 2011STEERING
1998 BUICK REGAL GS. RACK AND PINION PROBLEMS AT 96K MILES. NOTHING NOTICABLE LEADING UP TO PROBLEM. ONE DAY IT HAS HARD TO STEER TO THE LEFT. NOW IT IS EFFECTING TURNING TO THE RIGHT. *TR OTHER '98 REGALS WERE UNDER RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT FOR SOME REASON MY REGAL ISN'T. SPOKE TO BUICK AT 8666088080 AND WAS TOLD BY A MANAGER THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE IT WASN'T PART OF RECALL. KEPT REFERING TO CAR AGE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS UNDER 100K MILES. TAKING TO BUICK DEALER THIS WEEKEND TO SEE IF FIXING IS WORTH IT. DEALER SAYS FULL RACK AND PINION OVERHAUL WILL RUN $1500 TO $2000. CAR IS ONLY WORTH $2500. SAD TO SEE A CAR DIE BEFORE IT HITS 100K MILES BUT I GUESS THERE IS A REASON GM WAS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10393193March 21, 2011UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SUSPENSION, STEERING
ABRUPT, TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL: AS THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, AND LOUD "BANG" WAS HEARD AND FELT COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. CAUTIOUSLY MOVING OFF FROM THE STOP, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL; THE STEERING WHEEL JUST SPUN FREELY, WHILE THE VEHICLE TRACKED ALMOST STRAIGHT AHEAD. SINCE THERE WAS STILL POWER AND BRAKING, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO ROLL TO A STOP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. (IF THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL HAD OCCURRED THREE MINUTES LATER, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AT 65 MPH ... WITH POSSIBLY FATAL CONSEQUENCES.) IN THIS VEHICLE THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, FRONT SUSPENSION, AND STEERING RACK ARE MOUNTED ON A SUBFRAME. THE SUBFRAME, IN TURN, IS ATTACHED TO THE PRIMARY STRUCTURAL FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WITH FOUR BOLTS M12X1.25 BOLTS; THE ATTACHMENTS INCLUDE RUBBER BUSHINGS TO PROVIDE SOME SHOCK ISOLATION BETWEEN THE SUBFRAME AND THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A STEEL SLEEVE WHICH INSERTS INTO THE INNER BORE OF THE ISOLATION BUSHINGS, AND THROUGH WHICH THE MOUNTING BOLT IS INSERTED. (SEE ILLUSTRATION FROM GENERAL MOTORS "1991 BUICK REGAL SERVICE MANUAL," P. 10.3.3, FIGURE 1.) THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN NO CORROSION PROTECTION PROVIDED OR APPLIED TO THESE SUBFRAME ATTACH COMPONENTS DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. UPON INSPECTION, THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS DETERMINED TO BE FAILURE OF BOTH REAR SUBFRAME ATTACHMENT BOLTS AND/OR ISOLATION BUSHINGS DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION IN SERVICE. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE BOLT FAILURES, THE FRONT SUSPENSION SPRINGS FORCED THE REAR OF THE SUBFRAME DOWNWARD, RESULTING IN THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT DISCONNECTING ENTIRELY FROM THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10392040March 18, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2001 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO AN ENGINE FIRE RESULTING FROM AN ENGINE LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE OFFICIALLY GAVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS SON ON DECEMBER 15, 2007. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON APRIL 14, 2009, BUT, NEITHER HIM OR HIS SON RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. NOVEMBER 12, 2009, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THE CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A NOTICE IN NOVEMBER 2010 STATING THE RECALL HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED AND TO CONTACT THE DEALER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10386977March 9, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE CROOKED AND NOT AIMING STRAIGHT. THE CONTACT LOCATED A RECALL IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V356000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS MANUAL WHICH CONTAINED A MANUAL INSERT WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPTICALLY AIMING THE HEADLAMPS PER THE RECALL NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10386241March 2, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASHBOARD CLUSTER STOPPED DISPLAYING ANY INFO. NO SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, OIL, TEP OR ODOMETER. DISPLAY RETURNED WHEN PRIVATE MECHANIC BEGAN DISASSEMBLE. STOPPED. DISPLAY FAILED AGAIN IN ONE WEEK. GM DEALER SAID CLUSTER WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT. LATER SAID THEY REBUILT IT? FAILED AGAIN IN TWO DAYS. AT DEALER. I HAVE MY DOUBTS THAT THE CLUSTER WAS BAD AT ALL ALTHOUGH THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF ONLINE SITES OFFERING TO SELL AND/OR INSTALL NEW GM CLUSTERS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10383241February 18, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING FORM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE FRONT ROCKER GASKET WAS LEAKING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10378812January 26, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD SHUT ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE RADIO AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE SALVAGE LOT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING BECAUSE OF AN OIL LEAK THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS 08V118000,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0