Buick Regal Complaints (1998)

302 consumer complaints on file.

#10567980March 8, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
JUST AS THE CURRENT GM RECALL MY BUICK REGAL SUDDENLY LOSES ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE 1ST TIME THIS OCCURRED I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 60 MPH AT NIGHT, 1ST ALL THE DASH LIGHTS FLASHED ON, THEN MY HEADLIGHTS, POWER STEERING, ALL ELECTRONICS AND ENGINE DIED! LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE EMERGENCY LANE! ONCE, I WAS ABLE TO PULL MY FRIGHTENED SELF TOGETHER, THE CAR STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE AND MAKE IT HOME VERY CAUTIOUSLY. IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING, I TESTED IT JUST DRIVING VERY CLOSE TO HOME AND CONTINUOUSLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SOMEWHAT SEEMING TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN WHEN I USED MY TURN SIGNAL, THESE INCIDENCES OF TOTAL POWER FAILURE OCCURRED @ SPEEDS OF 0-35 MPH, SINCE I WAS UNWILLING TO PUT IT BACK ON THE INTERSTATE. WHEN PERFORMING A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, I QUICKLY FOUND THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, SOME WITH A 1998 BUICK REGAL JUST AS MYSELF, AND OTHERS WITH A SIMILAR MAKE & MODEL (STILL GM) AND CLOSE TO THE SAME YEAR, WELL BEFORE 2003. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC & GETTING A NEW ALTERNATOR AND BLOWER MOTOR, THE CAR DIED YET AGAIN BEFORE I EVEN MADE IT OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME TO TRY THE NEW ALTERNATOR BEFORE REPLACING THE IGNITION AND RELATED PARTS WHICH ARE QUITE PRICEY ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH HAS 1 OF THOSE CHIPS IN THE KEY. THIS PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE SOLVED AND I WONDER IF THE CURRENT RECALL IS EVEN MORE OVERDUE THAN THOUGHT. PLEASE HELP! DO NOT WAIT UNTIL MYSELF, MY CHILDREN OR OTHERS SUFFER FATAL CONSEQUENCES! THIS VEHICLE IS NEW TO ME, HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND IS IN OTHERWISE IN GREAT CONDITION AND ALSO HAS A SATISFACTORY CARFAX REPORT. MY SINCEREST THANKS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557962December 31, 2013
ENGINE
WHEN I PUT MY TURN SIGNAL ON THE DASH WARNING LAMPS LIGHT UP AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES EVEN WHEN IN PARK, YOU TURN THE SIGNALS ON AND THE VEHICLE DIES, IF YOU CYCLE IT A COUPLE OF TIMES IT OPERATES FINE UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF AND STANDING FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN IT WILL START THE PROBLEM ALL OVER AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514474May 31, 2013
AIR BAGS
I T- BONED A CAR. WHEN MY FRONT END HIT IT THE AIRBAGS WERE SET OFF. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAD WAY TOO MUCH CHARGE IN IT OCCURRING TO THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER. WHEN IT WENT OFF IT EXPLODED SO HARD AND FAST THAT THE TOP OF THE DASH FLIPPED UP AND SHATTERED THE WINDOW IN THAT SHAPE. THE REST OF THE WINDOW IS FINE BUT THIS REALLY EXPLODED AND COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF THEY HAD BEEN IN THE FRONT SEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490626January 1, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD AFTER STOPPING AT THE BANK FOLLOWING 25 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THERE IS NO POWER, THE KEY IS LOCKED IN THE IGNITION, AND CANNOT BE JUMPSTARTED BY USING ANOTHER CAR. IT CAN JUMPSTART WITH A MACHINE AND RUN FOR A FEW MINUTES, AFTERWARDS IT INSTANTLY DIES AND LOCKS IN PLACE. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ON A REGULAR STREET, LUCKILY WITH NO TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480109October 15, 2012
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR TRAIL MOUNT FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SINK ON ONE SIDE. THE CONTACT THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONTACT THEN STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE TIRE SEPARATION CAME FROM THE TRAILING MOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC OR A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 254,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472589August 27, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN BUT HAD DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468998August 2, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOWER BEARING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V527000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). THE VIN WAS INELIGIBLE UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,330.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466619July 19, 2012
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. BUICK ADMITS THE RECALL BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR DAMAGE CAUSED BY FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454075April 4, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I REC'D A RECALL NOTICE ON MY VEHICLE IN NOV. 2011 AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET IT IN TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL FIXED WHEN THIS FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM PICKING UP MY SON, AND MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL, I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO AND FROM WORK, AND MY WORK IS 30 MILES AWAY. IN CONTACTING GM THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL ONLY FIX THE RECALL PART ANY OTHER DAMAGE WILL NOT BE COVERED, I DO NOT HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO FIX THIS VEHICLE AT THIS TIME AND I HAVE ALREADY MISSED 3 DAYS OF WORK, AND HAVE NO MORE PERSONAL PAID DAYS OFF TO TAKE. I AM THE MAIN BREADWINNER OF MY HOUSEHOLD AND MY HUSBAND IS USING A BORROWED VEHICLE TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AS WELL. I FEEL THAT IT IS TRULY UNFAIR GM CAN'T OR WONT HELP OUT A MOTHER OF 3 WITH FIXING THIS VEHICLE SO THAT I MAY CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440434December 19, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1. RIGHT SIDE CORNERING LAMP IS INOPERATIVE DESPITE REPLACING BULB, SOCKET AND EVEN ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE HEADLAMP HOUSING ASSEMBLY WITH ALL NEW WIRING AND BULBS IN IT (NOT THE TURN SIGNAL BECAUSE THAT WORKS AND SO DO ALL HEADLIGHT FUNCTIONS I.E. HIGH/LOW BEAM). 2. WHEN ABOVE ISSUE STARTED CAR SUDDENLY STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHENEVER TURN SIGNALS WHERE USED WHEN PASSING OR TRYING TO ENTER HIGHWAY ON ENTRANCE RAMP REGARDLESS OF IF WE WERE SPEEDING UP OR SLOWING DOWN. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED AT A COMPLETE STAND STILL WHILE LOCAL MECHANIC WAS INVESTIGATING COMPLAINT REGARDING ALL THE ABOVE AND HE IS STILL NOT ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. I AM AFRAID TO LET MY FAMILY RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL COST US A FORTUNE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS UNSAFE ISSUE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437770November 29, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1998 BUICK REGAL W/ 3.8L ENGINE. HAD RECALL ISSUE FIXED MARCH 2011. VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER DRIVING UP TO OUR LOCAL MOUNTAINS. FIRE BEGAN AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, AS WE WERE GETTING OUR CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE BEGAN AT THE SPARK PLUG WIRES, CONTINUED UP THE WIRE ASSEMBLY TO THE FUEL LINES AND BURNED THROUGH FUEL LINES. IMMEDIATELY HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY, SINCE FUEL LINES WERE SPEWING GAS AT THE FIRE. WE WERE ABLE TO PUT FIRE OUT WITH SNOW ON THE BRUSHY HILLSIDE WE WERE PARKED BESIDE. FILED CLAIM WITH GM. THEY DENIED IT DUE TO CAR'S AGE, AND CLAIMED THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY AFTER THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD. THEIR RECALL FIX DID NOT WORK. THE CAR STILL CAUGHT ON FIRE ANYWAY WITH MY FAMILY INSIDE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437506November 28, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436389November 18, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENGINE OIL WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE, SOME OF THE OIL SPILLED ON TOP OF THE MANIFOLD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436003November 16, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427328September 23, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1998 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS DONE RELATED TO RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO AN OIL LEAK, WHICH RESULTED IN A FAULTY GASKET. IT IN TURN SHORTED OUT THE BATTERY AND THE STARTER. THE GASKET LEAKED, BLOWING OIL IN THE STARTER, AND CAUSED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS THAT WERE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413973July 21, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD 14 POWER WINDOW MECHANISMS REPLACED AND THE WINDOWS CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. 14 REPLACEMENTS IN ONE CAR, THIS CAN'T BE THE ONLY VEHICLE IN WHICH THIS IS OCCURRING. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409762June 28, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1998 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BEING HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER CONTINUES TO RECEIVE RECALL LETTERS REGARDING THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393680March 30, 2011
STEERING
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
#10386977March 9, 2011
EXTERIOR 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
#10375171January 7, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I OWN A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING I APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT AND APPLIED MY BRAKES. I SMELLED A BURNING OIL SMELL AND STARTED TO SEE A BLACK SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. MY CAR WAS DAMAGED PAST THE POINT OF REPAIR. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT ONLY TO BE TOLD THE PARTS TO FIX THE RECALL PROBLEM WILL HAVE TO BE ORDERED. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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