RoadVitals

1992 Buick Regal Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Apr 26, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 144 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1992 Buick Regal submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Apr 26, 2011

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

NHTSA ID
10397496
Incident
Apr 20, 2011
Mileage
102,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 17, 2000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL, AND CAUSING TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
868063
Incident
Jul 19, 2000
ElectricalVisibility
Filed May 1, 2000

VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BECAUSE CONSUMER HAS TO REPLACE FUSES FOR HEATER/ AIR CONDITIONR AND ANTENNA. *AK

NHTSA ID
861187
Incident
Jul 4, 1999
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Mar 8, 2000

THE REASON I AM REPORTING THE 2 INCIDENTS OF COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE IS THAT THE WATER PUMP AND THE ALTERNATOR FAILED THE FIRST TIME IN 1996 AT 34871 MILES. HOWEVER, THE SECOND TIME THE WATER PUMP FAILED ON 03/07/2000 THE SHAFT BROKE, DISABLING THE SERPENTINE BELT WHICH, IN TURN, DISABLED THE POWER STEERING. HAD I NOT BEEN DRIVING SLOWLY INTO A PARKING LOT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I FEEL THAT BOTH WATER PUMPS WERE DEFECTIVE TO FAIL ON SUCH LOW MILEAGE, AND OTHER 1992 REGALS MIGHT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE WRITTEN RECORDS ON ALL OF THIS AS WELL AS ON ALL SERVICE WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN PERFORMED IN A TIMELY MANNER. ALSO, BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED WITHIN A YEAR OF EACH OTHER AS I REPORTED AFTER LESS THAN 5 YEARS OF USE. HERE AGAIN, HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING OR INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME AS WEARING NO SEATBELT AT ALL. I CITE TOBY WELLS AS THE DEALER BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE ALL THESE REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY PURCHASED AT DICKINSON BUICK, 436 NORTH MCPHERSON CHURCH RD., FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28303 (910) 864-2411. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION WILL HELP TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS FROM FAILURE OF THESE COMPONENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
719839
Incident
Mar 7, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jul 26, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE AND THEN SAW THE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, A FIRE STARTED. DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
843321
Incident
Jul 23, 1999
Electrical
Filed Feb 26, 1999
Fire reported

SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE MIDDLE PART OF THE STEERING WHEEL BEHIND THE AIRBAG. CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE. *AK

NHTSA ID
835265
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+6 more
Filed Aug 31, 1998

BOTH LOCK ON DOORS DO NOT WORK, ALSO, VEHICLE HAS BRAKE FAILURE.*AK THE AIR CONDITION WAS LEAKING, STARTER WAS REPLACED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT INSIDE DOOR TRIM WAS LOOSE, HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP, DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE, AND DRIVER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT.*JB

NHTSA ID
827421
Electrical
Filed May 29, 1998

VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO MALFUNCTIONS WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC MODULE.

NHTSA ID
535998
Incident
Nov 11, 1995
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Oct 14, 1997

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
604356
Electrical
Filed Jun 4, 1997

DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORTS, THE SIGNAL LIGHTS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL PARTS FAILED.

NHTSA ID
517809
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 4, 1996
Fire reported

FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN IN OR AROUND AREA OF SIGNAL INDICATOR, CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SHORT.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
801837
Incident
Aug 20, 1996
BrakesElectrical
Filed Aug 8, 1995

REPLACED BATTERY.

NHTSA ID
483234
Incident
Jul 5, 1995
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Mar 14, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported

TRANSAXLE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIP IN REVERSE GEAR WHILE GEAR LEVER INDICATED NEUTRAL, RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURY. *SKD

NHTSA ID
482126
Incident
Mar 14, 1995

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .