1992 Buick Regal Steering Problems

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

19922-REAR DOORS STICK-ADJUSTED 4 TIMES; BRAKES CLEANED DUST BUILD UP ON PADS AND ROTORS; 1994-REPLACED WATER PUMP; 95- EXHAUST SEAL CRACKED;REPLACAED EVAPORATOR AND COMPRESSOR AND HEATER CORE; FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED AND RESURFACED ROTORS; -96 DOOR STICS IN FREEZING RAIN- HAD TO HAVE DOOR HADLE AND CONTROL ROD FIXED; 98 REPLACED WATER PUMP AGAIN; ODEMETER STOPPED WORKING, AT 47,000 (?) ,FRONT AND REAR BRAK PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED, RUST ON RIGHT REAR SIDE WINDOW. HAD MY OIL AND LUBE JOB AT DEAALER; IN 11/98 AND IN12/98 HEARD NOISE IN FRONT, AND FOUND OUT THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS ALMOST GONE. THE GAS STATION MECHANIC LISTENED TO THE NOISE AND FOUND THIS OUT. FINALLY, IN 99 ALL DOORS FROZE AND TWO FRONT DOOR HANDLES BENT AND NEEDED TO BE FIXED. THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW VISIABILITY IS POOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

706773

Incident

Aug 14, 1995

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE OR VIBRATE VIOLENTLY, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING OVER FOUR TIMES. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

827467

STEERING COLUMN WIRING BEGINS TO SMOKE AND WIRES SHORT OUT, CAUSING LOTS OF SMOKE INSIDE OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

536374

Incident

Sep 1, 1997

IN WARM WEATHER AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE SMOKE COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED BY GREASE THAT MELTS FROM THE UPPER BEARING WHICH RUNS INTO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE TURN SIGNALS, CAUSING SHORT CIRCUIT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

815916

SMOKE IS COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER SAID THAT GREASE IS IN THE COLUMN SHAFT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE. DEALER HAS CLEANED THE GREASE OUT FROM THE COLUMN , AND THE SMOKE IS STILL COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMITTENTLY. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

815868

Incident

Aug 15, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL CLICKS AND FROM TIME TO TIME WILL LOCK UP. *AK

NHTSA ID

814443

POWER STEERING FAILURE; CANNOT TURN STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

546812

Incident

Jan 2, 1992

SMOKE FROM STEERING WHEEL WHEN TILT FEATURE IS ENGAGED.

NHTSA ID

511355

Incident

Oct 1, 1992