RoadVitals

1994 Buick Regal Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
14
Latest Oct 27, 2008
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.
13%
of 110 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.
0
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 windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Buick Regal submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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 visibility

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

Visibility
Filed Oct 27, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. THE WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE CAUSES THE WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED IN RAINY CONDITIONS. BUICK STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V017000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 12/10/08 *CN THE DEALER SHOWED THE CONSUMER THE TWO WIRES THAT WER BROKEN ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH. UPDATED 12/16/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10246878
Incident
Mar 15, 2008
Mileage
47,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 12, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO UPON INSPECTION, DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT SAME COMPONENT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND EXPRESSED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED, AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME ISSUES STATED IN THE RECALL # 97V017000 REGARDING VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER:SWITCH/WIRING.

NHTSA ID
10170654
Incident
Oct 10, 2006
Mileage
20,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 11, 2001

WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM FAILS TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THIS OCCURS MOST FREQUENTLY IN HOT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER CAMPAIGN 97V017000.*AK

NHTSA ID
748307
Incident
Jul 8, 2001
Visibility
Filed Mar 12, 2001

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKS INTERMITTENLY AT TIMES. HE CAN TURN SWITCH ON AND THERE IS A DELAY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPERS WITH THE SAME KIND OF FAILED PART AND IT FAILED AGAIN. *YH

NHTSA ID
882815
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Visibility
Filed Aug 27, 2000

WIPER SYSTEM WOULD NOT TURN ON. PREVIOUS RECALL 97V017000 HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

NHTSA ID
729259
Incident
Aug 27, 2000
Visibility
Filed Feb 26, 1998

WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FAILED.

NHTSA ID
531424
Incident
Oct 24, 1996
Visibility
Filed Feb 18, 1998

RECALL 97V017000; THE WINDSHIELD/WIPER/WASHER SWITCH WAS NOT REPLACED, BUT THE JOHNSON CHEVROLET BUICK CADILLAC REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW OF THE RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID
818914
Visibility
Filed Jan 5, 1998

RECALL STATES THAT DEALER WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE WASHER WIPER SWITCH WITH A NEW SWITCH, DEALER ONLY INSPECTED THE OLD SWITCH. TOLD CONSUMER IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO PUT IN A NEW SWITCH. THEREFORE, LEFT WITH OLD SWITCH STILL INSTALLED. MONTHS LATER, SWITCH BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
820235
Incident
Dec 31, 1997
Visibility
Filed Nov 28, 1997

VENTILATION IS POOR WITHIN THE VEHICLE, STRONG MOLD ODOR.

NHTSA ID
525576
Visibility
Filed Aug 1, 1997
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 40MPH, PASSENGER'D SIDE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR EXPLODED & PIECES OF MIRROR FLEW IN WINDOW & CUT DRIVER'S LIP. *AK

NHTSA ID
815184
Incident
Jul 31, 1997
Visibility
Filed Jun 26, 1997

ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS HAD BEEN TO DEALER CONCERNING RECALL NOTICE (#97V017000). EACH AND EVERY TIME THE DEALER SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE PARTS OR THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THEM. HOW MUCH LONGER DOES ONE HAVE TO WAIT TO HAVE A SAFETY DEFECT REPAIRED?

NHTSA ID
813550
Incident
Jun 23, 1997
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Nov 6, 1996

ABS BRAKES FAILED FOUR TIMES; ALSO ALTERNATOR/TURN SIGNAL/WINDSHIELD WIPER/FUSE BOX MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
511077
Visibility
Filed Oct 21, 1996

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
803779
Visibility
Filed Jul 11, 1996

WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FAILURE CAUSED SHORT CIRCUIT, REDUCING VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. *DH

NHTSA ID
506138
Incident
May 30, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .