Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Brakes 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.
42
Latest Mar 12, 2014
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.
24%
of 173 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.
5
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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Buick Regal submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 42 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 brake
The 25 most recent of 42, in the owner's own words
WHILE TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK ON A VERY BUSY STREET (HIGHWAY) THE CAR DIED. SINCE THEN I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO DO IT AGAIN. SOME DAYS IT DIES 5 OR 6 TIMES. I'M A SENIOR RELIANT ON SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME AND ANY EXPENSE IS "UNWELCOME", HOWEVER, I HAVE SPENT NEARLY $1,000 TO NO AVAIL. SEVERAL TIMES AFTER A REPAIR THE CAR DIED A BLOCK FROM THE REPAIR SHOP. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TRAINED MYSELF TO FLIP THE SHIFT GEAR INTO NEUTRAL & TURN THE KEY ON(CAR USUALLY RESTARTS - IN 2 INSTANCES IT DID NOT AND I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE INTO A NEARBY DRIVEWAY USING "ARMSTRONG POWER STEERING"). CHARACTERISTICS ARE THE SAME AS THOSE NOTED IN THE CURRENT (MARCH 2014) GM RECALL. I LOVE THE VEHICLE AND AM NOT IN A POSITION TO BUY ANOTHER, THEREFORE, IT WOULD BE SPLENDID FOR GM TO OFFER TO REPAIR IT. IT IS NOT JUST ME, AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP LOOKED ON-LINE @ WWW.CARCRAZY.COM AND DISCOVERED MANY BUICK REGAL OWNERS AS FAR BACK AS 1993 & 94 HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10568728
Incident
Nov 1, 2011
Mileage
110,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Jun 8, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING . HAS REPLACED BRAKES AND STILL ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. ALSO, POWER STEERING IS OUT, AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. ALSO, TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ID
10124608
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
BrakesEngine
Filed Apr 20, 2004
I OWN A 1995 BUICK REGAL AND FOR ALL THE TROUBLE I HAVE HAD WITH IT, I STILL LIKE IT. FIRST, THE AIR CONDITIONING WILL QUIT WORKING WHEN IT IS REAL HOT OUTSIDE AND WE ARE GOING UP A HILL. WHERE WE LIVE THAT IS EVERYWHERE. SECOND, THE PAINT STARTED PEELING WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HE COULD DO ABOUT IT WITHOUT CHARGING US FOR A PAINT JOB. ($3500). I THEN CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALER IN ANOTHER TOWN A COUPLE YEARS LATER AND WAS TOLD THAT IF I HAD REPORTED IT SOONER THAT BUICK WOULD HAVE PAINTED IT FOR ME AT NO CHARGE. I HAD MISSED THE CUT-OFF AT THAT TIME BY A COUPLE MONTHS AND A THOUSAND MILES. THIS CAR NOW HAS 114,000 MILES ON IT AND STILL RUNS OK. WE USE IT AS AN EXTRA VEHICLE FOR WINTER DRIVING BUT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT EITHER. FINALLY, THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES AND NEEDS IT AGAIN. I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THEM REPLACED OR TURNED EXCEPT WITH GMC PARTS WHICH IS NOT WORTH IT.
NHTSA ID
10066566
Incident
Jul 5, 1998
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 12, 2003
Crash reportedFire reported
ON JAN. 8,2003 I HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE INSPECTIO AND REPAIR DONE BY TUFFY'S AUTO SERVIVE AT 4164 N. MILWAUKEE IN CHICAGO. I NOTICES S SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL. I RETURNED TO TUFFY'S FIVE (5) TIMES, THE LAST BEING ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 20, 2003. AT THIS TIME, MR JIM JANICEK, THE DISTRICT MANAGER FOR TUFFY'S WAS PRESENT. AGAIN THEY INSPECTED MY BRAKES AND I WAS ASSURED BY MR. JANICEK THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES. AT THIS TIME, MR. JANICEK, THE DISTRICT MANAGER FOR TUFFY'S STRONGLY SUGGESTED THAT I WAS WASTING HIS TIME AND NOT TO RETURN. ON MAY 29, 2003, ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK I DEVELOPED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL WITH GREATLY REDUCED BRAKING POWER. ON MAY 30, 2003 I AGAIN WAS CHARGED , THIS TIME FOR TWO (2) CALIPERS TO REPAIR BRAKES. I BELIEVE THE CALIPER FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE THE WORK DONE BY TUFFY'S TO BEGIN WITH.ON JULY 8, ON MY WAY TO THE HOSPITAL, AS MY WIFE MUST GO WEEKLY; TRAVELING AT A RATE OF 30 MPH IN MEDIUM TRAFFIC I HAD COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO AVOID A MAJOR ACCIDENT. DRIVING AT A RATE OF 10 -15 MPH I WAS ABLE TO TAKE MY CAR TO LYNCH BUICK AT 5330 W. IRVING PARK RD. IN CHICAGO. THEY INSPECTED MY BRAKES AND FOUND THERE TO BE A SUBSTANCE THAT WAS NOT BRAKE FLUID IN THE SYSTEM. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WILL BE OVER $1,000.00. TUFFY'S WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY TOOK A SAMPLE OF THE FLUID FROM THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. TUFFY'S STATED THE THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD ANTI-FREEZE IN IT. TUFFY'S AUTO SERVICE ON NORTH MILWAUKEE IN CHICAGO WAS THE ONLY ONE TO WORK ON MY BRAKES AND THE ONLY ONE UNDER THE HOOD FOR ANY REASON SINCE JANUARY 8, 2003., H DUE TO THE GREAT TRAUMA CAUSED BY TUFFY'SLYNCH BUICK WILL REPAIR MY CAR. WHEN TUFFY' BOTCHED THE FIRST JOB, I GAVE THEM ANOTHER CHANCE, THAT CHANCE ALMOST COST ME AND MY WIFE OUR LIVES. I FEEL THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO ANY MORE BRAKE REPAIRS ON ANY VEHICLES. *AK
NHTSA ID
10025955
Incident
Jan 8, 2003
Brakes
Filed Oct 15, 2002
THE CALIPERS, BRAKE HOSES AND FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WAS REPLACED AT LEAST 10 TIMES WITH IN A 5 YEAR PERIOD. MR *JB
NHTSA ID
8020810
Incident
Jan 2, 1997
Mileage
45,700 mi
BrakesSteeringTransmission
Filed Sep 21, 2002
GOING DOWN AN INCLINE ON A CURVE, AT 25 MPH AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP . BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP WITHOUT POWER BRAKES WORKING . CAR COULD NOT BE PUT INTO PARK TO RESTART . PUT CAR ITO NEUTRAL AND STARTED RIGHT UP. VERY VERY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AND BRAKES ARE ONLY WORKING A FRACTION OF THERE POTENTIAL. *AK
NHTSA ID
767509
Incident
Sep 19, 2002
Brakes
Filed Sep 5, 2002
CONSUMER STATES BRAKES WERE MAKING A SQUEEKING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED BRAKES ETC. ONE WEEK LATER THE SQUEEKING NOISE RESURFACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
NHTSA ID
8017933
Incident
Sep 5, 1999
Brakes
Filed Mar 8, 2002
WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL STOPPED VEHICLE AND RESTART IT.*AK
NHTSA ID
8005222
Incident
Jun 23, 2001
Brakes
Filed Dec 17, 2001
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE DUE TO BRAKES GRABBING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT ROTORS ON ALL 4 WHEELS WERE RED HOT. VEHICLE STILL AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME.*AK *SLC
NHTSA ID
8000807
Incident
Dec 14, 2001
Brakes
Filed Aug 1, 2001
FRONT ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED TWICE, REAR ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK
NHTSA ID
749549
Incident
Jul 30, 2001
Brakes
Filed Jul 19, 2001
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER CAR WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP, SHOP PERSONNEL SAID BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE. INSURANCE COMPANY SENT APPRAISER TO CHECK CAR AND HE SAID THE BRAKES "FAILED A COUPLE MORE TIMES" WHILE HE WAS TRYING THEM. TOWED CAR TO BUICK DEALER. DEALER INSPECTED BRAKES AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THEM. WE TRADED CAR IN TO THE DEALER.*AK
NHTSA ID
748766
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Brakes
Filed May 18, 2001
1 injury reported
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
745493
Incident
Mar 29, 2001
Brakes
Filed Jan 10, 2001
BRAKE ROTORS PREMATURLEY WEAR OUT , CONSUMER HAS ALREADY REPLACED 4 SETS OF ROTORS, TWICE IN FRONT AND TWICE IN REAR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
877871
Brakes
Filed Dec 6, 2000
THE REAR ROTORS WERE RUSTED AND CRAKCED, THE CALIPERS WERE FROZE OPEN, THIS WAS CAUSING ALL OF THE BRAKING TO BE MADE WITH THE FRONT BRAKES ONLY. *SLC
NHTSA ID
557909
Incident
Jun 26, 2000
Brakes
Filed Nov 14, 2000
IN AUGUST OF 1996 I PURCHASED A 1995 BUICK REGAL, 4 DOOR, SEDAN. VIN # [XXX]. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
736307
Incident
Nov 14, 2000
Brakes
Filed Sep 4, 2000
MANY TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, WHEN TRAVELING EXTREMELY SLOWLY, EG. COMING TO A STOP SIGN, BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, ETC., I HEAR AND FEEL A HEAVY RATTLE (AS THOUGH METAL HAS RELEASED A LINKAGE) AND I CAN FEEL SOMETHING RELEASE THRU MY BREAK PEDDLE. IT ONLY TAKES A FEW SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS MANY TIMES EACH DAY AND IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY LATELY. I'VE HAD IT CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES BY MECHANICS AND THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT MY BREAKS COULD FAIL AND I HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED A PRELIMINARY RECALL NOTICE ON MY AIRBAGS, WHICH I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE INFORMATION YET ON THE REPAIRS, WHICH ADDS AN ADDITIONAL CONCERN TO POSSIBLE BRAKE FAILURE. I'M A DIVORCED MOM, WITH TWO KIDS AT HOME AND HAUL OTHER CHILDREN OFTEN. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A KNOW CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
NHTSA ID
730082
Brakes
Filed Jul 25, 2000
FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS ARE RUSTING OUT DUE TO CHEAP MATERIAL USED FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING PREMATURE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE PADS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ID
865964
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Nov 24, 1999
THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. OWNER HAS TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND START IT BACK UP AGAIN WHEN THIS OCCURS. DEALER CHANGED SERPENTINE BELT AND BRAKE PADS. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
NHTSA ID
853335
Brakes
Filed Oct 6, 1999
THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES; TWICE UNDER WARRANTY, ONCE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. AT 75,000 MILES, THE CAR IS IN NEED OF ITS FOURTH SET OF REAR PADS AND ROTORS. SPECIAL CARE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO MAKE SURE PROPER LUGNUT TORQUE HAS BEEN ADHERED TO. OWNER HAS ALWAYS CHECKED TORGUE AFTER WHEEL REMOVAL AND SET TO MANUFACTURER'S SPEC OF 100 FT/LB. THIS INCLUDES WHEEL REMOVAL BY GM DEALERSHIPS AND TIRE REPAIR SHOPS, ETC. I WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL. IT IS THE ONLY BLACK EYE FOR THE CAR. I WOULD TRY HIGH PERFORMANCE PADS AND ROTORS IF I KNEW WHERE TO START.
NHTSA ID
712923
Incident
Oct 7, 1996
Brakes
Filed Sep 22, 1999
Crash reported
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. DRIVER EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE BRAKE LOSS, WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT, AND WAS BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER HAS VEHICLE NOW. *AK
NHTSA ID
845593
Brakes
Filed Aug 3, 1999
DEFECTIVE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM
NHTSA ID
547634
Brakes
Filed Jul 29, 1999
DEALER HAS BEEN SYMPATHETIC TOWARDS PROBLEM/BUICK STATES THE PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR DISC PADS AND ROTORS ARE BECAUSE I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE IS ROAD SALT AND SAND.I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS THE PROBLEM. BUICK IS ADVISING THE DEALERS THAT WE HAVE TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE ONCE A WEEK TO ADJUST THE REAR CALIPERS, THIS WAS DONE AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. ON 7-23-99 I HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS THE FOURTH SET OF DISC PADS AND ROTORS ON THIS CAR I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS OF THESE CARS AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. OTHER CARS THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLRM ARE HEV. LUMINA, PONTIAC GRAN PRIX, OLDS CUTLASS. FOR THE PRODUCTION YEAR 1994-1995. AGAIN G.M> AND BUICK ARE STATING THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM. WHEN THE ROTORS WARP THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THE REAR CALIPERS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, THEREFORE THE REAR BRAKE PADS DO NOT TOUCH THE REAR ROTORS UNTIL HARD BRAKING, AND THE ROTORS COLLECT DIRT AND DUST WHEN THEY DO NOT WORK, AND WHEN HARD BRAKING IS DONE THE CALIPERS FINALLY WORK, BUT WHEN THEY HIT THE ROTORS THE PADS HEAT UP THE DIRTY ROTORS, THUS THEY HEAT UP AND WARP. I HOPE I MADE SOME KIND OF SENSE IN THIS COMMENT, IT CAN BE HARD TO EXPLAIN. HANKYOU FOR THIS MATTER.
NHTSA ID
709357
Incident
Jul 23, 1999
BrakesEngineSeat belts
Filed Feb 1, 1999
VEHICLE SEAT BELT CONTINUALLY NEEDS REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR, UNABLE TO REMEDY FAILURES.
NHTSA ID
543629
Incident
Nov 20, 1998
Brakes
Filed Nov 16, 1998
Crash reported
DEALER REFUSED TO MAKE REPAIRS. SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. COMPLETE FAILURE RESULTED
NHTSA ID
700664
Incident
Oct 1, 1995
Brakes
Filed Sep 2, 1998
ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
827512
Incident
Jun 22, 1998
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