1996 Buick Regal Owner Complaints

ON JULY 17, 2019 AT 8:40AM, I GOT INTO MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE AIRBAG EXPLODED. (THE CAR WAS NOT STARTED.) THE AIRBAG SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN BEING FIRED AND A POWDER LIKE SUBSTANCE IMMEDIATELY FILLED THE CAR. THE AIRBAG ITSELF HIT ME IN THE ABDOMINAL AREA. I FOUND THE DOOR HANDLE, OPENED THE DOOR, AND ROLLED OUT OF THE CAR ONTO THE GROUND. AT THIS TIME, I YELLED FOR MY SON. MY SON PICKED ME UP OFF THE GROUND AND CALLED AN AMBULANCE DUE TO ME BEING IN A SEVERE AMOUNT OF PAIN AND IN SHOCK. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE AND OBSERVED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. I HAD SEVERAL FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS THAT CONTINUE TO THIS DAY. INSURANCE CAME TO LOOK AT CAR, FILLED OUT PAPERWORK, AND SAID THEY WERE GOING TO TOTAL THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN MOVED SINCE THIS INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11265621

Incident

Jul 17, 2019

Mileage

102,931 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND FAILURE CODES: C1265 (REAR ABS MOTOR CIRCUIT SHORTED TO GROUND) AND C1286 (EBCM/EBTCM FAILED TO ILLUMINATE THE RED BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR) WERE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (DON BROWN CHEVROLET, 2244 S KINGS HIGHWAY BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63110, (314) 282-7887) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CODES INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A REAR MOTOR SHORT TO THE GROUND AND THE ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE ACTIVATED THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS. FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WOULD BE PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11088823

Incident

Apr 2, 2018

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE DOOR DOES NOT WORK WITH KEY EITHER. LOCK SEEMS TO WORKING BUT DOOR DOES NOT OPEN. THE CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND SHOULD BE A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10824631

Incident

Feb 5, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHILE MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY, I WAS TAKING MY CAR TO BE SMOGGED. AT SPEED, I NOTICED A LITTLE WHITE PUFF OF SMOKE EMIT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE BAY. AS I PROCEEDED TO START MOVING TO THE SHOULDER, THIS PUFF HAD TURNED INTO A GRAY PLUME. AS I FINALLY REACHED THE SHOULDER, THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE ENGINE BAY WAS BILLOWING BLACK SMOKE. AS I TRIED TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, SO IT SEEMED THE FIRE HAD BURNT THROUGH A BRAKE LINE. I MANAGED TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SLOWLY AND MANAGED TO STOP ON THE SHOULDER. OPENING THE HOOD, I FOUND A SMALL FIRE BURNING AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE, BUT IN FRONT OF THE FIREWALL. I HAD NOTHING WITH ME, SO I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IT WAS EXTINGUISHED. HOWEVER, BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE, THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS TOTALED BEYOND EXTENSIVE REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10786585

Incident

Oct 15, 2015

Mileage

195,000 mi

MY CAR STARTED TO NOT START AFTER BEING DRIVEN AND SHORTLY AFTER DID NOT WANT TO START IN A SIMPLE IDLE. SOMEHOW FUEL HAS BEEN GETTING TRAPPED IN A PRESSURIZED LINE AND I'M HAVING TO RELEASE THE FUEL OUT. OIL LEAKED INTO THE SPARK PLUGS CAUSED A PILOT FLAME. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO THAT SPECIFIC MAKE AND YEAR AS WELL A FEW OF THE OTHER 90 MODELS. EVERY ACCOUNT SAYS IT IS A FLAW IN THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703743

Incident

Mar 3, 2015

Mileage

238,256 mi

1996 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THE BALL BEARING WENT THROUGH THE GEAR BOX WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL, ON THE STEERING. HOWEVER, HE WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10660661

Incident

Feb 2, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,035.

NHTSA ID

10463618

Incident

Jun 29, 2012

Mileage

55,035 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, WEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY WITHOUT IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED ABRASIONS TO THE LEFT FOREARM. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH CAUTION TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000. UPDATED 10/20/10 *BF UPDATED 10/26/10*JB

NHTSA ID

10344035

Incident

Jul 17, 2010

Mileage

182,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK REGAL LE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL LOUD EXPLOSION IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. SHE OPENED THE HOOD TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE AND WAS EXHUMED WITH THICK SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TOP MANIFOLD MELTED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MANIFOLD, INJECTORS, SENSOR WIRES, PCV VALVES, AND HOSES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10321739

Incident

Feb 23, 2010

Mileage

130,000 mi

ON ENGINE START, LOUD EXPLOSION IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. INSPECTION REVELED ENGINE COVER BROKEN, UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD (PLENUM) SPLIT IN TWO PIECES. SMELL OF GAS, BROKEN VACUUM AND FUEL LINES. MUST REPLACE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, FUEL RAIL, 2 INJECTORS, VARIOUS LINES. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314670

Incident

Feb 16, 2010

Mileage

113,048 mi

VEHICLE BACK FIRE THROUGH THE INTAKE AND SMOKE ROLLS OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, NORMALLY START GOOD AFTER SITTING OVER NIGHT, BUT GO TO START IT AGAIN IT WILL BACK FIRE OR THE ENGINE IDLE IS VERY ERRATIC BEFORE IT WILL SMOOTH OUT. I REPLACE SPARK PLUG, SPARK PLUG WIRES, CAM SENSOR, PCV VALVE, FUEL FILTER CHECK BATTERY CONNECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10269816

Incident

Nov 10, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY EXPERIENCED A NO-START CONDITION. THERE WAS ALSO A BACKFIRE THAT OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED PRIOR TO THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 78,117. UPDATED 02/05/09. *LJ COOLANT WAS FOUND IN THE OIL WHEN REPAIRS WERE MADE ON THE MANIFOLD. UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10252849

Incident

Nov 26, 2008

Mileage

78,117 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK REGAL. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OR CRASH. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 157,000.

NHTSA ID

10252282

Incident

Dec 19, 2008

Mileage

157,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 1998 AND SOON AFTER THAT THE PAINT STARTED TO PEEL. IN ABOUT 2000 I FINALLY RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT TO LOOK AT MY VIN NUMBER, AND IF THE 11TH NUMBER WAS A '1' THAT IT WAS PAINTED IN CANADA AND THAT THEY TROUBLE WITH BAD PRIMER UP THERE. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD SUED FOR A NEW PAINT JOB. GM CLOSED THAT PLANT DOWN. I WENT TO MAACO HERE AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE PRIMER WAS BAD, THEY WOULD HAVE TO STRIP THAT ALL OFF TOO, AND THE WHOLE JOB WAS MORE THAN I COULD AFFORD. ALSO, EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR, THE BRAKES HAVE MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE ON STOPPING, MAINLY IN WARM WEATHER. ALL MECHANICS THINK IT IS VERY ODD AND HAVE TRIED TO FIX IT SEVERAL TIMES. TWO MECHANICS HAVE ACTUALLY STOPPED THE NOISE BUT IT RETURNS PROMPTLY. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO IMPAIR THE BRAKING ABILITY. IT'S A GOOD OLD CAR AND NOW HAS 93,000 MILES WITHOUT OTHER COMPLAINTS, BUT IS EMBARRASSING TO DRIVE WITH 1/2 OF ITS PAINT MISSING. IT LOOKS LIKE A COW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235436

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

Mileage

30,000 mi

THERE IS A SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A GARAGE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. WE CALLED BUICK AND WERE TOLD THAT THE RECALL IS VIN SPECIFIC AND THAT OUR VIN WAS NOT RECALLED. WE WERE ADVISED BY BUICK THAT IT WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL AS THE RECALL AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY ONE OF THEIR DEALERS TO LOOK AT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233151

Incident

Jul 2, 1996

Mileage

176,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE 1996 BUCK REGAL ON I-77 NORTH NEAR CHELYAN, WV ANOTHER DAUGHTER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BROKE FROM THE HUB, CAUSING THE CAR TO VEER AND EVENTUALLY HIT THE CONCRETE MEDIAN. THE CRASH SEVERELY DAMAGED THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR; IT WA STOTALLED. THE CRASH RESULTED IN INJURIES TO BOTH OF MY DAUGHTERS - THE DRIVER SUSTAINE D A BUMP ON HER FOREHEAD, AND THE PASSENGER HASD A SWOLEN LEFT ANKLE - PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF THE X-RAYS WERE NEGATIVE FOR A BREAK/FRACTURE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10196049

Incident

Jul 10, 2007

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1996 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING AN OIL CHANGE. AFTER THE OIL CHANGE, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED. SHE DROVE APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF MILES, MADE A RIGHT TURN, AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE IN ORDER TO MOVE THE WHEEL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA RECALL # 03V527000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 86,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10192498

Incident

May 22, 2007

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 186,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB UPDATED 02/19/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/2810*JB

NHTSA ID

10191601

Incident

May 22, 2007

Mileage

186,000 mi

I BOUGHT A USED CAR IN BOARDMAN, OHIO AREA AND I NOW HAVE A 1490.00 REPAIR BILL AFTER SALESMAN TOLD ME IT WAS CHECKED OUT. THEY REPLACED A BURNED OUT BULB WITH ANOTHER BURNED OUT BULB WHICH I CAN PROVE. I NEED HELP TO STOP THIS PRACTICE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10176299

Incident

Dec 3, 2006

Mileage

87,000 mi

WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING IN MY 1996 BUICK REGAL BECAME VERY STIFF AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO NEUTRAL. IT HAS ONLY BEEN TWO DAYS NOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, BUT IT'S DANGEROUS, AS IT GIVES NO WARNING. THE TURN ALMOST PUT ME INTO A TREE! IT HAPPENED TODAY BUT I WAS MORE AWARE THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN AND ALERT FOR IT. MY 1995 CENTURY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT WAS THAT THE STEERING RACK GETS TIGHT IN COLDER WEATHER AND AFTER 75000 MILES! *NM

NHTSA ID

10176002

Incident

Dec 12, 2006

Mileage

78,000 mi

LARGE PIECES OF PAINT CAME OFF THE HOOD OF MY CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10160665

Incident

Jun 7, 2006

Mileage

149,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THE PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 96V116000, REGARDING THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 5/3/2006 - WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AN EXPLOSION WAS HEARD. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE ENGINE ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A GARDEN HOSE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10154948

Incident

Apr 9, 2006

Mileage

113,000 mi

CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ON THE 1996 BUICK REGAL. *TS *NM

NHTSA ID

10154079

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

A RECALL WAS ISSUED REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ON OUR 1996 BUICK. THE PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE CAR. MY 17 YEAR OLD SON WAS PUT IN SERIOUS DANGER BECAUSE THE 'FIX' DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NOW BUICK IS TELLING US THAT THEY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLE. THE CAR WILL NOT TURN TO THE LEFT. BUCIK REPS ARE INCOMPETENT AND RUDE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150006

Incident

Feb 10, 2006

Mileage

127,000 mi

ON JANUARY 21, 2006 AT 7:10 AM, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON U.S. 1, A BUSY STREET DURING RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC, MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO CRASH INVOLVED NOR DID MY CAR COME INTO ANY CONTACT WITH ANY OBJECT. I DIDN'T EVEN APPLY THE BRAKES. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, IT HIT ME IN THE FACE AND BURNED MY HAND. FOR ABOUT FIVE TO SEVEN SECONDS I DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. IT WAS LIKE I HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND THEN WHOOSH, THE WHOLE BAG WAS IN MY FACE. I WAS CRUISING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF LIGHT TRAFFIC, AND FORTUNATELY, WAS ABLE TO STOP, THEN PULL OVER OUT OF TRAFFIC TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I THEN CALLED MY LOCAL BUICK DEALER AND COMPLAINED TO SERVICE WRITER "PAUL." HE TOLD ME TO GET MY CAR TO HIM AT MY COST NEXT TUESDAY, AND HE WANTED TO CHARGE ME FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THIS MEANS I HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS BUICK'S FAULT -- INVESTIGATING A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS ACCEPTABLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10148276

Incident

Jan 19, 2006

Mileage

120,000 mi