1996 Buick Regal Fuel system Problems

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

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

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

HAD AN ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP FAILURE AFTER A PERIOD OF PROBLEMS WITH DIFFICULTY STARTING AND POOR ACCELERATION. WHEN THE FUEL PUMP WAS REMOVED, THERE IS EVIDENCE OF ARCING AT THE CONNECTOR. SEEMS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD, AS THE PUMP IS INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10140533

Incident

Oct 10, 2005

Mileage

156,000 mi

AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION, THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NHTSA RECALL 96V116000. *AK THE EGR VALVE WAS INOPERATIVE AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10112868

Incident

Feb 5, 2005

Mileage

29,050 mi

AT 55MPH, FUEL LINE SNAPPED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE MOTOR. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE PLASTIC CONNECTORS AT THE MOTOR MANIFOLD BROKE OFF. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO CALL WAS RETURNED TO CONSUMER. THE STEEL TUBING FROM THE GAS TANK IS CONNECTED TO THE STEEL MANIFOLD AT THE MOTOR BLOCK WITH A THIN WALLED PLASTIC TUBING. UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE PLASTIC TUBING IS HEAT-SHRUNK TO THE STEEL TUBING IN WHICH NO FITTINGS ARE USED. AT THE MOTOR MANIFOLD, PLASTIC FITTINGS ARE USED. THE FITTING BROKE, AND FUEL WAS SPILLING ONTO THE HOT MOTOR BLOCK AND FORMED A PUDDLE OF HOT FUEL, ONE PERSON INHALED THE GAS FUMES. *JG

NHTSA ID

8011151

Incident

May 30, 2002

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE THAT CAME FROM ENGINE. WHEN CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER HAD TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE, ONCE HE TURNED THE KEY A LOUD NOISE ERRUPTED FROM THE HOOD AREA. VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL FOR BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING, DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR WITHOUT PAYMENT. *JG REFERENCED IN EA02-030

NHTSA ID

8006973

Incident

Mar 19, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS BLOWN UP ONCE BEFORE IN THE VEHICLE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STARTED UP. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER NOTED THAT THE VECHILE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. NLM

NHTSA ID

8006510

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN A REPAIR SHOP A BURNED UP FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED IN FUEL TANK. FUEL PUMP AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8005083

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

WHENEVER THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED, IT WOULD LEAK. LEAKAGE IS OCCURRING ALONG THE SEAM OF FUEL TANK DUE TO CORROSION. ONCE FILLED & DRIVING AWAY, FUEL VAPORS CAN BE SMELLED INSIDE THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

896800

Incident

Sep 18, 2001

WHEN CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE THERE WAS A LOUD BANG THAT CAME FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THIS DEFECT WAS THAT THE FUEL DID NOT GO INTO FUEL RELAY SYSTEM, AND INJECTOR SPRAYED FUEL BACKWARDS ONTO INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH IGNITED THE FUEL. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE JULY 28, 2000 AND AGAIN ON MAY 13, 2001. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

888097

Incident

May 13, 2001

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THERE WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. *YH

NHTSA ID

880560

Incident

Jan 24, 2001

VEHICLE WON'T BE ABLE TO CRANK AT THE TIME, AND NO ELECTRICAL FUNCTION. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO TECHNICIAN, AND HE SAID THAT FUEL PUMP HAD MELTED INSIDE OF FUEL TANK. WHEN A PART MELTS LIKE THAT IT JUST MAKES SPARKS.*AK

NHTSA ID

868579

Incident

Aug 19, 2000

CAR FAILS TO ACCELERATE PAST 30MPH UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. INCREASING PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL AT 30MPH YIELDS NO RESPONSE FROM CAR. WHEN CAR HITS PASSING GEAR, FINALLY ACCELERATES PAST 30MPH. IN ADDITION, AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS IE. 70-75 MPH CAR DEVELOPS ALMOST A STUTTER AND CANNOT MAINTAIN SPEED AND STARTS TO DECELERATE. BOTH PROBLEMS OCCUR IN BOTH DRIVE AND OVERDRIVE. HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS TO 4 DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS, 2 OF THEM AUTHORIZED BUICK DEALERS. THEY HAVE REPLACED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, CLEANED FUEL INJECTORS, NEW FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER, NEW KNOCK SENSOR AND BLOWN CARBON OUT OF ENGINE TWICE. CAR STILL DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS DESCRIBED. *AK

NHTSA ID

708106

TWICE WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED FACING DOWNHILL THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED THE FOLLOWING MORINING, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN 1/4 FULL.

NHTSA ID

527664

Incident

Jul 1, 1997

THE FUEL PUMP SHORTED, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL ARC IN THE GAS TANK. THE FUSE DID NOT BREAK THE CURRENT. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED , OWNER WAS NOT PLEASED WITH OUTCOME. *AK

NHTSA ID

813955

Incident

Jul 7, 1997

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. REAR END OF VEHICLE WAS INCINERATED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALISTS HAVE DETERMINED THE ORIGION OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL OR ELECTRIC TRUNK RELEASE OR TRANK LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ID

811889

Incident

Apr 21, 1997