RoadVitals

1996 Buick Regal Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
8
Latest Feb 16, 2005
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.
4%
of 204 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.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Buick Regal submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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 transmission

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

Transmission
Filed Feb 16, 2005

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE GEAR SHIFT. CHANGING GEARS ARE VERY DIFFICULT. WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE THE CONSUMER MUST APPLY A LOT OF PRESSURE FOR THE GEARS TO SHIFT. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE GREASE WAS APPLIED TO THE DEFECTIVE PART, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE GEAR SHIFT WAS HARD TO MOVE FORM PARK TO DRIVE. THE CABLES WERE FOUND DRY. *SC

NHTSA ID
10107172
Incident
Jan 4, 2005
Mileage
42,180 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 5, 2003

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS A LOT OF PLASTIC PARTS INSIDE, THEY MELTED DOWN DUE TO VEHICLE OVERHEATING. THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE MADE LIKE THAT OF THE OLD ONES, WITH METAL PARTS TO MAKE IT LAST LONGER. *LA

NHTSA ID
10041286
Incident
May 19, 2001
Mileage
80,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 14, 2000

TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID.

NHTSA ID
731396
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Nov 15, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH, AND IN THE PROCESS OF PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL, AND ENGINE ACCELERATED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
850739
Incident
Oct 11, 1999
Transmission
Filed Mar 6, 1998

TRANSMISSION MAKES LOUD WHINING NOISE.

NHTSA ID
531976
Incident
Aug 31, 1997
Transmission
Filed Jan 14, 1997

SHIFT LEVER IS DIFFICULT TO OPERATE, MUST USE BOTH HANDS TO MOVE OUT OF PARK POSITION.

NHTSA ID
513982
Transmission
Filed Oct 25, 1996

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL.

NHTSA ID
510569
Incident
Sep 1, 1996
Body & structureBrakesTransmission
Filed Sep 18, 1996

SAFETY RECALL--BRAKES. ADJUST SIDE DOOR FOR PROPER CLOSING. 231 FLASH E-PROM AND INSTALL LABEL MA-96-V9943. SAFETY RECALL--BACKFIRE. REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER SWITCH.

NHTSA ID
508907

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

Brakes42Engine38Electrical26Airbags21Fuel system19Steering18Suspension10Body & structure10Seat belts10Driver assistance9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .