Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 1997 Buick Regal submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC 6 TIMES TO REPAIR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON/ABS LIGHT/TRAC OFF LIGHT COMING ON, HE REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WITH A MORE EXPENSIVE MODEL AND REPLACED THE MODULE ON THE ABS PUMP THAT HAS THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND PUMP GEARS. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR APPROX. 1 1/2 WEEKS AND NOW IS BACK! AM GOING TO THE MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. *TR
THE SERVICE VEHICLE SOON/ABS WARNING LIGHT/AND TRAC OFF LIGHT LIT AND THE CAR LURCHED AS IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THE ERROR CODE WAS C1225, WHICH IS TOO MUCH SPEED AT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THE BEARING AND SENSOR WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC ALSO REPLACED THE ABS PUMP MODULE (THE ELECTRONIC PART OF THE ABS UNIT) AND THEN HAD TO UPGRADE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND SENSOR TO ANOTHER BRAND THAT WAS 2X AS EXPENSIVE. THE ABS PROBLEM AFFECTED THE STEERING (MAKING IT HARDER TO STEER AND MORE NOISY), AND ALSO AFFECTED THE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE ONLINE WARNINGS SAID THAT IT COULD DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION IF NOT CORRECTED. I EVEN TRIED REPLACING THE MODULE OF THE TRACTION CONTROL UNIT UNDER THE DASH. THIS WAS A VERY TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY REPAIR, AS THE LEFT FRONT BEARING WAS REPLACE A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES AND TWO VISITS FOR THE ABS MODULE AND PROGRAMMING. I SEE THAT ANOTHER OWNER HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AT ABOUT 140,000 MILES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHEELS LOCKED. ALSO, THE ANTI TRACTION, AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ
DT: THE CONTACT WAS PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATIONS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. WHEN THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE HE SAID THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND SPLIT. THE VEHICLE WAS ROUTINELY MAINTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE MECHANIC TO THE SERVICE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES, BUT THE BRAKE LINES WERE STILL LEAKING. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THE BRAKE CORROSION WAS DUE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES.*AK
1997 BUICK REGAL SEDAN DEVELOPED VARIOUS PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. *MR THERE WAS A CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK. THE REPAIRS CONSISTED OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL PAN AND GASKET DUE TO AN OIL LEAK, THE THERMOSTAT, BELT TENSIONER, COOLANT PUMP, COMPLETE FLUSHING OF THE SYSTEM, WIRES AND PLUGS, NEW ALTERNATOR, UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKET REPLACEMENT AND A NEW ENGINE. THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED, THE BEARINGS AND THE PISTONS WERE NOISY. *SC THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. *JB
ABS LIGHTS FLASH ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICAL IS BEING INSPECTED.*AK
VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF STEERING PROBLEMS FROM PS PUMP TO RACK AND PINION COST OF REPAIRS ARE OUTRAGEOUS. MOST RECENT FAILURE LOCKED STEERING COMPLETELY WITH MY WIFE AND 6MO BABY DRIVING AT 75MPH ON INTERSTATE. HAS HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH OIL SEALS, ELECTRICAL, IDLERS GOING OUT. SERPENTINE BELT BROKE DUR TO IDLER SEIZED AND SHUT DOWN POWER STEERING WHILE AT 75MPH IN A SEPERATE INCIDENT
THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT AIR CONDITIONER IS LEAKING WATER ONTO CRADLE MOUNTS, WHICH HAVE DRIED OUT AND CAUSED FRONT CRADLE MOUNTS TO POP LIKE THERE WERE GOING TO FALL OFF. *AK THE BOLTS OF THE CRADLE MOUNTS WERE RUSTED. POWER STEERING HOSES RUBBED AGAINSTTHE BRAKE LINES, CAUSING A HOLE IN BRAKE LINE AND A LOSS OF OF BRAKES, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL, 99V223, HOWEVER CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AGAIN. *SLC
DEALER REPLACED ENTIRE FAILED HUB ASSEMBLY, CONSUMER STARTED EXPERIENCING LURCHING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AGAIN, TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO SAID THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN REPLACED BUT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL SENSOR WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, FAULTY PART WAS REPLACED AGAIN. *SLC
BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC DUE TO A MELTDOWN. MECHANIC SAID THAT BRAKE LIE MELTED DUE TO ENGINE HEAT. NO WARNING. *AK *ML
AT LOW SPEEDS (UNDER BRAKING CONDITIONS), BRAKES MAKE LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND COMPLETELY FAIL TO STOP THE CAR. ABS LIGHT, LOW TRACKING LIGHT AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON/OFF. WE HAVE HAD 14 INSTANCES WHERE THE BRAKES HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED. APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS AFTER INITIAL FAILURE, THE BRAKES COME BACK. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES SO FAR, AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. WE HAVE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO REPORT THE PROBLEM (CASE#990045360). VARIOUS BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT MOVING AND WE ARE NOT APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK
STOP LIGHT FAILED. YH
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .