1997 Buick Regal Problems

1997 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SAFETY RECALL ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE NOTICE . CONSUMER WRITES VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS NO PROOF FOR CAUSE OF FIRE. *AS *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *TT CONSUMER STATED DEALERSHIP IS NOW CLOSED AND WILL BE TAKING IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. UPDATED 12/20/18*JB

BUICK FIXED 3 RECALLS BUT WON'T FIX ON SAY I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER PART BEFORE THEY CAN FIX LAST RECALL.

WAS DRIVING MY 1997 BUICK REGAL GS 3.8 WHEN I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR WENT TO TURN LEFT AND WHEN IN THE TURN ALL THE LIGHTS START TO FLASH AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN .. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED LATER TO FIND OUT IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH NOW CAR IS SITTING WILL NOT START ALL LIGHTS FLASH WILL NOT CRANK OR TURN OVER ... BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WOULD MAKE A LEFT TURN YOU COULD HEAR A CLICKING COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON ... EVERYTHING YOU TOUCHED ON THE STEERING WHEEL , TURN SIGNALS , WINDSHIELD WIPERS ANYTHING WOULD MAKE ALL CLUSTER LIGHTS COME ON AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR . THANK GOD KNOWONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *TT CONSUMER STATED DEALERSHIP IS NOW CLOSED AND WILL BE TAKING IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. UPDATED 12/20/18*JB

WAS DRIVING MY 1997 BUICK REGAL GS 3.8 WHEN I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR WENT TO TURN LEFT AND WHEN IN THE TURN ALL THE LIGHTS START TO FLASH AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN .. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED LATER TO FIND OUT IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH NOW CAR IS SITTING WILL NOT START ALL LIGHTS FLASH WILL NOT CRANK OR TURN OVER ... BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WOULD MAKE A LEFT TURN YOU COULD HEAR A CLICKING COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON ... EVERYTHING YOU TOUCHED ON THE STEERING WHEEL , TURN SIGNALS , WINDSHIELD WIPERS ANYTHING WOULD MAKE ALL CLUSTER LIGHTS COME ON AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR . THANK GOD KNOWONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED

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

IT WAS POURING DOWN RAIN YESTERDAY. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON AS USUAL. OUT OF NOWHERE, MY LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER STOP WORKING AND I LOST VISUAL OF THE ROAD. IT WAS SO DANGEROUS, ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. I COULDN'T GO TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I STOP MY CAR NEARBY UNTIL IT STOP RAINING. MY SAFETY WAS AT RISK. *TR

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL 99V348000. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY STOP WORKING DUE TO A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE DRIVE PIN AND CRESCENT IN THE CRANK ARM ASSEMBLY. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDE DUE TO VIN. *AK

BUICK FIXED 3 RECALLS BUT WON'T FIX ON SAY I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER PART BEFORE THEY CAN FIX LAST RECALL.

WAS DRIVING MY 1997 BUICK REGAL GS 3.8 WHEN I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR WENT TO TURN LEFT AND WHEN IN THE TURN ALL THE LIGHTS START TO FLASH AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN .. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED LATER TO FIND OUT IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH NOW CAR IS SITTING WILL NOT START ALL LIGHTS FLASH WILL NOT CRANK OR TURN OVER ... BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WOULD MAKE A LEFT TURN YOU COULD HEAR A CLICKING COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON ... EVERYTHING YOU TOUCHED ON THE STEERING WHEEL , TURN SIGNALS , WINDSHIELD WIPERS ANYTHING WOULD MAKE ALL CLUSTER LIGHTS COME ON AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR . THANK GOD KNOWONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IN A PARKING LOT, THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

CONSUMER STATES FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED BAND SEPARATION, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO WOBBLE DURING LOW AND MODERATE SPEEDS UNDER 50 MPH, THE REAR TIRES EXPERIENCED CUPPING, CAUSING A THUMPING SENSATION, MICHELIN REPLACED ALL TIRES, THE TIRES WERE GOODYEAR EAGLE LS, P225/60R16. *YH

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY AND MORE OFTEN IN SEVERE WINTER WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

FUEL GAUGE INCORRECTLY REGISTERS EMPTY WHEN TANK IS 1/4 FULL. *AK

TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING WINDING NOISE AS SHIFTING THROUGH THE GEARS. DEALER SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. DEALER WILL PAY FOR PARTS, BUT CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR LABOR WHICH COULD BE AROUND $700.*AK *SLC

TRANMISSION WAS REPLACED WHILE CAR UNDER WARRANTY W/REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WHICH IS NOW NEEDING TO BE REPLACED...DEALERSHIP DID NOT ADVISE IT WAS BEING REPLACED W/REMANUFAC. PART. CONTACTED BUICK ONLY TO BE ADVISED CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT HELP. STEERING/RACK & PENION: STEERING LOCKS, POPS, ETC WHEN DRIVING ...I DON'T HAVE MUCH INFO ON THIS RIGHT NOW AS WE ARE HAVING CHECKED BY MECHANIC NOW. HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER "NON LIFE THREATENING" PROBLEMS W/THIS CAR AND ARE VERY DISHEARTENED AS THE CAR IS ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS OLD.*AK

ENGINE CRADLE FELL OUT OF CAR WHEN WIFE WAS DRIVING KIDS HOME FROM SCHOOL. *TR

DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE EXTERIOR WINDOW MOLDING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL ROTTED TO THE POINT THE METAL BAR COULD BE SEEN. MR..*AK

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEATER BURNED BLACK COIL PATTERNS THOUGH THE LEATHER ON THE SEAT (BEIGE SEAT), WHEN DISCOVERED THE SEAT WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO TOUCH. DEALER SUSPECTED A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE SEAT HEATING COIL MECHANISM. I HAVE CONCERNS THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY LEAD TO FIRE. *NLM

TURNED AIR CONDITIONER ON, HEARD A RATTLING NOISE. SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE FRONT - PASSENGER SIDE. STOPPED THE CAR, OPENED HOOD AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WAS ON FIRE. *AK

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 HE SMELLED OIL COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,111 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 195,115.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING COLUMN VIBRATED AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY. ALSO, WHEN TURNING LEFT THERE WAS A PULLING RESISTANCE IN THE STEERING. *AK

LOW SPEED THUMPING NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION. CAR RETURNED TO DEALER, CONSUMER REFUSED TO ACCEPT VEHICLE AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIR ATTEMPTS OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS, CONSUMER ULTIMATELY DEMANDED AND RECIEVED REPLACEMENT AUTO. *AK

RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELT TIGHTENS ON DRIVING. YH

THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES REAR SEAT BELTS LOCK UP, BELTS GET VERY TIGHT, PREVENTING THE OCCUPANTS IN THE SEAT TO MOVE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATES NORMAL OPERATIONS DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

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

RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO DUE TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. THE RACK AND PINION BEGAN MAKING NOISE AND PRODUCING WHEEL VIBRATION WHILE TURNING AND EVENTUALLY DEVELOPED A LEAK. RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE FOR PARTS AND LABOR. UNFORTUNATELY, CAR IS BEGIN TO DEMONSTRATE EARLY SYMPTOMS OF IT FAILING AGAIN. THE SYMPTOMS ARE INCREASED NOISE AND VIBRATION WHILE TURN AT SLOW SPEEDS OR TIGHT TURNS AT MODERATE SPEEDS. I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO REPLACING THIS AGAIN. I NOTE THAT MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS EXIST ON THE LIST FOR SIMILAR ITEMS, AND THAT SIMILAR ISSUE EXIST FOR OTHER GM VEHICLES. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON ACTIONS BEING TAKEN ON THE BEHALF OF THE CONSUMERS OF THIS VEHICLE. *LA

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

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES ON LEFT HAND TURNS.