1998 Buick Regal Problems

On my way home from purchasing the vehicle, the car began to lose power and i noticed black smoke though the rear view mirror. Another driver signaled me down, so I pulled over and realized my car was on fire. The fire was in the engine compartment from what appeared to be the exhaust manifold. Since i was in a residential area, i grabbed a water hose and began to diffuse the fire. The fire department arrived and forced my hood open to reassure the fire was out. Luckily i was able to make it out safe. But i strongly believe my life and the lives of other drivers were definitely in danger

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS IDLE AT A GUARD SHAFT, WHEN SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER MOVED FORWARD AWAY FROM THE GUARD SHAFT AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HER HUSBAND OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THE GUARD PROVIDED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO HER HUSBAND TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE CONTACT STATED SHE RECEIVED RECALL LETTER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FAILURE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

CAR HAS BECOME VERY HARD TO TURN, UNLESS MOVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V527000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,013.

On my way home from purchasing the vehicle, the car began to lose power and i noticed black smoke though the rear view mirror. Another driver signaled me down, so I pulled over and realized my car was on fire. The fire was in the engine compartment from what appeared to be the exhaust manifold. Since i was in a residential area, i grabbed a water hose and began to diffuse the fire. The fire department arrived and forced my hood open to reassure the fire was out. Luckily i was able to make it out safe. But i strongly believe my life and the lives of other drivers were definitely in danger

The contact owns a 1998 Buick Regal. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 317,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V701000 (ENGINE) AND 00099V356 (VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD 14 POWER WINDOW MECHANISMS REPLACED AND THE WINDOWS CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. 14 REPLACEMENTS IN ONE CAR, THIS CAN'T BE THE ONLY VEHICLE IN WHICH THIS IS OCCURRING. *KB

On my way home from purchasing the vehicle, the car began to lose power and i noticed black smoke though the rear view mirror. Another driver signaled me down, so I pulled over and realized my car was on fire. The fire was in the engine compartment from what appeared to be the exhaust manifold. Since i was in a residential area, i grabbed a water hose and began to diffuse the fire. The fire department arrived and forced my hood open to reassure the fire was out. Luckily i was able to make it out safe. But i strongly believe my life and the lives of other drivers were definitely in danger

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED EIGHTEEN TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000. UPDATED 09/02/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WOULD STALL, THE STEERING AND BRAKES WOULD FAIL AS WELL. UPDATED 09/16/2014 *JS

EVERY TIME I TURN ON MY LEFT OR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL IT SHORTS OUT.... TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND HE DID SOME RE WIRING AND IT WORKED FOR A LITTLE BIT THEN STARTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN.... I DON'T WANT TO SPEND A BUNCH OF MONEY ON IT ANYMORE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUED TO RANDOMLY FLASH. ALSO, ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ENGINE WOULD MISFIRE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 99V356000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED SMOKE THEN I SEEN SMOKE I GOT OUT THE CAR SEEN SMALL FIRE UNDER THE CAR THEN IT EXPLODED INTO A BALL OF FIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 1-5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY STALL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER IT STALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,988. UPDATED 02/15/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS STEERING GEAR FAILURE, WHICH THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. AIR CONDITION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER, WHICH THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED. THE IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT. THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT B.F.GOODRICH TIRES STARTED TO DRY ROT. *AK

TREAD DELAMINATED AS VEHICLE WAS ENTERING I-20 WESTBOUND IN BENBROOK, TX. PHOTOS AVAILABLE. DT

THIS CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, NOTED BY MANY OWNERS. RUSTED PAINT OVER REAR WHEEL WELLS. I CANNOT COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES I HAVE HAD TO GET THE TURN SIGNALS FIXED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ABS SYSTEM THIS SPRING. NOW I AM TOLD I HAVE A CRACKED MANIFOLD. THE HEATING DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD HAS NOT WORKED FOR THREE YEARS: WE MANIPULATE THE HEAT/ AIR BY TRIAL AND ERROR. I HAD A "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT PROBLEM THAT REQUIRED NUMEROUS COMPUTER SCANS, AND WOULD ONLY BE FIXED FOR A MONTH OR TWO AT A TIME. THE WINDOW BUTTONS ARE FAILING. THE CAR DRIVES WELL, BUT HOW MUCH MORE MONEY IS IT REASONABLE TO PUT INTO? IT HAS 138, 00 MILES, AND HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 3000 MILES. IT SHOULD BE GOOD FOR ANOTHER 60, 000 MILES. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS, IT SEEMS I WILL ONLY BE WASHING MY MONEY. IS THE CRACKED MANIFOLD RELATED TO THE REPORTED FIRES?

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE ENTIRE UNDER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED IN A SALT BELT STATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR TRAIL MOUNT FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SINK ON ONE SIDE. THE CONTACT THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONTACT THEN STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE TIRE SEPARATION CAME FROM THE TRAILING MOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC OR A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 254,000.

AN ABNORMAL NOISE NOTED WHEN DRIVING, SO TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION. FRONT STABILIZER BAR HAD CRACKED THROUGH AND HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED - REPAIR COST $319.99. IT SEEMS THIS MAY BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL BUICK (3800V^) ACCORDING TO MECHANIC WHO HAS HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS OF THIS NATURE IN THIS SMALL COMMUNITY. HE FEELS THIS IS OCCURRING BECAUSE THE BAR IS HOLLOW AND NOT SOLID. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 1-5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY STALL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER IT STALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,988. UPDATED 02/15/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS STEERING GEAR FAILURE, WHICH THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. AIR CONDITION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER, WHICH THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED. THE IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT. THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER FELT THAT THE VEHICLE'S SEAT WAS GETTING TOO WARM. CONSUMER STOPPED AT A REST STOP TO USE THE FACILITIES AND RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE. UPON RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE SMOKED. CONSUMER MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE HEATED SEATS IN THE VEHICLE THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REFUSED TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT EH HEAT SEAT WIRING MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE WHICH LEFT A HOLE IN THE SEAT ABOUT 6 INCHES IN DIAMETER. *NM

DRIVER'S SEATBELT WILL NOT BUCKLE UP ANY LONGER. *AK

BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FOR DRIVERS FRONT/LEFT RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILS TO STAY LATCHED AND SECURE. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK *JB

I T- BONED A CAR. WHEN MY FRONT END HIT IT THE AIRBAGS WERE SET OFF. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAD WAY TOO MUCH CHARGE IN IT OCCURRING TO THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER. WHEN IT WENT OFF IT EXPLODED SO HARD AND FAST THAT THE TOP OF THE DASH FLIPPED UP AND SHATTERED THE WINDOW IN THAT SHAPE. THE REST OF THE WINDOW IS FINE BUT THIS REALLY EXPLODED AND COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF THEY HAD BEEN IN THE FRONT SEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR

DT: THE AIR BAG WAS PUSHING THROUGH THE DASHBOARD ON THE CONSUMERS 1998 BUICK REGAL. SHE NOTICED THIS ON 7-21-05. SHE TOOK IT IN ON THE 22ND AND THEY SAID THE CLIP WAS BROKEN. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD GLUE IT DOWN BUT THEN IT MIGHT NOT WORK IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THEY SAID THAT RIGHT NOW, IF ANYONE WAS RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, IT MIGHT KILL THEM AND IT WOULD BREAK THE WINDOW. SHE IS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS NOT TALKED TO GENERAL MOTORS. THERE IS NO AIR BAG LIGHT ON IN THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS NOT WRECKED THE CAR. SHE HAS ONLY HAD THE CAR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND IT WAS NOT LIKE THAT AT A ALL WHEN SHE BOUGHT IT. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS NOTICED WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS ONLY PRESENT WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,839.

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEALER STATED THE CRACK SENSOR AND THE FUEL SENSOR WERE THE PROBLEM. *JB

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THE DRIVERS FRONT DOOR IS FAULTY I WENT THROUGH THREE MASTER WINDOW SWITCH'S AND STILL SOMETHING WRONG. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS FAULT EVEN AFTER SOME SENSORS REPLACED. AND THE DIGITAL ODOMETER DISPLAY QUIT WORKING BUT THE REST OF THE GAUGES STILL WORK THE ODOMETER QUIT SHOWING AFTER 115K. THE DRIVER SIDE ELECTRICAL QUIT WORKING ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE NEW MASTER SWITCH WHEN YOU PRESS THE BUTTON IT UNLOCKS AND LOCKS THE DOORS. THE CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING IN OR AROUND 98K MILES. AND THE DIGITAL ODOMETER AND THE OTHER DIGITAL SCREEN STARTED TO FADE AND EVENTUALLY JUST STOPPED SHOWING AFTER 115K MILES.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY. HE PARKED VEHICLE ON AN OVERLOOK. WHEN HE CAME BACK TO VEHICLE TO START HIS WIFE STATED THAT SHE SMELLED SMOKE. WHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE IDLED ROUGHLY, AND STARTED GOING DOWN HILL AT BOTTOM OF HILL. ALSO, THERE SMOKE AND FLAMES ERUPTED FROM CONSOLE. HE APPLIED BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. VEHICLE WENT INTO MECHANICAL BRAKES, CAUSING HIM TO STOP 100 FEET. *AK CONSUMER AND WIFE EVACUATED VEHICLE AFTER STOPPING, ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *JB REFERENCED IN EA02-030

WHILE DRIVING I SMELT SOMETHING BURNING AND FOUND THAT THE HEATED SEAT OVER HEATED TO THE POINT IT MELTED ITEMS IN MY PURSE,COAT, WALLET, AND BURNT THE LEATHER SEAT. NO ONE WAS IN THE SEAT BUT I FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED BUICK AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE

ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING MY WIFE'S 1998 BUICK REGAL WHEN I HEARD A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND NOISE. I HAD FOUND OUT THAT BOTH OF THE REAR WINDOWS HAD FALLEN AS IF THEY WERE OFF TRACK, BUT THESE WERE ELECTRIC WINDOWS. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FELL AS WELL. I CALLED 3 DIFFERENT BUICK DEALERS WHO ALL TOLD ME THAT THE REGULATORS ON MY YEAR MODEL HAVE A VERY BAD TENDANCY TO GO OUT. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE REGULATOR FOR EACH WINDOW IS $400.00 PLUS LABOR. I SPOKE TO BUICK'S CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO SAID THAT THEY HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A COMPLAINT ON THIS, BUT I HAVE FOUND COUNTLESS FORUMS ONLINE WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OF TWO OR MORE WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONING ALL AT ONE TIME...THIS IS NO COINCEDENCE. ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S JUST A FEW WINDOW PROBLEMS, UNFORTUNATELY WHEN IT RAINS THE WINDOWS FALL AND MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAVE ENDED UP IN A VERY WET CAR TRYING TO COME HOME. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AS I HAVE ALSO HAD THE WIRES IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR SHORT OUT AND MELT. THIS HAS HINDERED THE VIEW FROM MY MIRROR AS WELL AS LEAKED BLACK GOO ALL OVER MY CONSOLE. WHEN I TOLD THIS TO BUICK THEY DIDN'T SEE IT AS A PROBLEM. I HAVE ONE OTHER COMPLAINT THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE NOT PROPERLY DONE. THEY WORK AND DON'T WORK WHENEVER THE MOOD STRIKES THEM. THIS IS VERY DISCONCERNING WHEN I HAVE CHILDREN TO PUT IN THE BACK. *AK

[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CUP HOLDER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. NLM