1999 Buick Regal Steering Problems

AUGUST 2017', THE STEERING BEGAN TO PULL VERY SLIGHTLY LEFT AND RIGHT AT ALL SPEEDS BUT MORE NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS AT A STOP WITH A VERY SLIGHT CLUNK NOISE THAT GOT LOUDER OVER THE YEAR. VISIBLE INSPECTION AT MY REPAIR SHOP DURING A FLAT REAR TIRE REPAIR DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WORN OUT OR DAMAGED BUT SUGGESTED MAYBE A BALL JOINT COULD BE GETTING OLD ENOUGH TO NEED REPLACED AS IT DID HAVE ABOUT 158,000 OR SO MILES ON IT BUT THEY COULDN'T INDICATE IF IT WAS A BALL JOINT SPECIFICALLY AS THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL MOVEMENT OR NOISE FROM ONE. I ALSO CHECKED AND FOUND NO ISSUES WITH ANY COMPONENT UNDERNEATH. NO LEAKS AND POWER STEERING FLUID WAS GOOD.THEN SEPTEMBER 7, 2018', WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN THE STEERING MADE A LOUD CLUNK STEERING LEFT AND REALLY BEGAN TO PULL ESPECIALLY LEFT. I GOT IT HOME 3 MILES LATER AND PUT IT ON RAMPS AND HAD SOMEONE WORK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND I FOUND THE CLUNK IS COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. YOU CAN LITERALLY SEE IT JUMP WHEN IT CLUNKS. AFTER THIS STATIONARY TEST THE STEERING WAS MUCH WORSE, THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE F THE BLOCK WITH OUT HEAVY EFFORT ON THE STEERING WHEEL SO IT IS PARKED UNTIL IT CAN GET FIXED. COMPLAINT HISTORY FOR THIS ISSUE WITH GM VEHICLES IN THIS +/- 2 YEAR RANGE IS ALARMING.

NHTSA ID

11128826

Incident

Sep 7, 2018

Mileage

162,000 mi

I CALLED A GM MOTORS DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEIR IS NO RECALLS ON MY CAR, BUT WHEN I LOOKED ON THIS SITE, THEIR IS 8 CODES WITH THE ONE RECALL I JUST GOT DONE NOT LONG AGO!! I WANT MY CAR FIXED!

NHTSA ID

10884645

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 40 MPH OR MORE THE ENGINE SUDDENLY CUTS OUT AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP AND THE CAR VIOLENTLY STOPS, WHICH COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. THIS IS VERY MUCH LIKE THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM IN THE OTHER RECALLS. AFTER A FEW TRIES THE CAR DOES START AGAIN BUT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. ALSO THERE HAS BEEN SMOKE POURING FROM THE ENGINE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EVEN OPERATING FOR MORE THAN TEN MINUTES, AND OFTEN THE SMELL OF GAS PERMEATES THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649952

Incident

Mar 29, 2013

Mileage

124,000 mi

WAS DRIVEING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 AND WENT TO TURN ON MY TURN SIGNAL AND MY ENGINE STOPED. I NEARLY CRASHED THE CAR. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND EVERYTIME I USED THE BLINKERS THE CAR WOULD EITHER TURN OFF RESTARTS THE COMPUTER LIKE I JUST STARTED THE CAR. THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON NOW AND THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WONT COME ON. I HAD A FRIEND DRIVE 3 HOURS TO COME AND TOW MY CAR. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK BECAUSE OF THIS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10446109

Incident

Jan 23, 2012

Mileage

200,000 mi

1999 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR POWER STEERING REPAIRS *TGW THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10426016

Incident

Aug 16, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: STEERING ( STEERING); HOWEVER, THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 01/23/12

NHTSA ID

10419553

Incident

Aug 12, 2011

Mileage

150,000 mi

POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. UNIT OPERATES CORRECTLY WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT, HOWEVER THERE IN INTERMITTENT POWER ASSIST TO THE LEFT. THE UNIT FAILED WHEN TURNING IN A PARKING LOT TO THE LEFT, THERE WAS A POP FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO THE LEFT. THE FLUID LEVEL IN THE POWER STEERING RESIVOIR IS NORMAL, HOW A SLIGHT PRESSURE WAS OBSERVED WHEN THE CAP WAS REMOVED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10179234

Incident

Jan 18, 2007

Mileage

110,000 mi

AT LOW SPEEDS (PARKING; TURNING) STEERING LOSS IS EXPERIENCED. COMPLAINED TO DEALER AFTER FIRST PURCHASED. WAS TOLD TO KEEP THE RPMS UP TO ASSIST TURNING. GETS SO BAD I HAVE HAD TO STOP AND BACK UP AND USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10157498

Incident

May 12, 2006

Mileage

5,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 BUICK REGAL LS. I HAVE 70,000 MILES ON MY CAR. IN DECEMBER I NOTICED PROBLEMS MAKING SHARP TURN TO THE RIGHT. I WOULD BE BACKING OUT OF DRIVE WAYS OR MAKING 3-POINT TURNS AND I WOULD HEAR AND FEET A CLINK LIKE SOMETHING IT STUCK AND THEN PUSHES THROUGH WITH PRESSURE. ON FEBRUARY 3, 2006 I DROVE MY CAR AS USUAL AND THERE WAS A VERY STRONG RESISTANCE TO TURN TO THE LEFT. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MAKE LEFT TURNS WITHOUT LOTS OF FORCE AND STEPPING OFF THE BRAKE. I LOSE POWER STEERING ASSIST ONLY MAKING LEFT TURNS, THE RIGHT TURN IS JUST FINE. I WOULD HEAR A POP WHEN I WOULD FORCE THE TURN. I HAD THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT RIGHT AWAY AND WAS SAID TO BE A STEERING RACK AND PINION PROBLEM. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT MY SAME MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM IN 96' 97' AND 98 MODELS, BUT NOT THE 1999. I CONTACTED GM FOR THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND PAY FOR THIS, BUT THEY WILL NOT!!! I WAS FORCED TO TAKE IT TO A GM DEALERSHIP IN TAMPA, FL TO GET THIS FIXED, AS THE CAR WAS UNABLE AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT ALL. THEY INSTALLED A NEW RACK AND PINION AND A TIE ROD, COSTING $1,000.00 FOR THE TOTAL WORK. I AM UPSET WITH THE FACT GM IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM WHEN THE SAME CAR 3 YEARS BEFORE HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM AND I HAVE FOUND MANY MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL AS MY CAR AND THEY HAD TO PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES AS WELL. I HAVE A ONE YEAR OR 12,000 WARRANTY ON THE RACK AND PINION AND TIE ROAD. I HAD THE WORK DONE ON FRIDAY, FEBURARY 10, 2006. *JB

NHTSA ID

10150598

Incident

Dec 14, 2005

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 BUICK REGAL GS (3.8L SUPER CHARGED) WITH APPROX. 85,000 MILES. ON JAN. 12, 2006 I LOST POWER ASSIST WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. THIS FAILURE ONLY EFFECTED THE POWER ASSIST IN A LEFT HAND TURN; RIGHT WAS OK. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AFTER A SHORT DRIVE TO WORK AND NOTICED THE STEERING GOT TIGHT. I HEARD A 'POP' WHEN I LOST ASSIST. AFTER WORK I DROVE HOME WITH NO ASSIST TO THE LEFT. THE PROBLEM IS ONLY WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED CLOCKWISE FROM STRAIGHT ON POSITION. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN A NON-POWER STEERING CAR IN ABOUT 15 YEARS BUT THIS SEEMED MUCH WORSE (VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER). I CHECKED FOR ANY TYPE OF LEAK OR BELT ISSUE, BUT MY INITIAL THOUGHT IS IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE THE PROBLEM REGARDLESS OF STEERING DIRECTION. I HAVE SINCE SPOKE TO A DEALER REGARDING THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE CONFIDENT A REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING RACK AND PINION IS REQUIRED. THERE IS ACTUALLY A SAFETY RECALL FOR 1996-98 BUICK REGALS FOR THIS IDENTICAL ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT AN ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147953

Incident

Jan 12, 2005

Mileage

85,000 mi

OVER SEVERAL WEEKS TIME I NOTICED THAT WHEN VEHICLE WAS SITTING STILL RIGHT TURN REQUIRED GREATER EFFORT TO TURN STEERING WHEEL, AS THOUGH WHEEL WAS AGAINST CURB. THEN NOTICED THAT I COULD "SHAKE" TIRES IF GRASPED AT 3 AND 9 OCLOCK ALSO COULD HEAR A SLIGTH "CLUNK" TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE, WITH VEHICLE ON RACK MECHANIC PIERCED RUBBER BOOT ON RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY AND FLUID RAN OUT, ALSO TIE ROD END WAS LOOSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10112673

Incident

Mar 6, 2005

Mileage

35,611 mi

ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT, POWER STEERING PUMP AND PRESSURE HOSE REPLACED, PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED. STEERING TO LEFT IS VERY DIFFICULT EVEN AFTER PUMP WAS REPLACED, AS IT WAS PRIOR TO PUMP BEING REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096306

Incident

Sep 30, 2004

Mileage

90,250 mi

ONE OWNER CAR, WELL MAINTAINED AND SAFELY DRIVEN. 70000 MILES. WHILE DRIGING CAR, STEERING LOCKED UP DURING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. STEERING POPPED"OUT OF POSITION SEVERAL TIMES. VERY HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE. MECHANIC WAS A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY, HOWEVER TY THE TIME I GOT THERE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS POSITIONED AT THE 4 O'CLOCK POSITION WIHILE DRIGIN STRAIGHT AHEAD. MECHANIC STATED THE ONLY OTHER CAR THAT HE HAD SEEN A RACK FAIL ON SO EARLY WAS A '97 BUICK REGAL. UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL THAT ENEDED IN 1998.*AK REPAIR TO REPLACE RACK, $800. ADDITIONAL COST OF $350 AT DEALER TO FIX AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. DEALER MAINTAINS INCORRECT REPAIR TO RACK CAUSED THIS PROBLEM IN THE STEERING WHEEL. OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS WAS A SERIOIUS HAZARD!

NHTSA ID

10082706

Incident

Jul 18, 2004

Mileage

69,500 mi

WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN POWER STEERING FAILED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR DRIVER TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED RACK AND PINION. *AK MANUFACTURER HAS RECALLED SOME MODELS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT DIDN'T COVERED CONSUMER'S. IN ADDITION, STEERING FAILED WHEN DRIVER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN IN A PARKING LOT. *LA

NHTSA ID

10057927

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

Mileage

73,800 mi

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING ISSUE, HOWEVER THE RECALL STOPPED AT THE 1998 MODELS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10054075

Incident

Jan 8, 2004

Mileage

102,000 mi

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10059174

Mileage

5,000 mi

MY 1999 BUICK REGAL LS CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE AN OCCASIONAL POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURS WITH A FIRST START/COLD START OR AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER BEING OPERATED. THE PROBLEM IS A LACK OF "POWER STEERING" WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, I.E. WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT AND A HARD LEFT TURN IS REQUIRED. THE SITUATION IS NEGATED AFTER THE STEERING WHEEL IS RETURNED TO A STRAIGHT POSITION OR FULL RIGHT POSITION. THIS OCCASIONAL FAILURE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR MORE THAN 40,000 MILES BUT HAS BEEN MORE FREQUENT WITH THIS WINTER'S EXTREME COLD WEATHER. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 99,000+ MILES. THE RECENT RECALL BY GM OF 1996-1998 REGALS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS PROMPTED MY REPORTING OF THIS FAILURE WITH MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10054668

Incident

Jan 21, 2004

Mileage

55,000 mi

HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK ON THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM TODAY DUE TO STEERING DIFFICULTY AND LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 104K MILES. REPAIR COST BY A BUICK DEALERSHIP WAS APPROXIMATELY $1400.00.*AK

NHTSA ID

10054603

Incident

Jan 21, 2004

Mileage

104,000 mi

1999 REGAL WITH 47,000 MILE HAS DEVELOPED A CLANKING NOISE FROM STEERING WHEEL WHEN MAKING LEFT TURN SAME PROBLEM NOW EXIST WHEN MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. DELIVERY DATE ON SERVICE ID IS 28 OCT 98. YET THIS MODEL IS NOT LISTED IN LASTEST POWER STEERING RECALL - THE DESCRIPTION OF MY PROBLEM IS DUPLICATED IN THIS LATEST RECALL. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054350

Incident

Dec 1, 2003

Mileage

46,956 mi

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. *AK (MAKING LEFT TURNS WERE VERY HARD AND STIFF) THE CONSUMER AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BY TURNING RIGHT. THE RACK AND PINION WAS BINDING AND WAS REPLACED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10040438

Incident

Jul 28, 2003

IN THE WATERLOO COURIER OF 9/23/03 IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS INVESTIGATING A POSSIBLE STEERING DEFECT IN GM VEHICLES. THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED INVOLVED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AND MY DAUGHTER (WHO WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT THE TIME) ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, IN CEDAR FALLS, IOWA. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE (1999 BUICK REGAL) BACK TO WAVERLY TO JERRY ROLING'S DEALERSHIP. ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION (SP?) HAD GONE OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. BECAUSE THE GM DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO CHARGE APPROX. $400 MORE THAN MY REGULAR MECHANIC, I HAD THE CAR TRANSFERED TO GARRY'S TIRE IN WAVERLY WHERE THE WORK WAS DONE. I PICKED UP MY CAR ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16. I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO YOU EVEN THOUGH THE 1999 REGAL WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE LISTED IN THE ARTICLE.

NHTSA ID

10039481

Incident

Sep 13, 2003

Mileage

33,500 mi

THE VEHICLE SWAYED LEFT TO RIGHT WHILE DRIVING, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO CONTROL. *JB THERE WAS A CLUNK IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSED BY THE UNDERTORQUED STEERING GEAR BOLTS. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS LOOSE AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *TS(SEE ANNOTATION - M. JORDAN) *TS. ALSO THE ENGINE FAILED TO TURN OVER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND FOUND THE NO VOLTAGE ON THE BATTERY, THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO GEAR, THE DEALER FOUND THE SHAFT FOR THE 4TH GEAR WORN, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE SIDE, THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED, THE OIL PAN AND FRONT MOTOR MOUNT WAS REPLACED

NHTSA ID

10014628

Incident

Mar 27, 2003

Mileage

89,477 mi

SEVERE CLUNKING NOISE UNDER HOOD WHEN TURNING WHEEL. AFTER TAKING CAR TO VARIOUS MECHANICS, IT WAS A UNANIMOUS CONSENUS THE RACK & PINION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025786

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

Mileage

89,000 mi

THE STEERING FAILED ON THE VEHICLE.*DT *JB

NHTSA ID

10008872

Incident

Nov 7, 2001

Mileage

63,990 mi

STEERING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 67,000 MILES ON 1999 BUICK REGAL WHICH HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR. SINGLE OWNER VIRTUALLY ALL HIGHWAY USE VEHICLE 3.5 YEARS OLD. STEERING BECAME SLUGGISH WHEN CAR WAS FIRST STARTED, THEN RESPONDED NORMALLY. WAS TOLD SOME INTERNAL SEALS WERE WORN. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT FORTUNATELY NOT. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WHERE THE STEERING ASSEMBLY FROM WHEEL TO WHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED AND HAVE DRIVEN 6 VEHICLE'S TO OVER 100,000 MILES, ONE 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10008190

Incident

Feb 18, 2003

Mileage

67,000 mi