RoadVitals

2001 Buick Regal Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
12
Latest Jan 23, 2018
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.
6%
of 187 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

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 2001 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.

Owner reports naming brake

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

Brakes
Filed Jan 23, 2018

ON 1997-2004 "W PLATFORM" GM AUTOS, INCLUDING MY REGAL, THE ABS SENSOR DESIGN IS FLAWED IN THAT IT'S WIRING IS LOCATED IN AN EXPOSED LOCATION AT THE INSIDE BOTTOM OF THE WHEEL HUB THAT ANY ROAD DITRITUS CAN IMPACT, CAUSING THE TRACK SYSTEM OFF DASH LIGHT TO COME ON AND ABS BRAKING TO FAIL. I AM NOW ON MY 6TH REPLACEMENT INCIDENT SINCE 2006, WHEN IT HAPPENED THE 1ST TIME. (2 EACH ON THE FRONT WHEEL HUBS AND 1 ON A REAR. DO NOT KNOW AT THIS TIME WHICH WHEEL IS INVOLVED THIS TIME,) EVERY TIME THE LITTLE SENSOR WIRE BREAKS OR GETS CUT & YOU CAN'T JUST FIX THE WIRE, IT REQUIRES A TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE WHEEL HUB AND COSTS NEARLY $500 A POP. THE WIRE IS RIDICULOUSLY EASY TO DAMAGE JUST BY DRIVING THROUGH PLOW DRIFT IN THE DRIVEWAY OR HITTING SMALL TREE BRANCH DETRITUS ON THE ROAD THAT BOUNCES OFF THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND SNAGS THE WIRE. MOST COMMONLY IT BREAKS INSIDE THE INSULATION AND INTERMITENTLY SHORTS OUT WHEN IT GETS WET, (& DISAPPEARS WHEN IT DRIES OUT AGAIN) CAUSING THE ABS SYSTEM TO STUTTER WHEN BRAKING, & MAKING IT EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE TO DIAGNOSE BEFORE FIXING (AN EXTRA $129). SINCE IT'S A COMMON (& FREQUENT) DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT ON ALL "W PLATFORM" GM VEHICLES FROM '97-'04, I FIND IT CURIOUS THAT THE NTSB HASN'T ORDERED GM TO FIND A FIX FOR THIS LONG AGO.

NHTSA ID
11064479
Incident
Jan 22, 2018
Mileage
135,000 mi
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 20, 2014

WELL DRIVING I WAS GOING ALONG AT 40 MPH AND THE CAR JUST UP AND DIED ALL THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED TO FLASHING STEERING BECOMES HARD AND THE BRAKING IS LIKE STANDING ON A BRICK I DO BELIEVE THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY BE THE PROBLEM IT IS THE SAME SWITCH THAT IS IN THE CHEVROLET IMPALA THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED I USED TO WORK FOR A GARAGE AND INSTALL THEM OFTEN I DO HOPE YOU LOOK IN TO THIS WITH CARE SECOND THING IS THE STEERING RACK IS REALLY BAD AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO THEM AT THE DEALER THEY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS FROM USE I DON'T BELIEVE IT I HAVE A ASE CERTIFIED PERSON DO ALL THE WORK TO IT AND THE BRAKES ARE BRAND NEW SO YOU TELL ME THERE IS A MAD DEFECT ON THE CAR IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED SOME TIME AGO AND I DON'T KNOW AS TO WHY THIS IS STILL NOT ON THE LIST OF RECALLS BUT IT NEEDS TO BE SAME FOR THE 2000 01 02 03 BUICKS THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME HOPE THIS GET TAKEN CARE OF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626913
Incident
Mar 1, 2013
Mileage
136,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Aug 21, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported

WAS IN FATAL ACCIDENT ON MAY 8 2009 IN DES MOINES, IA. IT WAS LIGHT RAIN THAT NIGHT AND I MADE AN ATTEMPT TO TURN A CORNER AND SLIDE RIGHT THROUGH AND FENCE AND DROPPED DOWN A HILL ABOUT AND ESTIMATED 20 FEET. THE ANTI-BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AS WELL AS THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING IS MY CONCERN. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE ONE TOOK PLACE IN DECEMBER OF 2009. A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED I WAS THEY CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION, BUT WAS NOT INFORMED TO WHERE I COULD UNDERSTAND. NOW THE CASE IS WITH THEIR LAWYERS WHO WON'T ANSWER THE PHONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10281320
Incident
May 8, 2009
Mileage
115,000 mi
BrakesEngineSuspension
Filed Feb 1, 2007

AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES GRINDING NOISE IN RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DEVELOPED, REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD AND HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED . AT ABOUT 84,000 MILES THE LIFTERS WERE MAKING A TICKING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A HELICOPTER, REPLACED THE LIFTERS AT A COST OF $1600 THIS WAS JUST ONE MONTH AFTER THE FINAL PAYMENT OF THE 5 YEAR LOAN ONE MONTH AFTER THE LIFTERS WERE REPLACED THE ENGINE SEIZED UP NEEDED TO BE TOWED AND I'M TOLD THAT THE MAIN BEARING HAS GONE BAD AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10181358
Incident
Jan 26, 2007
Mileage
84,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Jan 27, 2006

LTR FM (CA) RE DEFECTIVE 2001 - 2003 BUICK REGAL LS & GS STEERING SHAFT, REQUESTS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. *TS THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WOULD COST 287.00 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED ON THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10149717
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Brakes
Filed Feb 10, 2004

AS STATED IN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS MY BRAKES HAVE RUSTED AND ALSO SCREECH. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THEM LIKE OTHERS HAVE WITH THE SAME RESULT ( PUT NEW ROTORS ON THIS LAST TIME ALSO). THIS LAST TIME I HAD IT START SCREAMING ALMOST INSTANTLY AFTER REPLACING THEM. MY CAR ALSO HAS A SMALL SHAKE TO IT THAT CAN`T SEEM TO BE FIGURED OUT. IT COMES FROM THE FRONT END JUST LIKE OTHERS HAVE STATED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10056933
Incident
Oct 3, 2002
Mileage
28,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 4, 2003

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS RUSTED AT ONLY 17,000 MI.WAS TOLD CAR NOT DRIVEN ENOUGH.*AK

NHTSA ID
10025411
Incident
Apr 15, 2003
Mileage
17,800 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 12, 2003

ROTORS NEEDED TO BE GROUND @ 21000 MILES AND THEN AGAIN @43000 MILES, FRONT END SHAKES BADLY WHEN BRAKING, MAKE CONTROL DIFFICULT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10021467
Incident
May 18, 2003
Mileage
44,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 30, 2003

STARTING AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES THERE WAS A VERY DISTINCT RUBBING SOUND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A NON-EMERGENCY SITUATION (IT REMINDED ME OF THE SOUND BRAKES MAKE WHEN THEY HAVE TOO MUCH WEAR AND USUALLY IT'S AN INDICATION THE BRAKES NEED TO BE RELPACED). AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND THE DEALER STATED NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. AT ABOUT 29,500 I HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED. ABOUT 5,000 MILES AFTER THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED THE SOUND HAS STARTED AGAIN. IT SOUNDS AS IF THE ABS IS CONSTANTLY ENGAGED BUT THIS HAPPENS WHENEVER PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. I'M CONVINCED THERE IS A BRAKE PROBLEM THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND I'M CONCERNED THE BRAKES WILL FAIL IN AN EMERGENCY. THE DEALERS SEEM UNABLE TO IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. DOES YOUR AGENCY HAVE ANY RECORDS OF BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 BUICK REGAL GS?

NHTSA ID
10016744
Incident
Apr 30, 2003
Mileage
10,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 1, 2001

RUSTED ROTORS CAUSED CLUNKING NOISE AT THE REAR END WHILE BRAKING. NLM

NHTSA ID
562338
Incident
May 15, 2001
Brakes
Filed Jun 5, 2001

BRAKES WERE RUSTIED. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT BRAKES WERE RUSTED BECAUSE OF ATMOSPHERE.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
889821
Incident
May 23, 2001
Brakes
Filed May 31, 2001

REAR ROTORS RUSTED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
561409

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .