RoadVitals

2001 Buick Regal Steering Problems

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

Data refreshed

Steering 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.
14
Latest Dec 13, 2019
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.
7%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. 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. 14 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 steering

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

EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Dec 13, 2019

I WAS DRIVING DOING ALMOST 50 WHEN IT SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I JUST LET THE CAR COAST TO A STOP, THE SECOND TIME WAS EXACTLY THE SAME EXCEPT I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE I STILL HAD A GOOD BIT OF SPEED AND CRUNK IT BACK UP. THE CAR ALWAYS CRANK RIGHT BACK UP WITH NO PROBLEM AND DRIVES FINE. I'VE CHANGE MY FUSES AND CERTAIN LIGHTS (LOW TIRE, LOW COOLANT, CHECK ENGINE)ON THE DASHBOARD WON'T GO OFF AND I JUST RECENTLY HAD MY CAR INSPECTED IN WHICH IT PASSED

NHTSA ID
11288811
Incident
Sep 19, 2018
Mileage
235,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Apr 6, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ID
10853759
Incident
Apr 5, 2016
Mileage
71,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 8, 2016

"TAKATA RECALL" VERY HARD TO STEER AND STEERING WHEELS LOCKS UP FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE WHEN YOU NEED IT. I AM SCARED THAT AS I AM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK ALSO HAS A BAD LEAK AND THE BELT FEELS LIKE IT WILL POP. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND AT ANOTHER TIME I WAS TRYING TO PARK.

NHTSA ID
10845647
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
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
Body & structureSteering
Filed Jul 1, 2012

DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT RHS STEERING SPINDLE TO TIE-ROD ATTACHMENT LUG HAD CRACKED THROUGH ONE SIDE OF THE LUG. SPINDLE IS FABRICATED FROM CAST ALUMINUM. FATIGUE CRACK INITIATION FROM INCLUSION OR POTENTIAL CASTING DEFECT WAS APPARENT BEFORE FAILURE. PART NUMBER AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CRACKED SURFACE ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10463911
Incident
Jul 14, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 26, 2007

STEERING SHAFT IN MY 2001 BUICK HAS FAILED 3 TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10209999
Incident
Jul 20, 2005
Mileage
44,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 3, 2006

EXPERIENCED A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MAKE TURNS AT SLOW SPEED. SYMPTOMS INCLUDED LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND A POPPING IN THE BRAKE PEDAL DURING TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES (RE-LUBRICATING IN THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT), BUT THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED AT 50,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10154462
Incident
Jan 2, 2006
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
Steering
Filed May 2, 2005

THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED IN ANY DIRECTION. IT COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT HAD A FAULTY RACK. IT WAS REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THE NOISE IS GONE.

NHTSA ID
10119395
Incident
May 2, 2005
Mileage
57,400 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 20, 2004

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A CLANKING NOISE. WHEN TRYING TO TURN TO THE LEFT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GO STRAIGHT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO THOUGHT IT WAS THE SHAFT, BUT WAS NOT COMPLETELY CERTAIN. ALSO, DEALERSHIP WAS GUESSING AS TO WHY THIS DEFECT MAY OCCUR. WHEN CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER HE INDICATED THAT VEHICLE HAD TOO MANY MILES AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10105112
Incident
Aug 5, 2004
Mileage
67,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 15, 2004

STEERING SYSTEM HARD TO TURN WHEN COLD (IN WINTER MONTHS) FEELING OF LOOSENESS IN STEERING AND ROAD BUMPS TRANSMITTED INTO STEERING WHEEL AND SOMETIME BRAKE PEDAL IF BRAKING.REPAIR SHOP CLAIMS THAT MANY LATE MODEL GM PRODUCTS ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND ADVISE THAT IT MAY TAKE STEERING RACK REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10066241
Incident
Apr 15, 2004
Mileage
95,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 23, 2004

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A POWER STEERING PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. *AK THE WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR A SECOND. *JB

NHTSA ID
10055437
Mileage
65,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 17, 2003

MY 2001 BUICK REGAL HAS A "LOOSENESS" WOBBLING" FEELING IN THE STEERING ON ALL PAVEMENTS AND IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHILE TURNING OR CORNERING. I HAD THE CAR INTO A BUICK DEALER SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND THEY PUT A GREASE BUSHING IN THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED, BUT WAS LESSER FOR A WHILE. NOW AT 31,500 MILES THE PROBLEM IS AGAIN VERY NOTICEABLE AND EVEN MORE SO THAN BEFORE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT END. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE DRIVE THE CAR AND THEY CERTAINLY NOTICED THE LOOSE FEELING IN THE STEERING.*AK

NHTSA ID
10050643
Incident
Dec 17, 2003
Mileage
24,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 24, 2003

THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10048592

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 .