2002 Buick Regal Electrical Problems

Dealership sold car knowing there’s recalls and never fixed

NHTSA ID

11576552

Incident

Aug 20, 2023

SINCE THE RECALL ON THE VALVE COVER(S) BEEN HAVING IGNITION PROBLEMS. THE CAR 'S ENGINE STOPS RUNNING PROBABLY DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR SOME OTHER PROBLEM, EG IGNITION SWITCH. THEN IT IS DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. AFTER A START, HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING THE CAR HOME. RIGHT MOW THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE AND IN THE GARAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10939299

Incident

Jul 15, 2016

Mileage

148,000 mi

I HAVE 2002 BUICK REGAL,HAD FIXED FOR LOW COOLANT LIGHT SIGN PROBLEM SEVERAL TIME BY DEALER, LAST REPAIR WAS DONE 1-26-2016 BY DEALER AND DO NOT SHOW ANY MORE LOW COOLANT SIGN OF LIGHT, 20 DAYS LATER MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD, I TOWED IT TO SAME DEALER, DEALER TOLD ME THAT TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED BY VERBAL, I TOWED IT TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND REPAIRED AND I COMPLAINTED TO STATE OF CA, IN FEB. 2016, I HAD RECALL NOTICE FROM GM, I HAD RECALL SERVICE DONE BY ANOTHER GM DEALER IN MARCH 2016, INVESTIGATOR FROM THE STATE LOOKED THROUGH MY CAR IN MAY 20 2016, INVESTIGATOR FOUND THE SIGN OF LOW COOLANT LIGHT WAS NOT DISPLAYED WHEN HE TURNED ENGINE ON, EVERY OTHER SIGNS OF ENGINE LIGHT DISPLAYED EXCEPT LOW COOLANT SIGN OF LIGHT, I PAID $131.00 TO DEALER WHERE I HAD RECALL SERVICE DONEIN MAY 27, 2016, I EXPLAINED THEM ALL THE SERVICE LIGHT DISPLAYS BUT THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT WHE ENGINE TURNED ON, THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR NEED NEW CLUSTER AND IT WILL COST $1009.00. MY CAR DRIVES SMOOTHLY AND I HAVE TO BUY COOLANT AND POUR IT TO RADIATOR MYSELF , CHECK FLUID LEVEL EVERY DAY TO BE SAFE, THIS IS VERY STRESSFUL AND MAKE ME NERVOUS TO GO OUT AND ENJOY MY LIFE,MY CAR IS ONLY 14 YEARS OLD AND 68300 MILES DRIVEN, I NEED MERE INVESTIGATION WHY DEALER WANT ME TO CHANGE THE WHOLE CLUSTER INSTEAD OF LITTLE PROBLEM OF MECHANICAL WIRE CONNECTION ? OR BULB ? I HAD PROBLEM WITH ODOR METER BETWEEN 2013-2015 AND DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST $ 1000,00 BUT ODOR METER OWNER FIXED WITH LITTLE CHARGE, I NEED HELP! PLEASE. THE OTHER DEALER SENT ME THE CHECK $ 409.23 BECAUSE INVESTIGATOR TOLD THEM. I NOTICED THE CASE NUMBER WAS DIFFERENT IN THE CHECK, I TOLD INVESTIGATOR ABOUT IT AND HE TOLD ME IT IS OK TO DEPOSIT THE CHECK SO I DID AND CASHED OUT.

NHTSA ID

10874799

Incident

Jun 16, 2016

Mileage

68,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000. UPDATED 09/08/15*LJ UPDATED 10/25/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10725904

Incident

Jun 12, 2015

Mileage

166,000 mi

MY CAR WAS PARKED. THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648974

Incident

Jan 21, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD A HIGH RESISTANCE TO DRIVING ABILITY AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,158. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 11/28/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID

10615914

Incident

Mar 14, 2014

Mileage

45,158 mi

2002 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, IN TRAFFIC. ALSO, THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED, TOO. *JB

NHTSA ID

10610421

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

CAR SHUTS DOWN AT ANY GIVING TIME,LEAVING US WITH OUT CONTROL. CAUSE FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENT. WE HAVE FOUND OUT ITS THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607214

Incident

Jun 26, 2014

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,847. UPDATED 08/11/14*LJ UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT

NHTSA ID

10605141

Incident

Feb 28, 2013

Mileage

92,847 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER THE VEHICLE STALLED FIVE TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 8/11/14*CN

NHTSA ID

10597940

Incident

Jan 8, 2014

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE MADE A TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

10578038

Incident

Jan 7, 2014

Mileage

153,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD RESUME. THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY CABLE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/17/14*LJ UPDATED 08/

NHTSA ID

10576921

Incident

Mar 11, 2013

2002 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE RE-STARTED WHEN IT STALLED. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE BRAKING AND STEERING CAPABILITIES WERE LOST. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ISSUE BY PUTTING SPECIFIC PRESSURE ON THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10575583

Incident

Feb 18, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10568705

Incident

Aug 11, 2004

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567545

Incident

Mar 5, 2003

Mileage

15,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ID

10478467

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

89,000 mi

LOSS OF LIGHTING ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND REAL TAIL LIGHTS. DURING VEHICLE START IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS NOT RECEIVING ELECTRICAL POWER. THE FUSE BOX WAS INSPECTED AND THE 15 AMP FUSE WAS BLOWN. IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT RESULTED IN REPETITIVE BLOWN FUSES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448346

Incident

Jan 10, 2012

Mileage

86,000 mi

SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON ISSUING OTHER PROBLEMS GAUGES ON DASH NOT WORKING. BLINKING ON AND OFF ANTI THEFT LIGHT ON. SECURITY LIGHT STAYS ON. AS A RESULT ON RESEARCH THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS THIS ISSUE AND NO ONE HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR GM AUTOMOBILES WITH ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THIS USUALLY OCCURS WHEN RAINING OR HUMID. ALSO RESULTS ON NOT BEING ABLE TO START CAR. UNTIL IT DRIES OR SUN COMES OUT. *KB

NHTSA ID

10437583

Incident

Nov 27, 2011

Mileage

139,000 mi

WHILE TURNING VEHICLE OFF I WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM THE IGNITION CYLINDER. DESPITE ATTEMPTS TO LUBRICATE THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER AND THE GEAR SELECTOR SWITCH THE KEY STILL REMAINS STUCK IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSIVELY GROWN WORSE OVER THE PAST YEAR AND KEY REMOVAL FAILURE OCCURS 98% OF THE TIME. *KB

NHTSA ID

10419939

Incident

Feb 10, 2010

Mileage

142,000 mi

LOSS OF LIGHTING ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND REAL TAIL LIGHTS. DURING VEHICLE START IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS NOT RECEIVING ELECTRICAL POWER. THE FUSE BOX WAS INSPECTED AND THE 15 AMP FUSE WAS BLOWN. IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT RESULTED IN REPETITIVE BLOWN FUSES. REPLACED REAR RUNNING LIGHT LAMP BULBS ALSO DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. REMOVED TWO REAR RUNNING LAMP BULBS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REMAINS POWERED WITH NO RECURRING BLOWN FUSES. PROBLEM AFFECTS INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING. *KB

NHTSA ID

10419937

Incident

Jun 7, 2011

Mileage

154,360 mi

TURNING ON THE NIGHT LIGHTS IS NOT TURNING ON THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE BRAKE LIGHTS, EMERGENCY AND THE SIGNALS ARE WORKING FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10360490

Incident

Oct 6, 2010

Mileage

122,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND ALL OF LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. AFTER DOING SO, SOME OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE ILLUMINATED AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ALSO FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MARGINAL FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS HAD ALSO FAILED. THE DEALER OBSERVED WIRES CUT IN THE TRUNK AND STATED THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE DEALER ALSO REPAIRED THE TAIL LIGHTS BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE HEADLIGHTS. SOME OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE; HOWEVER, A MONTH LATER, THEY SHUT OFF AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE MARGINAL A SECOND TIME. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON, THE LIGHTS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT MANUALLY ENGAGED THE LIGHT SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000.

NHTSA ID

10324444

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND THE SMOKE DISSIPATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO HIS RESIDENCE, BUT THERE WAS NO INTERIOR POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER A WEEK LATER AND THEY STATED THAT A NUMBER OF WIRE INSULATIONS, THE FUSE BOX, AND BREAKERS WERE BURNT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000. UPDATED 02/02/09. *LJ THE ELECTRICAL CABLE BUNDLE BURNED IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR UNDER THE DASHBOARD. TERMINAL BLOCK AND FUSE BURNED THE SWITCH IN THE DOOR. UPDATED 02/03/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10251507

Incident

Nov 27, 2008

Mileage

87,000 mi

I DROVE MY CAR EARLIER TODAY (DURING THE DAY TIME) AND EVERYTHING WAS OKAY... AS SOON AS IT WAS DARK MY HEADLIGHTS, LIGHTS IN THE DASH WILL NOT COME ON. THE MILEAGE IS INCORRECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240705

Incident

Sep 2, 2008

Mileage

76,352 mi

PROBLEM STARTED 2 WEEKS AGO WITH KEYS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION. HAPPENED A COUPLE TIME A DAY. NOW YOU CAN PUT THE KEYS IN BUT CAN NOT TURN ON THE CAR. HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP TO BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236793

Incident

Aug 1, 2008

Mileage

73,000 mi