2003 Buick Regal Owner Complaints

I BACKED THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE GUAGES WERE NORMAL. WHEN I GOT OUT I SAW A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER CAR BUT WITHIN A MINUTE THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE FLAMES WERE ABOVE THE CAR. I CALLED 911 WHEN I SAW FLAMES AND KNEW I WASN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT MYSELF. THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED, IT TOOK THEM AT LEAST 30 MINUTES TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. A COUNTY DEPUTY ARRIVED AND THERE IS A POLICE REPORT (I TRIED TO UPLOAD IT AND IT FAILED EACH TIME). THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY AN INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE (UPLOAD FAILED.

NHTSA ID

11536533

Incident

May 26, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE REPEATEDLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT'S FRIEND OPENED THE VEHICLE'S HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. POLICE AND FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED AT THE SCENE, NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 09V116(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WHICH HE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11343064

Incident

May 19, 2020

MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. THE SEAT KEPT HEATING UP ALMOST UNBEARABLE. THE NEXT DAY CAR WAS OFF ALL NIGHT MY BATTERY DIED AND THE HEATED SEAT WAS STILL HOT NEVER SHUT OFF ALL NIGHT LONG I FOUND A SENSOR UNDER THE SEAT AND UNPLUGGED THAT BUT AM NERVOUS OF MY DRIVER SEAT ALSO SHE HAS NEWBORN BABY WAS WITH US AND THE SEAT DEFINITELY COULD HAVE STARTED ON FIRE VERY DISTURBING ALSO VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11163490

Incident

Dec 20, 2018

WHILE MY VEHICLE IS IN MOTION I CAN SMELL OIL BURNING FROM SOME WHERE

NHTSA ID

11149982

Incident

Nov 7, 2018

Mileage

116,000 mi

RECALL #15757 WAS PERFORMED BY DEALER ON 2/24/2016. THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR HAD 255,300 MILES ON IT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (BROOKDALE CHEVROLET BUICK.GMC ON 5/30/18 WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR OIL DRIPPING ON THE MANIFOLD IT HAD 258,200. THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE HAD IT IN STORAGE AFTER THE REPAIR AND TOOK IT OUT THIS SPRING. THE WIFE SAID IT SMOKED AND THEN I DROVE IT AND I HAD A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SINCE THE REPAIR WE ONLY PUT 2,900 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. SURELY IF THE REPAIR WAS DONE CORRECTLY WE SHOULDN'T BE WORRYING ABOUT OUR SAFETY. THE CAR CAN'T BE DRIVEN AS IS. THE DEALER FLATLY SAID THEY WERE NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MORE REPAIRS UNLESS I PAY THEM $1,100 TO REPLACE THE VALVE COVER AND VALVE COVER GASKET. THE CAR IS REGISTERED AT THE DEALER UNDER NL COMPANIES BECAUSE I HAVE A RENTAL. THEY CAN'T SEEM TO PUT IT UNDER MY NAME. I CAN APPRECIATE THEIR RELUCTANCE TO REDO THE REPAIRS BUT THERE IS NO WAY OIL SHOULD BE LEAKING AGAIN ON THE MANIFOLD AFTER 2.900 MILES. THEY WROTE DOWN THE WRONG MILEAGE ON THEIR 5/30/18 INVOICE. THERE SHOULD BE 4 DOCUMENTS ATTACHED IF I DID IT CORRECTLY.

NHTSA ID

11099493

Incident

May 30, 2018

Mileage

258,200 mi

THE BRIGHT /DIM HEADLIGHT CONTROLLER HITS THE BACK OF THE STEERING WHEEL IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN A POSITION DURING A RIGHT DIRECTION CURVE IN THE ROAD. THIS HAS CAUSED THE SWITCH TO CATCH IN BETWEEN SETTINGS AND THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF. AN EXAMPLE OF THAT USE WOULD BE GOING AROUND A CURVE AND NEED TO TURN BRIGHT LIGHTS OFF DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON, THE BRIGHT / DIM SWITCH HAS TO BE ACTIVATED AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW BY MYSELF IN 2003 AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER SINCE OWNING THE CAR. I FORGET ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHEN I GET HOME SO NOW I FINALLY REPORT IT IN 2018. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT BECAUSE THE SWITCH AND STEERING WHEEL ARE NOT DAMAGED. THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IS ONLY THE LAST INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11062616

Incident

Jan 12, 2018

Mileage

169,900 mi

PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT STAYS ON

NHTSA ID

11020534

Incident

Aug 12, 2017

ALL WINDOW COMPONENTS MOTORS AND REGULATORS HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE IN ALL 4 DOORS BRAKE SHAKING TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE

NHTSA ID

11014548

Incident

Oct 17, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

2003 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR RECALL NOTICE - VEHICLE VANDALIZED AT DEALERSHIP - REFUSES TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES. *SMD THE CONSUMER DID NOT REFERENCE A RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10954729

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

UNANNOUNCED TO PURCHASERS, THE BUICK REGAL HAS A REDUNDANT AND DEFECTIVE SECURITY IGNITION SYSTEM THAT PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM BEING ABLE TO START WITH THE KEY AFTER THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED. IT MUST NOW BE TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED AND FOR A COSTLY REPAIR. IT WAS STATIONARY, AND THE BATTERY DRAINED DOWN WITH A PHONE CHARGER HOOKED UP. EVEN FOLLOWING THE FACTORY KEY SEQUENCE, THE BATTERY RUNS DOWN BEFORE THE CODE CAN BE CLEARED AND RE-ESTABLISHED.

NHTSA ID

10949491

Incident

Jan 25, 2017

Mileage

300,000 mi

MY 03 BUICK REGAL LS WILL SHUTOFF SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT, OR WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL. I CAN NOT FIND THE PAPERWORK, BUT I REMEMBER A RECALL FOR THIS ABOUT 5 TO 8 YEARS AGO. WE DID HAVE IT ADDRESSED, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK. TODAY'S DATE IS 1/9/17 AND MY WIFE HAD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN TO HER ON 1/4/17 WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND CURVE. SHE WAS NOT TURNING OR USING HER TURN SIGNAL. I ONLY HAD IT HAPPEN TO ME ONCE WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN USING MY TURN SIGNAL. MY MOTHER ALSO HAS AN 03 REGAL GS AND ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL NOR WAS THERE EVER ONE FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT I KNOW WE HAD IT ADDRESSED ABOUT 5 TO 8 YEARS AGO.

NHTSA ID

10943795

Incident

Jan 4, 2017

Mileage

200,000 mi

SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN 65 S HEADING TOWARD BRANDON FROM SPRINGFIELD, CAN'T GET BELT ON, AND IT WON'T EVEN TURN OVER WITHOUT A JUMP.

NHTSA ID

10934325

Incident

Dec 6, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE KEY FAILED TO EJECT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH PROPERLY. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION AND TOOK MORE THAN TWENTY ATTEMPTS FOR THE KEY TO BE REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA ID

10919032

Incident

Oct 2, 2016

Mileage

39,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY, THE FOOT, AND THE NECK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 11/29/16*LJ UPDATED 12/13/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10905903

Incident

Jul 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.

NHTSA ID

10892724

Incident

Aug 2, 2016

Mileage

188,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE STALLED FIVE TIMES THE SAME DAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWELVE TIMES BEFORE THE LAST FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,800.

NHTSA ID

10883088

Incident

Jun 25, 2016

Mileage

69,800 mi

OIL LEAKS,05/22/2016. I HAVE DAD SEVERAL HARD BREAKING TIMES -HIGHWAY-AND I HAVE SENSE NOTICED OIL LEAKING AND SMELLED OIL SMOKE FROM ENGINE.I HAD RECALL #15757 BACK IN 02/2016.CALLED ABOUT PARTS TO FIF PROBLEM.THEY SAY THEY CANT GET PARTS,-ON BACK ORDER- BEEN ALMOST 6 MONTHS,STILL NO PARTS.LOUDACROUS.NO EXCUSE.

NHTSA ID

10876978

Incident

May 22, 2016

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10876222

Incident

Feb 29, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID

10872999

Incident

Oct 15, 2015

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

NHTSA ID

10865465

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

148,000 mi

2003 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR RECALL NOTICE 15V-701. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10859759

Incident

Mar 9, 2016

GENERAL MOTORS SENT LETTER SAYING PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO REPAIR ENGINES FOR RECALL # 15757, BUT MY DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN PART NUMBERS 12590366 (COVER) AND 25532619 (GASKET) SINCE EARLY MARCH. DESPITE LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS, PARTS NEEDED FOR THIS RECALL REMAIN ON BACK ORDER. IN REPEATED CALLS TO GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, I'VE BEEN TOLD THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON TIMELINES TO RESOLVE THE PARTS BACKORDER.

NHTSA ID

10855481

Incident

Mar 21, 2016

Mileage

49,500 mi

ON THE EARLY MORNING OF 03/08/2016 AROUND 5:50AM ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AS I WAS TRYING TO TURN LEFT ON TO A COUNTY ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND ALMOST WENT DOWN THE DITCH DUE TO THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE CAR CONTINUING TO GET TO MY DESTINATION. AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AS SOON AS I USED THE TURN SIGNAL (I WAS TURNING RIGHT THIS TIME). I RESTART THE CAR AGAIN AFTER PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. THIS PROBLEM IS NOW WILL OCCUR EACH TIME I USE EITHER TURN SIGNAL LEFT OR RIGHT. I CONSIDER THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE ACCIDENT CAN OCCUR IF SOMEONE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO REACT WHEN IT HAPPEN THE 1ST TIME ON A BUSY ROAD.

NHTSA ID

10846290

Incident

Mar 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PRESENCE OF AN OIL LEAK WHICH PROGRESSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED A PUDDLE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE PART FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WOULD BE ABLE TO SUPPLY THE PART TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10846003

Incident

Dec 18, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLANT) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10825824

Incident

Dec 17, 2015