2003 Buick Regal Electrical Problems

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

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 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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 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 MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID

10822020

Incident

Jun 29, 2007

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO FOUND NO FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,582.

NHTSA ID

10818187

Incident

Jan 2, 2016

Mileage

77,582 mi

MY IGNITION KEY WOULDN'T COME TO OFF POSITION WHEN I TURN OFF THE ENGINE. KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT FROM THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND I HAD TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE CAR AND MANUALLY LOCK THE CAR. AS A RESULT IT WOULD DRAIN THE BATTERY AND THE CAR IS UNDER A HIGH RISK OF CAR BEING STOLEN AND AT THE TIMES THE STEERING WOULD GET LOCKED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10760461

Incident

Aug 3, 2015

MOTOR WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD TOOK THE CAR TO CLASSIC DEALER IN MADISON OHIO AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL I HAD TO PAY OVER $400 TO GET IT FIXED WAS THERE A RECALL ON THIS PART THEY SAID THEY HAD TO PULL THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10694334

Incident

Aug 7, 2013

Mileage

94,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

NHTSA ID

10680561

Incident

Jan 13, 2015

Mileage

173,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 2/25/15*CN UPDATED 03/02/15*JB

NHTSA ID

10672679

Incident

Oct 16, 2014

Mileage

113,000 mi

THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DROVE IN A MONTH, I DROVE ABOUT 3MILES THEN PARKED, CAR THEN STARTED TO SMOKE THEN CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663816

Incident

Dec 4, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,000.

NHTSA ID

10650821

Incident

Oct 27, 2014

Mileage

270,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ UPDATED 5/4/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10641135

Incident

Dec 27, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING DIMMED, THE WINDOWS FAILED TO CLOSE AND OPEN, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED TO COOL. THE DEALER PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,528. UPDATED 10/24/14*CN UPDATED 08/28/2017*CT

NHTSA ID

10631447

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

94,528 mi

THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED WHILE ROLLING. EVERY EVENT USUALLY INVOLVED TURNING AND BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME, BUT OCCASIONALLY SHUT DOWN WHILE IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS. IT APPEARED TO BE SIMILAR TO THE IGNITION RECALLS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON OTHER VEHICLES, BUT NOT ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. IT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND AT LEAST TWO TO THREE TIMES WHILE TURNING ONTO ON RAMPS TO FREEWAYS. IT ALWAYS REQUIRES SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL TO RESTART AND VERY STIFF STEERING BECAUSE POWER STEERING IS DISABLED. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC AND PRESENTED VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. I BELIEVE THE IGNITION IS AT FAULT, BUT CANNOT SAY POSITIVELY. USUALLY OCCURS WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR SOME TIME AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING QUITE SOME TIME AND IS CONSIDERABLY WARM. UNDER HOT CONDITIONS IT OCCURS MORE OFTEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10626897

Incident

Jun 14, 2014

Mileage

201,789 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS IN ENGINE POWER AS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,432. ..UPDATED 08/12/14 *BF THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. UPDATED 09/16/14

NHTSA ID

10608000

Incident

Apr 12, 2006

Mileage

38,000 mi

ACTIVATED LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND STARTED TO BRAKE FOR THE TURN. ALL DASH LIGHT FLASHED, GAUGES DROPPED TO ZERO AND ENGINE DIED. IT IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED ON ITS OWN. HAPPENED TWICE WITH-IN 4 BLOCKS. DROVE VEHICLE AGAIN 1 WEEK LATER AND TRACTION CONTROL SWITCHED OFF EVEN THOUGH SWITCH WAS IN ACTIVE POSITION. CYCLED THE SWITCH AND TRACTION CONTROL CAME BACK ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607359

Incident

Jun 21, 2014

Mileage

53,000 mi

ENGINE DIED WHILE SIGNALING A LEFT TURN GOING ABOUT 45 MPH. ALMOST REAR ENDED. CHANGED IGNITION SWITCH MODULE. NO REPEAT RECURRENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10606795

Incident

Mar 5, 2014

Mileage

103,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO ITS NORMAL OPERATION AFTER BEING RESTARTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY. THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND AS A RESULT, IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT

NHTSA ID

10598104

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,592 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,500. UPDATED 08/11/14*LJ

NHTSA ID

10595885

Incident

May 19, 2014

Mileage

85,592 mi

I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR FOR OVER A YEAR DUE TO IT NOT BEING ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THE IGNITION NOT WORKING. SOME THING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION AND THE TRANSMISSION, YOU CAN'T GET THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION BECAUSE IT WANT TURN OFF TO THE POINT OF REMOVAL. I'VE NOTICED THAT THERE'S A CLICK SOMETIMES WHEN YOU PUT IT IN PARK AND THEN YOU CAN REMOVE KEY BUT IT'S RARE, I'M AFRAID IT'S GOING TO DO THE SAME THING THE RECALL SAYS WILL HAPPEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD. (ACCIDENT) THERE FOR I DON'T DRIVE IT THE BUICK DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF RECALLS BROUGHT IN, I'VE BEEN UNABLE TO GET HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10592721

Incident

Aug 8, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

NHTSA ID

10588375

Incident

Mar 19, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY CAR HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHEN I USE MY TURNING SIGNALS MY CAR SHUTS OFF AND I HAVE TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND RE START IT. ALSO, THE IGNITION ISSUE IS PREVENTING MY CAR FROM STARTING. I JUST HAD MY STARTER REPLACED 4 DAYS AGO BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS THE STARTER EVEN ONE IT READ OKAY I WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED IT SINCE THE ISSUE WAS THE CAR STARTING ALONG WITH IT SHUTTING OFF WHEN USING THE TURNING SIGNALS. I CALLED IN DUE TO THE RECALL TO FIND OUT MY CAR HAS A RECALL ON ANOTHER PART THAT COULD CAUSE IT TO CATCH FIRE. I HAD THE APPOINTMENT SET UP TO REPLACE THAT RECALL BUT SINCE THE CAR IS NOT ON THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL I CANT GET THAT FIXED TO EVEN GET THE CAR STARTED. IT STARTS MOST OF THE TIME BUT IT SEAMS THE TIMES I REALLY NEED TO BE SOMEWHERE IT WONT START. WHYIS IT THAT MY MAKE AND MODEL ARE NOT APART OF THE RECALL IF PLENTY OF OWNERS WITH THIS CAR ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. I HAVE BEEN SO CLOSE TO BEING IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS AND NEED IT FIXED. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT INCUR DIAGNOSIS TEST WHEN I CAN TELL YOU WHAT'S WRONG AND THEN I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED IN MANY OTHER GM AUTOMOBILES BUT NOT MINE. HOW CAN I GET MY CAR PUT ON THE RECALL LIST SO IT CAN GET FIXED???? THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! *TR

NHTSA ID

10588371

Incident

Dec 12, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

2003 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT, WHEN HIS VEHICLE CUT OFF, ON A BUSY ROAD. AFTER MUCH CHECKING, THE REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH.*JB

NHTSA ID

10582775

Incident

Feb 19, 2014