RoadVitals

2003 Buick Regal Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
35
Latest Aug 4, 2023
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.
35%
of 101 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.
13
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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Buick Regal submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words

EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 4, 2023
Fire reported

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
Engine
Filed Aug 3, 2020
Fire reported

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
Engine
Filed Nov 7, 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
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2018

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
BrakesEngine
Filed Aug 11, 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
EngineSteering
Filed Dec 9, 2016

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
Engine
Filed Aug 3, 2016
Fire reported

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
Engine
Filed Jun 23, 2016

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
Engine
Filed Apr 25, 2016

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
Engine
Filed Apr 14, 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
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Mar 13, 2016

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
Engine
Filed Mar 10, 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
Engine
Filed Feb 12, 2016

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
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 2016

2003 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DROPS OF ENGINE OIL ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10838236
Incident
Feb 1, 2016
Engine
Filed Jan 29, 2016
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE CONTACT, A CONSTRUCTION CREW, AND THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID
10823055
Incident
May 15, 2012
Mileage
136,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 21, 2016

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

NHTSA ID
10821455
Incident
Dec 1, 2015
Engine
Filed Jan 8, 2016
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND PARKING, THE DRIVER NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. THE DRIVER LIFTED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DRIVER USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE HOME. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ENGINE FIRE. UPDATED 01/19/16. *JB

NHTSA ID
10818925
Incident
Jan 7, 2016
Mileage
194,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 5, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE, ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO RECALL WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10818094
Incident
Jan 5, 2016
Engine
Filed Jan 5, 2016
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HE NOTICED GRAY SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE, ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ID
10818036
Incident
Nov 13, 2015
Mileage
156,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 18, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

NHTSA ID
10811161
Incident
Sep 15, 2014
Mileage
185,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 17, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE ENGINE HAD CAUGHT FIRE, WHICH DESTROYED THE ENGINE AND CAUSED A FAILURE WITH THE COOLING FANS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND STATED THAT THE PRESSURE RETURN REGULATOR, SPARK PLUG WALLS, AND AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V507000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), WHICH STATED THAT IN THE CASE OF OIL DRIPPING INTO THE HOT SURFACE OF THE EXHAUST, THE VEHICLE MAY CATCH FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA ID
10810995
Incident
Oct 31, 2015
Mileage
175,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 17, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AFTER DRIVING LONG LENGTHS OF TIME, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD EMIT AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND THE OIL AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10810982
Incident
Dec 10, 2015
Engine
Filed Dec 15, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOSE AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED OR SALVAGED. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10810490
Incident
Aug 3, 2015
Engine
Filed Nov 18, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE HOOD WAS OPENED AND THERE WAS SMOKE. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND THEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID
10794685
Incident
Nov 11, 2015
Mileage
200,000 mi
ElectricalEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 12, 2014
Fire reported

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

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 .