2005 Buick Regal Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Buick Regal, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Suspension228.6%
- Airbags114.3%
- Brakes114.3%
- Electrical114.3%
- Engine114.3%
- Steering114.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. I HAVE A 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS WITH ONLY 48,000 MILES ON IT. ONE MONTH AGO THE SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT/ABS/TRACKING OFF LIGHTS KEPT COMING ON. I JUST BOUGHT BRAND NEW TIRES IN MAY 2007 AND APPROX ONE MONTH LATER I HEARD A BAD ROARING NOISE COMING FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE TIRES. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE BRAND NEW AND WOULD PROBABLY BE SOMEWHAT NOISY. THEN THE LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON. THE BRAKES GRIND ALSO SOME OF THE TIME AND IT SEEMS TO FEEL LIKE A CAR SLIPPING ON GRAVEL. I TOOK THE SUV TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE LEFT FRONT ABS JUMPER HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS REPLACED AND ALSO THE HUB BEARINGS BOTH NEED REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1030.00. MY WARRANTY RAN OUT JUST THIS YEAR AND THERE IS NOT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT NOT EVEN SURE IF THIS TYPE OF THING WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING GOING WRONG WITH A CAR. I HAVEN'T HAD THIS VEHICLE VERY LONG, NOR HAVE A EVER ABUSED IT OR HAULED ANYTHING WITH IT. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. I READ ON A WEBSITE THAT EVERYONE WHO HAS A BUICK RENDEZVOUS REGRETS PURCHASING THIS LEMON OF A CAR AND HAVE ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING. GM WAS CALLED AND THEY WILL NOT HELP ME WITH THIS, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE MOUNTAINOUS PROBLEMS THEY HAVE HAD. *TR
2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS HUB BEARINGS MALFUNCTION AT 38,900 MILES . *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I SLID IN A SNOW STORM, HITTING A TRUCK AND CRASHED IN THE FRONT OF MY 2005 BUICK, LACROSSE. I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY DUE TO THE WEATHER BUT GAINED SPEED AS I CAME DOWN THE HILL. THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE FIRST EMERGENCY MAN ON THE SCENE SAID SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR BAGS THAT THEY HAD NOT GONE OFF WITH THE TYPE OF CRASH AND CUT THE POWER CABLES SO THEY COULD NOT GO OFF AFTER THE CRASH. THE POLICE OFFICER TOLD ME THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG THAT THE BAGS DID NOT GO OFF WITH TYPE OF CRASH I HAD AND I SHOULD HAVE THE BAGS INVESTIGATED. LUCKILY, I DID NOT BREAK ANY BONES BUT HAD MANY SERIOUS CONTUSIONS, CUTS, BRUISES, SCRAPES, WHIP LASH, CRACKED BREAST BONE, ETC. MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM. I WAS TOLD THAT: "OH, THE CAR WASN'T HIT HARD ENOUGH," (REMEMBER THE FRONT IS SMASHED) "IT DIDN'T HIT THE BUMPER LOW ENOUGH;" "THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME THAT THEY DON'T GO OFF;" "HMMM, THAT'S INTERESTING." I TOLD THEM THAT I FELT THAT THEY WERE USING FALSE ADVERTISING WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH ALL THE SAFETY INFORMATION OF THE AIR BAGS IF THIS "HAPPENED ALL THE TIME." NO RESPONSE FROM THEM. THAT HAPPENED DECEMBER 6, 2007. TODAY IS DECEMBER 29TH AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE A REPORT FOR MY INSURANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP ALTHOUGH WHEN THEY FIRST SAW THE CAR THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE TOTALED BECAUSE THE BLOCK WAS LEAKING FLUID. MY CAR RENTAL WILL RUN OUT THURSDAY. I CAN NOT PURCHASE A NEW CAR UNTIL I GET THINGS SETTLED WITH MY INSURANCE. NEW CAR INCENTIVES, WHICH I THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO USE TO HELP ME OUT, WILL RUN OUT JANUARY 2ND AND I WILL HAVE MISSED THAT DUE TO THE DEALERSHIP NOT GETTING A REPORT IN TO THE INSURANCE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. I HAVE A 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS WITH ONLY 48,000 MILES ON IT. ONE MONTH AGO THE SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT/ABS/TRACKING OFF LIGHTS KEPT COMING ON. I JUST BOUGHT BRAND NEW TIRES IN MAY 2007 AND APPROX ONE MONTH LATER I HEARD A BAD ROARING NOISE COMING FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE TIRES. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE BRAND NEW AND WOULD PROBABLY BE SOMEWHAT NOISY. THEN THE LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON. THE BRAKES GRIND ALSO SOME OF THE TIME AND IT SEEMS TO FEEL LIKE A CAR SLIPPING ON GRAVEL. I TOOK THE SUV TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE LEFT FRONT ABS JUMPER HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS REPLACED AND ALSO THE HUB BEARINGS BOTH NEED REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1030.00. MY WARRANTY RAN OUT JUST THIS YEAR AND THERE IS NOT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT NOT EVEN SURE IF THIS TYPE OF THING WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING GOING WRONG WITH A CAR. I HAVEN'T HAD THIS VEHICLE VERY LONG, NOR HAVE A EVER ABUSED IT OR HAULED ANYTHING WITH IT. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. I READ ON A WEBSITE THAT EVERYONE WHO HAS A BUICK RENDEZVOUS REGRETS PURCHASING THIS LEMON OF A CAR AND HAVE ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING. GM WAS CALLED AND THEY WILL NOT HELP ME WITH THIS, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE MOUNTAINOUS PROBLEMS THEY HAVE HAD. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEVERAL TIMES MY CAR HAS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON ROADS AND EVEN THE FREEWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND YOU CANNOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, IT CAUSED ME TO DRIFT ACROSS TWO LANES AND ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE OTHER CARS AROUND THAT HAD TO AVOID ME. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK. WE WERE TERRIFIED! WE ARE AFRAID TO GET INTO THAT CAR. IT'S A DEATH TRAP. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY. THE CAR IS ONLY VALUED AT $3,000, BUT THE REPAIRS ARE ESTIMATED AT $1000. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A GM RECALL RIGHT NOW FOR THAT SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE NOT YET INCLUDED THE BUICK REGALS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECTS, BUT COULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING IT, BECAUSE MY CAR WASN'T LISTED ON THAT RECALL YET.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEVERAL TIMES MY CAR HAS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON ROADS AND EVEN THE FREEWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND YOU CANNOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, IT CAUSED ME TO DRIFT ACROSS TWO LANES AND ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE OTHER CARS AROUND THAT HAD TO AVOID ME. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK. WE WERE TERRIFIED! WE ARE AFRAID TO GET INTO THAT CAR. IT'S A DEATH TRAP. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY. THE CAR IS ONLY VALUED AT $3,000, BUT THE REPAIRS ARE ESTIMATED AT $1000. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A GM RECALL RIGHT NOW FOR THAT SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE NOT YET INCLUDED THE BUICK REGALS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECTS, BUT COULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING IT, BECAUSE MY CAR WASN'T LISTED ON THAT RECALL YET.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEVERAL TIMES MY CAR HAS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON ROADS AND EVEN THE FREEWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND YOU CANNOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, IT CAUSED ME TO DRIFT ACROSS TWO LANES AND ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE OTHER CARS AROUND THAT HAD TO AVOID ME. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK. WE WERE TERRIFIED! WE ARE AFRAID TO GET INTO THAT CAR. IT'S A DEATH TRAP. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY. THE CAR IS ONLY VALUED AT $3,000, BUT THE REPAIRS ARE ESTIMATED AT $1000. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A GM RECALL RIGHT NOW FOR THAT SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE NOT YET INCLUDED THE BUICK REGALS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECTS, BUT COULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING IT, BECAUSE MY CAR WASN'T LISTED ON THAT RECALL YET.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .