Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Buick Regal submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 77 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.
The 25 most recent of 77, in the owner's own words
While driving on the highway at 60 mph, warning on dash came on saying “engine power reduced” and drop down speed to around 25 mph and I could not accelerate more than 25 mph on the highway which could have caused an accident because of the traffic flow behind me. I put a code scanner under the dash and it read code P2138, Throttle pedal position sensor switch.
The two systems that failed are the airbag release on the front passenger side and the stabilitrak system. Both systems show error lights on the dash. The front seat passenger does not have airbag protection. The stabilitrak system error light appears intermittently and when the traction system goes off the car brakes almost stop the car while driving. We go to Royal Buick in Tucson, Arizona. We worked with Germaine Kendrick. I've attached the dealer service invoice dated April 14, 2023. The invoice summarized the problem and stated that 1) a new seatbelt assesmbly is needed and 2) the service technician states that they can not replicate or repair the traction problems. Today is June 11, 2023. We are still waiting for the seatbelt assembly to "arrive". There is no solution for the traction system. We have phoned and texted 4 times. The most recent conversation on June 5th with "Chris" was interesting; Chris stated that the seatbelt part was NEVER ORDERED and furthermore, is not needed to repair the airbag warning light problem.
After heavy rain in mid-September 2022, both headlights just stopped working. The dashboard will usually display a warning or pop up symbol that something is not working, but I had no warning and got pulled over driving at dusk with no headlights. There has been been other issues with this vehicle too! The other issues include: Bluetooth connection not working at all, the transmission has “jerking” issues while changing gears and the engine revving too high while only going 30mph while driving in suburban Massachusetts. The car has less than 70k miles, these issues should not be happening. The main issue is the headlights, considering they cost around $200/ea and just stopped working with no notice.
I was driving on a back road when my car started smoking and blazed up on passenger side headlights an I see were people have been saying this was seriously fire issue now I'm out of work no car and I was only owner fa 5 months
The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and accelerating to enter the highway, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the traction, stability, and engine power reduced warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated she was able to park on the side of the road for 30 minutes before continuing to drive to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The contact also stated that she was unable to open the doors due to the battery not charging. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
When I shift the car from park to drive it does a VERY HARD jerk. And vehicle has no codes on dash or anything
While the vehicle was driving, there was a loss of power, at that moment sparks was seen emanating from under the hood, then the vehicle completely stopped running. Once pulled over smoke was bellowing out from the hood and subsequently ignited into flames. Fire department was dispatched and fire was extinguished. The vehicle was towed away and is still at the tow yard. The tow operator, based on visual inspection stated the fire did start in the engine compartment and spread to the fire wall, totaling the vehicle.
Front headlamp burned out due to moisture in the assembly. There is an issue with the ballast in the headlamp assembly for the turbo model. The seal may be faulty due to the headlamp shorting out except for the daytime running lights. I realized that it had malfunctioned and there was moisture in the assembly itself. My repair shop quoted $1500.00 for the repair/replacement as the whole assebly needs to be replaced. This is definitely a safety hazard and a common one for this make and model. This should be a recall due to the faulty headlamp assembly.
HEADLIGHT KEEPS BURNING OUT. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES ALSO DRIVER SEAT HEATING WORKS FOR 1 MIN AND TURNS OFF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY STRONG ODOR IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED JOHN HIESTER CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 3100 N MAIN ST, FUQUAY-VARINA, NC 27526, (919) 552-4944, TO NOTIFY THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF TSB 99-01-39-004G WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.*DT *AS
VEHICLE DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS AND CAN'T STEER OR BRAKE ONLY PRAY. ALSO, I TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND WON'T RESTART TOWER TO SERVICE CENTER THEY SAID I NEED NEW ENGINE!!!! I WAS JUST DRIVING IT NO SMOKE NO SMELL JUST WON'T START HE SAID NO OIL IN ENGINE EVEN THOUGH NOT SCHEDULED FOR A OIL CHANGE YET. RADIO WON'T KEEP DATE OR TIME OR RADIO STATIONS!
CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR A FEW RECALLS,THEY SAID THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS FOR RECALLS SO WHEN THEY GOT THE PARTS THEY CALLED AND SET ME A TIME TO GET THEM FIXED WELL WHEN I GOT THERE THEY SAID THAT IT ONLY HAD 1 RECALL AND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART THAT WAS ALREADY SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO BEGAN WITH AND THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THEY GET THE PART IN "STILL WAITING ON THAT CALL" THE VEHICLE HAS 97000 MILES AND IS ALSO BURNING OIL FAST AND SMOKING OUT THE EXHAUST,THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE ITS VIN SPECIFIC SO THE BILL WOULD BE ON ME TO HAVE THE ENGINE TORE DOWN TO SEE WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO BURN OIL BUT I NO IT'S BECAUSE OF PREMATURE WEAR OF THE PISTON RINGS AFTER THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE ON THESE ENGINES SO FAR BUT WHAT EVER THE CASE THEY HAVE YET TO CALL ME BACK AND IT'S BEEN ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT.
MY CAR HAS BEEN BLOWING LIGHT BULBS VERY FREQUENTLY. I NOTICED THAT THE WIRE WHAT IS CHARD AND BURNED AND NAKED RESULTING IN THE WIRES TOUCHING EACH OTHER AND CAUSING MY LIGHTS TO FAIL. I REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ONCE AND TWO MONTHS LATER THE INSULATION WAS BURNT OFF OF THE WIRE AGAIN. THERE HAS BEEN 2 INSTANCES WHERE IVE BEEN DRIVING AND MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT NIGHT TIME AND I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WHERE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF STREET LIGHTS. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK. IT'S NOT JUST MY VEHICLE THAT HAS THIS ISSUE. I HAVE THREE FRIENDS WHO EITHER DRIVE A REGAL THEMSELVES OR HAVE A CLOSE FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAS ONE AND ALL THREE OF THEM HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN. AND IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO WAS MAYBE NOT SO LUCKY IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DID NOT MOVE AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD UNLATCH WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
WHENEVER I AM DRIVING MY VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR IT STARTS TO STALL OR SPUTTER IN TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE DIES COMPLETELY. IT WILL RESTART BUT STILL CONTINUES TO HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING. I'VE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC AND NO ERROR CODES POP UP WHEN THIS HAPPENS SO THEY DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OR HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS SMOKING DUE TO A FAILURE RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS). TASCA BUICK GMC (55 FORTIN DR, WOONSOCKET, RI 02895, (401) 229-4021) PLACED A HARNESS OVER THE SEAT. THE WIRING WAS COVERED; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY HAD NOT BEEN PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TAKATA RECALL - THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE BALLAST IN THE HID HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY FOR THE CXL TURBO MODEL. THE SEAL MAY BE FAULTY DUE TO THE HEADLAMP SHORTING OUT EXCEPT FOR THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. THEY SHORTED OUT RIGHT AFTER A HEAVY DOWNPOUR AND I WAS STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER AND TOLD THAT THEY (THE HEADLIGHTS) WERE OUT. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED AT THE THE LIGHTS ONLY TO REALIZE THAT THEY HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND THERE WAS MOISTURE IN THE ASSEMBLY ITSELF.
2011 BUICK REGAL PURCHASED FROM SHOW ROOM FLOOR IN 2011. PRESENTATIVE MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE. NO WARNING LIGHTS. SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION, ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET APPROACHING INTERSTATE AT 25 MPH, CAR STARTING STALLING, PUTTERING, LOSING POWER. PULLED OVER, PUT IN PARK. THEN CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. WOULD ACCELERATE BUT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR OR MOVE. HAD TO BE TOWED. FIRST THING DEALER SERVICE CENTER SUGGEST IS $3000 TRANSMISSION. CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES, ONE OWNER. NO WAY! NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS OR WARNING LIGHTS, IN FACT ONSTAR DIAGNOSTICS CURRENTLY SHOWING NO ISSUES FOUND WITH ENGINE/TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED!!! 2011 BUICK REGAL DIAGNOSTICS REPORT FROM YOUR 2011 BUICK REGAL AS OF 07/08/2019 NO ISSUES FOUND
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUBURBAN CHEVROLET OF CLINTON (1070 W US-12, CLINTON, MI 49236) WHERE THEY REPLACED THE CONTACT'S KEY. AFTERWARDS, THE SERVICE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY. ALSO, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,774.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. AS THE CONTACT BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WITHIN A COUPLE OF SECONDS, ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, EXCEPT THE STEERING AIR BAG. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,200. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
WHEN I TRY TO USE MY SEAT WARMER ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE IT STAYS ON FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN TURNS OFF. THE DRIVER SIDE HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. THE PASSENGER SIDE JUST STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. MY SEAT WARMERS COME ON BUT NEVER GET WARM AND THEY CUT OFF AFTER ONLY A FEW SECONDS.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR, CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. PRIOR TO THAT, ENTINE CAR SHOOK VIOLENTLY RIGHT BEFORE THE SHUT DOWN. I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE WITH LIGHT TRAFFIC. CAR IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE.
THE THROTTLE BODY HAS A DEFECT WHICH SHUTS OFF ALL POWER TO VEHICLE WITH NO NOTICE. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION LOCK UP YOU LOSE ALL STEERING CONTROL AND NO BRAKES. ALSO NO LIGHTS SO WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT IT IS PITCH BLACK. GM DOES KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT THE LOSS OF LIFE LIKE WHAT HAPPEND WITH THE CHEVY CRUZE ALL MEMBERS OF GM ARE TOLD TO HANG UP THE PHONE. IT HAS HAPPEND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE DEALERSHIP SENT ME BACK ON THE ROAD KNOWING THE PROBLEM. DEALER REP SAID IF I WAS A BETTER CUSTOMER THAY MAY HAVE DONE MORE FOR ME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE ASSEMBLY AND FOUND THAT THE PLUG THAT CONNECTS TO LIGHT BULB WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER KEN FOWLER BUICK OF UKIAH CALIFORNIA AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY DID NOT SELL JUST THE PLUG; THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE PURCHASED. . THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED, BUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE PLUG WAS BURNED INTENSIVELY, THAT EVEN THE HARNESS WAS MELTED ON THIS OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. *TT *CN
THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO WANT TO CUT OFF WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT! I SIMPLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE SO LOUD. I HAD BOTH SHOCKS AND STRUTS REPLACED AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE FRAME SEEMS TO NOSE DIVE OR "WANDER" WHILE I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, TOTALLY UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING. TIRES ARE BASICALLY NEW I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT SEEMS TO BE GOING ON WITH THIS CAR!
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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