Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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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 2011 Buick Regal submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 111 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 111, 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 contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
The cars mileage was altered due to car being wrecked prior and the other car that was used to replace wrecked parts was hidden and vin number was altered. Copart Inc and ICT Sharp Rides are party's involved, I bought car on 12/28/2023 mileage was listed as 132525
Preparing to park into a parking space in an off street parking lot the vehicle forcefully and rapidly accelerated on its' own and crashed into a fence. I was not accelerating. I attempted to stop the car using the brakes but they did not engage quickly enough to stop the rapid, forceful, and without warning acceleration. Buick has been contacted about the defect. Buick ran extensive diagnostics on the car and denies there is a defect. Police came to the scene and advised that given the 2 other incidents that I have experienced, the car is unsafe to drive given potential damage to others. A police report was filed.
When pulling into parking space the car rapidly accelerated on its' own and crashed into the car in the next parking space. I did not have my foot on the gas, the car was simply idling. The acceleration was so rapid that applying the brake was useless.
I was parking in marked space. I had turned into space, my foot was off the gas pedal. The car was 3/4 into the space when it malfunctioned and rapidly accelerated into a hardened snow bank. i instantly braked but there was not enough space to avoid collision.
The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions the headlights became inoperable. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the wiring in the bumper was hot at the base. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the engine was diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was unknown.
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.
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.
The engine shuts off when I slow down to make a left turn,this has happened twice. It does start again. I am afraid to drive it know.
The car doesn’t stay on park still will move forward or backwards The gear shift locks and does not move When I turn it makes a huge clack sound
THE OIL CONSUMPTION IN THE CAR IS HORRIBLE, I HAVE TO ATLEAT ADD OIL IN MY CAR ABOUT 5 TIME IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, AND MY OIL CHANGES ARE DONE REGULARLY, IVE ALSO HAVE THE ISSUE OF MY OIL AND GAS MIXING, I DID TAKE IT TO THE SHOP ONCE AND THEY FIXED A RECALL THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, BUT IM GUESSING THEY DIDNT FIX THE ISSUE ONCE THAT REPAIR WAS DONE LIKE THEY SAID IT WOULD.
BURNING OIL ON A 2.4L EQUINOX ENGINE
ENGINES STARTED TO PUTTER. THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCED CAME ON. CAR DIED THEN THE SERVICE STABILITRAK CAME ON
ENGINE TIMING FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY CHAIN TENSIONER AT 81000 MILES (2/15/2020) ENGINE CONSUMES EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL BETWEEN CHANGES
VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES. WILL BURN AS MUCH AS 3 OR MORE QUARTS IN 1000 MILES OR LESS. WAS NOTIFIED BY CHEVROLET MECHANIC THAT SOME OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NORMAL, BUT THAT IF THE CONSUMPTION WAS EXCESSIVE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY UP TO $3500 OR MORE TO FIX THE CAR. THERE ISN'T A RECALL OUT ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL, BUT ALL CARS EQUIPPED WITH THIS 2.4L ECOTECH ENGINE HAD THE SAME ISSUES FROM THE RESEARCH I CONDUCTED. THE MECHANIC I TALKED TO SAID THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE PISTON RINGS ALLOWING OIL TO REACH THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. SOMETIMES EVEN THE FUMES COME INTO THE CAR AND THEY ARE PRETTY HARSH TO BREATHE IN.
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!
DRIVING MY CAR AT AROUND 30MPH, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS NO SHUTTER OR SOUND. IT IS JUST SUDDENLY COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. NO BRAKES. NO POWER STEERING. NO GAS. YOU MUST PULL THE CAR OVER. COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. PUT THE CAR IN PARK. TURN THE KEY COMPLETELY OFF, AND THEN THE CAR WILL RESTART ALMOST EVERY TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 5 TIMES IN THE 9 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. BUT IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 DAYS. NO MECHANIC NOR THE DEALER CAN IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT TWICE, AND THE THROTTLE BODY/THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR.
TIMING CHAIN DAMAGED ENGINE
UPON BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR A P10011 CODE (THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON), THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY CAR WAS STRETCHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT COST OVER $1900 TO FIX.
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.
TIMING CHAIN LOOSENED DUE TO TENSIONER BREAKING DUE TO THE BOLT HOLDING IT IN PLACE WIDENING THE HOLE IT WAS IN OVER TIME CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP TIME AND POSSIBLY BENDING ALL THE VALVES IN THE MOTOR. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STALLED AND SHUT OFF. WE HAD JUST MADE A TURN SO LUCKILY WE WERE NOT GOING FAST WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. NO CODES CAME UP ON THE COMPUTER EITHER WHEN CHECKED.
TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE WHICH CAUSE TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT AT 125K
MY 2011 BUICK REGAL WITH THE 2.4L 4CYL HAS BEEN EXCESSIVELY CONSUMING OIL. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED AROUND 60K MILES, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE COMPLETE ENGINE WAS REPLACED (SEE CARFAX IMAGE ATTACHED, CONFIRMED WITH DEALER). THOSE REPAIRS HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE I OWNED THIS VEHICLE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A FAILURE WITHIN MY ENGINE AND THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COSTLY TO ME. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AS IT'S BEEN A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE ENGINES. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT 159K MILES AND I'VE BEEN ADDING A QUART OR MORE OF OIL BETWEEN CHANGES.
113,000 MILES, THE CAR SAID REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE STABILLITRACK AND THEN DIED. WOULDN'T START. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY PULLED THE SOLENOID FROM THE ENGINE AND SAID IT WAS COVERED WITH METAL SHAVINGS. CAR WAS WITHIN OIL CHANGE RANGE BUT NO OIL PRESENT. NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH ALL THESE 2.4 ENGINES.
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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