2012 Buick Regal Electrical Problems

There is a water seal leak around the driver side headlight. I have photos showing proof of standing water. It has now caused the headlight, left turn signal, and drivers side brake light to fail. My passenger side headlight is doing the same. I have no headlights, no driverside lights period. I drive 2 children around in this car and it's gotten very dangerous. I contacted GM, and the local dealership and they won't fix it. I'm a [XXX] and don't have the $3200-$5000 I was told the repair would be. It is a problem in certain GM models, Cadillac Srx 2010-2015 having the same issue and the recall being fixed for those drivers. So, I have no choice but to drive around with no headlights, no left blinker, and no driver side brake light with two you children. I have to work and have no other options. It's a catastrophe waiting to happen, I live in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia. Please help me with this, I am terrified to drive this car around. I've had two people flag me down at a red light to let me know my brake light is out which is terribly dangerous and if it starts raining while I am out I have no headlights. This has become an emergency situation for me and my children. I have photo proof of the water pooling inside the headlight assembly. The seal is so bad that even covered the condensation pools inside the headlight. Please help me get a dealership to fix this issue. They want to charge me $275 for diagnostics and this is already and issue on this model car, reported by many drivers with the recall on the Cadillac. They need to fix it before I end up a casualty to this problem. Thank you so much. I can send a video of the emergency flasher and signal not working. I replaced the headlight in January and the new one never worked. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11676449

Incident

Jan 15, 2025

[XXX] my car failed to let me use the brake, i was going about 45mph and when i went to apply brake pressure the pedal was so stiff i couldnt use the brake. Causing from end collision, when i made a trip to springdale to have my car inspected it didnt make it, started backfiring and dying around 65 mph then the motor blew, it had some issues starting but nothing like what happened within that few seconds. Im out of a car now because it drove perfect and i never have to give it thought. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11627455

Incident

Nov 24, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Buick Regal. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel went blank, and the turn signals failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that vehicle briefly lost motive power but independently restarted while making turning in either direction. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle jerked while at a complete stop with the brake pedal firmly depressed. The contact stated that an unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11530401

Incident

Feb 1, 2023

Mileage

160,000 mi

The headlight area had condensation in it that resulted in water in the headlight. This caused the headlight to go dark. This is a safety issue as one of my headlights is not working. I can’t see that section of the road or adjacent sidelines. Very dangerous particularly at this time of year with deer running into road from the side. There are many other regal owners with this problem which can be verified by googling the problem. This is the second time the light has failed for condensation. Other drivers and pedestrians are at risk because they cannot be seen with the headlight out. Headlight was replaced once and has failed again. Cost to repair 2 years ago $1600 new estimate $1800. This is for one headlight but recommended to replace both.

NHTSA ID

11492760

Incident

Aug 25, 2020

Car lost all electrical power while driving (moving) and fully shut down, stalling immediately. Nothing electrical worked, including 4 way flashers. The alternator was just replaced 2 weeks after this same full loss of electrical power was diagnosed when going to start the car while parked. The battery was fully recharged at the repair shop and deemed ok. I had my road service come out to address the issue. Before they arrived, I was able to restart the car. The service tech checked the battery and alternator. Both checked ok, but the battery was almost drained and did not show signs of any dead cells, despite it having been able to restart the car shortly before the road service arrived. We replaced the battery. Car is in the shop now. The safety risk is full loss of power while moving resulting in no brake lights, 4 way emergency lights, full stall, loss of power steering and brakes that can lead to a collision on the highway. This type of problem has been reported on numerous Regals

NHTSA ID

11484701

Incident

Sep 10, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Buick Regal. The contact stated that the vehicle would not immediately start up, and while at a stop light the entire vehicle would shake and vibrate. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact indicated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was 72,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11432711

Incident

Jul 13, 2021

Mileage

72,000 mi

MY VEHICLE BATTERY WILL NOT HOLD A CHARGE AFTER SEVERAL REPLACEMENT BATTERIES THE VEHICLE BATTERY IS COMPLETELY DRAINED OVERNIGHT AND WILL NOT START. I MUST GET A BOOST WITH CABLES OR THE BATTERY HAS TO BE COMPLETELY RECHARGED OR REPLACED

NHTSA ID

11394261

Incident

Jan 8, 2018

Mileage

83,000 mi

MY BRAKE PEDAL ALWAYS GET STUCK DEPRESSED DOWN IN HOT HUMID WEATHER. YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO DRIVE WITH TWO FEET TO LIFT PEDAL WHEN TIME TO ACCELERATE. MY DRIVER SEAT ALSO GOES IN AND OUT WHEN TRYING TO ADJUST THE SEAT. IT WILL NOT MOVE UNLESS I PLAY WITH THE POWER ADJUSTER A FEW TIMES THEN IT WILL MANEUVER. MY RADIO ALSO TURNS OFF AND ON BY ITSELF WITH BLUETOOTH IS CONNECTED OR SOMETIMES THE RADIO WOULDN'T TURN ON WITH CAR RUNNING OR TURN OFF WHILE CAR IS OFF.

NHTSA ID

11299744

Incident

Jan 10, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED CONDENSATION IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT AND THAT THE FUSE WAS BLOWN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

NHTSA ID

11289316

Incident

Dec 13, 2019

Mileage

34,000 mi

SINCE I PURCHASED AND DROVE OFF FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WITHIN THE FIRST FEW DAYS THE CAR SHUT DOWN ON ME WHEN I WAS IN A DRIVE THRU, AND IT HAPPENED TIMES AGAIN WHILE PULLING OUT A PARKING SPACE AND DROVE A FEW FEET AWAY THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF AND BEGAN SMELLING OF GAS AS WELL OVERTIME I DROVE IT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT VERY HELPFUL BUT FINALLY KEPT MY CAR A FEW DAYS AND SAID IT WAS ONLY THE HOSES WHICH WERE LOOSE. NOW 4/24 MY CAR AGAIN IS MAKING WEIRD NOISES SINCE LAST WEEK AND ACTUALLY WILL NOT START THIS EVENING AFTER BEING OUT AND PARKING IN A LOT.

NHTSA ID

11203614

Incident

Apr 24, 2019

Mileage

76,000 mi

VEHICHLE PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2017 WITH 35K MILES. HAS ALWAYS HAD A VIBRATING NOISE WHILE SITTING AND IDLING. IT WILL GET WORSE AFTER THE CAR IS DRIVEN/HEATED AND THEN IDLED. BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS HAD A VERY LOUD SCREACHING NOISE. TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. BULBS WERE CHANGED AND THEY HAVE WORKED SINCE. HOWEVER, THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. BULBS WERE CHANGED WITH NO SATISFACTION. FUSES WERE CHANGED AND BLEW EVERY TIME. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC SHOP - DIAGNOSED. BRAKES ARE OK. PER HIS WORDS, JUST CHEAP SETUP. (THIS WAS HOW I PURCHASED THE CAR, I'VE NEVER REPLACED THE BRAKES SINCE PURCHASING), THE TENSIONER PULLEY WAS CAUSING THE VIBRATION. PULLEY AND BELT (STRETCHED) WERE CHANGED, HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY'S (BOTH) NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AS THEY WERE NOT GETTING POWER ($1600.00 EACH!!! THE BALLASTS WERE BAD), ALSO HAD MY HIGH PRESSURE LINE FOR A/C CHANGED AS THAT QUIT WORKING AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11123167

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

40,000 mi

CAR GIVING A CODE OF ELECTRICAL CONTROL MODULE GCM .L HAVE THE CODE P 0062

NHTSA ID

11119766

Incident

Aug 13, 2018

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY BATTERY SEEMS TO BE LOSING CHARGE. THEN IT WILL COMPLETELY DIE. WHEN I CHARGE IT ON A BATTERY CHARGER FOR A WHILE IT WOULD HOLD THE CHARGE FOR A A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN DIE AGAIN. I HAD THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER CHECKED AND MACHANIC STATED THAT THEY ARE ALL WORKING GOOD. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THE DRIVERSIDE POWER CONTROL BUTTONS WORK ON AND OFF. SOME DAYS THEY WORK AND OTHERS THEY DONT, ALMOST LIKE A SHORT. THIS ALSO HAPPENS RANDOMLY.

NHTSA ID

11031942

Incident

Sep 22, 2017

Mileage

96,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING TURNED ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE RADIO SPONTANEOUSLY TURNED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10967633

Incident

Oct 1, 2016

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A VOLTAGE DRAINAGE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ID

10820979

Incident

Jan 15, 2014

Mileage

66,000 mi

THE CAR HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER. ANYTHING ELECTRICAL WOULDN'T WORK. WE COULDN'T REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, PUT WINDOWS OR ANYTHING. THE SECOND TIME I TRIED TO USE THE VEHICLES SELF JUMP START BUT NOTHING WOULD WORK. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER IN THIS CAR AT THIS TIME. MY WIFE SAID AT ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SHE DID SMELL A BURNING ODOR. WE ALSO HAD THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING. IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. WE FEEL WE ARE DRIVING A FIREBOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN AND DO NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS CAR ANYMORE. CURRENTLY ITS AT A GM DEALER AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHATS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. BEST PART IS THE DEALERS DON'T WANT THIS CAR BACK AS EVIDENCED BY THE LOW TRADE IN VALUE THAT WAS OFFERED.

NHTSA ID

10725396

Incident

Mar 19, 2015

Mileage

39,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RPMS IDLES HIGH AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 45MPH. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL AND AS A RESULT, SHE HAD TO USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT DECIDED TO REPROGRAMMED THE VEHICLE COMPUTER SYSTEM AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,200.

NHTSA ID

10471904

Incident

Jul 10, 2012

Mileage

19 mi