Complaints about the 1997 Buick Regal peaked in 1999, with 16 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Sedan, built in Canada. Owner complaints on file from Jun 5, 1997 to Feb 28, 2019.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15V-701 | Oct 26, 2015 | Affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto… | Engine and cooling | 1,003,556 | Part replacement |
| 09V-116 | Apr 8, 2009 | Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking | Engine and cooling | 1,497,516 | Part replacement |
| 09E-005 | Feb 17, 2009 | Potential material or design defect could result in the steering knuckle breaking in the hub area | Steering | 979 | Part replacement |
| 08V-118 | Mar 12, 2008 | These vehicles have higher front rocker cover gasket temperatures, creating the potential for earlier degradation of the front rocker cover gasket… | Engine and cooling | 207,542 | Part replacement |
| 03V-527 | Dec 11, 2003 | Certain passenger vehicles have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly | Steering | 750,283 | Part replacement |
| 99V-348 | Dec 16, 1999 | Vehicle description: passenger vehicles | Visibility and wipers | 155,149 | Part replacement |
| 98V-102 | May 15, 1998 | Vehicle description: passenger vehicles | Lighting | 149,342 | Not stated |
| 97V-223 | Nov 14, 1997 | Vehicle description: passenger vehicles | Brakes | 4,387 | Part replacement |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
136 complaints on file, page 1 of 7.
1997 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SAFETY RECALL ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE NOTICE . CONSUMER WRITES VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS NO PROOF FOR CAUSE OF FIRE. *AS *TR
NHTSA complaint 11181851TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *TT CONSUMER STATED DEALERSHIP IS NOW CLOSED AND WILL BE TAKING IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. UPDATED 12/20/18*JB
NHTSA complaint 11142930BUICK FIXED 3 RECALLS BUT WON'T FIX ON SAY I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER PART BEFORE THEY CAN FIX LAST RECALL.
NHTSA complaint 10913968TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IN A PARKING LOT, THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint 10909953TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO WAIT FOR THE SECOND NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint 108977091997 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEALERSHIP DENIED REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS FOR ENGINE OIL DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT, BECAUSE THE REPAIR WAS DONE AFTER THE RECALL WAS MAILED. *JB
NHTSA complaint 10872011TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
NHTSA complaint 10864465TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AS AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE ENGINE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED EACH TIME BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint 10850035TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.
NHTSA complaint 10839006TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint 10838664FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN THE CAR EXPLODING IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES TOTAL. TOTAL LOSS. CAUGHT FIRE TO MY FRIENDS GARAGE. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND RUNNING WHILE WE RAN INSIDE TO PAY FOR SOME STUFF. HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND WENT TO INVESTIGATE, AND SAW THE HOOD AND DASH AND THE ENGINE ON FIRE. MY FRIEND JUMPED ON HIS TRACTOR AND PUSHED IT AWAY FROM THE GARAGE, AND STARTED DUMPING SNOW ON IT. FIRE DEPT CAME AND PUT IT OUT.
NHTSA complaint 10837552TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
NHTSA complaint 10819758WAS DRIVING MY 1997 BUICK REGAL GS 3.8 WHEN I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR WENT TO TURN LEFT AND WHEN IN THE TURN ALL THE LIGHTS START TO FLASH AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN .. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED LATER TO FIND OUT IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH NOW CAR IS SITTING WILL NOT START ALL LIGHTS FLASH WILL NOT CRANK OR TURN OVER ... BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WOULD MAKE A LEFT TURN YOU COULD HEAR A CLICKING COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON ... EVERYTHING YOU TOUCHED ON THE STEERING WHEEL , TURN SIGNALS , WINDSHIELD WIPERS ANYTHING WOULD MAKE ALL CLUSTER LIGHTS COME ON AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR . THANK GOD KNOWONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED
NHTSA complaint 10818874TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint 10811118AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC 6 TIMES TO REPAIR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON/ABS LIGHT/TRAC OFF LIGHT COMING ON, HE REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WITH A MORE EXPENSIVE MODEL AND REPLACED THE MODULE ON THE ABS PUMP THAT HAS THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND PUMP GEARS. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR APPROX. 1 1/2 WEEKS AND NOW IS BACK! AM GOING TO THE MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10653762THE SERVICE VEHICLE SOON/ABS WARNING LIGHT/AND TRAC OFF LIGHT LIT AND THE CAR LURCHED AS IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THE ERROR CODE WAS C1225, WHICH IS TOO MUCH SPEED AT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THE BEARING AND SENSOR WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC ALSO REPLACED THE ABS PUMP MODULE (THE ELECTRONIC PART OF THE ABS UNIT) AND THEN HAD TO UPGRADE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND SENSOR TO ANOTHER BRAND THAT WAS 2X AS EXPENSIVE. THE ABS PROBLEM AFFECTED THE STEERING (MAKING IT HARDER TO STEER AND MORE NOISY), AND ALSO AFFECTED THE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE ONLINE WARNINGS SAID THAT IT COULD DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION IF NOT CORRECTED. I EVEN TRIED REPLACING THE MODULE OF THE TRACTION CONTROL UNIT UNDER THE DASH. THIS WAS A VERY TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY REPAIR, AS THE LEFT FRONT BEARING WAS REPLACE A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES AND TWO VISITS FOR THE ABS MODULE AND PROGRAMMING. I SEE THAT ANOTHER OWNER HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AT ABOUT 140,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10649789TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHEELS LOCKED. ALSO, THE ANTI TRACTION, AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ
NHTSA complaint 10614970THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT SENSOR FLASHES ON AND OFF, IF THE CAR IS IDOL THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE MOVES UP RAPIDLY. I HAVE HAD THE COOLANT AND THERMOSTAT CHECK, BOTH ARE FINE. MY MECHANIC ADVISED TO CHECK THIS WEBSITE FOR ENGINE COOLING RECALL AND THERE IS ONE. I NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO TAKE MY CAR TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED UNDER THE RECALL. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10565816TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND EMITTED SMOKE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE PLUGS IGNITED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/05/13*LJ THE HEAD GASKETS AND COILS FAILED. UPDATED 09/05/13
NHTSA complaint 10524119TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED OIL COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,111 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 195,115.
NHTSA complaint 10466506Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.