What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

1998 Buick Regal

Typical pattern

9.1% of complaints about the 1998 Buick Regal came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1998 vehicle — around the middle of the 180 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.6 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (66 complaints), typically at 6.8 yr or about 80,000 miles.

Complaints
329
Median age at failure
6.6 yr
Median mileage
91,000 n=159
Crash / fire / tow
16.4% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Steering
66 reports · 80,000 mi
6.8 yr
1.5%
Electrical system
50 reports · 94,000 mi
8.6 yr
18%
Engine cooling
47 reports · 100,000 mi
10.0 yr
46.8%
Engine
29 reports · 128,000 mi
18.3 yr
41.4%
Service brakes, hydraulic
24 reports · 500 mi
3.3 yr
4.2%
Visibility
22 reports · 91,000 mi
3.9 yr
0%
Exterior lighting
20 reports · 115,000 mi
10.6 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

15V701000 2015-10-26
Engine and engine cooling:engine

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

09V116000 2009-04-08
Engine cooling

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

09E005000 2009-02-17
Steering

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.

A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

08V118000 2008-03-12
Engine cooling

GM IS RECALLING 207,542 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES HAVE HIGHER FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET TEMPERATURES, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR EARLIER DEGRADATION OF THE FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET AND EVENTUAL OIL SEEPAGE.

CERTAIN UNDERHOOD FIRES MAY BE CAUSED BY DROPS OF ENGINE OIL, FROM SEEPAGE OR SPILLAGE, BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND, IN SOME INSTANCES, THE FIRE MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND.

03V527000 2003-12-11
Steering:rack and pinion

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND

99V356000 1999-12-17
Exterior lighting:headlights

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE VERTICAL HEAD LAMP ADJUSTING DEVICE MAY NOT BE CALIBRATED PROPERLY.

DRIVER VISIBILITY MAY BE IMPAIRED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

98V102000 1998-05-15
Exterior lighting:headlights

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OWNER MANUALS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIREMENT INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING DEVICE. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY AIM THE HEADLIGHTS.

In owners’ own words

Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 8 mo in service
BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT ROTORS WARPED. VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND VIBRATION OCCURS AFTER BEING ON HIGHWAY, CAUSING POOR STEERING CONDITIONS AND POOR STOPPING POWER. THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED, NOT REPLACED WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY OCCUR AGAIN.
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service
THE MATERIAL OF THE BRAKE PAD, CAUSING BRAKE PADS TO OVERHEAT AND WARP. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ALSO WARPED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND MAY RESULT IN LOSS CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 9 mo in service
VEHICLE HAS SHAKES SEVERELY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASH. *AK
Engine cooling mileage not reported 9 mo in service
WHEN APPLYING GAS AFTER MAKING A COMPLETE STOP, ENGINE WILL SHUT ITSELF OFF,CONSUMER MUST RESTART VEHICLE .THIS DEFECT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS REPLACED IGNITIONS MODULE AND COIL. ALSO CRANK CASE SENSOR. DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE DEFECT. A TRADE ASSIST HAS SINCE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, VEHICLE REPURCHASED BY BUICK. *AK *ML

Other Regal model years

2013201220112004200320022001200019991998

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