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

2001 Buick Regal

Typical pattern

3.2% of complaints about the 2001 Buick Regal came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2001 vehicle — around the middle of the 216 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 10.6 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (52 complaints), typically at 15.3 yr or about 125,000 miles.

Complaints
222
Median age at failure
10.6 yr
Median mileage
95,000 n=143
Crash / fire / tow
28.8% of reports
Safety recalls
8

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
52 reports · 125,000 mi
15.3 yr
48.1%
Engine cooling
34 reports · 81,331 mi
9.3 yr
50%
Electrical system
33 reports · 93,000 mi
10.9 yr
21.2%

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.

08E063000 2008-10-17
Steering

DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.

IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

01V109000 2001-04-06
Seat belts

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH SUNVISOR LOCATED AIR BAG LABELS, FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES HAVE A MESSAGE AREA LESS THAN 30 CM WHICH DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.

00V371000 2000-11-13
Air bags:side/window

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE DRIVER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG INFLATOR SEPARATES FROM THE AIR BAG MODULE DURING DEPLOYMENT.

IF THE INFLATOR SEPARATES, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY DURING A CRASH AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION WOULD BE REDUCED. IF IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT A SEPARATED INFLATOR COULD BE PROPELLED DOWNWARD AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO A REAR SEAT PASSENGER WHOSE FOOT IS POSITIONED APPROXIMATELY UNDER THE INFLATOR MODULE.

00V228003 2000-08-07
Seat belts

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

In owners’ own words

Engine cooling mileage not reported 5 mo in service
ALL INCIDENTS WERE OF THE SAME NATURE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE BRAKING. ENGINE WOULD NEVER IDLE AT LESS THAN 1800 TO 2600 RPM'S. WITH FOOT REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE THE CAR TRAVELED BETWEEN 35 TO 60 PLUS MPH, DEPENDING ON TERRAIN.
Engine cooling 81,331 mi 4.0 yr in service crash / fire / tow
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, A FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PUT THE OUT THE FIRE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
Engine cooling mileage not reported 4.7 yr in service
2001 BUICK REGAL EXPERIENCED STALLING . *MR THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB
Electrical system 35,672 mi 1.7 yr in service
WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WOULD NOT START. DEALER FINALLY FOUND THE PROBLEM. IT WAS A SENSOR. DEALER REPLACED SENSOR. IN MARCH 2003 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AGAIN. IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. SOME OF THE OTHERS COME ON TO. SERVICE ENGINE SOON ECT. IT HAS BEEN LESS THAN A YEAR SINCE WE HAD IT FIXED THE FIRST TIME. I THINK MAYBE IT COULD BE A DEFECT. *NLM

Other Regal model years

2013201220112004200320022001200019991998

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