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

2003 Buick Regal

Typical pattern

4.4% of complaints about the 2003 Buick Regal came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 11.6 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (37 complaints), typically at 11.5 yr or about 97,987 miles.

Complaints
136
Median age at failure
11.6 yr
Median mileage
97,987 n=95
Crash / fire / tow
19.1% of reports
Safety recalls
5

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
37 reports · 97,987 mi
11.5 yr
5.4%
Engine
26 reports · 142,000 mi
13.3 yr
42.3%

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.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 97,987 mi 4.9 yr in service
2003 BUICK REGAL WITH DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH CUSTOMER STATES THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE**CC THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS DEFECT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND IS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE CONSUMER STATED A FAULTY FUEL PUMP WAS BAD ENOUGH WITH NO WARNING SIGNS BUT A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AND FURTHER STATED HE WOULD LIKE THE DEFECT RECALLED. *TR
Electrical system 62,468 mi 7.2 yr in service
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. CAUSED ENGINE TO DIE WHILE DRIVING. UNABLE TO CHANGE GEAR OUT OF DRIVE. ALL WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING. WOULD NOT RESTART. HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT, NO DAMAGE. TEMP FIX GOT IT STARTED, THEN SAME THING HAPPENED ON FREEWAY, COASTED TO SHOULDER, NO DAMAGE. TOWED TO DEALER, DETERMINED IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AND REPLACED. OKAY SINCE. *TR
Electrical system mileage not reported 11.0 yr in service
2003 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED EVERYTHING LOCKED UP ON THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. AN INSPECTION REVEALED, THE ISSUE WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. *JB
Engine 142,000 mi 11.6 yr in service crash / fire / tow
MY ABS, TRACTION & SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LIGHTS CAME ON. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CAR STALLED WHILE TURNING ON THE TURN SIGNALS. DURING THE STALL, THE POWER STEERING AND ABS LOCKED UP. I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD STALL WHENEVER A TURN SIGNAL WAS TURNED ON. AFTER READING FORUMS, I SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE! *TR

Other Regal model years

2013201220112004200320022001200019991998

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