1997 Buick REGAL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
108 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
105,771 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 59 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 108 complaints (13.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 36 | 33.3% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 12.0% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 15 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 14 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Steering | 11 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Tires | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 15; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 14; Electrical System: 11; Engine: 11; Steering: 11; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Tires: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 8
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 49 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 10; 2001: 10; 2002: 5; 2003: 15; 2004: 13; 2005: 7; 2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 9; 2009: 7; 2010: 2; 2011: 4; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 1; 2016: 11; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007109 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ERRATIC STEERING CONTROL, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007673 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)
LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. DEALER SAYS POWER STEERING RACK IS BINDING WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT. WILL HAVE TO REPLACE, MY COST. I SEE A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. GM HAD A RECALL (11/15/2002) FOR THIS PROBLEM ON SAME MODEL YEAR FOR CAVALIER, SUNFIRE, LUMINA/VENTURE, SILHOUETTE, TRANSPORT, AND GRAND PRIX (REGAL'S SIBLING). WHAT ABOUT REGAL?
Owner-reported narrative. 69,879 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007673 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050120 · 2003-12-05 (December 5, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING/BRAKES, AND THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ENGAGED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS WAS CAUSED BY WIRING FAILURE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. *AK 1997 BUICK REGAL ENGINE STALLED WHEN TURN SIGNAL WAS USED. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE STALLED AS A RESULT OF IGNITION SWITCH CIRCUIT OVERLOAD. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM.*MR
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119292 · 2005-04-26 (April 26, 2005)
1997 BUICK REGAL SEDAN DEVELOPED VARIOUS PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. *MR THERE WAS A CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK. THE REPAIRS CONSISTED OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL PAN AND GASKET DUE TO AN OIL LEAK, THE THERMOSTAT, BELT TENSIONER, COOLANT PUMP, COMPLETE FLUSHING OF THE SYSTEM, WIRES AND PLUGS, NEW ALTERNATOR, UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKET REPLACEMENT AND A NEW ENGINE. THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED, THE BEARINGS AND THE PISTONS WERE NOISY. *SC THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,869 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016544 · 2003-04-26 (April 26, 2003)
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEATER BURNED BLACK COIL PATTERNS THOUGH THE LEATHER ON THE SEAT (BEIGE SEAT), WHEN DISCOVERED THE SEAT WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO TOUCH. DEALER SUSPECTED A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE SEAT HEATING COIL MECHANISM. I HAVE CONCERNS THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY LEAD TO FIRE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160380 · 2006-06-21 (June 21, 2006)
UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. THE SAFETY MECHANISM THAT PREVENTS THE IGNITION KEY FROM BEING REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING HAS MALFUNCTIONED, THUS KEEPING THE IGNITION KEY CAPTIVE WHEN DRIVER IS READY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. WHEN VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO "PARK" THE DOORS UNLOCK AS EXPECTED (CONFIRMING PROPER OPERATION OF THE PARK SWITCH), BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO BE ROTATED TO THE EXTRACTION POSITION. AFTER A SEEMINGLY RANDOM AMOUNT OF TIME AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, A SMALL CLICK IS HEARD IN …
Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10649789 · 2014-10-24 (October 24, 2014)
THE 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 ST…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,359 miles reported. Look up ODI 10649789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 886154 · 2001-04-17 (April 17, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH ENGINE STALLED FOR SECOND TIME WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER FOUND OUT THAT CAUSE WAS FUEL PUMP RESISTOR THAT HAD FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 886154 at NHTSA ↗