U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Buick REGAL problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

187 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

91,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 112 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 52 of 187 complaints (27.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	27	14.4%
Steering behavior	17	9.1%
Transmission and shifting	11	5.9%
Engine operation	9	4.8%
Electrical and battery issues	9	4.8%
Fuel system concerns	4	2.1%

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.

Engine

Engine And Engine Cooling

Electrical System

Steering

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Speed Control

Unknown Or Other

Air Bags

Engine: 52; Engine And Engine Cooling: 23; Electrical System: 21; Steering: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Unknown Or Other: 8; Air Bags: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 28; 150,000 and above: 21

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 75 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.

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2024

2001: 8; 2002: 5; 2003: 8; 2004: 13; 2005: 7; 2006: 10; 2007: 12; 2008: 12; 2009: 5; 2010: 8; 2011: 9; 2012: 3; 2013: 6; 2014: 13; 2015: 10; 2016: 42; 2017: 5; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 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 10016744 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)

STARTING AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES THERE WAS A VERY DISTINCT RUBBING SOUND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A NON-EMERGENCY SITUATION (IT REMINDED ME OF THE SOUND BRAKES MAKE WHEN THEY HAVE TOO MUCH WEAR AND USUALLY IT'S AN INDICATION THE BRAKES NEED TO BE RELPACED). AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND THE DEALER STATED NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. AT ABOUT 29,500 I HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED. ABOUT 5,000 MILES AFTER THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED THE SOUND HAS STARTED AGAIN. IT SOUNDS AS IF THE ABS IS CONSTANTLY ENG…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016744 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10021467 · 2003-06-12 (June 12, 2003)

ROTORS NEEDED TO BE GROUND @ 21000 MILES AND THEN AGAIN @43000 MILES, FRONT END SHAKES BADLY WHEN BRAKING, MAKE CONTROL DIFFICULT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021467 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10048592 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)

THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048592 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050643 · 2003-12-17 (December 17, 2003)

MY 2001 BUICK REGAL HAS A "LOOSENESS" WOBBLING" FEELING IN THE STEERING ON ALL PAVEMENTS AND IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHILE TURNING OR CORNERING. I HAD THE CAR INTO A BUICK DEALER SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND THEY PUT A GREASE BUSHING IN THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED, BUT WAS LESSER FOR A WHILE. NOW AT 31,500 MILES THE PROBLEM IS AGAIN VERY NOTICEABLE AND EVEN MORE SO THAN BEFORE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT END. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE DRIVE THE CAR AND THEY C…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050643 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10014076 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2001 BUICK REGAL GS, WHEN FIRST PURCHASED, HAD A CLUNK IN IT AT ABOUT 42-45 MPH, AFTER LETTING GO OF THE ACCELERATOR, AND COASTING DOWN A HILL. I HAD TOLD THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT, BUT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FINALLY THE 10TH TIME, I HAD TAKEN THE SERVICE MANAGER OUT TO THE LOCATION WHERE IT WOULD CLUNK. THEY FINALLY TOOK THE TRANSMISSION APART AND FOUND THERE WAS A SLIGHTLY STRIPPED SHAFT AND A COUPLE OTHER COMPONENTS BAD IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOW DEVELOPED ANOTHER PROBLEM. IN THE MO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014076 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10060548 · 2004-03-05 (March 5, 2004)

TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN SOUNDING ROUGH AND SLIGHTLY SLIPPING GOING UP HILL IN DRIVEWAY SOON AFTER PURCHASING CAR AS USED. CAR WAS SAID TO HAVE PASSED GMC 100+ POINT INSPECTION. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AFTER ABOUT ONE WEEK OF OWNERSHIP AT 25,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP AND BUICK RESPONDED VERY SATISFACTORILY. REPAIRS COMPLETED UNDER WARRANTY. REPAIRS TOOK ABOUT ONE WEEK THOUGH A SECOND ATTEMPT HAD TO BE MADE AFTER TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO SLIP SLIGHTLY WHEN GOING UP HILLS, MORE NOTICEABLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND AFTER A STOP AND TURNING LEFT. …

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060548 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10121526 · 2005-05-16 (May 16, 2005)

2001 BUICK REGAL EXPERIENCED STALLING . *MR THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10121526 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10187097 · 2007-04-05 (April 5, 2007)

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN USING TURN SIGNALS, GAUGES CLICK AND FLASH, DRIVE SELECTOR STUCK IN PARK, ENGINE WON'T START. PROBLEM IS FAULTY IGNITION RELAY AND WIRING HARNESS REPLACED BY DEALER AT $400.00 COST. ALLIED SWITCH 2.188 FROM AC DELCO COMPANY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 81,025 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187097 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10137266 · 2005-09-22 (September 22, 2005)

2001 BUICK REGAL LS. I LOST ALL VACUUM TO BRAKES AND STEERING. ENGINE DIED. TOOK IT TO C_SPECK MOTORS IN SUNNYSIDE, WA FOR INVESTIGATION. THEY FOUND THAT THE INTAKE COVER, WHICH IS EITHER PLASTIC OR FIBERGLASS HAD A HOLE ABOUT 1 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER BURNT THROUGH JUST BEHIND THE AIR INTAKE HOSE. ON TOP OF THE HOLE IS A WIRING HARNESS THAT HAS THE FLEX BURNT THROUGH AND THE WIRING HARNESS TAPE IS BURNT THROUGH. WIRES APPEAR TO BE OK. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND OR CAUGHT FIRE.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137266 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10168295 · 2006-09-14 (September 14, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED AT A COST.

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168295 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10509488 · 2013-04-24 (April 24, 2013)

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT STALLS- REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP- FUEL FILTER- SPARK PLUGS AND IT STILL STALLS- SEEMS TO BE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND NO CODES COME UP WHEN HOOKED TO A COMPUTER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509488 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10538544 · 2013-09-03 (September 3, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, SMOKE WAS BEING EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR COVER CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10538544 at NHTSA ↗