2002 Buick REGAL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
117 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 81 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 117 complaints (28.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 14 | 12.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 10.3% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 6.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 3.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.6% |
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 | 33 |
| Electrical System | 24 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 10 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 3 |
Engine: 33; Electrical System: 24; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 5; Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 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 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 11
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 36 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2002: 4; 2003: 4; 2004: 8; 2005: 6; 2006: 8; 2007: 6; 2008: 8; 2009: 4; 2010: 8; 2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 14; 2015: 9; 2016: 18; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10016516 · 2003-04-25 (April 25, 2003)
"SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" LIGHT COMES ON AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES ALONG WITH THE "ANTI-LOCK" LIGHT AND "TRAC OFF" LIGHT. READING THE BUICK MANUAL, THIS INDICATES SOME SORT OF BRAKING SYSTEM PROBLEM WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN WHY ONCE THOSE LIGHTS CAME ON, I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. DEALER STATED "I DON'T SEE A BRAKE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. IT'S AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM." WHAT???? *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 10,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016516 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057281 · 2004-01-22 (January 22, 2004)
CONSUMER HAD LITTLE SATISFACTION IN CORRECTING THE "BRAKE PULSATION." *PH THERE WERE SEVEN OCCURRENCES OF BRAKE PULSATION WHILE IN MOTION. *MR (NPO-400 REQ#39375DB) *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,696 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099373 · 2004-11-04 (November 4, 2004)
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. ON A TRIP FROM FLORIDA TO PENNSYLVANIA SUPER CHARGER BELT BROKE ON I-95 SOUTH. ONSTAR DIRECTED ME TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR SERVICE. SERPENTINE BELT IDLER PULLEY BEARING SEIZED. REPLACED DRIVE BELT, SUPER CHARGER BELT AND PULLEY. ALSO, BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF LEAKING ACID FROM POSITIVE BATTERY. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY BELT FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 36,477 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137426 · 2005-10-18 (October 18, 2005)
DT: STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ABS BRAKES ON AUGUST 1, 2004. THE ABS LIGHT/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STAYED ON. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND TOOK VEHICLE TO THEM ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. THEY HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL VBPMV MODULE, BCTMB MODULE, AND WIRING ON THE WHEEL SENSORS, ALSO, THEY HAVE CLEANED WHEELS SPEED CONTROL. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER HAS ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2005. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 86,399 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147444 · 2006-01-11 (January 11, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND STALL. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT STALLED AGAIN LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START. IT WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SUGGESTED THE IGNITION SWITCH BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY OPERATES NORMALLY.*AK UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 48,443 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147444 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193311 · 2007-06-14 (June 14, 2007)
IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED ON CAR WITH ONLY 38,000 MILES ON IT. CAR STALLED OUT IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10193311 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066919 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD THE DRIVER AND SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125163 · 2005-06-13 (June 13, 2005)
RE2002 REGAL [XXX] I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW FROM KEN NELSON BUICK DEALER SHIP IN DIXON, IL. I HAVE BEEN A BUICK CAR ENTHUSIAST FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, BUT I FIND THIS DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE NOT TO BE UP TO MY EXPECTATIONS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH WHAT THE LOU BACHRODT DEALERSHIP CLAIMS IS FEDERALLY MANDATED RESTRICTIONS ON PARTS MANUFACTURE, WHICH ARE NOT AS DURABLE AS ON MY PREVIOUS 1994 REGAL, WHICH I HAD FOR EIGHT YEARS, WITH NONE OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES ARE NOT ASBESTOS ANYMORE AND ARE PRONE TO RUSTING OUT, AND NEED TO BE REPLACED…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,489 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102682 · 2004-12-11 (December 11, 2004)
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN ANALYZED BY THE DEALER, A TRANSMISSION AND A MISFIRE CODE CAME UP. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE COPPER IN THE FLUID INDICATING WEAR AND PREMATURE FAILURE. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 65,500 MILES UNDER EVERYDAY DRIVING CONDITIONS. REPAIRS ON THE TRANSMISSION HAVE NOT TAKEN PLACE. IN MY OPINION THE PRODUCT WAS DEFECTIVE AND GM SHOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED COST. I WILL PURSUE A REMEDY FROM GM. THE MISFIRE WAS TRACED TO A FAULTY FU…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102682 at NHTSA ↗