2001 Buick REGAL: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

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 ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 35,672 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018710 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

IGNITION KEY HANGS UP CANT GET IT OUT, IT WILL COM OUT IF YOU WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER YOU TURN KEY OFF THE KEY FEELS RATHER WARM TO THE TOUCH WHEN YOU FINALLY GET IT OUT. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023483 at NHTSA ↗

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS RUSTED AT ONLY 17,000 MI.WAS TOLD CAR NOT DRIVEN ENOUGH.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 17,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025411 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2000-08-07 (August 7, 2000)

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."

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 2000-11-13 (November 13, 2000)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG MODULE.

Reported: 2001-04-06 (April 6, 2001)

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.

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.

Remedy: GM WILL MAIL A NEW BILINGUAL AIR BAG LABEL WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, THE CUSTOMER MAY BRING THE LABEL TO THEIR DEALER FOR INSTALLATION FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537 OR BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300.

Reported: 2008-03-12 (March 12, 2008)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, ALONG WITH THE 1-3-5 SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. , FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. UNTIL THE REMEDY IS COMPLETED, GM STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT OWNERS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS (1) THAT OWNERS DO NOT PARK THEIR VEHICLE IN A GARAGE, CAR PORT, OR OTHER STRUCTURE; (2) IF OWNERS NOTICE A BURNING ODOR, THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE; (3) USE PREMIUM FUEL (91 OCTANE OR HIGHER) IN THE VEHICLE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE VEHICLE'S OWNER MANUAL. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Reported: 2009-04-08 (April 8, 2009)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2015-10-26 (October 26, 2015)

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.

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.