2002 Buick REGAL: complaints, problems and recalls

THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER DID NOT WORK, THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE 4 TO 5 TIMES AND REPLACED THE ARM AND BLADE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB *TS

Owner-reported narrative. 605 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008889 at NHTSA ↗

THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED, WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014942 at NHTSA ↗

"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 ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026176 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHEN TURNING THE A/C ON TO HELP DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE MIST ON THE WINDSHIELD, THE CONSUMER STILL COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDOW. *JB WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARINGS. THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR WERE MISALIGNED AND AS A RESULT THEY WOULD NOT SHUT PROPERLY. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074277 at NHTSA ↗

A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. WHEN THE BRAKES APPLIED THE NOISE ESCALATED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091635 at NHTSA ↗

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.