2003 Buick REGAL: complaints, problems and recalls

THE VEHICLE STALLED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008955 at NHTSA ↗

I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF A THROTTLE PROBLEM. THEY SPRAYED SOMETHING ON IT (ALUMINUM TYPE SPRAY) AND SENT US ON OUR WAY UNTIL THEY ORDERED A NEW PART. IT WAS THE WRONG PART AND A MONTH WENT BY WITHOUT A FURTHER CALL REGARDING ANY NEW PART COMING IN. ON SEPTEMBER 13TH I HEADED INTO ANCHORAGE ON THE BUSIEST HIGHWAY IN THE STATE OF ALASKA. THE THROTTLE SPRING LET GO. I FOUND MYSELF CLUTCHING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH AND THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK. I TRIED DOWNSH…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045045 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND THE VEHICLE TO STALLED. THE OWNER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052190 at NHTSA ↗

AIR BAG LIGHT WAS LIGHTING INTERMITTENTLY. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC. THE DIAGNOSTIC DIDN'T RETRIEVE ANY FAULT CODED THEREFORE NOTHING WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO DO ANY REPAIRS UNDER THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PURCHASED FROM THEM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SALES DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE PROBLEM WITHIN A DAY. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE SDM HARNESS WAS IMPROPERLY ROUTED AND PULLED AT THE CONNECTOR. *NM (NAR)

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057175 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH IN TRAFFIC DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY HARD. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED $9700 DAMAGE BUT THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071481 at NHTSA ↗

THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BECAME LOOSE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER, ESPECIALLY ON SLOWER SPEED. *AK THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10101385 at NHTSA ↗

I OWNED A 2003 BUICK REGAL WITH 13,000 MILES THAT I PURCHASED NEW AT A DEALER IN INDIANAPOLIS IN JULY OF 2003. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ON FEBRUARY 4, 2005 FROM RUNNING ERRANDS, MY SEAT HEATER IN THE DRIVER SEAT BECAME SO HOT THAT I HAD TO PULL OVER AND PUT MY WINTER COAT DOWN TO SIT ON IN ORDER TO FINISH THE DRIVE HOME. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY HOME, I PULLED INTO THE GARAGE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. A SHORT TIME LATER, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING IN THE HOUSE THAT WAS ON FIRE. I LOOKED OUT INTO THE GARAGE AND THE INSIDE…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116424 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER HAD A RENTAL VEHICLE. WHEN SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE DOOR(S) AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED AND AN UNKNOWN ASSAILANT PULLED THE CONSUMER FROM THE VEHICLE AND SEVERELY BEAT HER CAUSING PERMANENT DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW THE DOORS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK. *JB *SC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10119356 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.