BRAKES IN THE REAR ARE CORRODED. ROTORS IN THE REAR ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL. BRAKES WOULD MAKE NOISES WHEN APPLIED, LIKE METAL TO METAL. ALSO, THEY WOULD LOCK UP IN AN OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION. OVER 2 1/2 YEARS AGO, THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS OVERHAULED. *AK
1991 Buick Regal complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1991 record →
TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN I USED MY TURN SIGNAL SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. ANYTIME I USE THE TURN SIGNAL NOW IT SMOKES. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND TRIED TO GET THE PART BUT EVERYONE HAS TOLD US THAT IT WILL MOST LIKELY TAKE 6 MONTHS. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MY FAMILIES SAFETY ON THE LINE LIKE THAT. GM SEEMS TO NOT BE TAKING THE STITUATION AS SERIOUSLY AS THEY SHOULD BE.
THE ODOMETER HAS NOT WORKED SINCE 75,000 MILES (1993). THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WOULD COST AROUND $200.00 AND SINCE I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW JUST HOW MANY MILES I HAD PUT ON IT SINCE IT QUIT, I THOUGHT "WHAT'S THE USE?" SO ANY AND ALL MILEAGE QUOTES FROM NOW ON ARE GUESSES.... THE TAPE PLAYER WILL NOT PLAY ANY TAPES, IT JUST EJECTS EVERYTHING... THE TRIM KEEPS FALLING OFF AND I HAVE A STRIP OF CHROME IN THE BACK FLOORBOARD AS I TYPE THIS....BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR STRUTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED....AND JUST LAST WEEK MY HUSBAND HAD TO BOLT THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE FRAME.
THE CRUISE CONTROL KEPT ON GOING OUT ON US ON OUR TRIP THROUGH NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA. IT WAS REALLY ANNOYING AND COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS IF THERE HAD BEEN MORE TRAFFIC. I HAD TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE ODOMETER OR SPEEDOMETER AS CLOSELY AS I COULD. I FELT THAT THIS COULD HAVE REALLY BEEN DANGEROUS. I TALKED TO A MECHANIC IN A GAS STATION AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT POSSIBLY COULD BE COMPRESSION. HE COULD NOT HELP ME. WE TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY THROUGH THE AREAS OF ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO, AND I THOUHT THAT MAYBE IT WAS DUE TO ELEVATION THAT WOULD BE CAUSING SOME OF THE PROBLEMS. WHEN RETURNING TO OUR HOME IN INDIANAPOLIS THOUGH, WHILE GOING THROUGH THE FLATLANDS OF KANSAS, AND SOME OF THE OTHER PLACES WHERE IT WAS FLAT, IT DID THE SAME THING. I WOULD SET THE CRUISE, IT WOULD WORK FOR A WHILE, THEN IT WOULD FAIL BY SLOWING DOWN TREMENDOUSLY, AS I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, THINKING ALL ALONG THAT IT WOULD WORK IN THESE AREAS. THERE WERE NO HILLS, SO WHAT WAS I TO LOSE. EXCEPT I DID LOSE THE POWER OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONER SEEM TO BE AFFECTED ALSO. I WOULD LOSE SOME POWER FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER. EVEN NOW WHILE TRAVELING AROUND THE HIGHWAYS HERE IN INDY IT HAPPENS ALSO.
SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHED TO DOOR HAS A CRACKED COVER. THIS CAUSES THE SHOULDER BELT TO BE LOOSE AND NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY.*AK
BOTH FENDERS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT ON BOTH SIDES , POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THE PAINT ITSELF OR THE METAL USED FOR THE FENDERS. IT DOESN'T SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS SHOULD HAPPENED TO A VEHICLE WITH THAT FEW MILES ON IT. ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN CARE OFF.*AK
THE AIR COMPRESSOR WILL NOT COME ON EVEN THOUGH THE FREON LEVEL IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE ACCORDING TO A MECHANIC. HE HAS CHECKED THE RELAYS AND EVERYTHING LOOKS FINE BUT THE AIR CONDITIONER WILL NOT COME ON. *AK
THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE BOLTS WERE NOT SECURE. WHILE BROWSING THE NET I FOUND THAT THE 91 BUICK REGAL WAS BEING RECALLED BECAUSE OF THIS AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO PEP BOYS FOR TIRES WHEN I WAS INFORMED OF A NEED FOR THE THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY (DRUMS, ROTORS, CALIPERS, ETC.) TO BE REPAIRED AND I FOUND THAT BUICK WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTS AS WELL AS THE SUSPENSION. I ALSO FOUND THAT CHEVY WAS HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE LUMINA. AT THIS POINT I AM JUST TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GET IN CONTACT WITH BUICK TO GET SOME OF THESE ISSUES RESOLVED. THANKS IN ADVANCE, ERICA JONES. *AK
DIRECTIONAL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF TURN SIGNALS. PARTS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER SINCE DECEMBER. NO FUTURE DATE WAS GIVEN. *AK
BOTH REAR STRUTS FAILED CAUSING A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. NLM
WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAD BRAKE JOB DONE. *AK *ML
THE BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. IT IS AND ELECTRICAL SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BUICK IS REVIEWING THE SITUATION AND DECIDING WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. THEY DO NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT PART MADE AT THIS TIME. IT IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND WILL BE UNTIL THEY HAVE IT MANUFACTURED. IT WILL COST LIVES IN THE LONGRUN.
REAR BRAKES FAILED CAUSING ACCIDENT. NLM
AS OF NOW, I AM COMPLETELY LOCKED OUT OF MY VEHICLE. BOTH DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING. I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO TO BE POORLY MANUFACTURED, THEY ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKS AROUND THE WHOLE WHEEL; 3 OUT OF 4 WERE NOTICED. WHEELS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. WENT TO TURN, AND THE REAR OF ENGINE DROPPED ONTO THE HIGHWAY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT TWO REAR BOLTS ON ENGINE CRADLE HAD ROTTED OUT. THEY MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A STATE INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE HAD ROTTED OUT, AND CRACED ACROSS THE FRAME. CONTACTED DEALER AGAIN, AND WAS TOLD NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S ELECTRONIC DOOR LATCHES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING DRIVER'S/PASSENGERS' DOORS NOT TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH MAY TRAP AN OCCUPANT. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
TURN SIGNAL LEVER-SOMETIMES WILL NOT TURN COMPLETELY OFF AFTER COMPLETING TURN(BAD SPRING PREHAPS) SOMETIMES A/C COMPRESSOR WILL NOT TURN ON WHEN A/C BUTTON IS PUSHED BUT IF YOU PLAY AROUND WITH IT WILL EVENTUALLY TURN ON(WE THINK ITS A FAULTY WIRE), 3 OR 4 INTRIGUING INSTANCES WHEN A LITTLE PUFF OF WHITE SMOKE HAS COME UP THROUGH THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUM SEAM(THE LITTLE SEAM IN IT THAT ALLOWS THE WHEEL TO TILT) EVERYTHING ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUM STILL WORKS, ALSO THE PAINT HAS EXCEVILLY FADED ESPICALLY ON THE BUMPERS AND MIRRORS(THE BUMPERS ARE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT COLOR FROM THE BODY WHIC ALSO HAS FADING PAINT) THE CAR IS A DARK RED AND HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, ALSO THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T RETRACT, OVERALL IT HAS BEEN THE MOST RELIABLE CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED, BUT THE MAIN REASON I WROTE IS BECAUSE OF THE ODOMETER, PLEASE CONTACT ME IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO GET IT FIXED DISCOUNTED OR FREE
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE WAS HARDLY ANY BRAKE PEDAL. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WAS NO BRAKING ABILITY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED. AFTER STANDING ABOUT 20 MINTUES,THE BRAKE PEDAL CAME BACK UP. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM LAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT BEING FULLY RELEASED. ALSO, REAR DISC BRAKES WERE REPLACED. *AK
WHEN DRIVING UNDER 40 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND CONSUMER HAS TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. ALSO, BRAKE PADS/ROTORS AND THE MASTER CYLINDER HAVE BEEN REPLACED. DELAER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT A BOLT FELL INTO THE DRAIN PAN. *AK
SHOULDER BELT ISN'T WORKING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DUE TO THE RAIL BEING STUCK. DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
BRAKES FAILED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. BROUGHT TO LOCAL DEALER FOR REPAIR (JACK SCHLEIN) CAR WAS PURCHASED AT SLIVKA BUICK IN MICHIGAN. MUST APPLY FIRM PRESSURE TO SOTP. PEDAL CHANGES HEIGHT. SYSTEM INVESTIGATED BY BUICK TWICE. MASTER CYLINDER AND REAR CALIPERS REPLACED. PROBLEM PERSISTS.
I HAVE HAD MY FRONT BRAKES REPLACED 3 TIMES AND REAR 2 TIMES. THE CAUSE IS THE REAR CALIPER FREEZING UP.*AK
ON 11-28-97, ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS RUSTED . WHEN DRIVER MADE A TURN ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE . ON 15-APR-99, OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP AGAIN BECAUSE THE ENGINE CRADLES RUSTED AGAIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
TWICE THE BOLTS THAT SUPPORT ENGINE ROTTED OUT, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON NOVEMER 28, 1997 WITH 78,000 MILES AND ON APRIL 20, 1999. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE FRAME IS CRACKED, THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. CONSUMER FEELS HE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR REPAIRS. *TT
ANTI LOCK PUMP AND ACCUMULATOR FAILED.
VEHICLE HAS WATER INSIDE ON THE FLOOR BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT. SOMETIMES THE ENTIRE FLOOR WILL BE WET IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, FRONT FLOOR HAS NEVER BEEN WET. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. VARIOUS MECHANICS CONTACTED, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
DOOR SEEMS TO BE INOPERABLE WHEN TRYING TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE, WHEN TURNING THE KEY, IT IS VERY HARD TO OPEN. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN TRYING TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE THE DOORS WON'T OPEN, AND THE DOOR LATCH GETS STUCK. WATER IS GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE IN THE BACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IN THE FRONT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE FRONT PASSENGER S AND THE DRIVER DON'T KNOW HOW THE WATER IS GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE , ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S NOT RAINING. *AK
THE REASON IS THAT THE BRAKES RUST, THE CALIPERS SEIZE, AND THE REAR BRAKES NO LONGER WORK. SO NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES BUT USUALLY THE FRONT BRAKES ARE ALSO WORN OUT BY THE TIME YOU NOTICE, BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED LOAD ON THEM.
BRAKING SYSTEM WEARING OUT WITHIN 25,000-30,000 MILE OF WEAR. ROTORS AND PADS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND COST ALWAYS GOES TO CONSUMER.
HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS NOT TURNING OFF HEADLIGHTS PROPERLY. CONSUMER REPORTED PUSHING HEADLIGHT BUTTON BETWEEN 5-10 MIN UNTIL LIGHTS ARE ABLE TO TURN OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
RECALLS 91V005 & 92V003; DRIVER'S SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED, THE SHOULDER BELT DID NOT RETRACT. WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS HANGING OUT OF THE RETRACTOR, AND WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO THE MECHANISM. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER NOT WILLING TO CORRECT FREE OF CHARGE. *AK
BRAKE FAILURE TWICE. QCAW
HAD RECEIVED SECOND RECALL NOTICE 97V058000 REGARDING CRADLE BOLTS. AGAIN CALLED DEALERSHIP ABOUT PARTS. AGAIN DEALERSHIP SAID NO PARTS AVAILABLE & WOULD CALL WHEN THEY COME IN. *AK
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A GRADUAL STOP, CONSUMER NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, PEDAL BECAME VERY HARD, AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES. CONSUMER, THEREFORE, HAD TO APPLY GREAT AMOUNT OF FORCE TO THE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
RUSTED CALIPERS ON REAR DISC BRAKES. PREMATURE FAILURE DUE TO WORN ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS BECAUSE OF CALIPER PROBLEM.
ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN ANY CONDITION, THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON, AND PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING AN EXTENDED STOPPING. *AK
ANTI LOCK BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.
ABS OPEN ACCUMULATOR & PRESSURE SWITCH FAILED. MJS
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON THERE ARE NO ABS BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOPS A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK
BRAKE ROTORS FAILED, CAUSING PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR.
CALIPERS/ROTORS OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE BRAKE FLUID TO TURN TO GAS WHICH, IN TURN, CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. *AK
DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS BRAKES FELT VERY SOFT DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER THEN HAD TO PUMP EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL. DEALER SAID THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITON,CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK
CALIPERS FAILED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION.
CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES THREE TIMES. WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKES WOULD JERK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT BRAKES AND BACK BRAKES FAILED. THE BACK BRAKES NEEDED NEW CALIPERS.OWNER HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED . OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE COLLIDING WITH TREE.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1991 Buick Regal → · Every Regal year → · How the figures are calculated →