1994 Buick Regal

Routine

Owners filed 110 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip12
201
Vehicle Speed Control8
303
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring5
000
Electrical System › Ignition5
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer4
000
Unknown or Other4
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components4
000
Tires3
102
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper3
000
Seats3
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring97V017000
Filed Feb 11, 1997349,331 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE.

Risk. THIS CAN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN A SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE OLD DESIGNED WASHER/WIPER SWITCHES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

Exterior Lighting95V152000
Filed Aug 8, 199583,247 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. INCORRECT CLEAR FRONT SIDE MARKER BULBS WERE INSTALLED RATHER THAN AMBER BULBS. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: DURING ILLUMINATION, THE BULBS WILL SHOW CLEAR RATHER THAN AMBER AND COULD MOMENTARILY CONFUSE OTHER DRIVERS.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLEAR BULBS WITH THE CORRECT AMBER BULBS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings95V061000
Filed Mar 22, 1995199,572 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE HOSE(S) CAN CONTACT THE REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE(S) TO WEAR THROUGH.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BRAKE HOSE POSITION AND REPLACE THOSE HOSES IN AN INCORRECT POSITION WITH NEW HOSES AND CORRECTLY ROUTED.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed May 17, 201748,975 milesMN

1984 BUICK REGAL WITH 3800L V6. THE VALVE COVERS ARE LEAKING EXCESSIVE OIL ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH COULD START FIRE WHEN DRIVING, WHEN PARKED, WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT! THE 97 THROUGHT 2004 BUICK REGALS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT SITUATION. WHY WAS THE 94 NOT RECALLED? HAS IT DUE TO AGE?

Air Bags
Filed Jul 22, 2013TX

AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00AM FRIDAY JULY 19, MY SON AND I GOT INTO THE CAR WHICH WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE. I PROCEEDED TO PLACE THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND STARTED THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED HITTING ME IN THE FACE AND CHEST BREAKING MY GLASSES AND THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF SOLVENT OR PARTICLES IN THE FORM OF SMOKE THAT WAS IN THE AIR AFTER THE EXPLOSION. I'M CALLING IT AN EXPLOSION BECAUSE WE WERE NOT IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT ONLY GOING ABOUT OUR DAILY ROUTINE OF ACTIVITIES. I KNOW THIS IS NOT TYPICAL OF AN AIRBAG, SO I WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT BUICK TO SEE IF I HAVE ANY GROUNDS FOR COMPENSATION. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, I HAVE RINGING IN MY EARS, MY CHEST HAS BEEN VERY SORE NOW FOR THE LAST 2 DAYS AND I HAVEN'T HAD THE BAG REPLACED OR REMOVED. *TR

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring
Filed Oct 27, 200847,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. THE WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE CAUSES THE WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED IN RAINY CONDITIONS. BUICK STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V017000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 12/10/08 *CN THE DEALER SHOWED THE CONSUMER THE TWO WIRES THAT WER BROKEN ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH. UPDATED 12/16/08. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch
Filed Apr 23, 200874,000 milesKY

LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WHEN DIMMER SWITCHED USED TO DIM BRIGHT LIGHTS RESULTING IN NO LIGHTS TRIPPING IT SEVERAL TIMES BROUGHT LIGHTS BACK AND LEFT THEM ON DIM UNTIL I COULD GET IT SERVICED AT COST OF APPROX 400.00 THIS WAS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. RECENTLY TILT COLUMN HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO OPERATE NOW WILL NOT LOCK IN POSITION AND LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK WHEN COLUMN IS TILTED DOWN. IS THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 94 AND AM THE ONLY DRIVER. I AM AFRAID THE STEERING COLUMN WILL SHIFT UNAFFECTEDLY AND CAUSE ME TO WRECK OR CAUSE THE MOTOR TO STALL AND LOCK STEERING AND CAUSE A WRECK. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 21, 2007100,000 milesGA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE CONDITION OF HER VEHICLE INSPECTED AND FOR A NEW PAINT JOB. APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AT A STOP LIGHT. SHE COULD NOT ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF A BUTTON BEING PUSHED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS STUCK INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR HALF AN HOUR ON A HOT DAY. THE # OF CYLINDERS AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Oct 12, 200620,000 milesPA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO UPON INSPECTION, DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT SAME COMPONENT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND EXPRESSED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED, AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME ISSUES STATED IN THE RECALL # 97V017000 REGARDING VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER:SWITCH/WIRING.

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Apr 12, 2006105,000 milesIL

WHILE DRIVING, MY HORN INTERMITTENTLY SOUNDS WITHOUT TOUCHING IT. WHILE PARKED ON THE STREET ON A SUNNY DAY, THE HORN WILL BLARE WITH NO ONE IT. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS ON THREE OCCASIONS. 1) WHILE DRIVING THE HORN SOUNDED AND VEHICLES STOPPED SUDDENLY IN AN INTERSECTION AND HAD TO DODGE EACH OTHER AND NEARLY HAD A REAR END COLLISION. 2) WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE HORN SOUNDED AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS ANOTHER CAR AND SWERVED INSTINCTIVELY, 3) WHILE PARKED IN THE STREET IN THE SUN, THE HORN WENT OFF AND CAUSED A KID TO FALL OFF OF HIS BIKE. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH REGALS AND LESEBRES AND GM WANTS ABOUT $1,000 TO FIX A POORLY DESIGNED HORN SWITCH. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS EVIDENCED BY THE DEARTH OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND INTERMITTENT HORN SOUNDING IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM THEREFORE REQUESTING THAT YOU TAKE ACTION. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights
Filed Jan 10, 2006TX

MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH FOR TURN SIGNAL WHICH FEEDS BRAKE LIGHTS CAUSES BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO COME ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. IN SEARCHING WEB FOUND TO BE COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic ConvertorFire
Filed Mar 2, 2005117,245 milesMA

CAR RUNNING POORLY, THEN STRANGE SOUNDS OF AIR SWISHING AND CAR WON'T STAY RUNNING, SMOKE COMING FROM FLOOR, FIRE UNDER CAR. WON'T RUN. FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL CORRODED, INJECTORS PLUGGED, ONE WIDE OPEN. TOO MUCH FUEL IN CATALYTIC CONVERTER, GOT RED HOT, MELTED INTERNALLY AND PLUGGED EXHAUST FLOW, WHICH BYPASSED FRONT PIPE GASKET AT MANIFOLD, ALSO FORCING EXHAUST PAST EGR VALVE. HAD TO REPLACE FUEL RAIL, FUEL INJECTORS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CLEAN AND NEW GASKET ON EGR, MANY PLASTIC PARTS MELTED.SMOKE DAMAGE TO INSIDE OF CAR.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Switch
Filed Aug 5, 200485,005 milesAZ

TURN SIGNAL UNIT REPLACED THREE TIMES. ONE TIME WHEN VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND TWICE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $270.00 EACH TIME. *AK *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Apr 1, 2004MO

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED AN ODOR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT CERTAIN PARTS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHERE THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE GOING TO DIE OUT. THE VOLTAGE READINGS WERE ALWAYS LOW. THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING OUT OF GEAR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE INITIAL PROBLEM WAS WITH THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE BRAKES WERE BAD AND THE MUFFLER HAD A BIG HOLE IN IT. ALSO, COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *SC *JB

Seats
Filed Mar 7, 2004145,000 milesNC

DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM THE TRACK CAUSING SEAT TO ROCK BACKWARDS. I WAS PARKED AT THE TIME. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE RIGHT HAND TRACK BROKE DUE TO THE ADDED STRESS. I REPLACED THE ENTIRE SEAT, TRACKS AND ALL, AND A YEAR LATER, THE SEAT BROKE AGAIN IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 24, 2004VA

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR WHEN TAKING TURNS, THE ENGINE STALLED CAUSING A LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING , BRAKES, AND ENGINE MISSING WITH RPM OF 1500-2000. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. WHILE ON A TRIP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO CHECK THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A LAGGED FUEL FILTER AND TO DRIVE HOME. ANOTHER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BUT SUGGESTED THTA IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM EITHER AND REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO ANOTHER SERVCE DEALER FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY REPLACED THE "SOL VALVE" BUT STILL WASN'T ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *SC

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Feb 18, 200492,945 milesWI

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. NOT ONLY THE ENGINE, BUT EVERYTHING WENT DEAD. NO POWER AT THE IGNITION SWITCH IN ACC. OR ON. THE DOME LIGHT WORKED WITH DOOR OPEN BUT ONLY IF THE KEY WAS IN THE OFF POSITION OR REMOVED. THE BATTERY IS GOOD. DOME LIGHT WOULD GO OUT IF KEY WAS TURNED. POWER CAME BACK ON AFTER REPEATEDLY PLAYING WITH IGNITION SWITCH. CAR HAS DIED TWICE NOW AND "FIXED ITSELF". I DO NOT FEEL THE PROBLEM IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I FOUND COMPLAINT ODI #7441655 TO SOUND IDENTICAL TO MY PROBLEM.*AK

Tires
Filed Feb 12, 2004129,560 milesOH

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULLOVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Feb 9, 2004120,394 milesMN

HAD INTAKE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED DUE TO A COOLING PROBLEM. WAGAMON BROTHERS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT IT. VOLTAGE GAUGE READING 18. REPLACED ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR. PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. CHECKED BATTERY. BATTERY FAILED. REPLACED BATTERY. VOLTAGE GAUGE STILL READ 18. DROVE CAR. CAR DIED IN MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. SMELL OF BURNT WIRES. TOWED CAR TO GARAGE. FIANCE WAS ABLE TO START CAR AND NOTICED GAUGES STILL LIT WHEN SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOT LIT. FIGURES ELECTRICAL UNDER DASH OR IN WIRING HARNESS.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 15, 2004105,000 milesOH

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MAJOR PAINT PEELING OFF MY 1994 BUICK REGAL. IT IS OCCURING IN SEVERAL PLACES ON THE HOOD AND QUARTER PANEL. IT BLISTERS AND THEN IT JUST FLAKES OFF. THE 1993 GM PRESS RELEASE DESCRIBES MY EXACT PROBLEM, STATING THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OFF REPAINTING A CAR WITHIN THE FIRST SIX YEARS. SO, UNFORTUNATLY I'M PROBABLY OUT OF LUCK, BUT I WAS GOING TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT AT GETTING GM TO COVER SOME OF THE COST. THE CAR HAS JUST UNDER 105,000 MILES AND OTHERWISE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 28, 2003CA

THE VEHICLE STALLED AT VARIOUS TIMES, AND NOW THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START AT ALL. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Apr 18, 200327,478 milesIL

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. *NLM

Seats
Filed Mar 25, 2003CA

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOUNT BROKE, THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS UNSTABLE AND IT ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. *JB

20 of 110 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1998
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20202200Routine
201919300Routine
201819300Routine
201720010Routine
201641100Routine
201533010Routine
201438200Routine
201391620Routine
201292720Routine
2011279470Above average
20101000Routine
20091000Routine
20081000Routine
20054000Routine
200466420Routine
20031015140Routine
20021175230High concern
20011878480High concern
200018410300High concern
19992468441Fatalities reported
19983027410High concern
19971368190Routine
19962044160Above average
1995173840Routine
1994 — this page110320Routine
199385232Fatalities reported
1992144251Fatalities reported
1991200740Above average
199077911Fatalities reported

Compare every Regal year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 11, 1997. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.