1997 Buick Regal complaints

DT: THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STALLING WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL. THE CONSUMER HAD THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED AT A DEALERSHIP, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. 1997, BUICK, REGAL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $837.00 TO HAVE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR/IGNITION REPLACED. *AK *JB

DT: THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED , BUT THE CONSUMER DID NOT LIKE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE HIM FOR THE REPAIRS.. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE. *AK

1997 BUICK REGAL SEDAN DEVELOPED VARIOUS PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. *MR THERE WAS A CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK. THE REPAIRS CONSISTED OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL PAN AND GASKET DUE TO AN OIL LEAK, THE THERMOSTAT, BELT TENSIONER, COOLANT PUMP, COMPLETE FLUSHING OF THE SYSTEM, WIRES AND PLUGS, NEW ALTERNATOR, UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKET REPLACEMENT AND A NEW ENGINE. THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED, THE BEARINGS AND THE PISTONS WERE NOISY. *SC THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. *JB

DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. A LOUD WINDING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE PULLEY WHEEL FROM THE MOTOR CAME OFF. THIS CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT. OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PULLEY WHEEL AND DRIVE TRAIN PULLEY BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE TENSIONER PULLEY FROZE UP AND DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO FRAY BADLY. IT RUBBED UP AGAINST AND SCRAPED A HOLE IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *BF *TC

THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

I HAVE A 1997 BUICK REGAL GS [XXX]. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A DEALER IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE DEALER (WESTERN MOTORS, GARDEN CITY, KS) 3 TIMES WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW DID NOT WORK, THE LAST TWO TIMES I WAS STRANDED WHEN THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE SECOND TIME WESTERN MOTORS REPLACED THE BATTERY AT COST TO ME. THIS LAST TIME IT IS PRESENTLY IN THE SHOP WHILE THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS. I HAVE RESEARCHED SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS OF OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH LATE 90'S MODEL REGALS. THEY HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND HAVING THEIR VEHICLE SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR NOT STARTING WITHIN A MATTER OF MONTHS. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR THE OWNERS AS THE MECHANICS TRY ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. IT IS ALSO VERY INCONVENIENT TO BE STRANDED OR JUST TO GET IN THE CAR AND WONDER IF IT WILL START OR NOT. I FEEL THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT GM SHOULD HAVE TO REMEDY WITHOUT EMPTYING THE POCKETS OF THE OWNERS OF THEIR VEHICLES. I REALIZE THIS IS NOT A LIFE THREATENING SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT OCCURS REPEATEDLY IN MANY CARS AND IS A HUGE FINANCIAL BURDEN TO THE OWNERS.*AK UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

CONSUMER STATED WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION POWER STEERING FAILED DUE TO RACK AND PINION MALFUNCTIONING. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL 99V348000. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY STOP WORKING DUE TO A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE DRIVE PIN AND CRESCENT IN THE CRANK ARM ASSEMBLY. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDE DUE TO VIN. *AK

I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN I WENT TO USE THE TURN SIGNAL THE CAR STALLED AND IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN BUT WHEN I USE MY DIRECTIONALS THE CAR STALLS, NO MATTER WHERE I AM. I THINK IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE WHEN YOUR ON A HIGHWAY AND WANT TO USE YOUR TURN SIGNAL YOUR CAR WILL JUST STALL OUT AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ ALOT OF COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THAT. I THINK IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH.*AK

BUICK REGALS - 1989 AND 1997 - THE '89 BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT 190,000 MILES AND THE '97 AFTER 141,000 MILES AND CRACKED BOTH HEADS - WITH PERFECT SERVICING AND CARE. NO WARNINGS - JUST HEATED UP AND IMMEDIATELY BLEW - BUT HAD NEVER OVER-HEATED PRIOR TO BLOWING GASKETS.. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL ARM FAILED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM

AFTER THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED STEERING GEAR BEARING RECALL 03V527000 REPAIRS THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLICKING NOISE . THE NOISE OCCURRED WHEN MAKING A SHARP LEFT OR RIGHT TURN AND WHEN IN REVERSE.*AK

ON 7-6-02, OWNER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. HOWEVER, OWNER WAS TOLD BY G.M. THAT BECAUSE SHE HAD PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED AFTERMARKET PARTS, THEY ARE NOT LIABLE FOR THE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE AFTERMARKET PARTS SHE HAD INSTALLED PRIOR TO THE RECALL. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM *LA

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V527000 NOTICE REGARDING RACK AND PINION FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER REPLACED THE BEARINGS ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THREE WEEKS LATER, RACK AND PINION BECAME DEFECTIVE AND IT WAS HARD TO STEER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A NEW RACK AND PINION WAS NEEDED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING COLUMN VIBRATED AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY. ALSO, WHEN TURNING LEFT THERE WAS A PULLING RESISTANCE IN THE STEERING. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND USING THE TURN SIGNAL TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN ON COLD MORNINGS AND MAKES A CLUNCKING SOUND WHEN ON CENTER. *LA

RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO DUE TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. THE RACK AND PINION BEGAN MAKING NOISE AND PRODUCING WHEEL VIBRATION WHILE TURNING AND EVENTUALLY DEVELOPED A LEAK. RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE FOR PARTS AND LABOR. UNFORTUNATELY, CAR IS BEGIN TO DEMONSTRATE EARLY SYMPTOMS OF IT FAILING AGAIN. THE SYMPTOMS ARE INCREASED NOISE AND VIBRATION WHILE TURN AT SLOW SPEEDS OR TIGHT TURNS AT MODERATE SPEEDS. I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO REPLACING THIS AGAIN. I NOTE THAT MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS EXIST ON THE LIST FOR SIMILAR ITEMS, AND THAT SIMILAR ISSUE EXIST FOR OTHER GM VEHICLES. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON ACTIONS BEING TAKEN ON THE BEHALF OF THE CONSUMERS OF THIS VEHICLE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING/BRAKES, AND THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ENGAGED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS WAS CAUSED BY WIRING FAILURE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. *AK 1997 BUICK REGAL ENGINE STALLED WHEN TURN SIGNAL WAS USED. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE STALLED AS A RESULT OF IGNITION SWITCH CIRCUIT OVERLOAD. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM.*MR

STEERING RACK LOCKED UP AT 40,000-60,000 MI HAD IT REPLACED AND IT SEEMS TO BE STARTING AGAIN AT 115,000 MI. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, STEERING LOCKED UP MAKING IT UNABLE TO STEER CAUSING CAR TO HIT CENTER DIVIDER. *LA

97 BUICK REGAL--LOCKED UP STEERING--SITTING IN MY GARAGE--WAITING TO BE REPAIRED CALLED CARDEALER EST:1,000. TO REPAIR

1997 BUICK REGAL - POWER STEERING PROBLEM

THE HVAC UNIT ON MY 1997.5 BUICK REGAL HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND ITS NOW OUT AGAIN.

FUEL GAUGE INCORRECTLY REGISTERS EMPTY WHEN TANK IS 1/4 FULL. *AK

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEATER BURNED BLACK COIL PATTERNS THOUGH THE LEATHER ON THE SEAT (BEIGE SEAT), WHEN DISCOVERED THE SEAT WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO TOUCH. DEALER SUSPECTED A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE SEAT HEATING COIL MECHANISM. I HAVE CONCERNS THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY LEAD TO FIRE. *NLM

DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE EXTERIOR WINDOW MOLDING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL ROTTED TO THE POINT THE METAL BAR COULD BE SEEN. MR..*AK

STEERING SEEMED TO LOCK AT NEAR FULL TRAVEL EITHER DIRECTION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT WOULD "RELEASE" WITH A HARD PULL BACK TOWARD CENTER. LAST INCIDENT, UPON PULL BACK, WIFE HEARD A "POP" AND STEERING EFFORT SEEMED MARKEDLY REDUCED. WHEN INSPECTING, I FOUND BOTTOM PINION SHAFT COVER IN RACK HOUSING TO BE MISSING, BUT FOUND IT IN DRIVEWAY NEAR WHERE LAST LOCK UP WAS. IT HAD GREASE AND LOTS OF "SHRAPNEL" , SEEMINGLY HARD PLASTIC, THAT WAS WIPED OFF AND CAP PUT BACK INTO HOUSING. STEERING HAS NOT LOCKED SINCE, BUT FEELS VAGUE AND LOOSE NEAR END OF TRAVEL EITHER DIRECTION. CAR ONLY HAS 51K MILES.

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. DEALER SAYS POWER STEERING RACK IS BINDING WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT. WILL HAVE TO REPLACE, MY COST. I SEE A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. GM HAD A RECALL (11/15/2002) FOR THIS PROBLEM ON SAME MODEL YEAR FOR CAVALIER, SUNFIRE, LUMINA/VENTURE, SILHOUETTE, TRANSPORT, AND GRAND PRIX (REGAL'S SIBLING). WHAT ABOUT REGAL?

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ERRATIC STEERING CONTROL, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.*JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE OIL LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. AND WITH IN SECONDS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

THE VEHICLES HORN STARTS TO BLOW ON ITS OWN. TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM. SEPTEMBER 2002 CONSUMER RECIEVED A RECALL LETTER THE AIRBAG SYSYEM. SYSTEM HAD BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AT ANY SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WASNOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

ABS LIGHTS FLASH ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICAL IS BEING INSPECTED.*AK

ON-OFF LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING TURNS. SOMETIMES A STRANGE SHAKE IN STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEED WHEN FIRST STARTING TO DRIVE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED BAND SEPARATION, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO WOBBLE DURING LOW AND MODERATE SPEEDS UNDER 50 MPH, THE REAR TIRES EXPERIENCED CUPPING, CAUSING A THUMPING SENSATION, MICHELIN REPLACED ALL TIRES, THE TIRES WERE GOODYEAR EAGLE LS, P225/60R16. *YH

VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF STEERING PROBLEMS FROM PS PUMP TO RACK AND PINION COST OF REPAIRS ARE OUTRAGEOUS. MOST RECENT FAILURE LOCKED STEERING COMPLETELY WITH MY WIFE AND 6MO BABY DRIVING AT 75MPH ON INTERSTATE. HAS HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH OIL SEALS, ELECTRICAL, IDLERS GOING OUT. SERPENTINE BELT BROKE DUR TO IDLER SEIZED AND SHUT DOWN POWER STEERING WHILE AT 75MPH IN A SEPERATE INCIDENT

TURNED AIR CONDITIONER ON, HEARD A RATTLING NOISE. SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE FRONT - PASSENGER SIDE. STOPPED THE CAR, OPENED HOOD AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WAS ON FIRE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY SPEED. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SEEMS TO STALL AT HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*JB *JB

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 30MPH GOING UPHILL WHEN AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER COULDNOT SEE WHAT CAUSED A CRASH, AND CONSUMER HIT GUARDRAIL ON RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE. ONE INJURY. VEHICLE AT DEALER, AND DEALER HAD NO WAY TO TELL WHY AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT AIR CONDITIONER IS LEAKING WATER ONTO CRADLE MOUNTS, WHICH HAVE DRIED OUT AND CAUSED FRONT CRADLE MOUNTS TO POP LIKE THERE WERE GOING TO FALL OFF. *AK THE BOLTS OF THE CRADLE MOUNTS WERE RUSTED. POWER STEERING HOSES RUBBED AGAINSTTHE BRAKE LINES, CAUSING A HOLE IN BRAKE LINE AND A LOSS OF OF BRAKES, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL, 99V223, HOWEVER CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AGAIN. *SLC

STEERING RACK LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING RENDERING VEHICLE UNSTABLE WHILE TRAVELING APROX. 35 MPH AND CREATING A POTENTIALLY LETHAL SITUITION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH ENGINE STALLED FOR SECOND TIME WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER FOUND OUT THAT CAUSE WAS FUEL PUMP RESISTOR THAT HAD FAILED. *AK

TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING WINDING NOISE AS SHIFTING THROUGH THE GEARS. DEALER SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. DEALER WILL PAY FOR PARTS, BUT CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR LABOR WHICH COULD BE AROUND $700.*AK *SLC

MY WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY FAILED DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. I CONTACTED BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT MY ISSUE AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY.*AK

FIRESTONE TIRE (P215/70R15) EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT. *SLC

PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG CONSOLE IS RISING UP. MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED TSB FOR DEFECT. *AK THE DEALER FIRTS INSTALLED A COVER FOR THE AIR BAG BUT THE CLIP HOLDING THE COVER WAS REMOVED DURING SECOND SERVICE. THE CONSUMER WAS VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT AIR BAG BEING EXPOSED BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT, NON DEPLOYMENT OR DETERIORATION. *YH

WATER PUMP REPLACED AT APPROX. 30,000, FRONT TIRES - STEEL BELTS WORE THROUGH. *AK