1998 Buick Regal complaints

1998 BUICK REGAL W/ 3.8L ENGINE. HAD RECALL ISSUE FIXED MARCH 2011. VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER DRIVING UP TO OUR LOCAL MOUNTAINS. FIRE BEGAN AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, AS WE WERE GETTING OUR CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE BEGAN AT THE SPARK PLUG WIRES, CONTINUED UP THE WIRE ASSEMBLY TO THE FUEL LINES AND BURNED THROUGH FUEL LINES. IMMEDIATELY HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY, SINCE FUEL LINES WERE SPEWING GAS AT THE FIRE. WE WERE ABLE TO PUT FIRE OUT WITH SNOW ON THE BRUSHY HILLSIDE WE WERE PARKED BESIDE. FILED CLAIM WITH GM. THEY DENIED IT DUE TO CAR'S AGE, AND CLAIMED THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY AFTER THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD. THEIR RECALL FIX DID NOT WORK. THE CAR STILL CAUGHT ON FIRE ANYWAY WITH MY FAMILY INSIDE. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENGINE OIL WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE, SOME OF THE OIL SPILLED ON TOP OF THE MANIFOLD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

1998 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS DONE RELATED TO RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO AN OIL LEAK, WHICH RESULTED IN A FAULTY GASKET. IT IN TURN SHORTED OUT THE BATTERY AND THE STARTER. THE GASKET LEAKED, BLOWING OIL IN THE STARTER, AND CAUSED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS THAT WERE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RECALL. *JB

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD 14 POWER WINDOW MECHANISMS REPLACED AND THE WINDOWS CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. 14 REPLACEMENTS IN ONE CAR, THIS CAN'T BE THE ONLY VEHICLE IN WHICH THIS IS OCCURRING. *KB

1998 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BEING HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER CONTINUES TO RECEIVE RECALL LETTERS REGARDING THE VEHICLE. *JB

1998 BUICK REGAL GS. RACK AND PINION PROBLEMS AT 96K MILES. NOTHING NOTICABLE LEADING UP TO PROBLEM. ONE DAY IT HAS HARD TO STEER TO THE LEFT. NOW IT IS EFFECTING TURNING TO THE RIGHT. *TR OTHER '98 REGALS WERE UNDER RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT FOR SOME REASON MY REGAL ISN'T. SPOKE TO BUICK AT 8666088080 AND WAS TOLD BY A MANAGER THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE IT WASN'T PART OF RECALL. KEPT REFERING TO CAR AGE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS UNDER 100K MILES. TAKING TO BUICK DEALER THIS WEEKEND TO SEE IF FIXING IS WORTH IT. DEALER SAYS FULL RACK AND PINION OVERHAUL WILL RUN $1500 TO $2000. CAR IS ONLY WORTH $2500. SAD TO SEE A CAR DIE BEFORE IT HITS 100K MILES BUT I GUESS THERE IS A REASON GM WAS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE CROOKED AND NOT AIMING STRAIGHT. THE CONTACT LOCATED A RECALL IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V356000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS MANUAL WHICH CONTAINED A MANUAL INSERT WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPTICALLY AIMING THE HEADLAMPS PER THE RECALL NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I OWN A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING I APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT AND APPLIED MY BRAKES. I SMELLED A BURNING OIL SMELL AND STARTED TO SEE A BLACK SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. MY CAR WAS DAMAGED PAST THE POINT OF REPAIR. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT ONLY TO BE TOLD THE PARTS TO FIX THE RECALL PROBLEM WILL HAVE TO BE ORDERED. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL LS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH APPROACHING A LEFT TURN SHE ENGAGED THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE STATED THAT SHE WAITED 10 SECONDS AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN SHE SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY. AFTER THE TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED THE FAILURE RECURRED IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED FOUR MONTHS AGO. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

DRIVING HOME AND CAR WOULDN'T GO OVER 5 MILER PER HR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE TEMPERATURE GAGE WENT TO HOT SO PULLED OVER AND SMOKE CAME THRU THE VENT IN THE CAR AND OUT FROM THE GEAR SHIFTER. ONCE I GOT OUT I HEARD A LOUD POP AND OIL STARTING LEAKING THEN THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE CAME. I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL ON SPARK PLUGS BACK IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND HAD THE DEALERSHIP REPLACEMENT THEM BUT NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION ABOUT ANY FURTHER RECALLS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT UNEXPECTEDLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FAILURE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKES, HE SMELLED A BURNING OIL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY REPAIR WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

1998 BUICK REGAL LS V6 CAR WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES AND PARKED IN A OUTSIDE PUBLIC PARKING LOT. ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. NOW WE FIND OUT IT WAS A PUBLISHED DEFECT. FRICKIN GM GETS BAILED OUT BUT WHAT ABOUT US? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN THE FIRE WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SHE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE CONTACT HAD TO CHANGE THE OIL MORE FREQUENTLY DUE TO AN OIL LEAK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING COMPONENTS A MONTH PRIOR TO THE FAILURE (RECALL 09V116000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING AND RECALL 08V118000). SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER HER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE HER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURES MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

STEERING WILL NOT TURN TO LEFT STEERING TURNS BACK TO RIGHT VIOLENTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CONDITION, WOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY, AND THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED A FILM COVERING THE MIRROR. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT A SUBSTANCE WAS LEAKING FROM THE MIRROR ONTO HER CONSOLE AND MELTED PARTS OF THE CONSOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND INSPECTED WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AUTOMATIC DEM SOLUTION LEAKED FROM THE MIRROR AND THE MIRROR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 210.00 AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, NO COMPENSATION COULD BE OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 61,300.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUTTER AND LOST COMPLETE POWER. THE CONTACT SMELLED A CHEMICAL ODOR AND MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE NEXT MORNING, HE DISCOVERED THAT HALF OF THE ENGINE MANIFOLD AND THE SPARK PLUG RETENTION WIRES WERE MELTED. THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND COULD NOT DETERMINE HOW THE FIRE ORIGINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER IS WAITING TO SPEAK WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 96,000. REMAILED 10/20/09

ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO MY 98 BUICK REGAL BEGAN STALLING WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE NUMEROUS TIMES AS WELL AS IN INTERSECTIONS. ALSO AT TIMES IT WILL SIMPLY NOT START. I HAVE HAD A FULL TUNE UP AND GET THE CAR SERVICED REGULARLY, BUT 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, EVEN A BUICK MECHANIC CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE SAFETY PROBLEM AND I AM VERY SURPRISED NO RECALL HAS BEEN SET UP BECAUSE WITH A QUICK SEARCH YOU CAN LOCATE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND FIXED BY BUICK AND NHTSA. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER THE STARTER AND COOLANT BRACKET WERE REPLACED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MAY HAVE PERFORMED SOME FAULTY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE WAS INVESTIGATED AND THE MECHANIC WAS NOT AT FAULT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 AFTER THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,800.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE FAILURE PREVIOUSLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. GM RECALL NUMBER 90047 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 WILL NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

BUICK SAFETY RECALL 07035 ON 1998 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO CORRECTING THE SAFETY DEFECT BUT WAS REFUSED. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SMOKED AND HAD AN ODOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL INDICATED A NEW FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET WOULD BE INSTALLED WITH AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL WITH NEW RETAINERS. GM SENT THE CONSUMER A DENIAL LETTER THAT STATED 1 OF 3 REASONS WHY HE WAS DENIED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND INFORMED THEM THAT HE HAD THE VALVE COVER GASKETS REPLACED. THEY TOLD HIM THE GASKETS USED WERE NOT THE CORRECT ONES AND THE BRACKETS WERE NOT CHANGED. SO, THE DEALER WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED THE GASKETS.*JB

OUR 1998 BUICK REGAL CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE BACK IN APRIL OF 2006. THE FIRE STARTED ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR WAS PUT PARKED IN THE LOT AT WORK. OBVIOUSLY, I AM JUST LEARNING ABOUT THE RECALL. THIS EVENT WAS NOT OTHERWISE REPORTED TO BUICK. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES PRIOR TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVING TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. IT WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. I JUST THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT SO THERE IS A MORE ACCURATE REPORT ON HOW FREQUENTLY THIS TYPE OF THING OCCURRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE BLEW AND BEGAN TO BURN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT I LOOSE POWER STEERING CONTROL AND WHEN I TURN TO THE RIGHT IT WORKS MOST OF THE TIME BUT NOT ALL THE TIME LEAVING IT VERY HARD TO TURN. MECHANIC CHECKED THE POWER STEERING AND SAID THAT IT WAS ALRIGHT AND THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THE LOWER PINION GEAR AND TO CHECK IT OUT. O A COUPLE OF OCCASION MY STEERING WAS OUT OF WHACK WHILE DRIVING AND I ALMOST WENT IN THE DITCH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE PARKED IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE REPORT INDICATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE COLLISION CENTER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. AFTER THE FIRE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), IN WHICH THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000. UPDATED 04/02/09. *JB

THE CAR STALLS OUT WHEN YOU PUT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON TO TURN. ALL THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS LIGHT UP AND THE CAR STALLS. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T DO IT BUT HALF THE TIME IT DOES. I'M AFRAID TO TURN LEFT IN FEAR OF BEING KILLED BECAUSE MY CAR STALLED. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF ANY KIND THAT THE CAR IS STALLING. IT DOES IT THE MOST WHEN YOUR COMING TO A STOP AND PLACE THE LEFT SIGNAL ON. PLEASE HELP FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN PROCEEDING TO MAKE A TURN. THE CONTACT EXERTED MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V527000 (STEERING;RACK AND PINION). THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURES IDENTICAL TO THE ONES MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,000. THE ABS MOTOR FAILED WHICH PREVENTED THE REAR BRAKES FROM WORKING AND ALSO THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. UPDATED 03/04/09. *JB

I HAVE A 1998 BUICK REGAL GS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WHEN ACTIVATING THE TURN SIGNALS. UPON ACTIVATING A SIGNAL IN EITHER DIRECTION THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND STALLS THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS NORMALLY IN MOTION AND POWER STEERING, HEADLIGHTS ETC IS LOST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V527000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). SHE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY DRIFT TO THE LEFT. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 01/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/15/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES. A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS USED TO DOUSE THE FIRE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE FOUND A RECALL FOR HIS VEHICLE REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE VIN AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000.

MY SISTER BOUGHT NEW THE 1998 BUICK REGAL; IN 2002 SHE DIED AND WILLED HER CAR TO ME. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR EXCEPT: IN SEPT. 2007, AFTER A SHORT DRIVE, I PARKED THE CAR IN OPEN DRIVEWAY, AND WALKED TO HOUSE; MINUTES LATER MY HUSBAND, NEARBY, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE OPENED IT AND POURED WATER TO EXTINGUISH THE VISIBLE FIRE ON THE MANIFOLD. IT TOOK OVER A MONTH FOR THE NEAREST MECHANIC - WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AN HOUR FROM THE NEAREST REPUTABLE BUICK DEALER - TO REPAIR. HE HAD TO TRY EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT APPARENT WHY THE FIRE STARTED (REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES THAT WERE BURNED, CHANGED COOLANT JUST IN CASE, CHECKED EVERYTHING, ETC). THEN IN APRIL I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE FROM BUICK STATING EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. I DID WHAT THEY SAID: SENT IN ALL RECEIPTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT, ASKING FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS ONLY TOTALING $677. MEANWHILE, I ALSO WENT TO THE DEALER 1 HOUR AWAY AND THEY REPLACED THE FAULTY GASKET. NOW THEY SAY THEY WILL GIVE ME $300 MAX (SAYING THAT SOME STATUE OF LIMITATIONS HAS RUN OUT AND THEY ARE ONLY DOING THIS AS A COURTESY, NOT AN OBLIGATION). I AM WONDERING IF I HAVE ANY OTHER RECOURSE TO GETTING THE FULL COMPENSATION, AS THEY HAD PROMISED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. AS I SEE FROM OTHERS ON YOUR WEBSITE, THE FIRE COULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE, AND IT ALSO COULD HAVE HAPPENED AGAIN. DOESN'T GM TAKE A LITTLE MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENDANGERING PEOPLE'S LIVES, THAN A MERE $300? AWAITING YOUR REPLY. GLORIA MCLEAN, ANDES, NY. *TR

VEHICLE GOING DEAD, WOULD INITIALLY (THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO) RESTART AND RUN FINE UNTIL IT WENT DEAD AGAIN. SPEED DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FACTOR, GOES DEAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHEN BRAKING TO STOP AT INTERSECTIONS. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLY DANGEROUS. SOMETIMES THE GAUGES AND DASH LIGHTS WILL MOVE ON THEIR OWN, SOMETIMES NOT. FOUR DAYS AGO, AT A LOCAL GARAGE, THE CAR WOULD NOT RE-START. TODAY IT STARTED AND THEN WENT DEAD (I MAY BE MISTAKEN ON THIS, BUT THE KEY ACTUALLY FELT LIKE IT WAS HEATING UP) ON THE WAY TO YET ANOTHER GARAGE, WOULD NOT RE-START AND HAD TO BE TOWED. SO FAR NO-ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TWICE, BOTH TIMES IT SHOWED NO HISTORY AND NO PROBLEM. *TR

MY CAR IS CURRENTLY EXHIBITING THE EXACT SAME FAILURES THAT ARE ALREADY LISTED ON NHTSA FOR MY MAKE, MODEL & YEAR. HOWEVER, THEY SAY MY VIN# IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL.....EVEN THOUGH I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM LISTED! IT IS ACTION #EA03019 CAMPAIGN# 03V527000. PLEASE I NEED HELP BEFORE I HAVE A CRASH.....*TR

I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED SMOKE THEN I SEEN SMOKE I GOT OUT THE CAR SEEN SMALL FIRE UNDER THE CAR THEN IT EXPLODED INTO A BALL OF FIRE. *TR

MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN NOVEMBER 2007, THE FIRE WAS STARTED IN THE ENGINE ON THE MANIFOLD. THE FIRE DEPT RESPONDED TO THE FIRE AND CALLED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. A FIRE REPORT WAS WRITTEN AT THAT TIME AS TO THE EVENTS LEADING TO THE FIRE ETC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SALVAGE YARD AND SCRAPED FOR METAL. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE SO THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS BURNT SO BADLY THAT I HAD TO GET IT OFF THE STREET DIRECTLY AFTER THAT,MARCH 2008 I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL STATING IF I HAD 98 BUICK REGAL GS THAT IT WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE ENGINES WERE CATCHING FIRE DUE TO FAULTY GASKETS ON THE MANIFOLD. I CALLED GM AND TOLD THEM THAT HAD HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE? GM TOLD ME TO SEND THEM THE FIRE REPORT AND A LETTER STATING WHO TOWED THE BURNT CAR AND WHERE IT WENT SO I DID WHAT THEY ASKED. ONCE GM GOT THE FIRE REPORT PROVING THAT IS WHERE THE FIRE STARTED THEN THEY TOLD ME THEY NEEDED PICS OF THE BURNT ENGINE WHICH THEY KNEW I COULDN'T PROVIDE BECAUSE I NO LONGER HAVE THE CAR AND AT THE TIME IT BURNT I WASN'T AWARE OF THE RECALL SO I DIDN'T TAKE PICS OR SAVE THE CAR FOR VIEWING. GM ISN'T GOING TO COMPENSATE ME FOR MY LOSS AND ITS THEIR FAULT. THE FIRE REPORT PROVES THEIR RECALL IS WHY I NO LONGER HAVE A CAR. PLEASE HELP ME! *TR

1998 BUICK REGAL SAFETY RECALL THAT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR RENTING A CAR TO GO ON VACATION, WHILE HER CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. *KB THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. *JB

THIS CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, NOTED BY MANY OWNERS. RUSTED PAINT OVER REAR WHEEL WELLS. I CANNOT COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES I HAVE HAD TO GET THE TURN SIGNALS FIXED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ABS SYSTEM THIS SPRING. NOW I AM TOLD I HAVE A CRACKED MANIFOLD. THE HEATING DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD HAS NOT WORKED FOR THREE YEARS: WE MANIPULATE THE HEAT/ AIR BY TRIAL AND ERROR. I HAD A "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT PROBLEM THAT REQUIRED NUMEROUS COMPUTER SCANS, AND WOULD ONLY BE FIXED FOR A MONTH OR TWO AT A TIME. THE WINDOW BUTTONS ARE FAILING. THE CAR DRIVES WELL, BUT HOW MUCH MORE MONEY IS IT REASONABLE TO PUT INTO? IT HAS 138, 00 MILES, AND HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 3000 MILES. IT SHOULD BE GOOD FOR ANOTHER 60, 000 MILES. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS, IT SEEMS I WILL ONLY BE WASHING MY MONEY. IS THE CRACKED MANIFOLD RELATED TO THE REPORTED FIRES?

1998 BUICK REGAL GS, PROBLEM EVIDENT FOR THE LAST 10, 000 MILES. WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL STICK, CAR EXPERIENCES A "DEAD SHORT" AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE CAR IS ROLLING. CAR BECOMES WORSE AS CAR IS DRIVEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. IT IS INTERMITTENT, BUT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. ON MY LAST RIDE(4/21/2008), THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCED A CUT OFF OF POWER AND IF I HAD NOT MOVED THE TURN SIGNAL STALK TO ITS NEUTRAL POSITION, I AM SURE THE CAR WOULD HAVE STALLED WHILE STILL IN MOTION, REDUCING AND/OR ELIMINATING POWER STEERING AND BRAKE FUNCTIONS. THE PROBLEM STARTED AT ABOUT 75,000 MILES. HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS? *TR

I JUST REVIEW YOUR "COMPLAINT" SEGMENT. I FOUND NO FEWER THAN 8 COMPLAINTS RELATIVE TO OWNERS OF 1998 BUICK REGALS EXPERIENCING THE VERY SAME AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I.E. THE CAR DYING WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL STICK IS ACTUATED. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL SINCE THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION? THERE WERE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE DYING WHILE IN MOTION. IF ONE OF YOUR STAFF MEMBERS WERE INJURED OR KILLED, WOULD THIS BE A BETTER REASON TO NUDGE GM TO DO A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THOSE AFFECTED WITH THIS PROBLEM? I JUST WANT TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE CARES. SINCERELY. JOSEPH WOJCIECHOWSKI *TR

1998 BUICK REGAL LS (3.8 NON-SUPERCHARGED) WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 5-10 MILES FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY. CAR WAS THEN PARKED, DRIVER ENTERED DESTINATION ESTABLISHMENT, THEN QUESTIONED IF CAR WAS THEIRS, AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF CAR BEING SHUT OFF, A FIRE ENGULFED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES AND NO OTHER BY STANDING VEHICLE DAMAGE. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE 3.8 SUPERCHARGED GRAND PRIX & REGAL RECALL THAT IS ONLINE AT NHTSA (08V-118). VEHICLE IS NOT REPAIRABLE. VEHICLE HAD 166,000 MILES AND 1500 SINCE LAST OIL CHANGE. RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE NON-SUPERCHARGED 3.8L ENGINES OF SAME TYPE. *TR

I BOUGHT A BUICK REGAL GS IN 1998 BRAND NEW AND PAID $26,000.00 FOR IT. I WAS THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AS OF LAST YEAR. ON AUGUST 22 MY SON AND I ARRIVED AT HOME AND PARKED THE CAR ON THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR RESIDENCE. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. IT DAMAGED THE GARAGE AND DRIVEWAY AND COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HADN'T ARRIVED WHEN IT DID, AS THE CARS GAS TANK WAS FULL. THE CAR WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. MY INSURANCE DID COVER THE CAR AND THE AMOUNT THEY GAVE WAS PITIFUL. I NOW OWN A 2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION AND IS THAT BEING RECALLED FOR THE SAME THING? IS THERE SOME COMPENSATION FOR ME? I'VE ALWAYS BOUGHT GM VEHICLES AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DEPENDING ON YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS EMAIL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 1-5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY STALL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER IT STALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,988. UPDATED 02/15/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS STEERING GEAR FAILURE, WHICH THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. AIR CONDITION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER, WHICH THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED. THE IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT. THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED

I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO ASSIST WHEN TURNING RIGHT, TURNING LEFT WAS O K. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR HOME, IT WAS A SHORT DISTANCE. THIS OCCURRED ON OR ABOUT 8/2/07. ON 8/13/07 I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR WITH A MIRROR AND WAS ABLE TO FIND A OPEN CAVITY ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING UNIT. THERE WAS A SHAFT AND NUT IN THE CAVITY BUT COULD NOT DISCERN A BEARING. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET FOR RELEVANT INFORMATION AND FOUND THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE DEALER HAD ACCOMPLISHED THE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. I CAME HOME AND FOUND THE INVOICE FOR THE RECALL, IT INDICATES A DATE OF JULY 27, 2004, A MILEAGE OF 58,373 AND THAT THE POWER STEERING GEAR LOWER BEARING WAS REPLACED. THE CAR NOW HAS 96,644 MILES ON IT. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER ON 8/17/07 TO ASCERTAIN WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. JUST THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. IN 2004, THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 03V527000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). THE VEHICLE HAD 48,721 MILES AT THE TIME. SHE WENT TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED. THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AGAIN AND SHE BELIEVES THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED SO QUICKLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

THE STEERING RACK AND PINION OF THE BUICK REGAL HAS BEEN NOTED TO FAIL IN VARIOUS MODELS, YEARS 1996-1998; HOWEVER MANY VEHICLES (IDENTIFIED BY VIN) ARE NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL STATUS. I BELIEVE THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE CONDUCTED, SIMPLY BECAUSE SOME OF THE VEHICLES NOT LISTED ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE STEERING SUDDENLY FAILS TO THE LEFT, CAUSING HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE DRIVER. *TR

1998 REGAL POWER STEERING RACK WONT TURN LEFT. THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE OF GM (BUICK) TO NOT STEP UP AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. I WAS GIVEN THIS CAR THIS YEAR WITH ONLY 26000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN 2 MONTHS THE STEERING GAVE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY 600 MILES FROM HOME. BUICK HAD THE SAME OLD STORY, YOUR VIN DOESN'T FALL WITHIN THE RECALLS BLOCK OF VIN'S. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH VIN'S OR PRODUCTION DATES. THE CASTING ON THE HOUSING OF THE STEERING GEAR IS WHERE THE TRUE MANUFACTURING DEFECT CAN BE IDENTIFIED. THE STATE DEPT OF REHAB WAS GOING TO PUT HAND CONTROLS IN THIS CAR FOR ME, BUT NOW I HAVE A 1200$ REPAIR BILL I CAN'T AFFORD. THIS ISN'T RIGHT. *JB

I OWN A 1998 BUICK REGAL LS. WHEN IT RAINS, WATER DRIPS DOWN FROM BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX AND ONTO THE PASSENGER FLOOR. IN ONE PARTICULARLY HEAVY RAINFALL, THERE WAS 2 INCHES OF STANDING WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 1998 BUICK REGAL HARD TIME TURNING LEFT, USUALLY WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH OR LOWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ,AND WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR RECALL 03V527000 DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD HE NEEDED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER, WHEN HE DID THAT THE MANUFACTURER TOLD HIM TO CONTACT HIS LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING AND DIDN'T CHARGE HIM THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS OWN MECHANIC AND THEY INSTALLED TWO NEW POWER STEERING PUMPS. THE REPAIR STILL DIDN'T RESOLVE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DIDN'T THINK THAT THE DEALERSHIP RAN A DIAGNOSTIC ON VEHICLE BEFORE TELLING HIM THAT THE POWER STEERING VALVES NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS MECHANIC TOLDHIM THAT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T NEED TO HAVE THE PUMPS REPLACED, BUTTHE CONTACT THOUGHT IT WAS BEST TO HAVE PUMPS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK, AND TOLD THEM THAT HE DID HAVE THE PUMPS REPLACED, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT MAYBE IT MAY BE HIS STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BACK AND TOLD THEM OF ALL THE REPAIRS, AND ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD REPAIR RACK AND PINION. HE WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY EXCHANGED HE PARTS OUT FOR THIS VEHICLE MANUFACTURED. AK