Page 2 of 2 · complaints 51–66 of 66

2004 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 2004 record →

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Apr 10, 201424,524 milesPA

FIRST TIME MY CAR STALLED AND HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED WAS 15 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT FROM A BUICK DEALER. BEGINNING 9/2011 CAR BEGAN STALLING AT MANY AND VARIOUS TIMES. I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED - TAKING TO MY BUICK DEALER ON MANY OCCASIONS AND TO MY LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC MAKING REPAIRS AS SUGGESTED AND STILL MY CAR CONTINUED TO STALL, MOST RECENT TIME OF STALLING - OCT. 2013 - HAD BUICK DEALER AGAIN CHECK AND RESEARCH TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS TO SEE WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM - BUICK COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING EVEN AFTER I ASKED THEM 'COULD IT BE MY IGNITION SWITCH' AND WAS TOLD NO. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC AGAIN AND AFTER DOING LOTS OF TESTING - HE REPLACED MY IGNITION SWITCH. CAR HAS NOT STALLED SINCE. AS I UNDERSTAND IT - MY IGNITION SWITCH COULD FAIL AGAIN AND I AM REQUESTING THAT MY MAKE AND MODEL BE REVIEWED AND INCLUDED IN THE 'RECENT' GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Apr 1, 2014130,000 milesNY

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 30 MPH WITHOUT NOTICE THE CAR TURNED OFF WITH NO APPARENT REASON. CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AND RAPID LOSS OF SPEED IN A BUSY DOWNTOWN SETTING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN. WE HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS RECENTLY AND EVERYONE WHO HAS REPLACED THEIR IGNITION SWITCH HAS NOT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE. WE WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED BECAUSE BUICKS ARE NOT ON THE LIST AT THIS TIME FOR THE NATIONAL RECALL. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Mar 31, 201485,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEYS WOULD DANGLE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

Engine
Filed Mar 19, 201497,650 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WOULD SHIFT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPAIRED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER. WOULD NEED REPLACING HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97650.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Nov 10, 201225,000 milesNJ

1ST TIME VEHICLE WHEELS AND STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED UP WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN BLOCKING TRAFFIC AND HAD TO BE TOWED AFTER POLICE AND NO ONE COULD RELEASE IT. AFTER HAVING TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY HOME. I WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE LOCK AND TESTED IT BEFORE I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT TO A GAS STATION FOR GAS. AS I PULLED OUT OF THE GAS STATION THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP AGAIN BLOCKING TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC COMING AT ME ON A 4 LANE COUNTY ROAD. I SENT A LETTER TO GM REPORTING THE PROBLEM AND THE REPAIR THAT WAS DONE, BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT COULD END UP WITH MANY DEATHS. AND I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT MY PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jun 20, 201190,963 milesCA

RADIATOR WAS DRAINED, FLUSHED AND REFILLED WITH RECOMMENDED DEXCOOL COOLANT. THEN STARTED TO LEAK ABOUT A PINT A DAY. DEALER SAID THAT FOR $700.00 THEY CAN REPLACE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT) WITH STEEL ONES. ON A LIMITED INCOME, I CANNOT HAVE THAT DONE YET. I DAILY ADD A PINT OF COOLANT TO PREVENT ENGINE OVERHEATING. I HAVE TO CLEAN MY GARAGE FLOOR EVERY MORNING FROM THE LEAKING. **TT

Fuel System, Other
Filed Sep 30, 2009TX

I HAVE A APRIL, 2004 BUICK REGAL 3.8L V6 ENGINE WITH A PLASTIC IN-TAKE MANIFOLD. GM IS RECALLING 1997-2003, BUT NOT MY 2004 DEALER BANKSON CHEV. N.RICHLAND HILLS, TX (817) 498-2400 SAYS IT WILL COST ME $800.00 TO REPLACE CAN YOU HELP AND ACCEPT THE 2004 BUICK REGAL? *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 18, 200950,000 milesNC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR IN HER VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS IDLING AND IN MOTION. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT FOUND NO FAILURES. SHE IS FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE FTC. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

Wheels
Filed May 4, 2009IN

I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RIMS ON MY BUICK. I CONSTANTLY HAVE FLAT OR LOW TIRES. I HAD A FEW MECHANICS LOOK AT MY TIRES AND THEY SAID THE ALUMINUM ON THE RIM IS PEELING OFF. SO THAT MEANS THAT I NEED TO BUY NEW RIMS AND THAT IS EXPENSIVE. IT STARTED OUT ONCE IN A WHILE BUT NOW I FILL UP MY TIRES EVERY THREE OR FOUR DAYS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jan 23, 200867,129 milesGA

2004 BUICK REGAL STOPS WHILE DRIVING. KEY WAS STUCK IN IGNITION AND REPAIRED AT LOCAL DEALER IN MACON. VEHICLE NOW SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED AT 45 MPH OR MORE. *TR

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Feb 8, 2006GA

COMMENTS: SAFETY ISSUE: IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE I NEED MY HORN TO SOUND, I HAVE DIFFICULTY FINDING THE "RIGHT" SPOT ON MY STEERING WHEEL TO SOUND THE HORN, AS THE WHEEL MAY NOT BE STRAIGHT AT THAT TIME, BUT TURNED RIGHT OR LEFT. ALSO, I MAY BE MORE CONCERNED TO SEE THE TRAFFIC SITUATION AND CANNOT SAFELY LOOK DOWN FOR THE HORN SYMBOL. ON OLDER CARS BEFORE AIR BAGS, THAT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. I PLACED A SMALL STICKER OVER THE HORN SYMBOLS ON MY TWO CARS. NOW, AT A GLANCE, I CAN SEE EXACTLY WHERE TO PRESS THE STEERING WHEEL FOR THE HORN TO SOUND, NO MATTER WHAT POSITION THE WHEEL IS IN. FOR NIGHT USE, MAYBE A STICKER WITH MORE "FEEL" CAPABILITY, OR A STICKER THAT WILL SLIGHTLY ILLUMINATE. FROM NHTSA WEB SITE. *JB

Air Bags
Filed Sep 29, 2005OH

COMPLAINT REGARDING AIR BAG LIGHT & LOW TIRE LIGHT CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICE AND ONCE OFF THE SERVICE LOT ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. *TS THE TRUN SIGNAL AND WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE HUB ASSEMBLT HARNESS HAD TO BE REPALCED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH THE NO TRAC AND ABS LIGHT. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed May 26, 200521,000 milesOH

THE INSIDE OF THE REAR ROTORS RUSTED AND AS A RESULT THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. THIS IS THE CONSUMERS FIFTH VEHICLE FROM GM. WHEN THE REAR ROTORS RUSTED IT CAUSED THE FRONT ROTORS TO OVERWORK AND RESULTED IN THE FRONT ROTORS WARPING. THE ROTORS ARE NOT YET REPAIRED. *AK *SB *NM

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Feb 16, 2005NM

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO COME ON. DRIVER CONTACTED AND DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed Jan 13, 2005IL

FRONT DEFROSTER INEFFECTIVE. WITH THE ENGINE AT OPERATING TEMPS, IF CAR TURNED OFF TO GO INTO A STORE, WHEN RETURNED THE WINDOWS ARE FOGGED AND IT TAKES ANYPLACE FROM 5 TO 20 MINUTES TO DEFROST ( THE ENGINE IS STILL AT OPERATING TEMPS.). COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS A GM DESIGN AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. *NM

Suspension › Front
Filed Aug 24, 2004NE

WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE BUSHINGS, AND GREASED THE RACK AND PINION.*AK

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 2004 Buick Regal → · Every Regal year → · How the figures are calculated →