1996 Buick Regal

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE INSTEAD OF BRAKE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

• 12/30/1996· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  DESIGN OF THE INTERIOR CONTAINS A PANEL ABOVE THE BRAKE PEDAL THAT PREVENTS A SMOOTH QUICK MOTION FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO THE BRAKE PEDAL.

• 12/28/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE CONSUMER, HOWEVER, IT WAS NEARLY DESTROYED. *JB

• 12/26/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY EXPERIENCED A NO-START CONDITION. THERE WAS ALSO A BACKFIRE THAT OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED PRIOR TO THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 78,117. UPDATED 02/05/09. *LJ COOLANT WAS FOUND IN THE OIL WHEN REPAIRS WERE MADE ON THE MANIFOLD. UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB

• 12/21/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ANTI FREEZE LEAKED INSIDE THE ENGINE DUE TO FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS WHICH WERE MADE OF PLASTIC. THIS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY, EVEN AFTER ANTIFREEZE WAS REFILLED. *AK FUMES FROM THE ANTIFREEZE OIL MIXTURE WERE ENTERING THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE ENGINE. *NM

• 12/19/2008· AIR BAGS

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK REGAL. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OR CRASH. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 157,000.

• 12/19/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TWICE WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED FACING DOWNHILL THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED THE FOLLOWING MORINING, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN 1/4 FULL.

• 12/18/2003· AIR BAGS

  WHEN THE DRIVER PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR FACIAL BURNS AND BRUISES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. A BUICK ENGINEER DETERMINED THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE AIR BAG, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *AK *CB *JB

• 12/17/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP VEHICLE, SHE COULDN'T BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP ON TIME AND BRAKES FLUID WAS ALL OVER. ALSO, THERE WAS A RECALL BEFORE REGARDING ABS BRAKES, RECALL PERFORMED BY INSTALLING CLIP TO PREVENT RUBBING, NEW LOCATION OF SHIFTED BRAKELINE PATH RESULTED IN RUBBING TWO INCHES FROM ORIGINAL LOCATION, REQUEST MANUFACTURER TO REEVALUATE RECALL REPAIR. *AK

• 12/16/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I BOUGHT A USED CAR IN BOARDMAN, OHIO AREA AND I NOW HAVE A 1490.00 REPAIR BILL AFTER SALESMAN TOLD ME IT WAS CHECKED OUT. THEY REPLACED A BURNED OUT BULB WITH ANOTHER BURNED OUT BULB WHICH I CAN PROVE. I NEED HELP TO STOP THIS PRACTICE. *JB

• 12/14/1998· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  CONSUMER EXPRIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKING SYSTEM. WHENEVER DRIVING A WINDING NOISE APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE WHEEL, AND WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK INTERMITTENTLY. ASLO, LEARNED FROM AN INDEPENDENT DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END WAS SHOT, AND NEEDED MAJOR REPAIRS. DEALER NOTIFED, BUT NO CORRECTION WAS MADE AT THIS TIME. BRAKES CONTINUE TO GIVE CONSUMER PROBLEMS. *AK

• 12/12/2006· STEERING

  WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING IN MY 1996 BUICK REGAL BECAME VERY STIFF AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO NEUTRAL. IT HAS ONLY BEEN TWO DAYS NOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, BUT IT'S DANGEROUS, AS IT GIVES NO WARNING. THE TURN ALMOST PUT ME INTO A TREE! IT HAPPENED TODAY BUT I WAS MORE AWARE THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN AND ALERT FOR IT. MY 1995 CENTURY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT WAS THAT THE STEERING RACK GETS TIGHT IN COLDER WEATHER AND AFTER 75000 MILES! *NM

• 12/10/2002· VISIBILITY

  CONSUMER NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEAKING ON GARAGE FLOOR. TOOK TO DEALER. DEALER SAYS UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDS REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

• 12/04/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL TRAVELS TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 12/01/2000· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH FELL OFF END OF THE SAFETY BELT, WHICH LEFT OCCUPANT WITHOUT ANY RESTRAIN. ; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THAT PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

• 11/27/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  REAR BRAKES GRIND EXCESSIVELY, RUSTING AND WARPING ROTORS. OWNER HAS USED EMERGENCY BRAKES FOR ADJUSTING, NO CHANGE. TT EVEN THE THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE IS STILL GRINDING, DEALER KEEPS INFROMING CONSUMER THAT THIS IS NORMAL, CONSUMER FEELS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *SLC

• 11/25/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER STATE AFTER STICKING KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT OUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE AIR BAG DEPLOYS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

• 11/24/2001· AIR BAGS

  THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. OTHER THAN THE SHOCK OF WHAT HAPPENED , I ONLY SUSTAINED A SCRATCH ON MY FACE AS A RESULT OF THE DEPLOYMENT. THE DEALER WANT TO CHARGE $800 TO REPAIR THE AIR BAG WHICH SEEMS UNFAIR DUE TO THE APPARENT DEFECT OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT AFTER SEEING ACTION # EA99-026 WITH A SUJECT OF " INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT" IN YOUR MONTHLY DEFECT INVESTIGATION REPORT THINKING THIS INCIDENT MAY BE RELATED? THANKS. *AK

• 11/22/2004· STRUCTURE

  EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH PAINT, AS A RESULT WE CAN NOT TRADE OR SELL THE VEHICLE UNLESS VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY PAINTED. *BF *TC

• 11/18/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

• 11/15/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  BOLT IN OIL PAN HAS STRIPPED AND SEPARATED FROM OIL PAN. ENTIRE UNIT HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 11/15/1999· POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH, AND IN THE PROCESS OF PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL, AND ENGINE ACCELERATED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

• 11/15/1996· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELTS LOCATED ON REAR SIDE PANEL FOR FRONT OCCUPANTS IS DANGEROUS FOR REAR SEAT PASSENGERS, CAUSING PASSENGERS TO STUMBLE.

• 11/12/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ON THREE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER SECOND OCCASION, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ON (5) OR (6) OCCASIONS THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HARD TO APPLY. THEY POPPED AND CRACKED. BECAUSE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, THEY HAVE STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK *SLC

• 11/11/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, IT WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP SAT FOR ABOUT 24 HOURS, WHEN TRYING TO START IT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED.

• 11/08/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER HEARD AN EXPLOSION. *NM A HOLE WAS DISCOVERED BLOWN THROUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND A CRACK WAS DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE DUST COVER. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIBURSEMENT. *SC

• 11/05/2003· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AFTER SEEING A DEER ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAD GONE OFF THE ROAD AND ROLLED OVER INTO A DITCH. BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER'S NOSE WAS BROKEN AND AN ARTERY WAS PUNCTURED IN THIS RIGHT EYE. *AK *SCC *JB

• 11/04/1997· EQUIPMENT

  RADIO FAILED.

• 11/02/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN THEY MADE A THUMPING SOUND. CALLED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE IN. VEHICLE STARTED SQUEAKING & THUMPING. ABS LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED. *AK

• 10/30/2000· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY. DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THE LIGHT TO COME ON.*AK THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN MAKING THE DRIVER NERVOUS. *YH

• 10/29/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THEN, VEHICLE RESTARTED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.*AK

• 10/28/2015· SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMFire

  WHILE MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY, I WAS TAKING MY CAR TO BE SMOGGED. AT SPEED, I NOTICED A LITTLE WHITE PUFF OF SMOKE EMIT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE BAY. AS I PROCEEDED TO START MOVING TO THE SHOULDER, THIS PUFF HAD TURNED INTO A GRAY PLUME. AS I FINALLY REACHED THE SHOULDER, THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE ENGINE BAY WAS BILLOWING BLACK SMOKE. AS I TRIED TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, SO IT SEEMED THE FIRE HAD BURNT THROUGH A BRAKE LINE. I MANAGED TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SLOWLY AND MANAGED TO STOP ON THE SHOULDER. OPENING THE HOOD, I FOUND A SMALL FIRE BURNING AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE, BUT IN FRONT OF THE FIREWALL. I HAD NOTHING WITH ME, SO I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IT WAS EXTINGUISHED. HOWEVER, BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE, THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS TOTALED BEYOND EXTENSIVE REPAIR.

• 10/28/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  FAILURE OF BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. EMERGENCY FLASHERS OPERATE SO BULBS AND WIRING ARE OK. FUSES CHECKED. NOT REPAIRED YET BUT WAS TOLD IT PROBABLY IS A SWITCH/COMPONENT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB

• 10/28/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK WHEN HEAD LIGHTS ARE ON. *AK

• 10/28/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE ROTORS FAILED CAUSING CONSUMER TO HEAR A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. NLM

• 10/27/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES PERFORM POORLY CAUSING LOUD NOISE.

• 10/27/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EXHAUST SYSTEM BUSHING BETWEEN PIPES FAILED.

• 10/25/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  GAS PEDAL SPRING TENSION HAS LITTLE SPRING, BARELY TOUCHES PEDAL, VEHICLE WILL GO EXTREMELY FASTER THAN INTENDED, HAVE TO HOLD BACK FOOT TO AVOID ACCIDENT. *AK

• 10/25/1996· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL.

• 10/23/2005· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  HAD AN ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP FAILURE AFTER A PERIOD OF PROBLEMS WITH DIFFICULTY STARTING AND POOR ACCELERATION. WHEN THE FUEL PUMP WAS REMOVED, THERE IS EVIDENCE OF ARCING AT THE CONNECTOR. SEEMS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD, AS THE PUMP IS INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. *NM

• 10/22/2003· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE SWERVED TO MISS A DEER AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE BROKE THROUGH A GUARD RAIL AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THEN, IT FLIPPED TWICE BEFORE COMING TO A REST. BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS BROKE, AND FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED FACIAL BRUISING/ABRASIONS, AND A BROKEN NOSE. *AK

• 10/20/2000· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL SIDE COLLISION. UOPN IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MAJOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

• 10/09/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  DRIVER'S POWER SEAT BURNED, INCLUDING BOTTOM AND BACK DUE TO A FIRE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS AT FAULT. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, WARRANTY STILL EFFECTIVE. *AK

• 10/09/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE FUEL PUMP SHORTED, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL ARC IN THE GAS TANK. THE FUSE DID NOT BREAK THE CURRENT. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED , OWNER WAS NOT PLEASED WITH OUTCOME. *AK

• 10/05/2003· POWER TRAIN

  AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS A LOT OF PLASTIC PARTS INSIDE, THEY MELTED DOWN DUE TO VEHICLE OVERHEATING. THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE MADE LIKE THAT OF THE OLD ONES, WITH METAL PARTS TO MAKE IT LAST LONGER. *LA

• 10/04/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THERE IS ALEAKAGE WITHIN THE THROTTLE WHICH LEAKS ANTI-FREEZE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. *AK

• 10/03/2003· SEATS

  CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS VEHICLES DRIVERS SEAT. THE SEAT BROKE WERE THE MOTOR MOVES THE SEAT FRONT AND BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO WARRANTY AND THAT IF THE CONSUMER WANTED TO GET IT REPAIRED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. *NLM

• 10/03/2002· STRUCTURE

  CAR PAINT PEELED OFF IN SHEETS WHEN CAR WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD - CREATED DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS, AS I WITNESSED DRIVERS BEHIND ME SWERVING TO AVOID WHAT WAS FLYING OFF THE ROOF OF MY CAR. MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT - CERTIFIED BUICK DEALERSHIP 'FIXED' = THEY CAUSED OVER $700 IN DAMAGE! I AM NOT THE ONLY BUICK OWNER OF THAT YEAR TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM & BUICK / GM REFUSES TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY - EVEN AFTER THEIR DEALERSHIP RUINS MY CAR! HAVE 3 CERTIFIED BUICK AUTO BODY REPAIR QUOTES, SHEET OF THE BAD PAINT & CHUNK OF RUBBER WINDOW GASKET HACKED OFF MY CAR - LATER FOUND INSIDE VEHICLE. BUICK KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM & CONSUMERS ARE PAYING TOP DOLLAR FOR DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE (FALSE ADVERTISING AT THE VERY LEAST). PLEASE HELP! MR

• 10/02/2019· AIR BAGS

  ON JULY 17, 2019 AT 8:40AM, I GOT INTO MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE AIRBAG EXPLODED. (THE CAR WAS NOT STARTED.) THE AIRBAG SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN BEING FIRED AND A POWDER LIKE SUBSTANCE IMMEDIATELY FILLED THE CAR. THE AIRBAG ITSELF HIT ME IN THE ABDOMINAL AREA. I FOUND THE DOOR HANDLE, OPENED THE DOOR, AND ROLLED OUT OF THE CAR ONTO THE GROUND. AT THIS TIME, I YELLED FOR MY SON. MY SON PICKED ME UP OFF THE GROUND AND CALLED AN AMBULANCE DUE TO ME BEING IN A SEVERE AMOUNT OF PAIN AND IN SHOCK. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE AND OBSERVED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. I HAD SEVERAL FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS THAT CONTINUE TO THIS DAY. INSURANCE CAME TO LOOK AT CAR, FILLED OUT PAPERWORK, AND SAID THEY WERE GOING TO TOTAL THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN MOVED SINCE THIS INCIDENT.

• 10/02/1997· SUSPENSION

  SPRING FAILED.