1999 BUICK REGAL Complaints

I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ABOUT AN HOUR'S DISTANCE WITH NO PROBLEMS, AND ONE HALF HOUR STOP ALONG THE WAY. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON AND NO SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR. I WALKED AWAY TO A NEIGHBORS HOUSE FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND WHEN I CAME BACK THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. THIS QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, TOTALLING ABOUT 2/3 OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS JUST METAL, IT MELTED OUT THE WIND SHIELD AND BOTH FRONT WINDOWS, CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO LEATHER INTERIOR, MELTED THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD, MELTED OFF ONE OF MY REAR VIEW MIRRORS. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT IT OUT, WHICH SAVED THE REAR FENDERS, BUMPER AND TRUNK. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE MELTED OFF, FRONT RIMS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.

ENGINE DIES WHEN LEFT OR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL IS APPLIED. CAR DIED AS I WAS TAKING OFF RAMP ON HIGHWAY CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *NM

BRAKES CONTINUALLY OVERHEAT AND CAUSE THE WHEEL COVERS TO BECOME ALMOST TOO HOT TO TOUCH. BRAKES, ROTORS, CALIPERS, PADS AND BRAKE FLUID ON BOTH FRONT AND BACK JUST CHANGED LAST WEEK AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. GAS MILEAGE IS DOWN ALMOST 10%. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON. *JB

THE CAR THAT ME AND MY FIANCE HAVE IS A 1999 BUICK REGAL AND BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS HAVE LOCKED AND WILL NOT UNLOCK. FORCING ME TO PUT MY CHILD IN THE MIDDLE WHICH IS A VERY DANGEROUS SPOT FOR A CHILD IN A CAR SEAT BECAUSE THEY CAN BE THROWN FROM THE CAR. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER SITES AND THERE ARE COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH ONE OR BOTH SEAT BELTS. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE SEAT BELTS. ALSO JUST RECENTLY THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NOT FASTEN INTO HOLDER BECAUSE THEIR IS A PART THAT WILL NO LONGER ALLOW FOR THE BUCKLE TO BE PUSHED DOWN. I WOULD LIKE YOU ALL TO INVESTIGATE. THE BACK SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN LOCKED FOR MONTHS AND THERE IS NO WAY SOMEONE COULD HAVE JUST BROKEN THEM THEY ARE STILL INTACT. *JB

I HAVE A 1999 BUICK REGAL IN WHICH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING. THIS IS NOT NEW AND RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY GM FOR PARK AVENUE CARS WITH SIMILAR 3.8 L ENGINES. THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL ONE DAY ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ALONG WITH LOW COOLANT, TRAC OFF AND HOT TEMP LIGHTS CAME ON. THE GM DEALER ESTIMATES THE COST TO BE AROUND $700+ AND THINKS THAT BECAUSE OF THAT THE GASKET MAY HAVE BEEN CORRODED. *JB

AT LOW SPEEDS (PARKING; TURNING) STEERING LOSS IS EXPERIENCED. COMPLAINED TO DEALER AFTER FIRST PURCHASED. WAS TOLD TO KEEP THE RPMS UP TO ASSIST TURNING. GETS SO BAD I HAVE HAD TO STOP AND BACK UP AND USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL. *JB

REPEATED FAILURES OF THE PLASTIC BULB SOCKET (GM PART #12456483) ON FRONT TURN SIGNAL -PARKING LIGHT ON 1999 BUICK REGAL. THE BULB, A STANDARD 3157NA, BURNS OUT IN EXACTLY THE SAME FASHION AS BULBS THAT BURN OUT ON OTHER GM MODELS COVERED BY THE NHTSA SAFETY RECALL IS # 04V524. APPARENTLY THE BULB IS NOT SECURELY HELD IN PLACE AND THE ARCING THAT RESULTS BURNS AWAY THE PLASTIC OF THE BULB AND THE BULB SOCKET. THE ABSENCE OF A VISIBLE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

END OF FEBRUARY 2006, THE LEFT REAR WINDOW FELL DOWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. TOOK CAR ON MARCH 1, 2006 TO A MECHANIC TO FIX AND ALSO TO FIX RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WHICH HAD BEEN MALFUNCTIONING(FAILURE TO ROLL DOWN). THIS COST ME $800 TO REPAIR BOTH WINDOWS AS THE REAR AND FRONT WINDOW REGULATORS ARE OVER $300 A PIECE. NOW ON APRIL 2, 2006 THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW FELL DOWN WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON. A LOUD POP WAS HEARD AND THE WINDOW FELL. 3 WINDOWS FAILING WITHIN A MONTH DOES NOT SOUND REASONABLE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 10 MINUTES WHEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT NOT INSPECTED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS.

VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITH USE OF TURN SIGNALS. HEADLIGHT AND DASH LIGHTS ALSO GO OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS. ONE TIME THIS HAPPENED ON AN INTERSTATE. THIS CONDITION PRESENTS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS. VEHICLE IS AT DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. *NM