1999 BUICK REGAL Complaints

SEVERE CLUNKING NOISE UNDER HOOD WHEN TURNING WHEEL. AFTER TAKING CAR TO VARIOUS MECHANICS, IT WAS A UNANIMOUS CONSENUS THE RACK & PINION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. PH. THE ENGINE BLOCK AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

MY BUICK REGAL 3.8 1999 HAS STALLED WHILE RUNNING AT SPEED 5 TIMES IN THE PAST FIVE DAYS. THE DEALE, THOMPSON BUICK, PLACERVILLE CA SAID THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING SINCE IT IS AN INTERMITANT PROBLEM. I SHIFT INTO N AND THEN TURN THE KEY TO START WHILE STILL TRAVELING AND IT USUALLY STARTS.

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER PROPERLY, WHICH CAUSED INJURIES. *JB

THERE WERE LOUD NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE PLASTIC CONNECTING TUBE WHICH CARRIED THE ANTIFREEZE BROKE AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO FLOW INTO ENGINE, AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. ALSO, THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS,VALVE SEALS, FLYWHEEL, INTAKE PLENUM,SPARK PLUGS AND STARTER. *AK *JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH THE VEHICLES ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 8 MORE BLOCKS BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE UPPER MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE. *NLM

ON DECEMBER 27, 2002 AND DECEMBER 30, 2002. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO JEFFREY BUICK 30800 GRATIOT AVE ROSEVILLE, MICHIGAN 48066 ON 12/27/02 BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT KEEP ANTIFREEZE IN THE RESERVOIR (POSSIBLE COOLANT LEAK) AND THE DASHBOARD LOW COOLANT AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT WAS ON. THE CAR WAS MISSING AND BACKFIRING DURING ENGINE START UP AND WAS ALMOST STALLING WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SHOP AND TOLD THE SERVICE SALES ADVISOR KENNETH HOPE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SPARK PLUG PROBLEM AND SECONDARY IGNITION WIRE. I APPROVE FOR THEM TO DO THE REPAIRS. ON DECEMBER 30, 2002 I WAS BACK AT JEFFREY BUICK SERVICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, LOW COOLANT/SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT (SES) AND ANTIFREEZE RESERVOIR NOT KEEPING COOLANT. ON DECEMBER 31, 2002 SERVICE SALES ADVISOR JON PINGEL STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE BURNING COOLANT, AND THAT THE UPPER PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD/INTAKE GASKET. R&R 3.8.K HAD TO BE REPLACED. I CAME INTO THE SHOP AND ASKED HIM WHAT HAD CAUSED THE PROBLEM. HE STATED TO ME THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM, A MANUFACTURE DEFECTED WITH THE BUICK REGAL WERE THAT THE HOSE WILL MELT AND LET COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, HE ALSO INDICATED THAT HE RECEIVES BETWEEN FIVE TO TEN BUICK REGALS A WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND HE STATED NO. HE THEN STATED THAT IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT REPAIRED IT COULD LEAD TO THE ENGINE LOCKING UP OR A POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE. HE STATED THAT I COULD CONTACT THE GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT AND MAKE A COMPLAINT AND SEE IF THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ME THE COST OF THE REPAIR $771.81. I CALLED THE GM CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. CONSUMERS OF THE BUICK REGAL MUST KNOW OF THE POSSIBLE DANGERS INVOLVED WITH THE ENGINE/COOLANT PROBLEM AND BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS DONE. IF YOU CAN PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES LIKE IN THE FIRESTONE TIRES INCIDENT. *NLM

HVAC (CLIMATE CONTROL) DISPLAY WENT COMPLETELY BLANK. DEALER SAYS ONLY OPTION IS TO REMOVE AND REPLACE FOR A PRICE OF $550. THIS OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE WAS 3 YRS OLD. *JB

STEERING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 67,000 MILES ON 1999 BUICK REGAL WHICH HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR. SINGLE OWNER VIRTUALLY ALL HIGHWAY USE VEHICLE 3.5 YEARS OLD. STEERING BECAME SLUGGISH WHEN CAR WAS FIRST STARTED, THEN RESPONDED NORMALLY. WAS TOLD SOME INTERNAL SEALS WERE WORN. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT FORTUNATELY NOT. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WHERE THE STEERING ASSEMBLY FROM WHEEL TO WHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED AND HAVE DRIVEN 6 VEHICLE'S TO OVER 100,000 MILES, ONE 130,000.

WHILE DRIVING, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED ALMOST CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT DIMMER SWITCH FAILED.