1996 BUICK REGAL Complaints

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

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

THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. THE DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE CONSUMER HAD GONE TO TWO SEPARATE SERVICE DEALERS WHO SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPAIRS COULD BE MADE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE MODULE COIL AND WIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *SCC *JB

BUICK REGAL 1996.ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM HORTLY AFTER JUST 72,000 MILES, A LEAK DEVELOPED NEAR THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING EXCESSIVE COOLANT LOSS (UP TO 1 GALLON PER WEEK).*AK I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFTEY HAZARD RESULTING FROM A DESIGN FLAW. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INCLUDES SEVERAL WARNINGS THAT COOLANT CONTAINS ETHYLENE GLYCOL THAT WILL BURN IF IT COMES IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE PARTS. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THIS PROBLEM MAY HAVE CAUSED ENGINE DAMAGE THAT WILL MANIFEST ITSELF LATER. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD ADDRESS THIS AS A SAFETY HAZARD BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR SEIOUSLY INJURED BY AN ENGINE FIRE. THANK YOU. DJS

THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED A CRACK IN UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FORCING EXCESSIVE COOLANT INTO THE TOP END OF THE ENGINE AND UPPER COMBUSTION CHAMBER. THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THE 1996 BUICK REGAL. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AS INDICATED BY THE PREVIOUS RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, THE FOLLOWING SERVICE WAS REQUIRED: REPAIR ELECTRICAL FAILURE, CLEAN EXCESSIVE COOLANT FROM UPPER COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, REMOVE COOLANT FROM TOP END OF ENGINE, REPLACE UPPER INTAKE ASSEMBLE AND MANIFOLD, REPLACE SPARK PLUGS, PERFORM INJECTOR SERVICE, REPLACE THE PCV VALVE, OIL AND OIL FILTER. ALTHOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, I WAS STILL CHARGED $557.17 FOR THE REPAIR. DUE TO THE NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS, CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, AND PREVIOUS RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SAME SITUATION, THIS DEFECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DETECTED ON MARCH 7, 2002. AT THAT TIME, I HAD THE ROUTINE 60,000 MILE SERVICE PERFORMED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR ONLY HAD 50,480 MILES. THE TOTAL COST FOR THE ROUTINE SERVICE WAS $807.00. FOR THESE REASONS, I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO A REIMBURSEMENT OF THE $557.01 CHARGE. IF NEEDED, I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO FORWARD A COPY OF MY SERVICE RECORDS FOR YOUR REVIEW. ADDITIONALLY, I AM CONCERNED THIS RECENT EVENT HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND WILL HAVE LONG TERM EFFECTS ON ENGINE PERFORMANCE REQUIRING ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE. IT??S HARD TO BELIEVE THIS DID NOT CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE VALVES AND/OR LIFTERS. ONCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRES, I WILL NO LONGER HAVE FINANCIAL PROTECTION FOR REPAIRS RESULTING FROM FAULTY MANUFACTURING. I HOPE THIS SAFETY HAZARD IS RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED BY AN ENGINE FIRE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *NLM

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.*JB

LEVER THAT CONTROLS THE 'TILT WHEEL' BROKE OFF AT THE STEERING COLUMN. THE AUTO WAS PURCHASED NEW BY ME AND I ONLY HAVE 44,000 MILES ON IT. I CALLED LIVINGSTON MOTORS, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON THAT PART..I HAVE BEEN A REGULAR CUSTOMER THERE.

ON 02/02/03, I NOTICED A LARGE PIECE OF MY HOOD WAS EXPOSED DUE TO PEELING PAINT. (THE GRAY METAL OF THE CAR'S STRUCTURE IS EXPOSED) THE CAR IS A 1996 BUICK REGAL PURCHASED IN 12/99. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AREAS SURROUNDING THE PEELING PAINT WILL CONTINUE TO PEEL AWAY RESULTING IN NO WHITE PAINT ON THE HOOD. UPON RESEARCHING HOW TO REPAIR THIS, I CAME UPON INFORMATION THAT GM HAD/IS HAVING A CONCEALED, LATENT MANUFACTURING DEFECT. (THE PHOTOS I VIEWED SHOWED THAT I AM HEADING TO BECOMING ANOTHER VICTIM TO GM'S PAINT PROBLEMS) I CONTACTED BUICK CORPORATION AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THE REPAIRS HAD EXPIRED. I BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION THE DISCOVERY RULE AND THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO KNOW OF GM'S LATENT DPAINT DEFECT UNTIL THE PAINT LITERALLY STARTED PEELING OFF OF MY VEHICLE. AND I STILL WAS NOT AWARE OF A PROBLEM UNTIL I CONDUCTED A SEARCH ENGINE ON THE INTERNET. APPARENTLY A STORY WAS DONE BY DATELINE NBC IN 11/97 ABOUT THE ISSUE. (ONCE AGAIN, MY CAR WAS PURCHASE 12/99) THE REPRESENTATIVE REPEATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND ENDED THE CONVERSATION. I AM ANGRY BECAUSE I AM ABOUT TO MAKE MY FINAL CAR PAYMENT AND THIS ISSUE WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE?

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, IN ANY DIRECTION,THERE'S A "RUBBING" NOISE FROM WITHIN STEERING COLUMN. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CLOCKSPRING WAS RUBBING AGAINST SOME INTERNAL WIRES AND IF THE WIRES SHORT THE AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. PH

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