KnownCarProblems2001 Buick Regal Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 187 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Buick Regal, most often about the engine (46% of complaints, typically around 111,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Regal model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2001 Buick Regal problems
Engine
86 complaints · 46%Half of these problems showed up before 111,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
My 2011 Regal had to have the lower and upper intake gasket replaced as well as the valve cover gaskets.. A week after that the service engine soon light came on and the mechanic said it was the throttle body gasket. I then got it replaced and then a week after that the service engine soon light came on again. It was…
Tl contact owns a 2001 Buick Regal. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH the vehicle lost power and the engine caught fire. The contact did not mention if there were any injuries or if a fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test that located the failure in the engine…
Electrical
32 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 93,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, instrument cluster/panel, wiring.
I have been having stalling problems I. E. Ignition. Going over bumps and turning on the left turn signal seemed to cause it to stall for over a year. I pretty much quit driving the car unless it was less than 3 miles like going to the grocery store or the golf course. I finally took it in to the dealer and they had…
The contact owned a 2001 Buick Regal. While the vehicle was idling flames appeared from under the hood. No injuries were reported. The cause was undetermined. The contact stated that while parked with the engine on flames were suddenly present coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department was called…
Steering
14 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion, hydraulic power assist system.
While driving consumer heard a clanking noise. When trying to turn to the left vehicle continued to go straight. Consumer contacted the dealer, who thought it was the shaft, but was not completely certain. Also, dealership was guessing as to why this defect may occur. When consumer contacted the manufacturer he…
The contact owns a 2001 Buick Regal. While driving 35 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. On several occasions, when the vehicle was placed in the park…
Speed control
13 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control.
The first time it happened was on the interstate and I had set the cruise control and my speed started to increase slowly at first then it increased at a rapid rate.so I tapped the brake and it disengaged . When I reengaged it the same thing happened. It has happened sporadically and because it happens infrequently I…
When accelerating the vehicle loses power. The dashboard lights come on, and the vehicle shuts down intermittently. The consumer tried to contact the dealership manager, but the manager refused to discuss the problem. The vehicle would run in high gear and never change gears and would run up to 50 MPH before it stops…
Brakes
12 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, disc.
At about 80,000 miles grinding noise in right front wheel developed, replaced brakes and rotors found the right front wheel bearing was bad and had to have it replaced . At about 84,000 miles the lifters were making a ticking noise that sounded like a helicopter, replaced the lifters at a cost of $1600 this was just…
As stated in several other complaints my brakes have rusted and also screech. I have also replaced them like others have with the same result ( put new rotors on this last time also). This last time I had it start screaming almost instantly after replacing them. My car also has a small shake to it that can`t seem to…
Transmission
11 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 69,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Transmission on my 2001 Buick Regal had problem shifting,to find out transmission totally fell apart after 45000 miles,had to rebuild transmission at considerable cost conveniently 10000 miles or less out of warranty,finding out by this website that other regals have had transmission defects and total failures.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Buick Regal. While driving approximately 45 MPH and approaching an incline, the vehicle failed to accelerate after several attempts. The contact shifted into second gear and was able to drive the vehicle. There were no injuries; however, he felt the failure was life threatening when the vehicle…
Air bags
8 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 115,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window, frontal.
Was in fatal accident on may 8 2009 in des moines, ia. It was light rain that night and I made an attempt to turn a corner and slide right through and fence and dropped down a hill about and estimated 20 feet. The anti-brake system failed as well as the airbag not deploying is my concern. This was not the first…
- while driving on the highway at 65 MPH, contacts 2001 Buick Regal was rear ended, causing the contacts vehicle to crash into another vehicle. Upon impact the driver's side and passenger side airbags failed to deploy. The failure mileage was 91000. The contact can provide copy of the police report. Updated 03/07/07
Other or unspecified
8 complaints · 4%Can't get key out of ignition when trying to turn off engine. Why wasn't 2001 Buick Regal recalled for ignition problem. The key gets stuck and I can't turn off engine. I have to turn key back and forth or put car in drive and inpark to get key out. This happens 9 out of 10 times I drive car. Please do something about…
10-15 minutes after Buick was parked it caught fire. Jan. 2014. I know find there is a recall for oil on exhaust manifold . I contacted Buick and got the run around and do feel I am due some compensation however do not know how to go forward.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Buick Regal recalls
Engine: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Risk: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Fix: The remedy applied under recalls 08v-118, 09v-116, and 15v-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engineâs front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08v-118, 09v-116, or 15v-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on february 19, 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and pontiac customer s
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 chevrolet lumina and oldsmobile intrigue, 1997-2004 buick regal and pontiac grand prix, 2000-2004 chevrolet impala, and 1998-2004 chevrolet monte carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08v-118, 09v-116, and 15v-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engineâs front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâs plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, and pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or http://www.pontiac.com or http:www.gmownercenter.com.
Full defect summary
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 buick regal, my 1998-2003 chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: Certain underhood fires may be caused by drops of engine oil, from seepage or spillage, being deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking. If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and, in some instances, the fire may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engineâs front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâs plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, along with the 1-3-5 spark plug wire retainers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. , free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Until the remedy is completed, gm strongly recommends that owners observe the following important precautions (1) that owners do not park their vehicle in a garage, car port, or other structure; (2) if owners notice a burning
Full defect summary
Gm is recalling 207,542 my 1997-2003 buick regal and pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l supercharged v-6 engine. These vehicles have higher front rocker cover gasket temperatures, creating the potential for earlier degradation of the front rocker cover gasket and eventual oil seepage.
Seat belts
Risk: These vehicles do not comply with the standard.
Fix: Gm will mail a new bilingual air bag label with installation instructions. However, the customer may bring the label to their dealer for installation free of charge. Owner notification began may 4, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free label and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537 or buick at 1-800-521-7300.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, equipped with sunvisor located air bag labels, fail to conform to federal motor vehicles safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection." these vehicles have a message area less than 30 cm which does not meet the requirements of the standard.
Air bags: side/window
Risk: If the inflator separates, the air bag will not deploy properly during a crash and occupant protection would be reduced. If is also possible that a separated inflator could be propelled downward and could result in injury to a rear seat passenger whose foot is positioned approximately under the inflator module.
Fix: Dealers will replace the side impact air bag module.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles exhibit a condition in which the driver side impact air bag inflator separates from the air bag module during deployment.
Seat belts
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicle's safety belt buckle assembly date codes and, if necessary, will replace any safety belt buckle assembly.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Engine compartment fire
Summary
By letter dated march 12, 2008, general motors corp. (gm) has notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall (identified by NHTSA recall number 08v-118) to address a defect in approximately 207,542 model year (my) 1997-2003 buick regal gs and pontiac grand prix gtp vehicles equipped with the l67 supercharged version of gm's 3800 series II v6 engine.the recalled regal gs vehicles were built from august 1996 to june 2003 and the grand prix gtp from march 1996 through january 2003.according to gm, oil may escape past the valve cover gasket on the front cylinder bank (cylinders 1-3-5) and deposit onto hot exhaust system components.under certain conditions, it is possible for this oil t
Engine compartment fires
Summary
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with gm?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm?s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold rupt
Questions about the 2001 Buick Regal
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Buick Regal?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (86 complaints, typically around 111,000 miles); electrical (32 complaints, typically around 93,000 miles); steering (14 complaints, typically around 66,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Buick Regal have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 26, 2015 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Buick Regal?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Regal model year since 2000, with 187 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.