KnownCarProblems2002 Buick Regal Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 117 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Buick Regal, most often about the engine (42% of complaints, typically around 95,000 miles). It is 4th of 19 Regal model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2002 Buick Regal problems
Engine
49 complaints · 42%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
2002 Buick Regal.. Went to the store came home and the whole engine was on fire. Car was just paid off this month after 5 years and we need advice. Who can help US? Who can we call? Updated 05/07/09
: the contact stated the vehicle was running sluggish. It was taken to the dealership , who determined the catalytic converter was clogged and needed to be replaced. Previously, the dealership replaced right front tie rod end on 08/03/2004 at 61304 miles. Update 5/30/2006 -
Electrical
36 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 86,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, instrument cluster/panel, 12v/24v/48v battery.
Loss of lighting on instrument cluster and real tail lights. During vehicle start it was noticed that the instrument cluster was not receiving electrical power. The fuse box was inspected and the 15 amp fuse was blown. Immediate replacement resulted in repetitive blown fuses.
Dt: started having problems with ABS brakes on august 1, 2004. The ABS light/traction control light stayed on. Contacted the dealer, and took vehicle to them about once or twice a month. They have replaced several vbpmv module, bctmb module, and wiring on the wheel sensors, also, they have cleaned wheels speed…
Visibility and wipers
7 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: rearview mirrors/devices, windshield wiper/washer, defroster/defogger/hvac system, windshield.
When driving in the rain, the consumer noticed when turning the A/C on to help defrost the windshield from the mist on the windshield, the consumer still could not see out of the window. While braking the vehicle pulls to the left or right. The dealer replaced the wheel bearings. The driver's door and rear passenger…
Driver's side mirror has started to 'bubble' and become foggy. Car is equipped with heated electrochromatic power mirrors. Hard to use the mirror to see traffic behind vehicle. Have talked with some area dealers and repair garages and they indicated this happens quite often.
Brakes
7 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 29,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, drum, foundation components.
Dt: caller complained about rotor problem. The rotors began pitting and started to rust. Caller could feel the brakes not holding. The car would not stop. Caller said both rear rotors were rusted. Caller had rear rotors replaced a few weeks ago and now he needed to replace the front as well. Dealer said it was out of…
"service vehicle soon" light comes on after driving a few miles along with the "anti-lock" light and "trac off" light. Reading the Buick manual, this indicates some sort of braking system problem which would explain why once those lights came on, I had to press the brake almost to the floor. Dealer stated "I don't see…
Lights
6 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 97,500 miles. Parts named most often: turn signal, headlights, tail lights.
Loss of lighting on instrument cluster and real tail lights. During vehicle start it was noticed that the instrument cluster was not receiving electrical power. The fuse box was inspected and the 15 amp fuse was blown. Immediate replacement resulted in repetitive blown fuses.
Lights went out while driving in the dark,lightlightknob was in a couple days later the same thing happened , the light knob was pulled out , both times it was about 15 miles from home
Seats
5 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: front assembly.
Dt: the contact stated the driver's seat heating elements were not working properly. He had not noticed any problems with the passenger's side. When placed on high or low the seat got very hot. At times when the selector switch was set to off the seat continued to overheat. Updated 11/29/2005 - the consumer pulled the…
- the contact stated that the driver's seat heating elements on the 2002 Buick Regal were not working properly, when the heat was on either high or low the seat overheated. At times when the selector switch was set to off the seat continued to overheat. On 02/08/07 when the contact got into the vehicle in the morning…
Fuel system
5 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 44,500 miles. Parts named most often: fuel injection system.
Experienced a high volume fuel leak from above the engine. Had car towed to freedom chevrolet, san antonio. They replaced the fuel pressure and return lines.
Original owner of 2002 Regal with 38,678 miles. Car erupted in flames after being parked for driven for 25 miles on a mild 75 degree day. Car was routinely service and had no history of problems. Owner believes the car to be a lemon and possibly having a defective fuel pressure regulator.
Steering
4 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: gear box, rack and pinion, linkages, hydraulic power assist system.
Rattle transmitted through the steering column at 22,000 miles. Dealer replaced lower steering shaft under warranty. Rattle came back at 57,000 miles and I needed the same part replaced again plus I needed a new rack. Car is not under warranty and I felt these parts should not fail at 57,000 miles, especially one of…
: the contact stated the vehicle was running sluggish. It was taken to the dealership , who determined the catalytic converter was clogged and needed to be replaced. Previously, the dealership replaced right front tie rod end on 08/03/2004 at 61304 miles. Update 5/30/2006 -
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 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.
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 2002 Buick Regal
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Buick Regal?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (49 complaints, typically around 95,000 miles); electrical (36 complaints, typically around 86,000 miles); visibility and wipers (7 complaints, typically around 56,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Buick Regal have?
- 3 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 2002 a bad year for the Buick Regal?
- It is 4th of 19 Regal model years by number of complaints, with 117 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.