1997 Buick Regal: recalls and complaints

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All updates to the register

• 15V70100026 Oct 2015Engine and Engine Cooling / Exhaust System / Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
• 09V1160008 Apr 2009Engine and Engine Cooling
• 08V11800012 Mar 2008Engine and Engine Cooling
• 03V52700011 Dec 2003Steering / Rack and Pinion
• 99V34800016 Dec 1999Visibility / Windshield Wiper/Washer / Linkages
• 98V10200015 May 1998Exterior Lighting / Headlights
• 97V22300014 Nov 1997Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings

1. 15V701000Received 26 Oct 2015. 1,003,556 units.

   Engine and Engine Cooling / Exhaust System / Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   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 engine’s 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 service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

   Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 15757. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 19 Feb 2016.

2. 09V116000Received 8 Apr 2009. 1,497,516 units.

   Engine and Engine Cooling

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine’s 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.

   Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Manufacturer campaign number 09047. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 9 Apr 2009.

3. 08V118000Received 12 Mar 2008. 207,542 units.

   Engine and Engine Cooling

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine’s 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 odor, they should have their dealer inspect the vehicle. The dealer will inspect the vehicle without charge; (3) use premium fuel (91 octane or higher) in the vehicle as recommended in the vehicle's owner manual. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080 or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, or through their website at <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .

   Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Manufacturer campaign number 07035. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 28 Apr 2008.

4. 03V527000Received 11 Dec 2003. 750,283 units.

   Steering / Rack and Pinion

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Certain passenger vehicles have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These retainers could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   If this occurs, the pinion shaft can be forced upward during left turns and back down as the steering wheel is moved back and to the right. If the pinion shaft moves further, the driver will need to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. If the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. With the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. In any of these conditions, a crash could occur.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began on february 5, 2004. Owners should contact buick at 1-866-608-8080; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537; or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.

   Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Manufacturer campaign number 03062. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 5 Feb 2004.

5. 99V348000Received 16 Dec 1999. 155,149 units.

   Visibility / Windshield Wiper/Washer / Linkages

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The windshield wipers may stop working due to a separation between the drive pin and crescent in the crank arm assembly.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   Driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Dealers will inspect these vehicles for the presence of a plastic water deflector and, if necessary, replace the wiper motor crank arm and install a water deflector. On vehicles receiving a replacement crank arm and new water deflector, dealers will also apply additional sealing material to improve water deflection away from the crank arm assembly and will install a reinforcement to improve the performance of the wiper park mechanism.

   Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Manufacturer campaign number 99091. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 25 May 2000.

6. 98V102000Received 15 May 1998. 149,342 units.

   Exterior Lighting / Headlights

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The owner manuals do not contain the requirement information pertaining to the vehicle headlamp aiming device. This does not comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers may not be able to properly aim the headlights.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Owners will be mailed an owner manual's insert which contains the appropriate information.

   Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 30 May 1998.

7. 97V223000Received 14 Nov 1997. 4,387 units.

   Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The right front brake pipe can contact the piower steering assembly causing the brake line to wear through.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   This condition can result in the loss of brake fluid and eventual loss of half of the vehicle brake system.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Dealers will inspect for proper clearance between the brake line and power steering assembly. Assemblies found to be out of position will be repositioned and all assemblies secured to maintain proper clearances. Additionally, those brake lines found to have been damaged will be replaced and properly routed.

   Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 30 Nov 1997.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

• 1997 Buick Regal
• All 1997 vehicles

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 23.

Complaints that report a crash

3

Complaints that report a fire

19

Injuries in the complaints

2

Deaths in the complaints

0

Date of the newest complaint

28 Feb 2019

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

1. 19731
2. 19742
3. 19752
4. 19762
5. 19773
6. 19786
7. 19794
8. 19805
9. 19813
10. 19822
11. 19831
12. 19844
13. 19858
14. 19864
15. 19872
16. 198810
17. 19897
18. 19908
19. 19916
20. 19922
21. 19932
22. 19943
23. 19958
24. 19963
25. 19977
26. 19986
27. 19996
28. 20008
29. 20016
30. 20023
31. 20033
32. 20042
33. 20050
34. 20080
35. 20090
36. 20100
37. 20114
38. 20126
39. 20135
40. 20142
41. 20150
42. 20161
43. 20183
44. 20193
45. 20202

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

• Buick Regal: all model years
• Buick: 27 model lines

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• NHTSA page of the 1997 Buick RegalThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1997 Buick Regal?

3,767,775 units in 7 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.

How many recall campaigns does the Buick Regal have for all model years?

NHTSA lists 98 recall campaigns for the Buick Regal, model years 1973 to 2020. 7 of them name the 1997 model year.

Which component do the complaints about the 1997 Buick Regal name most often?

Steering: 40 of 174 component mentions, or 229.9 per 1,000. For all 1997 vehicles the figure is 70 per 1,000.

Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1997 Buick Regal open?

No. Each of the 6 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.