27 of the
273 complaints about the 1996 Buick Regal are about the
electrical system — 10% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
64,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND FAILURE CODES: C1265 (REAR ABS MOTOR CIRCUIT SHORTED TO GROUND) AND C1286 (EBCM/EBTCM FAILED TO ILLUMINATE THE RED BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR) WERE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (DON BROWN CHEVROLET, 2244 S KINGS HIGHWAY BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63110, (314) 282-7887) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CODES INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A REAR MOTOR SHORT TO THE GROUND AND THE ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE ACTIVATED THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS. FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WOULD BE PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11088823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 38,000 milesSicklerville, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAILURE OF BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. EMERGENCY FLASHERS OPERATE SO BULBS AND WIRING ARE OK. FUSES CHECKED. NOT REPAIRED YET BUT WAS TOLD IT PROBABLY IS A SWITCH/COMPONENT IN THE STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #10141120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 29,050 milesFort Lauderdale, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION, THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NHTSA RECALL 96V116000. *AK THE EGR VALVE WAS INOPERATIVE AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10112868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 163,000 milesDuncanville, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE CONSUMER, HOWEVER, IT WAS NEARLY DESTROYED.
NHTSA complaint #10105436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,468 milesWaco, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH, AND THE WIRING CONNECTED TO THE HORN OVERHEATED AND BECOME INOPERATIVE. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #10094302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,468 milesWaco, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH, AND THE WIRING CONNECTED TO THE HORN OVERHEATED AND BECOME INOPERATIVE. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #10094302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Benton Harbor, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
BURNING SMELL, AND SMOKE COMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR WHEN EVER THE HEAT IS BEING USED. OR I HAVE TRAVELED OVER 50 MILES. A RATTLING SOUND COMES FROM THE STEERING WHEEL OR STEERING COLUMN WHEN EVER I MAKE A TURN. THE SUN ROOF JUST HUMS WHEN EVER THE SWITCH IS PUSHED TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT, IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. (CANNOT OPEN SUN ROOF).
NHTSA complaint #10058598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesRoyal, AR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THEN, VEHICLE WILL CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITHOUT BEING RESTARTED. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM ,BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10053953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,000 milesFarmington, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL. JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE STALLING WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS.
NHTSA complaint #10050122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesChadds Ford, PAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #10009520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Downey, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHEN AT A STOP AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #10004693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marianne, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER STATE AFTER STICKING KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT OUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE AIR BAG DEPLOYS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #8023226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fair Lawn, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED OVER NIGHT HORN IS INOPERABLE UNTIL AFTER VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY WARMED UP, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #8002101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cavespring, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK WHEN HEAD LIGHTS ARE ON.
NHTSA complaint #735311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Attumwa, IA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SPARK PLUG WIRES FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #550526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Monroe, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
CAR ALL RECALLED 6/96. COMPLAINED TO DEALER AND GM. THEY SAID SHORTED IGNITION WIRES ARE NORMAL.
NHTSA complaint #711882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Monroe, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CAR ALL RECALLED 6/96. COMPLAINED TO DEALER AND GM. THEY SAID SHORTED IGNITION WIRES ARE NORMAL.
NHTSA complaint #711882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Monroe, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CAR ALL RECALLED 6/96. COMPLAINED TO DEALER AND GM. THEY SAID SHORTED IGNITION WIRES ARE NORMAL.
NHTSA complaint #711882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Syracuse, NYFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DRIVER'S POWER SEAT BURNED, INCLUDING BOTTOM AND BACK DUE TO A FIRE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS AT FAULT. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, WARRANTY STILL EFFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #828785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rochester, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR WENT DEAD, JUST BURNT OUT, AND MADE THE BATTERY GO DEAD AND NOT CHARGED. DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED THE PROBLEM IS NORMAL. ALSO, NOT UNDER WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #827822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Millbrae, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN IGNITION WAS TURNED ON THE CONSUMER NOTICED A BURNING SMELL.
NHTSA complaint #521503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Victorville, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CHIP IN THE ON BOARD COMPUTER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rosemead, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IT IS NOT EASY TO PUT THE IGNITION KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS HIDDEN BY PART OF THE WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #602918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manchester, NHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. REAR END OF VEHICLE WAS INCINERATED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALISTS HAVE DETERMINED THE ORIGION OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL OR ELECTRIC TRUNK RELEASE OR TRANK LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #811889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Cajon, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
HARNESS ASSEMBLY REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #603072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Laguna Hill, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #602596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MT. Pleasant, SC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE MAKING RIGHT TURNS THE VEHICLE EXPEIENCES A LOSS OF POWER.
NHTSA complaint #800690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.