12 of the
229 complaints about the 2001 Buick Regal are about the
braking system — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
64,000 miles.
ON 1997-2004 "W PLATFORM" GM AUTOS, INCLUDING MY REGAL, THE ABS SENSOR DESIGN IS FLAWED IN THAT IT'S WIRING IS LOCATED IN AN EXPOSED LOCATION AT THE INSIDE BOTTOM OF THE WHEEL HUB THAT ANY ROAD DITRITUS CAN IMPACT, CAUSING THE TRACK SYSTEM OFF DASH LIGHT TO COME ON AND ABS BRAKING TO FAIL. I AM NOW ON MY 6TH REPLACEMENT INCIDENT SINCE 2006, WHEN IT HAPPENED THE 1ST TIME. (2 EACH ON THE FRONT WHEEL HUBS AND 1 ON A REAR. DO NOT KNOW AT THIS TIME WHICH WHEEL IS INVOLVED THIS TIME,) EVERY TIME THE LITTLE SENSOR WIRE BREAKS OR GETS CUT & YOU CAN'T JUST FIX THE WIRE, IT REQUIRES A TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE WHEEL HUB AND COSTS NEARLY $500 A POP. THE WIRE IS RIDICULOUSLY EASY TO DAMAGE JUST BY DRIVING THROUGH PLOW DRIFT IN THE DRIVEWAY OR HITTING SMALL TREE BRANCH DETRITUS ON THE ROAD THAT BOUNCES OFF THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND SNAGS THE WIRE. MOST COMMONLY IT BREAKS INSIDE THE INSULATION AND INTERMITENTLY SHORTS OUT WHEN IT GETS WET, (& DISAPPEARS WHEN IT DRIES OUT AGAIN) CAUSING THE ABS SYSTEM TO STUTTER WHEN BRAKING, & MAKING IT EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE TO DIAGNOSE BEFORE FIXING (AN EXTRA $129). SINCE IT'S A COMMON (& FREQUENT) DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT ON ALL "W PLATFORM" GM VEHICLES FROM '97-'04, I FIND IT CURIOUS THAT THE NTSB HASN'T ORDERED GM TO FIND A FIX FOR THIS LONG AGO.
NHTSA complaint #11064479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 136,000 milesPortland, ME
SERVICE BRAKES
WELL DRIVING I WAS GOING ALONG AT 40 MPH AND THE CAR JUST UP AND DIED ALL THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED TO FLASHING STEERING BECOMES HARD AND THE BRAKING IS LIKE STANDING ON A BRICK I DO BELIEVE THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY BE THE PROBLEM IT IS THE SAME SWITCH THAT IS IN THE CHEVROLET IMPALA THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED I USED TO WORK FOR A GARAGE AND INSTALL THEM OFTEN I DO HOPE YOU LOOK IN TO THIS WITH CARE SECOND THING IS THE STEERING RACK IS REALLY BAD AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO THEM AT THE DEALER THEY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS FROM USE I DON'T BELIEVE IT I HAVE A ASE CERTIFIED PERSON DO ALL THE WORK TO IT AND THE BRAKES ARE BRAND NEW SO YOU TELL ME THERE IS A MAD DEFECT ON THE CAR IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED SOME TIME AGO AND I DON'T KNOW AS TO WHY THIS IS STILL NOT ON THE LIST OF RECALLS BUT IT NEEDS TO BE SAME FOR THE 2000 01 02 03 BUICKS THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME HOPE THIS GET TAKEN CARE OF.
NHTSA complaint #10626913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 milesDES Moines, IACrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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 INCIDENT. THE ONE TOOK PLACE IN DECEMBER OF 2009. A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED I WAS THEY CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION, BUT WAS NOT INFORMED TO WHERE I COULD UNDERSTAND. NOW THE CASE IS WITH THEIR LAWYERS WHO WON'T ANSWER THE PHONE.
NHTSA complaint #10281320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 84,000 milesCroton ON Hudson, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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 ONE MONTH AFTER THE FINAL PAYMENT OF THE 5 YEAR LOAN ONE MONTH AFTER THE LIFTERS WERE REPLACED THE ENGINE SEIZED UP NEEDED TO BE TOWED AND I'M TOLD THAT THE MAIN BEARING HAS GONE BAD AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT.
NHTSA complaint #10181358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Ramon, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
LTR FM (CA) RE DEFECTIVE 2001 - 2003 BUICK REGAL LS & GS STEERING SHAFT, REQUESTS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. *TS THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WOULD COST 287.00 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED ON THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10149717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,000 milesDexter, ME
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
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 BE FIGURED OUT. IT COMES FROM THE FRONT END JUST LIKE OTHERS HAVE STATED.
NHTSA complaint #10056933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,800 milesOrchard Park, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS RUSTED AT ONLY 17,000 MI.WAS TOLD CAR NOT DRIVEN ENOUGH.
NHTSA complaint #10025411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 44,000 milesTroy, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ROTORS NEEDED TO BE GROUND @ 21000 MILES AND THEN AGAIN @43000 MILES, FRONT END SHAKES BADLY WHEN BRAKING, MAKE CONTROL DIFFICULT.
NHTSA complaint #10021467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesAnnapolis, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
STARTING AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES THERE WAS A VERY DISTINCT RUBBING SOUND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A NON-EMERGENCY SITUATION (IT REMINDED ME OF THE SOUND BRAKES MAKE WHEN THEY HAVE TOO MUCH WEAR AND USUALLY IT'S AN INDICATION THE BRAKES NEED TO BE RELPACED). AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND THE DEALER STATED NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. AT ABOUT 29,500 I HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED. ABOUT 5,000 MILES AFTER THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED THE SOUND HAS STARTED AGAIN. IT SOUNDS AS IF THE ABS IS CONSTANTLY ENGAGED BUT THIS HAPPENS WHENEVER PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. I'M CONVINCED THERE IS A BRAKE PROBLEM THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND I'M CONCERNED THE BRAKES WILL FAIL IN AN EMERGENCY. THE DEALERS SEEM UNABLE TO IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. DOES YOUR AGENCY HAVE ANY RECORDS OF BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 BUICK REGAL GS?
NHTSA complaint #10016744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grove City, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
RUSTED ROTORS CAUSED CLUNKING NOISE AT THE REAR END WHILE BRAKING. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grove City, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
REAR ROTORS RUSTED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #561409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grove City, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES WERE RUSTIED. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT BRAKES WERE RUSTED BECAUSE OF ATMOSPHERE.*AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #889821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.