FaultScore

2012 Buick Regal electrical problems

18 of the 138 complaints about the 2012 Buick Regal are about the electrical system — 13% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 63,000 miles.

C

18

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 14 77.8%
12V/24V/48V Battery 1 5.6%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 5.6%
Instrument Cluster/Panel 1 5.6%
Body Control Module/Bcm 1 5.6%

Electrical System across every Buick Regal year

1989 16 3.0%
1991 16 3.0%
1992 15 2.8%
1994 22 4.1%
1995 11 2.0%
1996 27 5.0%
1997 18 3.3%
1998 51 9.5%
1999 42 7.8%
2000 44 8.2%
2001 33 6.1%
2002 40 7.4%
2003 37 6.9%
2004 36 6.7%
2011 76 14.1%
2012 18 3.3%
2013 36 6.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Buford, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

There is a water seal leak around the driver side headlight. I have photos showing proof of standing water. It has now caused the headlight, left turn signal, and drivers side brake light to fail. My passenger side headlight is doing the same. I have no headlights, no driverside lights period. I drive 2 children around in this car and it's gotten very dangerous. I contacted GM, and the local dealership and they won't fix it. I'm a [XXX] and don't have the $3200-$5000 I was told the repair would be. It is a problem in certain GM models, Cadillac Srx 2010-2015 having the same issue and the recall being fixed for those drivers. So, I have no choice but to drive around with no headlights, no left blinker, and no driver side brake light with two you children. I have to work and have no other options. It's a catastrophe waiting to happen, I live in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia. Please help me with this, I am terrified to drive this car around. I've had two people flag me down at a red light to let me know my brake light is out which is terribly dangerous and if it starts raining while I am out I have no headlights. This has become an emergency situation for me and my children. I have photo proof of the water pooling inside the headlight assembly. The seal is so bad that even covered the condensation pools inside the headlight. Please help me get a dealership to fix this issue. They want to charge me $275 for diagnostics and this is already and issue on this model car, reported by many drivers with the recall on the Cadillac. They need to fix it before I end up a casualty to this problem. Thank you so much. I can send a video of the emergency flasher and signal not working. I replaced the headlight in January and the new one never worked. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11676449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rogers, AR Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

[XXX] my car failed to let me use the brake, i was going about 45mph and when i went to apply brake pressure the pedal was so stiff i couldnt use the brake. Causing from end collision, when i made a trip to springdale to have my car inspected it didnt make it, started backfiring and dying around 65 mph then the motor blew, it had some issues starting but nothing like what happened within that few seconds. Im out of a car now because it drove perfect and i never have to give it thought. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11627455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,000 miles New Lenox, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM

The contact owns a 2012 Buick Regal. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, he became aware that the electrical system was not functioning properly. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the body control module. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V093000 (Exterior Lighting), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 16,000.

NHTSA complaint #11552125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Hockley, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

The contact owns a 2012 Buick Regal. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel went blank, and the turn signals failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that vehicle briefly lost motive power but independently restarted while making turning in either direction. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle jerked while at a complete stop with the brake pedal firmly depressed. The contact stated that an unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA complaint #11530401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hampton, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The headlight area had condensation in it that resulted in water in the headlight. This caused the headlight to go dark. This is a safety issue as one of my headlights is not working. I can’t see that section of the road or adjacent sidelines. Very dangerous particularly at this time of year with deer running into road from the side. There are many other regal owners with this problem which can be verified by googling the problem. This is the second time the light has failed for condensation. Other drivers and pedestrians are at risk because they cannot be seen with the headlight out. Headlight was replaced once and has failed again. Cost to repair 2 years ago $1600 new estimate $1800. This is for one headlight but recommended to replace both.

NHTSA complaint #11492760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irving, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Car lost all electrical power while driving (moving) and fully shut down, stalling immediately. Nothing electrical worked, including 4 way flashers. The alternator was just replaced 2 weeks after this same full loss of electrical power was diagnosed when going to start the car while parked. The battery was fully recharged at the repair shop and deemed ok. I had my road service come out to address the issue. Before they arrived, I was able to restart the car. The service tech checked the battery and alternator. Both checked ok, but the battery was almost drained and did not show signs of any dead cells, despite it having been able to restart the car shortly before the road service arrived. We replaced the battery. Car is in the shop now. The safety risk is full loss of power while moving resulting in no brake lights, 4 way emergency lights, full stall, loss of power steering and brakes that can lead to a collision on the highway. This type of problem has been reported on numerous Regals

NHTSA complaint #11484701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,000 miles Parkville, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2012 Buick Regal. The contact stated that the vehicle would not immediately start up, and while at a stop light the entire vehicle would shake and vibrate. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact indicated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was 72,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11432711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,000 miles Antioch, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

MY VEHICLE BATTERY WILL NOT HOLD A CHARGE AFTER SEVERAL REPLACEMENT BATTERIES THE VEHICLE BATTERY IS COMPLETELY DRAINED OVERNIGHT AND WILL NOT START. I MUST GET A BOOST WITH CABLES OR THE BATTERY HAS TO BE COMPLETELY RECHARGED OR REPLACED

NHTSA complaint #11394261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Detroit, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY BRAKE PEDAL ALWAYS GET STUCK DEPRESSED DOWN IN HOT HUMID WEATHER. YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO DRIVE WITH TWO FEET TO LIFT PEDAL WHEN TIME TO ACCELERATE. MY DRIVER SEAT ALSO GOES IN AND OUT WHEN TRYING TO ADJUST THE SEAT. IT WILL NOT MOVE UNLESS I PLAY WITH THE POWER ADJUSTER A FEW TIMES THEN IT WILL MANEUVER. MY RADIO ALSO TURNS OFF AND ON BY ITSELF WITH BLUETOOTH IS CONNECTED OR SOMETIMES THE RADIO WOULDN'T TURN ON WITH CAR RUNNING OR TURN OFF WHILE CAR IS OFF.

NHTSA complaint #11299744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 34,000 miles Attleboro, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED CONDENSATION IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT AND THAT THE FUSE WAS BLOWN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

NHTSA complaint #11289316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,000 miles Evanston, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SINCE I PURCHASED AND DROVE OFF FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WITHIN THE FIRST FEW DAYS THE CAR SHUT DOWN ON ME WHEN I WAS IN A DRIVE THRU, AND IT HAPPENED TIMES AGAIN WHILE PULLING OUT A PARKING SPACE AND DROVE A FEW FEET AWAY THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF AND BEGAN SMELLING OF GAS AS WELL OVERTIME I DROVE IT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT VERY HELPFUL BUT FINALLY KEPT MY CAR A FEW DAYS AND SAID IT WAS ONLY THE HOSES WHICH WERE LOOSE. NOW 4/24 MY CAR AGAIN IS MAKING WEIRD NOISES SINCE LAST WEEK AND ACTUALLY WILL NOT START THIS EVENING AFTER BEING OUT AND PARKING IN A LOT.

NHTSA complaint #11203614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Livingston, LA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICHLE PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2017 WITH 35K MILES. HAS ALWAYS HAD A VIBRATING NOISE WHILE SITTING AND IDLING. IT WILL GET WORSE AFTER THE CAR IS DRIVEN/HEATED AND THEN IDLED. BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS HAD A VERY LOUD SCREACHING NOISE. TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. BULBS WERE CHANGED AND THEY HAVE WORKED SINCE. HOWEVER, THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. BULBS WERE CHANGED WITH NO SATISFACTION. FUSES WERE CHANGED AND BLEW EVERY TIME. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC SHOP - DIAGNOSED. BRAKES ARE OK. PER HIS WORDS, JUST CHEAP SETUP. (THIS WAS HOW I PURCHASED THE CAR, I'VE NEVER REPLACED THE BRAKES SINCE PURCHASING), THE TENSIONER PULLEY WAS CAUSING THE VIBRATION. PULLEY AND BELT (STRETCHED) WERE CHANGED, HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY'S (BOTH) NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AS THEY WERE NOT GETTING POWER ($1600.00 EACH!!! THE BALLASTS WERE BAD), ALSO HAD MY HIGH PRESSURE LINE FOR A/C CHANGED AS THAT QUIT WORKING AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #11123167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Chicago, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR GIVING A CODE OF ELECTRICAL CONTROL MODULE GCM .L HAVE THE CODE P 0062

NHTSA complaint #11119766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,000 miles Bakersfield, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY BATTERY SEEMS TO BE LOSING CHARGE. THEN IT WILL COMPLETELY DIE. WHEN I CHARGE IT ON A BATTERY CHARGER FOR A WHILE IT WOULD HOLD THE CHARGE FOR A A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN DIE AGAIN. I HAD THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER CHECKED AND MACHANIC STATED THAT THEY ARE ALL WORKING GOOD. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THE DRIVERSIDE POWER CONTROL BUTTONS WORK ON AND OFF. SOME DAYS THEY WORK AND OTHERS THEY DONT, ALMOST LIKE A SHORT. THIS ALSO HAPPENS RANDOMLY.

NHTSA complaint #11031942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,000 miles Arleta, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING TURNED ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE RADIO SPONTANEOUSLY TURNED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA complaint #10967633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,000 miles Lake Jackson, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A VOLTAGE DRAINAGE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA complaint #10820979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,000 miles Ogdensburg, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CAR HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER. ANYTHING ELECTRICAL WOULDN'T WORK. WE COULDN'T REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, PUT WINDOWS OR ANYTHING. THE SECOND TIME I TRIED TO USE THE VEHICLES SELF JUMP START BUT NOTHING WOULD WORK. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER IN THIS CAR AT THIS TIME. MY WIFE SAID AT ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SHE DID SMELL A BURNING ODOR. WE ALSO HAD THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING. IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. WE FEEL WE ARE DRIVING A FIREBOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN AND DO NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS CAR ANYMORE. CURRENTLY ITS AT A GM DEALER AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHATS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. BEST PART IS THE DEALERS DON'T WANT THIS CAR BACK AS EVIDENCED BY THE LOW TRADE IN VALUE THAT WAS OFFERED.

NHTSA complaint #10725396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19 miles Midlothian, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RPMS IDLES HIGH AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 45MPH. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL AND AS A RESULT, SHE HAD TO USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT DECIDED TO REPROGRAMMED THE VEHICLE COMPUTER SYSTEM AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,200.

NHTSA complaint #10471904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2012 Buick Regal problems

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