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1997 Buick RegalProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 136 owner complaints about the 1997 Buick Regal, most often about the steering. It is covered by 7 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-701 the manufacturer reports only 26% of affected cars repaired.

46
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.2× the Regal median · #10 of 28 years by complaints
Safety recalls7Lowest repair rate 26%Owner complaints13624 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage89kSteering, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 28, 2019. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Buick Regal has problems

136 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Steering371
Engine and engine cooling3011
Electrical system181
Engine116
Visibility110
Service brakes, hydraulic80
Exterior lighting80
Air bags72
Power train70
13 other systems301

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

7 recalls

1997 Buick Regal recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

26%repaired · 2017 Q3

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Recall 15V-701 · Oct 26, 2015 · 1,003,556 vehicles · 265,197 repaired

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 09V-116 · Apr 8, 2009 · 1,497,516 vehicles

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 08V-118 · Mar 12, 2008 · 207,542 vehicles

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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Steering: rack and pinion

Recall 03V-527 · Dec 11, 2003 · 750,283 vehicles

Risk. 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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 3 more recalls
–no report yet

Exterior lighting: headlights

Recall 98V-102 · May 15, 1998 · 149,342 vehicles

Risk. IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY AIM THE HEADLIGHTS.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 97V-223 · Nov 14, 1997 · 4,387 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF HALF OF THE VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Buick.

Mileage at failure

When do steering problems start?

89kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 21 steering complaints. 52% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 43% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
2under 30k miles11under 100k miles10100k miles or more
Best & worst years

1997 vs. every other Regal year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Regal median. How we score

'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
6 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1997 Buick Regal, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02030 · closed Mar 9, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-090
  2. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILUREEA03019 · closed Dec 18, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-527
  3. WINDSHIELD WIPEREA99024 · closed Jan 13, 2000
    No recall
  4. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE02050 · closed Oct 22, 2002
    No recall
  5. WINDSHIELD WIPERPE99028 · closed Aug 20, 1999
    No recall
  6. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURERQ03001 · closed Sep 15, 2003
    No recall
In owners' words

What Regal owners report

Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WAS DRIVING MY 1997 BUICK REGAL GS 3.8 WHEN I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR WENT TO TURN LEFT AND WHEN IN THE TURN ALL THE LIGHTS START TO FLASH AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN.. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED LATER TO FIND OUT IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH NOW CAR IS SITTING WILL NOT START ALL LIGHTS FLASH WILL NOT CRANK OR TURN…
Complaint 10818874 · Jan 8, 2016 · 145,000 miles
AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC 6 TIMES TO REPAIR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON/ABS LIGHT/TRAC OFF LIGHT COMING ON, HE REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WITH A MORE EXPENSIVE MODEL AND REPLACED THE MODULE ON THE ABS PUMP THAT HAS THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND PUMP GEARS. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR APPROX.…
Complaint 10653762 · Nov 10, 2014 · 141,072 miles
THE SERVICE VEHICLE SOON/ABS WARNING LIGHT/AND TRAC OFF LIGHT LIT AND THE CAR LURCHED AS IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THE ERROR CODE WAS C1225, WHICH IS TOO MUCH SPEED AT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THE BEARING AND SENSOR WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. THE…
Complaint 10649789 · Oct 24, 2014 · 140,359 miles

Own a 1997 Regal?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.