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1999 Buick RegalProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 246 owner complaints about the 1999 Buick Regal, most often about the engine. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-701 the manufacturer reports only 26% of affected cars repaired.

30
CarFlaw IndexUse caution2.3× the Regal median · #2 of 28 years by complaints
Safety recalls6Lowest repair rate 26%Owner complaints24659 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage139kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 10, 2021. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1999 Buick Regal has problems

246 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
Engine4923
Engine and engine cooling4319
Electrical system424
Steering310
Service brakes, hydraulic231
Visibility201
Power train103
Seat belts103
Equipment80
17 other systems545

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

6 recalls

1999 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

Exterior lighting: headlights

Recall 04V-375 · Aug 10, 2004 · 199,793 vehicles

Risk. LESS ILLUMINATION MAY REDUCE THE ABILITY OF THE DRIVER TO READ OVERHEAD SIGNS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
–no report yet

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Recall 99V-170 · Jul 9, 1999 · 168,559 vehicles

Risk. THIS SHORT CAN CAUSE EXTREME HEATING OF THE FLEXIBLE BRAKE PIPE WHERE IT CAN MELT A NEARBY FLEXIBLE PLASTIC FUEL HOSE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

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 engine problems start?

139kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 21 engine complaints. 14% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 47% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
0under 30k miles3under 100k miles18100k miles or more
Best & worst years

1999 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
NHTSA crash tests

1999 Buick Regal safety ratings

1999 Buick Regal 4-DR in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1999 Buick Regal, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02030 · closed Mar 9, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-090
  2. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREEA07008 · closed May 1, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-118
  3. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE02050 · closed Oct 22, 2002
    No recall
In owners' words

What Regal owners report

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

07/25/2021 STARTED THE MOTOR, IN STATIONARY IN PERSONAL DRIVEWAY, IN IDLE IT BEGAN TO PUFF THICK WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TURNED ENGINE OFF WITHIN 15 SECONDS OF STARTING THE ENGINE. LEFT VEHICLE OFF FOR 24 HRS, AND TRIED TO TURN THE MOTOR BACK…
Complaint 11387360 · Jan 10, 2021 · 86,000 miles
WEIRD ENGINE NOISE, WHEN SWITCHING THE IGNITION SWITCH SOMETIMES DELAY, ALSO DASH LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS ALSO AC DOESN'T WORK AND LOW OIL, LOW AIR, AND LOW COOLANT LIGHTS TURN ON EVEN IF ALL OF THEM ARE FULL AT THE RIGHT LEVEL.
Complaint 11289542 · Dec 17, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 BUICK REGAL. AFTER DRIVING AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE AND FLAMES APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE FAILURE, BUT THE…
Complaint 10957664 · Feb 28, 2017

Own a 1999 Regal?

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