repaired · 2017 Q3
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
2004 Buick RegalProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 66 owner complaints about the 2004 Buick Regal, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-201 the manufacturer reports only 25% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 8, 2020. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2004 Buick Regal has problems
66 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
35Electrical system
18Engine2 crash/fire/injury
8Engine and engine cooling
6Steering
5Electronic stability control (ESC)
3Power train
3Service brakes, hydraulic
2Suspension
2Vehicle speed control
87 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 35 | 0 |
| Engine | 18 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 5 | 0 |
| Power train | 3 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 |
| 7 other systems | 8 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2004 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.
repaired · 2016 Q3
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.
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 electrical system problems start?
89kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 29 electrical system complaints. 72% were reported before 100,000 miles.
2under 30k miles21under 100k miles8100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2004 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
2004 Buick Regal safety ratings
2004 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
In owners' words
What Regal owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
ALL 4 POWER WINDOW MOTORS DO NOT WORK. THEY ALL FAILED WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. I CHECKED ON YOU TUBE AND FOUND THAT ALMOST ALL BUICK REGALS HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF POWER WINDOW MOTORS BREAKING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON YOU TUBE ALONE FOR THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS PROOF THAT THE…
THE FIRST TIME THE CAR STALLED WAS AS I WAS APPROACHING THE STOP SIGN.IT STALLED AND THE DASH LIGHT ALL CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO RE-START IT AFTER PUTTING IT IN PARK. IT THEN HAPPENED AGAIN THE SAME AS BEFORE I GOT HOME. THE NEXT DAY IT DROVE NORMAL FOR AWHILE THEN AS I WAS STARTING IT UP AGAIN IT…
POWER WINDOWS ON THIS CAR BURN OUT, 4 MECHANICS SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND REPAIRS OF THE POWER WINDOWS IS EXPENSIVE
Own a 2004 Regal?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.