1997 BUICK REGAL Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *TT CONSUMER STATED DEALERSHIP IS NOW CLOSED AND WILL BE TAKING IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. UPDATED 12/20/18*JB

Mileage: 138,000

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 OVER ... BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WOULD MAKE A LEFT TURN YOU COULD HEAR A CLICKING COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON ... EVERYTHING YOU TOUCHED ON THE STEERING WHEEL , TURN SIGNALS , WINDSHIELD WIPERS ANYTHING WOULD MAKE ALL CLUSTER LIGHTS COME ON AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR . THANK GOD KNOWONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED

Mileage: 145,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STARTER AND BATTERY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

Mileage: 151,000

CARS ENGINE WOULD CUT OFF WHEN USING EITHER TURN SIGNAL. ALL DASH LITES WOULD MOMENTARILY COME ON,OR JUST AIR BAG LITE WOULD COME ON BEFORE STALLING. REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH TO CORRECT. MANY OTHER REGAL CUSTOMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ON-LINE,NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT!!! VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION!!!!. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

OUT OF THE BLUE BY USING THE TURN SIGNAL OUR 1997 BUICK REGAL'S ENGINE WOULD STALL. IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, WE HAD NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD FLASH. OUR CAR WAS TOWED TO THE GM DEALERSHIP AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. NOW EVERYTHING IS WORKING FINE. *TR

Mileage: 116,611

IF YOU USE TURN SIGNALS CAR WILL SHUT DOWN. GAUGES GO CRAZY ALL LIGHTS COME ON. STARTED WITH SEAT BELT LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT COMING ON FIRST TIME - - ABOUT A MILE LATER WHILE IN A PARKING LOT AND STOPPED TRIED AGAIN AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF !!!!!! FINALLY GOT CAR TO START AFTER PLAYING AROUND WITH SIGNALS AND 4 WAY FLASHER AND DROVE HOME OK BUT DID NOT USE TURN SIGNALS. WHEN IN DRIVE TRIED SIGNALS AND AGAIN CAR SHUTS OFF. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR 97 REGAL TURNED 30,000 MILES ON THE WAY HOME. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AN IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, DURING THE MOST RECENT INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER REPAIR, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,618 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

Mileage: 45,618

UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. THE SAFETY MECHANISM THAT PREVENTS THE IGNITION KEY FROM BEING REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING HAS MALFUNCTIONED, THUS KEEPING THE IGNITION KEY CAPTIVE WHEN DRIVER IS READY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. WHEN VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO "PARK" THE DOORS UNLOCK AS EXPECTED (CONFIRMING PROPER OPERATION OF THE PARK SWITCH), BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO BE ROTATED TO THE EXTRACTION POSITION. AFTER A SEEMINGLY RANDOM AMOUNT OF TIME AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, A SMALL CLICK IS HEARD IN THE STEERING COLUMN, THE KEY CAN THEN BE ROTATED TO THE EXTRACTION POSITION, AND THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE COLDER THE TEMPERATURE, THE LONGER THE DRIVER MUST WAIT FOR THE KEY TO BE RELEASED. TYPICAL WAIT TIMES BEFORE THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH ARE BETWEEN 1 SECOND TO 10 MINUTES. *JB

Mileage: 134,000

DT: THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STALLING WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL. THE CONSUMER HAD THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED AT A DEALERSHIP, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. 1997, BUICK, REGAL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $837.00 TO HAVE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR/IGNITION REPLACED. *AK *JB

Mileage: 25,000

1997 BUICK REGAL SEDAN DEVELOPED VARIOUS PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. *MR THERE WAS A CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK. THE REPAIRS CONSISTED OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL PAN AND GASKET DUE TO AN OIL LEAK, THE THERMOSTAT, BELT TENSIONER, COOLANT PUMP, COMPLETE FLUSHING OF THE SYSTEM, WIRES AND PLUGS, NEW ALTERNATOR, UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKET REPLACEMENT AND A NEW ENGINE. THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED, THE BEARINGS AND THE PISTONS WERE NOISY. *SC THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. *JB

Mileage: 32,869

I HAVE A 1997 BUICK REGAL GS [XXX]. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A DEALER IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE DEALER (WESTERN MOTORS, GARDEN CITY, KS) 3 TIMES WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW DID NOT WORK, THE LAST TWO TIMES I WAS STRANDED WHEN THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE SECOND TIME WESTERN MOTORS REPLACED THE BATTERY AT COST TO ME. THIS LAST TIME IT IS PRESENTLY IN THE SHOP WHILE THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS. I HAVE RESEARCHED SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS OF OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH LATE 90'S MODEL REGALS. THEY HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND HAVING THEIR VEHICLE SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR NOT STARTING WITHIN A MATTER OF MONTHS. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR THE OWNERS AS THE MECHANICS TRY ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. IT IS ALSO VERY INCONVENIENT TO BE STRANDED OR JUST TO GET IN THE CAR AND WONDER IF IT WILL START OR NOT. I FEEL THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT GM SHOULD HAVE TO REMEDY WITHOUT EMPTYING THE POCKETS OF THE OWNERS OF THEIR VEHICLES. I REALIZE THIS IS NOT A LIFE THREATENING SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT OCCURS REPEATEDLY IN MANY CARS AND IS A HUGE FINANCIAL BURDEN TO THE OWNERS.*AK UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 94,000

I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN I WENT TO USE THE TURN SIGNAL THE CAR STALLED AND IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN BUT WHEN I USE MY DIRECTIONALS THE CAR STALLS, NO MATTER WHERE I AM. I THINK IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE WHEN YOUR ON A HIGHWAY AND WANT TO USE YOUR TURN SIGNAL YOUR CAR WILL JUST STALL OUT AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ ALOT OF COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THAT. I THINK IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH.*AK

Mileage: 97,350

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING/BRAKES, AND THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ENGAGED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS WAS CAUSED BY WIRING FAILURE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. *AK 1997 BUICK REGAL ENGINE STALLED WHEN TURN SIGNAL WAS USED. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE STALLED AS A RESULT OF IGNITION SWITCH CIRCUIT OVERLOAD. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM.*MR

Mileage: 105,000

DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE EXTERIOR WINDOW MOLDING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL ROTTED TO THE POINT THE METAL BAR COULD BE SEEN. MR..*AK

VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF STEERING PROBLEMS FROM PS PUMP TO RACK AND PINION COST OF REPAIRS ARE OUTRAGEOUS. MOST RECENT FAILURE LOCKED STEERING COMPLETELY WITH MY WIFE AND 6MO BABY DRIVING AT 75MPH ON INTERSTATE. HAS HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH OIL SEALS, ELECTRICAL, IDLERS GOING OUT. SERPENTINE BELT BROKE DUR TO IDLER SEIZED AND SHUT DOWN POWER STEERING WHILE AT 75MPH IN A SEPERATE INCIDENT

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY AND LOST ALL POWER WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED POWER CONTROL MODUL/ CRANK SENSOR, ETC. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HORN; WHENEVER CONSUMER TRIES TO ACTIVATE THE HORN ON STEERING WHEEL HE HAS A PROBLEM PUSHING THE HORN TO OPERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPLACED THE HORN, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK