1997 BUICK REGAL Steering Problems

BUICK FIXED 3 RECALLS BUT WON'T FIX ON SAY I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER PART BEFORE THEY CAN FIX LAST RECALL.

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

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. 1 1/2 WEEKS AND NOW IS BACK! AM GOING TO THE MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. *TR

Mileage: 141,072

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 MECHANIC ALSO REPLACED THE ABS PUMP MODULE (THE ELECTRONIC PART OF THE ABS UNIT) AND THEN HAD TO UPGRADE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND SENSOR TO ANOTHER BRAND THAT WAS 2X AS EXPENSIVE. THE ABS PROBLEM AFFECTED THE STEERING (MAKING IT HARDER TO STEER AND MORE NOISY), AND ALSO AFFECTED THE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE ONLINE WARNINGS SAID THAT IT COULD DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION IF NOT CORRECTED. I EVEN TRIED REPLACING THE MODULE OF THE TRACTION CONTROL UNIT UNDER THE DASH. THIS WAS A VERY TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY REPAIR, AS THE LEFT FRONT BEARING WAS REPLACE A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES AND TWO VISITS FOR THE ABS MODULE AND PROGRAMMING. I SEE THAT ANOTHER OWNER HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AT ABOUT 140,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 140,359

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER STEERING. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V118000 (STEERING), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,025.

Mileage: 137,000

1997 REGAL BUICK RECALL NO. 03V52700 WAS COMPLETED ON VEHICLE ON 3/18/04 (STEERING RACK AND PINION) VEHICLE HAD ROUGHLY 22,000. SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN WITH 54,733 MILES. VEHICLE DRIVEN AROUND TOWN. CAN'T DRIVE HAVE TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED STEERING UNCONTROLLABLE. CALLED GM WILL NOT REPLACE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. PROBLEM WAS JUST PATCHED. GM SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUE. SOMEONE COULD BE INJURED POSSIBLY KILLED. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT GM SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BUT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 54,733

1997 REGAL BUICK RECALL NO. 03V52700 WAS COMPLETED ON VEHICLE ON 3/18/04 (STEERING RACK AND PINION) VEHICLE HAD ROUGHLY 22,000. SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN WITH 54,733 MILES. VEHICLE DRIVEN AROUND TOWN. CAN'T DRIVE HAVE TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED STEERING UNCONTROLLABLE. CALLED GM WILL NOT REPLACE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. PROBLEM WAS JUST PATCHED. GM SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUE. SOMEONE COULD BE INJURED POSSIBLY KILLED. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT GM SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BUT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 54,733

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND REQUIRES A LOT OF EFFORT. HE FEELS IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE HE IS UNABLE TO STEER PROPERLY. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V527000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION), EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURES ARE IDENTICAL. THE GM RECALL NUMBER IS 03062. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,281. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB

Mileage: 128,281

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER LEFT AND RIGHT. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V527000, REGARDING THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 7/25/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 108,000

MY WIFE IS COMPLAINING OF A HARD LEFT STEER ON HER 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR ON EACH TURN AT THIS TIME, BUT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING. BUICK'S CUSTOMER HOT LINE IS REFUSING TO MAKE THE REPAIR ON HER CAR. THEY CLAIM THAT THIS CAR IS NOT INVOLVED WITH THE RECALL # 03062. YET THE RECALL SHOWS THIS RECALL COVERS THE BUICK REGAL MODEL BUILT BETWEEN 08-01-96 THROUGH 07-31-97. THIS CAR WAS BUILT IN THIS TIME FRAME. THIS COULD CAUSE MY WIFE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT WITH THE POTENTIAL OF FATAL INJURIES. *JB

Mileage: 105,771

I NOTICED THAT I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS STEERING WHILE TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT - VERY STIFF AND HARD TO MANIPULATE STEERING WHEEL WHILE AT LOW SPEEDS. I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FLUIDS WERE ALL LEVEL ETC. AND THE TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED. I CONTINUED SEVERAL WEEKS LATER AND AGAIN THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW (3RD WEEK OF DEC 2003 & 2ND WEEK OF JAN 2004). I PLANNED ON TAKING THE CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE WHEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE DURING THE 3RD WEEK OF FEB 2004. I TOOK THE CAR INTO SIGNAL HILL BUICK IN CALIFORNIA FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. I WAS MET WITH THE RUDEST SERVICE POSSIBLE, I WAS UNABLE TO GET A RIDE HOME, THE TECHNICIAN I SPOKE TO INITIALLY WOULD NOT EVEN TELL ME WHAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING OTHER THAN THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT WAS NEVER NOTED THAT STEERING SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO HOOMAN BUICK IN CULVER CITY, CA, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN ITS ENTIRETY. *JB

UNABLE TO MAKE LEFT TURN WITH EASE. LEFT TURNS ARE VERY HARD AND AT TIMES DOES NOT TURN LEFT AT ALL. STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETURN TO CENTER POSITION. I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A COMPLETE LEFT HAND TURN, WHICH CAUSED ME TO OVER TURN AND DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. *NM

Mileage: 10

DT: THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED , BUT THE CONSUMER DID NOT LIKE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE HIM FOR THE REPAIRS.. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE. *AK

Mileage: 100,000

CONSUMER STATED WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION POWER STEERING FAILED DUE TO RACK AND PINION MALFUNCTIONING. *AK

Mileage: 123,000

AFTER THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED STEERING GEAR BEARING RECALL 03V527000 REPAIRS THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLICKING NOISE . THE NOISE OCCURRED WHEN MAKING A SHARP LEFT OR RIGHT TURN AND WHEN IN REVERSE.*AK

Mileage: 89,871

ON 7-6-02, OWNER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. HOWEVER, OWNER WAS TOLD BY G.M. THAT BECAUSE SHE HAD PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED AFTERMARKET PARTS, THEY ARE NOT LIABLE FOR THE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE AFTERMARKET PARTS SHE HAD INSTALLED PRIOR TO THE RECALL. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM *LA

Mileage: 87,000

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V527000 NOTICE REGARDING RACK AND PINION FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER REPLACED THE BEARINGS ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THREE WEEKS LATER, RACK AND PINION BECAME DEFECTIVE AND IT WAS HARD TO STEER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A NEW RACK AND PINION WAS NEEDED.*AK

Mileage: 81,000

THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN ON COLD MORNINGS AND MAKES A CLUNCKING SOUND WHEN ON CENTER. *LA

Mileage: 116,000

RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO DUE TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. THE RACK AND PINION BEGAN MAKING NOISE AND PRODUCING WHEEL VIBRATION WHILE TURNING AND EVENTUALLY DEVELOPED A LEAK. RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE FOR PARTS AND LABOR. UNFORTUNATELY, CAR IS BEGIN TO DEMONSTRATE EARLY SYMPTOMS OF IT FAILING AGAIN. THE SYMPTOMS ARE INCREASED NOISE AND VIBRATION WHILE TURN AT SLOW SPEEDS OR TIGHT TURNS AT MODERATE SPEEDS. I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO REPLACING THIS AGAIN. I NOTE THAT MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS EXIST ON THE LIST FOR SIMILAR ITEMS, AND THAT SIMILAR ISSUE EXIST FOR OTHER GM VEHICLES. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON ACTIONS BEING TAKEN ON THE BEHALF OF THE CONSUMERS OF THIS VEHICLE. *LA

STEERING RACK LOCKED UP AT 40,000-60,000 MI HAD IT REPLACED AND IT SEEMS TO BE STARTING AGAIN AT 115,000 MI. *LA

Mileage: 60,000

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, STEERING LOCKED UP MAKING IT UNABLE TO STEER CAUSING CAR TO HIT CENTER DIVIDER. *LA

Mileage: 66,600

97 BUICK REGAL--LOCKED UP STEERING--SITTING IN MY GARAGE--WAITING TO BE REPAIRED CALLED CARDEALER EST:1,000. TO REPAIR

Mileage: 88,000

1997 BUICK REGAL - POWER STEERING PROBLEM

Mileage: 25,000

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

STEERING SEEMED TO LOCK AT NEAR FULL TRAVEL EITHER DIRECTION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT WOULD "RELEASE" WITH A HARD PULL BACK TOWARD CENTER. LAST INCIDENT, UPON PULL BACK, WIFE HEARD A "POP" AND STEERING EFFORT SEEMED MARKEDLY REDUCED. WHEN INSPECTING, I FOUND BOTTOM PINION SHAFT COVER IN RACK HOUSING TO BE MISSING, BUT FOUND IT IN DRIVEWAY NEAR WHERE LAST LOCK UP WAS. IT HAD GREASE AND LOTS OF "SHRAPNEL" , SEEMINGLY HARD PLASTIC, THAT WAS WIPED OFF AND CAP PUT BACK INTO HOUSING. STEERING HAS NOT LOCKED SINCE, BUT FEELS VAGUE AND LOOSE NEAR END OF TRAVEL EITHER DIRECTION. CAR ONLY HAS 51K MILES.

Mileage: 48,000

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. DEALER SAYS POWER STEERING RACK IS BINDING WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT. WILL HAVE TO REPLACE, MY COST. I SEE A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. GM HAD A RECALL (11/15/2002) FOR THIS PROBLEM ON SAME MODEL YEAR FOR CAVALIER, SUNFIRE, LUMINA/VENTURE, SILHOUETTE, TRANSPORT, AND GRAND PRIX (REGAL'S SIBLING). WHAT ABOUT REGAL?

Mileage: 69,879

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ERRATIC STEERING CONTROL, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.*JB

ON-OFF LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING TURNS. SOMETIMES A STRANGE SHAKE IN STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEED WHEN FIRST STARTING TO DRIVE.*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

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

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

STEERING RACK LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING RENDERING VEHICLE UNSTABLE WHILE TRAVELING APROX. 35 MPH AND CREATING A POTENTIALLY LETHAL SITUITION.*AK

TRANMISSION WAS REPLACED WHILE CAR UNDER WARRANTY W/REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WHICH IS NOW NEEDING TO BE REPLACED...DEALERSHIP DID NOT ADVISE IT WAS BEING REPLACED W/REMANUFAC. PART. CONTACTED BUICK ONLY TO BE ADVISED CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT HELP. STEERING/RACK & PENION: STEERING LOCKS, POPS, ETC WHEN DRIVING ...I DON'T HAVE MUCH INFO ON THIS RIGHT NOW AS WE ARE HAVING CHECKED BY MECHANIC NOW. HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER "NON LIFE THREATENING" PROBLEMS W/THIS CAR AND ARE VERY DISHEARTENED AS THE CAR IS ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS OLD.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

POWER STEERING PART REPLACED BECAUSE OF LEAKAGE. YH

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. YH

I WAS ASSIGNED THIS BUICK REGAL WITH 33,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS HAD A CHATTER WHILE TURNING CORNERS. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT KELLEY BUICK THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP DID NOT MEET SPECS. OUR COMPANY HAS ANOTHER IDENTICAL REGAL THAT SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP AT 25,000 MILES. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS? *AK

STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES.

LOOSE TORSION NUT ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE CAUSED THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK OUT COMPLETELY.

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES ON LEFT HAND TURNS.