1999 BUICK REGAL Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE 1999 BUICK REGAL. WHILE LEAVING A CAR WASH, EXPERIENCED A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. SUBSEQUENT MECHANICAL WORK DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE TWO SEVERELY CORRODED BRAKE LINES, ONE FRONT AND ONE REAR BRAKE LINE, BOTH LEAKING BRAKE FLUID.. (THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE HAD CATASTROPHIC RESULTS AS WE WERE PLANNING AN 850 MILE TRIP THE NEXT DAY IN THIS CAR.) MECHANIC SAID THESE BRAKE LINES WERE NOT STAINLESS STEEL , DID NOT APPEAR TO BE PROTECTED BY ANY COATING, AND "WE SEE THIS CORROSION ON CARS FROM THE NORTH". THE CAR LIVED IN CHICAGO FOR ITS FIRST 6 YEARS. *KB

Mileage: 128,484

STEPPED ON BRAKES, PEDAL WENT BTO THE FLOOR. STOPPED CAR USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. BRAKE LINE INSIDE REAR CROSSMEMBER RUSTED THROUGH (LINE WELL PROTECTED, NOT EXPOSED TO ROAD DEBRIS ETC) LOCAL REPAIR SHOP STATED HE HAS HAD OTHER BUICKS WITH SAME FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 134,487

MY WIFE SAID THE BRAKES FELT "FUNNY". BUT NO RED WARNING LIGHT SHOWED. I WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE AND PUSHED THE BRAKE, THE PEDDLE WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKE FLUID DRAINED OUT IN A PUDDLE UNDER THE CAN - THEN THE RED WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. PRIOR TO THIS, THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A BRAKE PROBLEM. IF WE HAD BEEN DRIVING, WE WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO IS NOW MAKING REPAIRS. I CONTACTED GM TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CATASTROPHIC NATURE OF THIS BRAKE FAILURE -THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN TO OTHER BUICK OWNERS WILL SERIOUS NEGATIVE RESULTS. *TR

Mileage: 84,000

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS, TRACTION"LIGHTS CONTANTLY COME ON, THE WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. IT STARTED GETTING WORSE AND WORSE THEN ONE DAY THEY JUST WOULDN'T WORK. *AK

BRAKES CONTINUALLY OVERHEAT AND CAUSE THE WHEEL COVERS TO BECOME ALMOST TOO HOT TO TOUCH. BRAKES, ROTORS, CALIPERS, PADS AND BRAKE FLUID ON BOTH FRONT AND BACK JUST CHANGED LAST WEEK AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. GAS MILEAGE IS DOWN ALMOST 10%. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON. *JB

Mileage: 88,000

BRAKES CONTINUALLY OVERHEAT AND CAUSE THE WHEEL COVERS TO BECOME ALMOST TOO HOT TO TOUCH. BRAKES, ROTORS, CALIPERS, PADS AND BRAKE FLUID ON BOTH FRONT AND BACK JUST CHANGED LAST WEEK AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. GAS MILEAGE IS DOWN ALMOST 10%. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON. *JB

Mileage: 88,000

1999 BUICK REGAL ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON WHEN YOU PRESS ON BRAKE AND INTERMITTENTLY ALL DASH WARNING LIGHTS WILL COME ON. *TS THE BRAKE MODULE, CONNECTOR, HEAT/AIR CONTROL DISPLAY WOULD BECOME BRIGHT AND THEN GO DARK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CONTROL HEAD. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *JB

Mileage: 25,638

(12-06-05) 1999 BUICK REGAL CHECK ENGINE AND ANTI LOCK LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE MODULE. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITION DISPLAY WOULD LIGHT UP AND THEN BECOME DARK. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CONTROL HEAD. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCE STARTING PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN A NEW IGNITION SWITCH BEING INSTALLED. *JB

DT: CALLER STATED BRAKE LINES AND FUEL LINES WERE RUSTY. CALLER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WHEN CALLER CHECKED, THERE WAS NO FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CALLER FOUND A HOLE IN THE FRONT BRAKE LINE. CALLER NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS RUSTING AS WELL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR HIM. CALLER WAS TAKING VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO GET THE FRONT BRAKE LINE FIXED. *AK *NM

Mileage: 153,573

SEVERELY RUSTED REAR BRAKE ROTORS RESULTING IN CALIPER PINS SEIZING AND PREMATURE WEARING OF BRAKE PADS ON REAR WHEEL BRAKES. VEHICLE IS 6 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 46,500 MILES. REQUIRED TO REPLACE BRAKE ROTORS, HARDWARE AND PADS. VEHICLE STILL HAS ORIGINAL PADS AND ROTORS ON THE FRONT BRAKES. *NM

Mileage: 46,450

CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE VEHICLE'S TTACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. *NM

THE VEHICLE BRAKE LINE AND FUEL LINE RUSTED. AS A RESULT THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Mileage: 60,000

MY WIFE?S 99 BUICK REGAL, WITH LESS THAN 31,000 MILES, BOUGHT NEW 12/99, SUDDENLY STARTED TO LOSE BRAKE FLUID DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER. WE COULD SEE NO OBVIOUS LEAKS BUT EACH TIME WE TEST DROVE THE CAR, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE DISAPPEARED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. SINCE THE WARRANTY ENDED LAST DECEMBER, I CALLED GM SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM AND I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE CLOSEST LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED SO REPAIR REQUIREMENTS AND COSTS COULD BE DETERMINED FOR ANY POSSIBLE SPECIAL ADJUSTMENT. I CALLED THE LOCAL SUN DEALER ON 9/4, BUT I WAS POLITELY TOLD DON?T COME HERE BECAUSE I DIDN?T BUY THE CAR THERE AND THEY DIDN?T WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN ANY CROSS WARRANTY ISSUES (DESPITE THE FACT THAT I WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR THEIR TIME). I TOOK OUR BUICK TO A TRUSTED LOCAL REPAIR CENTER AND IT WAS PROMPTLY DETERMINED THERE WAS A RUSTED AND LEAKING METAL BRAKE LINE, OTHER SEVERELY RUSTED (BUT NOT LEAKING) BRAKE LINES AND SEVERELY PITTED, CORRODED AND RUSTED REAR BRAKE ROTORS. THE PRIVATE GARAGE REPLACED THE RUSTED & LEAKING BRAKE LINES, REAR ROTORS & BRAKE PADS FOR A TOTAL COST OF $412.31. ALL REPLACED PARTS WERE GIVEN TO ME AT MY REQUEST. ON 9/6 I FULLY DOCUMENTED WHAT HAD TRANSPIRED AND SUBMITTED IT TO BUICK?S ONLINE CUSTOMER RELATIONS, AND WAS ASSIGNED REQUEST # 1-137192830. I WAS TOLD VIA EMAIL BUICK?S GM SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM WOULD FOLLOW UP. ON 9/11 I SPOKE WITH A GM'S SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM PERSON, EXPLAINED WHAT HAD TRANSPIRED AND WAS TOLD ONLY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE SERVICING DEALER COULD APPROVE ANY REIMBURSEMENT OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. THEY WOULD NOTIFY HIM OF MY CLAIM. ON 9/12 I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER (WHO SEEMED VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE CAR?S LOW MILEAGE) BUT HE COULDN?T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT THE AREA SERVICE MANAGER?S APPROVAL. A FEW DAYS LATER I RECEIVED A VOICE MAIL SAYING THE AREA SERVICE MANAGER WOULDN?T GET INVOLVED OR APPROVE OF ANY REIMBURSEMENT.

Mileage: 30,574

SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID DUE TO PREMATURE RUSTING OF METAL BRAKE LINES. BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, BRAKE PEDAL WENT MUSHY, SOME DIFFICULTY IN STOPPING VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED METAL BRAKE LINES SEVERELY RUSTED IN THREE PLACES, ONE RESULTED IN SAID LOSS OF FLUID. *JB

Mileage: 30,574

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, WHILE THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF BRAKE PAD IN THE BACK, CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE REAR BRAKES ARE NON FUNCTIONAL, CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKES TO DO ALL OF THE WORK. *SLC

I WAS INFORMED BY THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT THESE PARTS SHOULD NOT FAIL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

BRAKES PULSATED: DEALER TURNED ROTORS @15,200 MI.(NO CHARGE) THE VEHICLE IS 9 MONTHS OLD AND I'VE HAD THE ROTORS TURNED. THE PULSATION RETURNED 12,000 MILES LATER, (NOW 8 MONTHS SINCE ROTORS WERE MACHINED.) ALONG WITH "TRACTION CONTROL" WARNING LITE, "ANTI LOCK BREAKS" LITE AND "SERVICE SOON" LITE. DEALER'S WRITTEN COMMENT: "CAUSE:.. SHORTED." DEALER REPLACED "E2320 BEARING AND HUB ASSMBLY, FRONT WHEEL- REPLACEMENT RIGHT. NO CHARGE." "FRONT ROTORS OUT OF ROUND-WORK DECLINED." WORK ON THE ROTORS WAS DECLINED BECAUSE THE DEALER AND GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT WARANTY THE ROTORS. THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MGR SAID, "ROTORS GET HOT, SOMETIMES THEY WARP WHEN DRIVEN THROUGH PUDDLES." ON A GM RECORDED LINE A CUSTOMER RELATIONS AGENT SAID THAT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR ROTORS TO BE TURNED EVERY 15000 MILES. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, I'LL NEED NEW ROTORS WHEN MY BREAK PADS FINALLY NEED REPLACING. THE DEALER NEVER CLAIMED THAT MY DRIVING IS AT FAULT. HE NEVER INDICATED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE BREAK PADS. MY CONTENTION IS GM INSTALLED INFERIOR ROTORS ON THIS VEHICLE, OR PERHAPS CALIPERS ARE STICKING WHICH MAY CREATE ENOUGH HEAT TO WARP THE ROTORS AND CAUSE THE SENSOR FAILURES I MENTIONED EARLIER. *AK

FRONT DISC BRAKES HAVE RUSTED. VEHICLE HAS LESS 24,000 MILES. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION. HOWEVER, REFUSES TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER BY REPLACING THE DISC. DEALER STATES THAT THEY WILL TURN THE DISC. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ABS SENSOR LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON, AND INDICATING ABS BRAKING FAILURE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. *AK

CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED RECALL REPAIR 99V17, THE DEALER IS STATING THAT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. *SLC

WHEN APPYLING BRAKES THEY ARE NOISY DUE TO WARPED REAR ROTORS WHICH HAD TO BE GROUNDED OR QUICKLY FIXED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

RECALL REPAIR REFUSED BY DEALERSHIP (99V-170). YH

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 TO 50 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE LEFT SIDE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE WAS SWERVING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. AND THERE WASNO POWER STEERING. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER REGARDING RECALL NUMBER 99V170000 /MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99033, ABS BRAKES. DEALER REFUSE D TO CORRECT RECALL. *AK