NHTSA — Vehicle Speed Control: Springs Problems

7.9

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,400 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Buick Regal engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Buick Regal Owner Comments

problem #1

Sep 132003

Regal 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,400 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I brought my car into the dealership because of a throttle problem. They sprayed something on it (aluminum type spray) and sent us on our way until they ordered a new part. It was the wrong part and a month went by without a further call regarding any new part coming in. On September 13th I headed into anchorage on the busiest highway in the state of Alaska. The throttle spring let go. I found myself clutching the steering wheel with the brake pedal to the floor. I was on the highway at 70 mph and the brakes wouldn't work. I tried downshifting but that didn't even cause a blip of reaction in the car's speed. Not knowing what would happen by applying the emergency brake while going at least 70 miles per hour, I had no choice and pushed on the emergency brake. That didn't work at all. As I rushed down the road with the park brake on, I also pressed on the regular brakes and that finally worked enough that I could slow down to approximately 50 mph. I drove onto the shoulder and turned the ignition off. Smoke rose all around the car. I stayed calm and took into consideration that it would be best to be in the right lane if I rolled the car. Luckily the Saturday morning traffic was light enough, initially, that I didn'R rear end any vehichle, I didn't roll, and I didn't lose control. I have not, and will never again drive it. I have been without a car since 9-13-03. I am a 10 year customer of Buick. They are doing a buy back of that car and I will be out about $3000 when all is said and done. Pretty easy "out" for a company that could have been sued if I had been killed in their vehicle. My own driving skill resulted in my not having a fatal outcome in this incident. If this had happened on a weekday morning, there would have been a traffic jam in my path. If it had happened on snow or ice, I wouldn't be around to tell you of this. I am reporting this so others are aware of the throttle problem.

- Chugiak, AK, USA

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