NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2011 Buick Regal (Page 2 of 4)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,919 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.

2011 Buick Regal electrical problems

electrical problem

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2011 Buick Regal Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #49

Dec 032018

Regal

  • 141,000 miles

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

While driving on the highway at 70 miles per hour, car completely shut off. Loss of engine power and car would not restart. Prior to that, entine car shook violently right before the shut down. I was driving on an interstate with light traffic. Car is extremely unsafe.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #48

Feb 072018

Regal

  • 70,000 miles
The throttle body has a defect which shuts off all power to vehicle with no notice. The engine and transmission lock up you lose all steering control and no brakes. Also no lights so when it happens at night it is pitch black. GM does know about the problem and when I questioned them about the loss of life like what happend with the Chevy Cruze all members of GM are told to hang up the phone. It has happend on several occasions and the dealership sent me back on the road knowing the problem. Dealer rep said if I was a better customer thay may have done more for me.

- Petoskey, MI, USA

problem #47

Feb 222018

Regal 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact stated that the driver side head lamp failed to illuminate. The contact removed the assembly and found that the plug that connects to light bulb was melted. The contact called the dealer ken fowler Buick of ukiah California and was advised that they did not sell just the plug; the entire assembly had to be purchased.. the following week the same failure occurred, but on the passenger side and the plug was burned intensively, that even the harness was melted on this occasion. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic for a diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000.

- Ukiah, CA, USA

problem #46

Nov 172017

Regal

  • miles

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

The vehicle seems to want to cut off while at a traffic light! I simply do not understand why the engine seems to be so loud. I had both shocks and struts replaced after purchasing this vehicle. The entire frame seems to nose dive or "wander" while I am driving on the highway, totally uncomfortable feeling. Tires are basically new I just don't know what seems to be going on with this car!

- Elizabethtown, KY, USA

problem #45

Mar 122017

Regal

  • 52,000 miles
This vehicle has a recall for electrical system in seats. Parts were unavailable. It died and then caught fire on the side of the road. And was totalled. GM denies all liability and refuses to offer any compensation.

- South Bend, IN, USA

problem #44

Oct 012017

Regal

  • 11,970 miles
Vehicle had recall 12212"a" performed in Oct of 2014 at delarship, this results in sometimes if not every time of a mis-calibrated brake position sensor. The mis-calibration results in my vehicle requiring the brake pedal to be depressed almost to the floor before the park position disengagement sensor is activated. It is at this point when the brake lights are activated. This extra pedal travel results in me being able to come to a rapid stop from 85 miles an hour on the freeway without any rear brake lights activating. The brake lights are not intermittent, they activate every time the pedal is pressed far enough, while driving this is only at the point when ABS would be activated under emergency braking. Buick/GMC is aware this is the case and issued recall 12212"B" on Oct 11, 2016 which reads: "this bulliten has been revised to include a note before step 4 of the service procedure. Please discard all copies of bulliten 12212A." The note states: "the brake pedal position sensor calibration must be performed after the brake pedal position sensor, BCM, ECM, or hpcm have been serviced." Buick/GMC has not informed drivers under the original 12212A recall that their brake lights will not activate because of this recall service and have refused to honor this newly updated procedure on my vehicle and shows as "complete" on nthtsa website. Bottom line the original botched 12212A results in brake lights not activating and anyone that had 12212A done should get 12212B notification and recall coverage.

- Ogden, UT, USA

problem #43

Aug 102017

Regal

  • miles

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

Passenger right rear window frequently jumping track: Was replaced under warranty 10/16/13, replaced regulator and put back on track 05/30/17 and 06/13/16

- Lexington, NC, USA

problem #42

Nov 122015

Regal 4-cyl

  • miles
2011 Buick Regal. Consumer writes in regards to battery cable wires insulation damages caused electrical short from fuse box. Consumer seeks reimbursement for power seats wiring harness recall notice repairs. Updated 7/19/17

- Conway, SC, USA

problem #41

Jul 112017

Regal

  • 61,000 miles
Last nite, 9:30 pm we came out of publix parking lot doing an easy left. The engine shut off, all lights lit up on dash and center console lit up saying "lower driver window.." followed by "lower passenger window"!! we coasted to side of road, put it in park then it started and we got home. This morning, a easy right onto highway and locks opened and closed by themselves at about 30 mph! during the hwy drive, at 75mph car stutters, engine whines then catches itself, all dash lights come on and the engine light blinks 3 times then goes out! what the he**.. could have died!

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

problem #40

Apr 102017

Regal

  • 149,000 miles
Replaced engine a 2.4L laf and transmission a 6T-50 with bad trans @ 149K miles on 2011 Buick Regal. Replacement is 2011 2.4L laf engine and 6T-50 trans w/ 17K miles. Car now has P0089 and P228D codes and whine from high pressure fuel pump as described in #pip5203A. Turns out original engine is a 2010 engine with all the cam chain issues seen in other NHTSA complaints. To add insult to injury my dealer tells me ECM can not be reprogrammed to 2011 because programming is driven by the VIN# only. My only choice is to buy the parts from GM (about $1000) to turn my engine back into a 2010 engine or pay a dealer several thousand dollars to do the work. I`M in a position of paying several thousand dollars more for the car then it is worth. This was to be my retirement gift to myself, guess I will be driving my 1997 Pontiac Grand Am until I drop dead. Thanks GM, my brand loyalty sure pays off. My advice to future car buyers, buy another brand!! P.S. I hope this constitutes some emission violation and the epa hits GM with a multi million dollar fine. P.S.S. it dies on the road to. Where is marry B. when you her?

- Canto Twp., MI, USA

problem #39

Mar 202017

Regal

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V517000 (electrical system, seats); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Clevland, OH, USA

problem #38

Feb 222017

Regal

  • 121,747 miles
When driving or coming to a stop or even making a turning the vehicles shakes and then shuts off, this first happen when I was driving the car on a very busy street, the first time this occurred it happened with no warning just a shake and then the car shut off, reducing speed rapidly, causing the traffic behind me to do the same, thank god that there wasn't an accident, but it sure could have been. And now I see on the forum that I am not the only one with this problem, Buick isn't doing anything about it, does this fall under the lemon law, help

- Country Club Hills, IL, USA

problem #37

Aug 032016

Regal

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V517000 (electrical system, seats) and stated that the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Danville, CA, USA

problem #36

Mar 012016

Regal

  • 34,000 miles
We have lost our instrument lights many times while traveling and at many different speeds, accompanied by the smell of hot electrical wiring, I am 88yrs. Of age and my wife 83yrs. Of age and when this happens to her or myself when traveling it is a huge safety concern, we are afraid it my cause the loss of our lives as a result. We have contacted GM about this. Their representative did not express concern, and more or less stated if we did not feel comfortable driving we should park it and not drive it. We live on fixed income we have nothing else to drive and cannot get GM to fix our vehicle.the car is always in motion when this happens and happens at all different speeds, highways, and city streets. With no way to judge your speed. GM safety recall #30710- wiring harness. Gms answer is incomplete: Remedy not yet available. Please help!!!!!!! this problem happens with regularity and we are concerned the car will catch fire someday.

- Murrayville, IL, USA

problem #35

Aug 012016

Regal

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V517000 (electrical system, seats); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #34

Aug 032016

Regal

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact stated that the heat switch failed to warm both front seats in the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V517000 (electrical system, seats). The part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. VIN tool confirms part not available.

- Pitman, NJ, USA

problem #33

Oct 042016

Regal 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,200 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact stated that the heater switch to warm the seats failed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V517000 (electrical system, seats). The part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,200. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #32

Aug 042016

Regal 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V517000 (electrical system, seats) and stated that the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 05/17/17 the consumer stated the radio he was sold was used which limited the channels that should be accessible. Updated 08/22/2017

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #31

Jan 042017

Regal

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V517000 (electrical system, seats). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Ypungstown, OH, USA

problem #30

Aug 012016

Regal 4-cyl

  • miles
In August 2016, I received an "important safety recall" #30710 from Buick. The explanation was "the wiring harness for the power seats may contact the seat frame, chafe, a short circuit could occur, resulting in inoperative power seat adjustments, flickering lights on the instrument panel, sparking or smoke under the seat, and possible fire." Having not heard anything, I contacted my Agency on 9/22/16 and was told "no parts were available." On 11/23/16, burns Buick said, "GM has no solution. I contacted GM and spoke with [xxx] who did not have an answer. On 11/30/16, GM's [xxx] suggested that no date or supplies have been set. Do I need to have a fire in my car while my grandchildren are in the back seat for GM to finally determine this is really an "important safety recall"" why should it take 5 months without any solution" I ride in fear everyday knowing that I am sitting on a time bomb. Please condemn this failure to provide solutions to this problem and fine them so that they do not do it to anyone else in the future. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

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