Timing belt tensioner broke which cause timing chain replacement at 125K

- Logan, NJ, USA

My 2011 Buick Regal with the 2.4L 4cyl has been excessively consuming oil. The timing chain was replaced around 60K miles, and shortly after the complete engine was replaced (see carfax image attached, confirmed with dealer). Those repairs have happened before I owned this vehicle. My concern is that there is going to be a failure within my engine and the repairs would be costly to me. I believe this issue needs to be looked into as it's been a common issue with these engines. The vehicle is now at 159K miles and I've been adding a quart or more of oil between changes.

- Hibbing, MN, USA

113,000 miles, the car said reduced engine power, service stabillitrack and then died. Wouldn't start. Took to repair shop and they pulled the solenoid from the engine and said it was covered with metal shavings. Car was within oil change range but no oil present. Now have to replace the engine and this is an issue with all these 2.4 engines.

- Bowling Green, KY, USA

Reference the below background information on GM's L4 - 2.4L 4 cylinder engines: Please reference document id: 4821148 #12313D: Special coverage - engine balance chain and fuel pump - (June 6, 2017) this special coverage bulletin was provided by my mechanic at midas from the alldatapro.com website. Special extended warranty repairs are supposed to be covered via this bulletin for 120,000 miles or 10 years for GM vehicles that have the L4 engine including the 2011 Buick Regal. My 2011 Buick Regal is definitely exhibiting all symptoms / problems that are well known with the General Motors L4 - 2.4 L four cylinder engine. See information below about oil consumption and engine performance symptoms: Https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/research/seven-engines-to-avoid-like-the-plague/ar-aavz7vm#page=3 I am a former GM powertrain division engineering / salaried employee where I had a 20 year career background with engines and transmissions. The L4-2.4L engine is a known safety hazard as the engine can fail while under normal operation on a highway or city street with potential catastrophic results. Even with the mechanic oe bulletin referenced above, GM refuses to cover expenses for permanent repairs for the 2011 Buick Regal. Instead dealership customer service representatives are instructing vehicle owners to just add oil frequently. (note: The low oil indicator is also defective.) please also reference the class action law suit below: Https://www.classaction.org/media/berman-et-al-V-general-motors-llc-joint-notice-of-settlement.pdf GM corporation customer service, professional mechanics, and GM's dealership network (Buick and Cadillac) all are fully aware of the catastrophic safety consequences that this engine poses to the general public; yet, a comprehensive recall and appropriate extended warranty coverage is being denied.

- Charter Township Of Clinton, MI, USA

Motor has very high oil consumption. Going through 5 quarts or more before system indicates the vehicle needs a oil change. Engine has a loud rattling noise at start up.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

Whenever I am driving my vehicle for an hour it starts to stall or sputter in traffic and the engine dies completely. It will restart but still continues to hesitate when accelerating. I've taken it to a mechanic and no error codes pop up when this happens so they do not know the cause or how to fix the issue.

- Richmond, IN, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. While driving approximately 25 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated intermittently, which caused the vehicle to go into limp mode. The contact mentioned that the vehicle failed to accelerate more than 1 mph. In addition, the vehicle needed to be restarted in order to operate. The contact called vision Buick GMC (800 panorama trail S, rochester, NY 14625, (585) 200-3905) and informed them of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

- Rochester, NY, USA

Engine and brakes seized up on me without warning while driving in a parking lot, low speed. Took it in to my mechanic and found out there was an oil consumption issue, even though I was 2K miles under the next change I was also 2 qts low.

- Downers Grove, IL, USA

2011 Buick Regal purchased from show room floor in 2011. Presentative maintenance up to date. No warning lights. Something terribly wrong with transmission, engine. While driving on city street approaching interstate at 25 mph, car starting stalling, puttering, losing power. Pulled over, put in park. Then car would not go into gear. Would accelerate but would not go into gear or move. Had to be towed. First thing dealer service center suggest is $3000 transmission. Car only has 60,000 miles, one owner. No way! no prior symptoms or warning lights, in fact onstar diagnostics currently showing no issues found with engine/transmission system. This car is unsafe and should be recalled!!! 2011 Buick Regal diagnostics report from your 2011 Buick Regal as of 07/08/2019 no issues found

- Portsmouth, VA, USA

Back on February 9th, 2019 I had an oil change and received whatever premium-ultra synthetic oil they had. This oil was rated up to 9,000 miles I believe. As I was heading in for an oil change on the morning of June 2nd, 2019 the car suddenly locked with brakes and steering becoming extremely stiff. I was driving when this occurred but had been coming to a stop with nobody in front of me luckily. Had this happened 15 seconds before as I was going 55mph around a curve, I would have undoubtedly killed myself or someone else. There was no ability to steer the car or brake. When I took the car to the dealership they told me the engine would require a complete rebuild, costing seven-thousand-dollars. They claim it was caused by a "lack of maintenance (ie. Not keeping up on oil changes)". the lack of oil then caused the timing chain to break, which then further damaged intake valves, head gaskets, balance chain, etc. Now I know February 9th and June 2nd is nearly four months apart, however, in that time I had put less than 2,000 miles on the car. How was I supposed to know that my ultra synthetic oil which is rated for four times longer, in a car that in that time had been reported to burn oil, and doesn't have an oil level sensor, would burn oil? in my mind this isn't a lack of maintenance, it is GM's lack of communication. GM never informed me of any issues regarding oil burn, yet they supposedly require technicians to roll back the sensor because of this very issue. I should also mention that miraculously the car wasn't giving any outward signs of distress including extra noise, loud idle, handling differences or anything. While my situation ended with no injuries, after reading about this issue I am one of the lucky ones. This issue is not only unjustly draining bank accounts but also costing lives.

- Spring Lake, MI, USA

Had to replace engine because of detergent in recommended engine oil. With the yearly oil change and high detergent levels it eats away at seals and gasket.

- Rockford, IL, USA

The car was very noisy at start up. Had the oil changed, the noise was better for a while but came back in less than 2 months and now it is constant. The car will stall out in the middle of driving. I will lose everything, electrical and power steering. This would happen whether or not on a highway or during city driving. Engine light came on and I took it to my mechanic. Mechanic told me it was in reduce power mode. Camshaft coralation code.

- West Deptford, NJ, USA

Timing chain tensioner failed at just less than 75,000 miles. I've been told by 2 different mechanics that it would be easier to replace the entire engine than get the pieces out of the engine.

- Muncie, IN, USA

Nyb car has less than 69K miles and is burning through oil. I bought it used and the dealer liked warranty ended before problems started. My check engine light came on within the first 2000 miles of me driving and the dealer wanted to charge me another $200 for a diagnostic. So I went to a mechanic and he said the engine was burning through oil faster than it should. At this point the car had turned off while under 10mph twice which is dangerous as the brakes lock up along with steering becoming very stiff. A mechanic did work on the car replacing plugs and other parts that had been damaged fue to the oil being gone, but the same engine is still in the car. Now less than a year later along with regular oil changes the car still burns through oil. The engine causes the car to rock when at idle and when moving under 5mph. My fear is that ive car will shut off again. This is a fault of Buick for designing an engine that can't hold oil.

- Rockville, MD, USA

Engine of my car acts weird and I took it to the mechanic shop and they say theres nothing wrong

- Elgin, IL, USA

Our cur completely shut off all power lights engine everything doing 80 mph on interstate 84 in Idaho. A semi seen it happen jumped in the middle of both lanes to block traffic so we could get to the shoulder. In a no cell phone area 13 we disconnected the battery and had to shift srive it in limp mode. No alert lights came on we took it yo a certified dealer to find the pistons, timing chain and other things are ntoken GM/ Buick was notified they decided to decline assistance because we are out of warranty 93K miles on the car and over 5,000$ in repair and possibly another 2100$ to repair the cadilitic converter. We were in a no cell service area and had to drive in the shoulder now the headlights won't turn on at all either. The car never alert us it just shut off the dealer says the oil was very low again no oil light came on with that yhe dealer says therecould be a BCM/ECM communication issue costing $1200 to $2500 to fix. They can't assess completely until the piston/ timing belt issue is fixed but the car is not communicating the steering is now super tight and the only yhing it says now is service stibilatrac and the mechanic didn't even bring that

- Boise, ID, USA

Timing chain engine failure

- Chester, SC, USA

Icar only has approx 86,000 miles. Was riding down street car shut off. It turned right back on but it was making a very loud noise. Parked it. Next morning went to start it and it wouldn't. had timing silenoids and starter changed. Car is read no codes and it still went start. Had taken to another shop for second opinion. They said I needed a motor. Where am I to get $2800

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and an abnormal noise was heard coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to Liberty Buick GMC (9028 E independence blvd, matthews, nc 28105, (704) 708-8000) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. On another occasion, while driving, there was an abnormal noise coming from the engine. It was discovered that the engine oil was below the low marker on the dipstick. The contact was informed that there was no oil leak evident; however, there was an excessive amount of oil consumption. The vehicle was not repaired a second time. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and provided case number: [xxx]. the approximate failure mileage was 64,000. Consumer stated transmission and engine failed. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Charlotte, NC, USA

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