NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 1994 Buick Regal.
| Trim | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1L 6 cyl Automatic 4-spd | 17 | 26 | 20 | $3,000 |
| 3.8L 6 cyl Automatic 4-spd | 17 | 26 | 20 | $3,000 |
| Overall Rating | Not Rated |
| Frontal Crash | Not Rated |
| Side Crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
Component: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE.
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN A SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE OLD DESIGNED WASHER/WIPER SWITCHES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE HOSE(S) CAN CONTACT THE REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE(S) TO WEAR THROUGH.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BRAKE HOSE POSITION AND REPLACE THOSE HOSES IN AN INCORRECT POSITION WITH NEW HOSES AND CORRECTLY ROUTED.
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INCORRECT CLEAR FRONT SIDE MARKER BULBS WERE INSTALLED RATHER THAN AMBER BULBS. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
1984 BUICK REGAL WITH 3800L V6. THE VALVE COVERS ARE LEAKING EXCESSIVE OIL ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH COULD START FIRE WHEN DRIVING, WHEN PARKED, WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT! THE 97 THROUGHT 2004 BUICK REGALS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT SITUATION. WHY WAS THE 94 NOT RECALLED? HAS IT DUE TO AGE?
AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00AM FRIDAY JULY 19, MY SON AND I GOT INTO THE CAR WHICH WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE. I PROCEEDED TO PLACE THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND STARTED THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED HITTING ME IN THE FACE AND CHEST BREAKING MY GLASSES AND THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF SOLVENT OR PARTICLES IN THE FORM OF SMOKE THAT WAS IN THE AIR AFTER THE EXPLOSION. I'M CALLING IT AN EXPLOSION BECAUSE WE WERE NOT IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT ONLY GOING ABOUT OUR DAILY ROUTINE OF ACTIVITIES. I KNOW THIS IS NOT TYPICAL OF AN AIRBAG, SO I WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT BUICK TO SEE IF I HAVE ANY GROUNDS FOR COMPENSATION. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, I HAVE RINGING IN MY EARS, MY CHEST HAS BEEN VERY SORE NOW FOR THE LAST 2 DAYS AND I HAVEN'T HAD THE BAG REPLACED OR REMOVED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. THE WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE CAUSES THE WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED IN RAINY CONDITIONS. BUICK STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V017000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 12/10/08 *CN THE DEALER SHOWED THE CONSUMER THE TWO WIRES THAT WER BROKEN ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH. UPDATED 12/16/08. *JB
The 1994 Buick Regal has 3 NHTSA recalls and 136 consumer complaints on file. It received an overall safety rating of Not Rated out of 5 stars in NHTSA crash testing. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
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Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: DURING ILLUMINATION, THE BULBS WILL SHOW CLEAR RATHER THAN AMBER AND COULD MOMENTARILY CONFUSE OTHER DRIVERS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLEAR BULBS WITH THE CORRECT AMBER BULBS.
LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WHEN DIMMER SWITCHED USED TO DIM BRIGHT LIGHTS RESULTING IN NO LIGHTS TRIPPING IT SEVERAL TIMES BROUGHT LIGHTS BACK AND LEFT THEM ON DIM UNTIL I COULD GET IT SERVICED AT COST OF APPROX 400.00 THIS WAS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. RECENTLY TILT COLUMN HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO OPERATE NOW WILL NOT LOCK IN POSITION AND LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK WHEN COLUMN IS TILTED DOWN. IS THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 94 AND AM THE ONLY DRIVER. I AM AFRAID THE STEERING COLUMN WILL SHIFT UNAFFECTEDLY AND CAUSE ME TO WRECK OR CAUSE THE MOTOR TO STALL AND LOCK STEERING AND CAUSE A WRECK. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE CONDITION OF HER VEHICLE INSPECTED AND FOR A NEW PAINT JOB. APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AT A STOP LIGHT. SHE COULD NOT ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF A BUTTON BEING PUSHED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS STUCK INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR HALF AN HOUR ON A HOT DAY. THE # OF CYLINDERS AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO UPON INSPECTION, DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT SAME COMPONENT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND EXPRESSED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED, AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME ISSUES STATED IN THE RECALL # 97V017000 REGARDING VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER:SWITCH/WIRING.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON APRIL 10TH 2006 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP TO SHEMY THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT AS WELL AS REPLACE THE RIGHT INNER TIRE ROADS AND END BUSHINGS. THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO SERVICE WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVEWAY GOING 5 MPH THE FRONT END COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP WHO DETERMINED IT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL PERTAINING TO LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS TO VEHICLE WITHOUT A COST. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
WHILE DRIVING, MY HORN INTERMITTENTLY SOUNDS WITHOUT TOUCHING IT. WHILE PARKED ON THE STREET ON A SUNNY DAY, THE HORN WILL BLARE WITH NO ONE IT. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS ON THREE OCCASIONS. 1) WHILE DRIVING THE HORN SOUNDED AND VEHICLES STOPPED SUDDENLY IN AN INTERSECTION AND HAD TO DODGE EACH OTHER AND NEARLY HAD A REAR END COLLISION. 2) WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE HORN SOUNDED AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS ANOTHER CAR AND SWERVED INSTINCTIVELY, 3) WHILE PARKED IN THE STREET IN THE SUN, THE HORN WENT OFF AND CAUSED A KID TO FALL OFF OF HIS BIKE. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH REGALS AND LESEBRES AND GM WANTS ABOUT $1,000 TO FIX A POORLY DESIGNED HORN SWITCH. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS EVIDENCED BY THE DEARTH OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND INTERMITTENT HORN SOUNDING IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM THEREFORE REQUESTING THAT YOU TAKE ACTION. *JB
MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH FOR TURN SIGNAL WHICH FEEDS BRAKE LIGHTS CAUSES BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO COME ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. IN SEARCHING WEB FOUND TO BE COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE. *JB
CAR RUNNING POORLY, THEN STRANGE SOUNDS OF AIR SWISHING AND CAR WON'T STAY RUNNING, SMOKE COMING FROM FLOOR, FIRE UNDER CAR. WON'T RUN. FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL CORRODED, INJECTORS PLUGGED, ONE WIDE OPEN. TOO MUCH FUEL IN CATALYTIC CONVERTER, GOT RED HOT, MELTED INTERNALLY AND PLUGGED EXHAUST FLOW, WHICH BYPASSED FRONT PIPE GASKET AT MANIFOLD, ALSO FORCING EXHAUST PAST EGR VALVE. HAD TO REPLACE FUEL RAIL, FUEL INJECTORS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CLEAN AND NEW GASKET ON EGR, MANY PLASTIC PARTS MELTED.SMOKE DAMAGE TO INSIDE OF CAR.*AK
TURN SIGNAL UNIT REPLACED THREE TIMES. ONE TIME WHEN VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND TWICE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $270.00 EACH TIME. *AK *NM
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED AN ODOR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT CERTAIN PARTS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHERE THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE GOING TO DIE OUT. THE VOLTAGE READINGS WERE ALWAYS LOW. THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING OUT OF GEAR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE INITIAL PROBLEM WAS WITH THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE BRAKES WERE BAD AND THE MUFFLER HAD A BIG HOLE IN IT. ALSO, COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *SC *JB
DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM THE TRACK CAUSING SEAT TO ROCK BACKWARDS. I WAS PARKED AT THE TIME. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE RIGHT HAND TRACK BROKE DUE TO THE ADDED STRESS. I REPLACED THE ENTIRE SEAT, TRACKS AND ALL, AND A YEAR LATER, THE SEAT BROKE AGAIN IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR WHEN TAKING TURNS, THE ENGINE STALLED CAUSING A LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING , BRAKES, AND ENGINE MISSING WITH RPM OF 1500-2000. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. WHILE ON A TRIP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO CHECK THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A LAGGED FUEL FILTER AND TO DRIVE HOME. ANOTHER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BUT SUGGESTED THTA IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM EITHER AND REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO ANOTHER SERVCE DEALER FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY REPLACED THE "SOL VALVE" BUT STILL WASN'T ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *SC
WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. NOT ONLY THE ENGINE, BUT EVERYTHING WENT DEAD. NO POWER AT THE IGNITION SWITCH IN ACC. OR ON. THE DOME LIGHT WORKED WITH DOOR OPEN BUT ONLY IF THE KEY WAS IN THE OFF POSITION OR REMOVED. THE BATTERY IS GOOD. DOME LIGHT WOULD GO OUT IF KEY WAS TURNED. POWER CAME BACK ON AFTER REPEATEDLY PLAYING WITH IGNITION SWITCH. CAR HAS DIED TWICE NOW AND "FIXED ITSELF". I DO NOT FEEL THE PROBLEM IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I FOUND COMPLAINT ODI #7441655 TO SOUND IDENTICAL TO MY PROBLEM.*AK
Showing 15 of 136 complaints