NHTSA Complaint #10324444 — 2002 BUICK REGAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND ALL OF LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. AFTER DOING SO, SOME OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE ILLUMINATED AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ALSO FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MARGINAL FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS HAD ALSO FAILED. THE DEALER OBSERVED WIRES CUT IN THE TRUNK AND STATED THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE DEALER ALSO REPAIRED THE TAIL LIGHTS BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE HEADLIGHTS. SOME OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE; HOWEVER, A MONTH LATER, THEY SHUT OFF AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE MARGINAL A SECOND TIME. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON, THE LIGHTS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT MANUALLY ENGAGED THE LIGHT SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000.