1998 BUICK REGAL Engine Problems

On my way home from purchasing the vehicle, the car began to lose power and i noticed black smoke though the rear view mirror. Another driver signaled me down, so I pulled over and realized my car was on fire. The fire was in the engine compartment from what appeared to be the exhaust manifold. Since i was in a residential area, i grabbed a water hose and began to diffuse the fire. The fire department arrived and forced my hood open to reassure the fire was out. Luckily i was able to make it out safe. But i strongly believe my life and the lives of other drivers were definitely in danger

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS IDLE AT A GUARD SHAFT, WHEN SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER MOVED FORWARD AWAY FROM THE GUARD SHAFT AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HER HUSBAND OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THE GUARD PROVIDED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO HER HUSBAND TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE CONTACT STATED SHE RECEIVED RECALL LETTER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FAILURE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUED TO RANDOMLY FLASH. ALSO, ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ENGINE WOULD MISFIRE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 99V356000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE REAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND SPARK PLUGS. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED AN OIL LEAK EMERGING FROM THE REAR VALVE COVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO FOR THE FRONT VALVE COVER PER A RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION AND WAS INFORMED BY OTHERS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN OIL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF AN OIL LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V701000 (ENGINE) AND 00099V356 (VISIBILITY); 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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); 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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING PROFUSELY ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A QUART OF OIL WAS PROVIDED WEEKLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); 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 CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND INFORMED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SAVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE); 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.

NOTIFIED OF SAFETY RECALL ENGINE DESIGN FLAW BY GM. RECALL #15V701. NO PARTS AVAILABLE/UNKNOWN WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE/KEEP ENGINE OUT OF GARAGE DUE TO FIRE POSSIBILITY. MY ENGINE SMOKES LIGHTLY BUT CONTINUALLY WHEN RUNNING AND CONTINUES FOR A SHORT TIME AFTER IGNITION TURNED OFF. VARIOUS MECHANICS COULD NOT DIAGNOSE CAUSE BUT SAID THERE WAS OIL EVERYWHERE ON THE ENGINE. DIDN'T TRUST THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE OUTSIDE CITY BUT ENGINE ALWAYS RESPONDED DEPENDABLY EXCEPT FOR OIL LEAK. FINALLY GET THE CAUSE BUT IT CAN'T BE REPAIRED BECAUSE OF PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND NO INDICATION AS TO WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. I CAN'T SELL OR TRADE IN THIS VEHICLE DUE TO SAFETY RECALL. CAN'T DRIVE IT LONG DISTANCES. CAN'T GET INFORMATION AS TO WHEN PARTS, IF EVER, WILL BE AVAILABLE. IF VEHICLE DOES CATCH FIRE, INSURANCE WON'T PAY OFF DUE TO SAFETY RECALL INDICATING PROBLEM. I REALIZE IT'S A 20YEAR...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT PASSENGER ALSO SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. AFTER THE CRASH, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SHE SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE) 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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF. THE CONTACT HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER WAS NOT YET NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS AND THE PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THIS CONDITION WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD BE COMPLETED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 5 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE FLAMES WERE EXCESSIVE AND THE VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE FIRE, SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 THE (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 03/16/16*LJ;05/11/18*JB *TR

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED EIGHTEEN TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000. UPDATED 09/02/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WOULD STALL, THE STEERING AND BRAKES WOULD FAIL AS WELL. UPDATED 09/16/2014 *JS

MY SON RECEIVED A VEHICLE RECALL FROM GM ON HIS BUICK REGAL FOR POTENTIAL COMPARTMENT FIRE. HE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK COMPLETED. APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS LATER ON APRIL 12TH MY SON DROVE HIS CAR 15MILES TO WORK AND NOTICE IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HIS HOOD. HE RAISED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE ON HIS ENGINE. HE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED THE HOOD DOWN AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. *TR

JUST AS THE CURRENT GM RECALL MY BUICK REGAL SUDDENLY LOSES ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE 1ST TIME THIS OCCURRED I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 60 MPH AT NIGHT, 1ST ALL THE DASH LIGHTS FLASHED ON, THEN MY HEADLIGHTS, POWER STEERING, ALL ELECTRONICS AND ENGINE DIED! LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE EMERGENCY LANE! ONCE, I WAS ABLE TO PULL MY FRIGHTENED SELF TOGETHER, THE CAR STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE AND MAKE IT HOME VERY CAUTIOUSLY. IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING, I TESTED IT JUST DRIVING VERY CLOSE TO HOME AND CONTINUOUSLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SOMEWHAT SEEMING TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN WHEN I USED MY TURN SIGNAL, THESE INCIDENCES OF TOTAL POWER FAILURE OCCURRED @ SPEEDS OF 0-35 MPH, SINCE I WAS UNWILLING TO PUT IT BACK ON THE INTERSTATE. WHEN PERFORMING A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH FOR...

WHEN I PUT MY TURN SIGNAL ON THE DASH WARNING LAMPS LIGHT UP AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES EVEN WHEN IN PARK, YOU TURN THE SIGNALS ON AND THE VEHICLE DIES, IF YOU CYCLE IT A COUPLE OF TIMES IT OPERATES FINE UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF AND STANDING FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN IT WILL START THE PROBLEM ALL OVER AGAIN. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. BUICK ADMITS THE RECALL BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR DAMAGE CAUSED BY FIRE. *TR