What 279 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Buick Regal Eassist

BRAKE PEDAL STUCK PARTIALLY DEPRESSED AND BRAKES NOT FULLY RELEASING. STARTED IMMEDIATELY UPON VEHICLE IGNITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN ON A HOT DAY. CAR BECOMES UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS EITHER YOU ACCELERATE WITH BRAKES ENGAGED OR HAVE TO MANUALLY LIFT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE CORRECT POSITION TO RELEASE THE BRAKES AFTER EVERY INSTANCE OF USING THE BRAKE. SEEMS TO BE TRIGGERED BY HOT WEATHER AND, THEREFORE, HIGH CAR TEMPERATURE. SAME ISSUE OCCURRED IN 2018 BUT WAS NOT RECOGNIZED AT THE TIME AND COULD NOT BE RECREATED OR DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER SERVICE CENTER.

NHTSA ODI 11337882

NONE OF THE 4 RECALLS WERE FIXED ON THIS 2011 BUICK REGAL CXL 2.4L CAR WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT BILLION AUTO IN IOWA CITY, IOWA. THE STABILITRAK IS BAD AND WAS NEVER BROUGHT UP IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING THE CAR AND I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS IN THE REAR BOTH SIDES 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. I'M NOT HAPPY.

NHTSA ODI 11337535

CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR A FEW RECALLS,THEY SAID THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS FOR RECALLS SO WHEN THEY GOT THE PARTS THEY CALLED AND SET ME A TIME TO GET THEM FIXED WELL WHEN I GOT THERE THEY SAID THAT IT ONLY HAD 1 RECALL AND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART THAT WAS ALREADY SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO BEGAN WITH AND THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THEY GET THE PART IN "STILL WAITING ON THAT CALL" THE VEHICLE HAS 97000 MILES AND IS ALSO BURNING OIL FAST AND SMOKING OUT THE EXHAUST,THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE ITS VIN SPECIFIC SO THE BILL WOULD BE ON ME TO HAVE THE ENGINE TORE DOWN TO SEE WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO BURN OIL BUT I NO IT'S BECAUSE OF PREMATURE WEAR OF THE PISTON RINGS AFTER THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE ON THESE ENGINES SO FAR BUT WHAT EVER THE CASE THEY HAVE YET TO CALL ME BACK AND IT'S BEEN ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT.

NHTSA ODI 11337094

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE CITY ROAD AND MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF AND LOST ALL POWER TO EVERYTHING. I ALMOST GOT HIT. I THEN TURNED MY CAR BACK ON AND THE SERVICE STABILITY TRAC LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I COULD NEARLY GET IT TO GO AT ALL AND MY CAR WAS SHAKING AND SPUTTERING. IT WAS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH. I HAD IT PUT IN THE SHOP ON 10/26/2018 AND NOW IT JUST HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN AND ITS 03/26/2020.

NHTSA ODI 11319405

TIMING CHAIN LOOSENED DUE TO TENSIONER BREAKING DUE TO THE BOLT HOLDING IT IN PLACE WIDENING THE HOLE IT WAS IN OVER TIME CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP TIME AND POSSIBLY BENDING ALL THE VALVES IN THE MOTOR. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STALLED AND SHUT OFF. WE HAD JUST MADE A TURN SO LUCKILY WE WERE NOT GOING FAST WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. NO CODES CAME UP ON THE COMPUTER EITHER WHEN CHECKED.

NHTSA ODI 11318937

IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS 3 TIMES IN 1 YEAR IN MY 2011 BUICK REGAL CXL 2.4L. NOW I'M GETTING READY TO DO IT FOR A 4TH TIME. I WAS SOLD CAR THAT HAD A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY EXHAUST THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THERE UNTIL WINTER CAME AND HAD TO RUN THE HEAT. THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM CAME ON OUT OF THE BLUE AND SHUT MY CAR OFF GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. I'M JUST FED UP AND OVER IT. ITS COSTING ME WAY TOO MUCH MONEY FOR ONLY ONLY THE CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11316933

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 95 AND CAR BRAKES SEEMED TO VIBRATE ,CAR DROPPED INTO STABIL TRAK/TRACTION MODE !I WAS GOING ABOUT 30-40 MILES PER HOUR THERE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC I PULLED OVER TRIED TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS TO TAKE STABILITY TRAC OFF AND CAR LOCKED ITSELF I AM CURRENTLY HAVING IT TOWED

NHTSA ODI 11312221

2011 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED NOISES COULD BE HEARD COMING FORM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED INITIALLY, THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT WAS NOT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11311256

TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE WHICH CAUSE TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT AT 125K

NHTSA ODI 11311525

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.

NHTSA ODI 11306333

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.

NHTSA ODI 11299476

THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY SEAL IS ALLOWING MOISTURE TO ACCUMULATE IN THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSING DIMMING & LOW LIGHTING, THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO ON & OFF PERIODICALLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSING THE ASSEMBLY WIRING TO MELT, CAUSING MORE DAMAGE AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHILE MY HUSBAND DRIVING TO WORK IN THE EARLY MORNING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AND HAD TO USE HIS HIGH BEAM LIGHTS AND ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WORKING. THIS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 6 AM ON 1/6/2020. GM HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE 2010 ON SEVERAL OF THEIR GM VEHICLES. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED.

NHTSA ODI 11298841

MY CAR HAS BEEN BLOWING LIGHT BULBS VERY FREQUENTLY. I NOTICED THAT THE WIRE WHAT IS CHARD AND BURNED AND NAKED RESULTING IN THE WIRES TOUCHING EACH OTHER AND CAUSING MY LIGHTS TO FAIL. I REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ONCE AND TWO MONTHS LATER THE INSULATION WAS BURNT OFF OF THE WIRE AGAIN. THERE HAS BEEN 2 INSTANCES WHERE IVE BEEN DRIVING AND MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT NIGHT TIME AND I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WHERE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF STREET LIGHTS. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK. IT'S NOT JUST MY VEHICLE THAT HAS THIS ISSUE. I HAVE THREE FRIENDS WHO EITHER DRIVE A REGAL THEMSELVES OR HAVE A CLOSE FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAS ONE AND ALL THREE OF THEM HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN. AND IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO WAS MAYBE NOT SO LUCKY IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11283077

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE NORMALLY AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ACCORDING TO THE CONTACT, THE CARFAX REPORT INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO HIM PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

NHTSA ODI 11269209

MY WIFE'S XENON HID HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES BEGAN LEAKING DURING MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN.THE RAIN SHORTED OUT THE BALLAST AND THE HEADLIGHT WENT BLACK. I REPLACED IT AND SOON AFTER, THE OTHER SIDE DID THE SAME. THE ASSEMBLIES GOT WORSE AND BEGAN FOGGING UP DURING WEATHER CHANGES. THEN, MORE BALLASTS WENT OUT. I WENT TO GM AND THEY SAID THE ASSEMBLIES ARE OUT OF PRODUCTION AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE! THIS IS NOT AN OLD CAR. I FOUND NOS UNITS ON EBAY AND OTHERS, AS WELL AS USED UNITS FROM WRECKED CARS, BUT THESE WERE FROM $300 TO $1,500 FOR EACH SIDE! I CHECKED ONLINE AND NOTED THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A HUGE ISSUE THAT HAS HAUNTED MANY FOLKS AND GM IS NOT ADDRESSING IT. I HAD TO ORDER ANOTHER BALLAST TODAY, SO I'M ORDERING TWO. I ALSO FOUND SO-CALLED AFTERMARKET UNITS IN CHINA, BUT DURING INSPECTION I FOUND THEY WERE ACTUALLY MADE AT HELLA SPECIFICATIONS FOR GM IN SLOVINIA, BUT BEING SOLD AS AFTERMARKET IN CHINA FOR $700 A PAIR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE AND IF GM NO LONGER SUPPORTS A NEWER CAR, ONE IS FORCED TO BY ANOTHER CAR. I AM OUT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY WITH NO HELP FROM GM /BUICK WHATSOEVER. HOW CAN THIS BE ALLOWED? THIS ISSUE BEGAN IN 2015!

NHTSA ODI 11268866

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DID NOT MOVE AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD UNLATCH WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ODI 11258633

THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT KEEPS MELTING THE HARNESS THE LIGHT BULB GOES INTO. I'VE REPLACED IT 2 AND THIS WILL BE THE 3RD TIME.NOTICED WHEN I WAS PULLED OVER FOR A FIX IT TICKET. SECOND TIME I NOTICED THE LIGHTS WERE UNEVEN AND THE 3RD TIME IT WAS POINTED OUT BY A TOLL BOOTH ATTENDANT

NHTSA ODI 11258219

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 HTTP://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.

NHTSA ODI 11257089

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.

NHTSA ODI 11253096

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DECELERATING FROM 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL RELEASED FROM THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO REACH DOWN AND RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ODI 11253238

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.

NHTSA ODI 11252020

CONDENSATION STARTED IN DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT TO THE POINT WHEN LIGHT BULBS SHORT OUT AND ARE RUINED AS SOON AS THEY ARE PUT IN. THE WATER ENTERING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11245923

TL* 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.

NHTSA ODI 11242728

I OWN A 2011 BUICK REGAL WITH THE VEHICLE OPTION "TT6" HID HEADLAMPS. BOTH HEADLAMPS ARE CURRENTLY INOPERATIVE. WHAT I HAVE DISCOVERED IS THAT THE FRONT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES HAVE CONDENSATION INSIDE OF THEM. THIS CONDENSATION IN TURN HAS CAUSED NOT ONLY THE HID BULBS TO FAIL BUT ALSO HAS CREATED CORROSION ON THE CONNECTORS WHICH ATTACH TO THE BALLAST MODULE INSIDE EACH LAMP. THIS HAS RENDERED EACH HEADLAMP COMPLETELY USELESS BECAUSE THE CONNECTORS INSIDE OF THE THEM CANNOT BE REMOVED AS IT IS A SEALED UNIT. THE BALLAST AND THE BULB CAN BE REPLACED BUT THE WIRING/TERMINALS CANNOT BE. ADDITIONALLY, EVEN IF THOSE COMPONENTS COULD BE CHANGED AND THE LIGHTS MIRACULOUSLY CAME BACK TO LIFE, THEY WOULD FAIL AGAIN IN SHORT ORDER DUE TO THE CONDENSATION ISSUE. SIMPLY BUYING A NEW HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY IS THE OBVIOUS FIX BUT EACH UNIT COSTS < $1,250 + TAX AND INSTALLATION, WHICH BY THE WAY, INVOLVES REMOVAL OF THE ENTIRE FRONT FASCIA...ANOTHER $300. THEREFORE HAVING TO SPEND AROUND $3,000 TO GET ONES HEADLAMPS TO FUNCTION IS THE ONLY RECOURSE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE LAMPS CAN JUST BLINK OFF WITHOUT ANY NOTIFICATION WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ONLY FIX BEING OBSCENELY EXPENSIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11242187

OBD WARNING B0074, B0081 - PPS MODULE FAULTY - CANNOT DETECT PASSENGER WEIGHT IN CAR, THEREFORE DISABLED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I AM SEEING MULTIPLE GM ISSUES ON THE SAME ERROR, OBD B0081, FAULTY PPS SENSOR ON COMAROS AND VOLTS

NHTSA ODI 11234438