What 279 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Buick Regal Eassist

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.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS SMOKING DUE TO A FAILURE RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS). TASCA BUICK GMC (55 FORTIN DR, WOONSOCKET, RI 02895, (401) 229-4021) PLACED A HARNESS OVER THE SEAT. THE WIRING WAS COVERED; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY HAD NOT BEEN PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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TAKATA RECALL - THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE BALLAST IN THE HID HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY FOR THE CXL TURBO MODEL. THE SEAL MAY BE FAULTY DUE TO THE HEADLAMP SHORTING OUT EXCEPT FOR THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. THEY SHORTED OUT RIGHT AFTER A HEAVY DOWNPOUR AND I WAS STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER AND TOLD THAT THEY (THE HEADLIGHTS) WERE OUT. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED AT THE THE LIGHTS ONLY TO REALIZE THAT THEY HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND THERE WAS MOISTURE IN THE ASSEMBLY ITSELF.

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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

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I HAVE HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE HID HEADLIGHT BALLAST REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 9 MONTHS DUE TO MOISTURE IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS CONDENSATION IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEY FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GILBERT CHEVROLET (3550 US-441, OKEECHOBEE, FL 34974, (863) 261-8947) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT MOISTURE WAS IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 95303514701. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,579.

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AFTER MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR A FEW DAYS, AND ONCE STARTED BACK UP THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULDN'T RETRACT BACK, I WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE BRAKE PEDAL UP WITH MY FOOT.

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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.

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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.

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I AM SEEING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES HERE: HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/BUICK/REGAL/HEADLIGHTS-PROBLEMS.PHP ON MY BUICK, I AM HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUES. FOR SOME REASON, THERE IS CONDENSATION/WATER ENTERING THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING AND CAUSING THE BALLAST AND BULB TO FAIL. BUICK WANTED $1,215.00 TO REPAIR THE HEADLIGHTS. ONE PERSON IN THE SITE ABOVE SAID THE FOLLOWING: "THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY SEAL BETWEEN THE OUTER AND INNER SHELL ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE VEHICLE MAY LOOSE ALL HEADLIGHTS AND CAUSE THE DRIVER TO CRASH. THE ASSEMBLIES ARE VERY COSTLY TO REPLACE AND THE ISSUE IS VERY COMMON ON ALL 2011 THOUGH 2017 REGAL AND GS MODELS WITH HID. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. NEW ASSEMBLIES WILL RESULT IN THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. THIS COULD BE A DESIGN FLAW OR A MANUFACTURING FLAW. . . REGARDLESS, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS!." I AM IN A MAJOR PREDICAMENT. I CAN'T AFFORD THE NEW HEADLIGHTS, AND EVEN IF I COULD, THIS PERSON IS STATING THAT THEY ARE LIKELY TO FAIL AGAIN. ALSO, THE WAY THIS BUICK IS DESIGNED, I WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WITH A MORE INEXPENSIVE BULB. I COULD NOT EASILY REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT, OR ANOTHER BULB THAT IS OUT. THE DESIGN IS A SAFETY RISK AS I CAN'T AFFORD THE DEALERS'S REPAIR COSTS AND CANNOT DO IT MYSELF. THE WASHER FLUID BOTTLE IS IN THE WAY AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO EASILY REMOVE THE HEADLIGHT. THIS PUTS ME AT RISK FOR A CRASH AND ALSO A TICKET FROM POLICE. BUICK SHOULD FIX THIS FOR ALL REGALS WITH THIS ISSUE - ESPECIALLY SINCE THEIR VEHICLES ARE SO INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE ANYWAY..

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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.

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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.

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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.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUBURBAN CHEVROLET OF CLINTON (1070 W US-12, CLINTON, MI 49236) WHERE THEY REPLACED THE CONTACT'S KEY. AFTERWARDS, THE SERVICE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY. ALSO, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,774.

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ENGINE OF MY CAR ACTS WEIRD AND I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY SAY THERES NOTHING WRONG

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BOTH SEALED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE FAILED AND NOW HAVE CONDENSATION INSIDE OF THEM. THE LIGHTS ARE STILL FUNCTIONAL BUT I AM AFRAID OF A SHORT CIRCUIT. THE DEALER WANTED $1,000 PER HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO REPLACE. THIS VEHICLE STILL HAS UNDER 50,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAPPENED WHILE IT WAS JUST SITTING THERE, BUT I DO DRIVE THROUGH RAIN.

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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 1200.00 TO 2500.00 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 UP

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. AS THE CONTACT BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WITHIN A COUPLE OF SECONDS, ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, EXCEPT THE STEERING AIR BAG. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,200. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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TIMING CHAIN ENGINE FAILURE

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NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR UNTIL I HAD IT SERVICED AT MCCURRY-DECK DEALERSHIP WITH A NOISE IN THE STEERING. THEY WORKED ON THE STEERING GEARS, RACK&PINION AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IN THE STEERING OF THE CAR. ALL COVERED UNDER A SERVICE CONTRACT. THEY PUT AFTERMARKET PARTS ON MY CAR THAT THEY TOLD THE ADVISER AT THE SERVICE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS WARRANTY ON PARTS AND LABOR. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, IT NEVER WAS FIXED. BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY LOOKED AND ADVISED THAT THE PARTS THEY PUT IN DON'T HAVE WARRANTY ON LABOR AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY LABOR. THEY NEVER ADVISED MYSELF OR THE PERSON WHO AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR THAT THE PART THEY USED DIDN'T HAVE WARRANTY. THEY TOLD THE ADVISER IT HAS A 24 MONTH PARTS AND LABOR WARRANTY, WHICH WAS A LIE. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT I JUST SPENT 2072. TO FIX, BROKEN BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HONOR WHAT THEY TOLD THE SERVICE CONTRACT PEOPLE THE PART HAD AND I CAN NOT PAY THE LABOR TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY ADVISED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO FIX MY CAR. THEY ARE SAYING THEY TOLD THE ADVISER AT THE SERVICE CONTRACT REPRESENTATIVE THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON THE PART, AND THE ADVISER AT THE SERVICE CONTRACT OFFICE ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NEVER WOULD HAVE AUTHORIZED FOR THAT PART TO BE USED WITH NO WARRANTY. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND I STILL HAVE A CAR THAT HAS A DEFECTIVE PART.

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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

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WHEN I TRY TO USE MY SEAT WARMER ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE IT STAYS ON FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN TURNS OFF. THE DRIVER SIDE HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. THE PASSENGER SIDE JUST STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. MY SEAT WARMERS COME ON BUT NEVER GET WARM AND THEY CUT OFF AFTER ONLY A FEW SECONDS.

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TL* 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. *TT CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE FAILED.*JB 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). *JS

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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.

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2.4 L 4CYL ENGINE BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES

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