What 279 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Buick Regal Eassist

MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE, THERE WERE NO INDICATOR/WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING ON MY DASH PRIOR TO THIS. I AND IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC CLOSE BY AND HE TOLD ME IT LOOKS LIKE THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE. I BOUGHT THIS AS A CERTIFIED CAR AND HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE OIL CHANGED AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE INFORMATION LAMP INDICATED IT WAS DUE.

NHTSA ODI 10986129

ENGINE CONSUMING OIL WITH NO LEAKS. TECH SAID THAT OIL IS PASSING THROUGH RINGS AND BURNING DURING COMBUSTION. MY CAR HAS 174000 MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR. I AM VERY UPSET THAT THE REMEDY FOR THIS IS TO OVERHAUL OR REPLACE THE ENGINE. ALSO, A/C DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE. TECH SAYS COMPRESSOR HAS FAILED. PLEASE REMEDY. LAST AMERICAN CAR I BUY.

NHTSA ODI 10986191

2011 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY DIRECT IGNITION HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME IGNITION HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL FOR GMC VEHICLES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 05/03/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 10971348

REPLACED ENGINE A 2.4L LAF AND TRANSMISSION A 6T-50 WITH BAD TRANS @ 149K MILES ON 2011 BUICK REGAL. REPLACEMENT IS 2011 2.4L LAF ENGINE AND 6T-50 TRANS W/ 17K MILES. CAR NOW HAS P0089 AND P228D CODES AND WHINE FROM HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AS DESCRIBED IN #PIP5203A. TURNS OUT ORIGINAL ENGINE IS A 2010 ENGINE WITH ALL THE CAM CHAIN ISSUES SEEN IN OTHER NHTSA COMPLAINTS. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY MY DEALER TELLS ME ECM CAN NOT BE REPROGRAMMED TO 2011 BECAUSE PROGRAMMING IS DRIVEN BY THE VIN# ONLY. MY ONLY CHOICE IS TO BUY THE PARTS FROM GM (ABOUT $1000) TO TURN MY ENGINE BACK INTO A 2010 ENGINE OR PAY A DEALER SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DO THE WORK. I`M IN A POSITION OF PAYING SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE FOR THE CAR THEN IT IS WORTH. THIS WAS TO BE MY RETIREMENT GIFT TO MYSELF, GUESS I WILL BE DRIVING MY 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM UNTIL I DROP DEAD. THANKS GM, MY BRAND LOYALTY SURE PAYS OFF. MY ADVICE TO FUTURE CAR BUYERS, BUY ANOTHER BRAND!! P.S. I HOPE THIS CONSTITUTES SOME EMISSION VIOLATION AND THE EPA HITS GM WITH A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR FINE. P.S.S. IT DIES ON THE ROAD TO. WHERE IS MARRY B. WHEN YOU HER?

NHTSA ODI 10979641

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10967241

MY VEHICLE ISSUE IS THAT THE EXHAUST VALVES WERE BENT DUE TO A VALVE COVER BOLT THAT RELEASED AND DAMAGED HEAD VALVES AND HEAD ON MOTOR. THIS IS A FACTORY ISSUE DUE TO THE BOLT RELEASING. I AM BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR VEHICLE AND ONLY OWNED VEHICLE FOR LESS THEN 2 YEARS. FOR REPLACEMENT HEAD COST AND OR REPLACING THE MOTOR ITSELF IS A COSTLY SITUATION. MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN CITY LIMITS AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START,WOULD TRY TO TURN OVER BUT JUST KEEP SPINNING WITHOUT FULL CRANK. I SHOULDN'T BE REPLACING THE MOTOR ON VEHICLE THAT IS STILL WELL UNDER 100,000 MILES AND NO MAJOR ISSUE PRIOR.

NHTSA ODI 10966428

POLICE STOPPED ME DUE TO MISSING PASSENGER HEADLAMP. AS I WAS REPLACING SAID HEADLIGHT, UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, I NOTICED THAT THE BULB WIRE HARNESS WERE BURNT BLACK. THE SMELL OF BURNING WAS DETECTED.

NHTSA ODI 10959613

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED, WHICH CAUSED A KNOCKING AND TICKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA TO SEE IF THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED PER A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 10959056

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES BECOME SO HOT THAT THE ROTORS WILL GLOW RED. THIS WOULD NORMALLY BE A HUNG UP CALLIPER BUT IT SEEMS TO MOVE TO DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE CAR AND DIFFERENT WHEELS. UPON LETTING THE VEHICLE SIT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, THE ROTOR WILL COOL OFF. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN OR WHERE THE ROTORS WILL GET THAT HOT AND THE CARS DRIVING AND BRAKING ARE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.

NHTSA ODI 10958766

WHEN AT A STOP SIGN MY VEHICLE DIED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT BUT AT SLOW SPEEDS IT CONTINUED TO DIE. ON THE WAY HOME, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE CAR PERFORMED FINE. AT SLOW SPEEDS THE REST OF THE DAY AND DURING A TEST DRIVE THE NEXT DAY, AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE DIED ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY, LOSING POWER STEERING ETC. TO GET HOME I HAD TO KEEP A FOOT ON THE GAS WHILE BRAKING/TURNING AND STOPPED TO KEEP THE IDLE SPEED UP. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK REVEALED A P0010 FAILURE CODE FROM WHICH THEY FOUND THE INTAKE CAMSHAFT ACTUATOR SOLENOID WAS SHORTED. THEY REPLACED IT AND CURRENTLY IT IS OPERATING FINE. THEY INDICATED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND NOT SUBJECT TO THE SPECIFIC VEHICLE RECALL THAT I RECEIVED.

NHTSA ODI 10958019

WHEN DRIVING OR COMING TO A STOP OR EVEN MAKING A TURNING THE VEHICLES SHAKES AND THEN SHUTS OFF, THIS FIRST HAPPEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A VERY BUSY STREET, THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED IT HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING JUST A SHAKE AND THEN THE CAR SHUT OFF, REDUCING SPEED RAPIDLY , CAUSING THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME TO DO THE SAME, THANK GOD THAT THERE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT SURE COULD HAVE BEEN. AND NOW I SEE ON THE FORUM THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUICK ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT, DOES THIS FALL UNDER THE LEMON LAW, HELP

NHTSA ODI 10957464

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CONDUCT AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 10955109

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. 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.

NHTSA ODI 10950332

WE HAVE LOST OUR INSTRUMENT LIGHTS MANY TIMES WHILE TRAVELING AND AT MANY DIFFERENT SPEEDS, ACCOMPANIED BY THE SMELL OF HOT ELECTRICAL WIRING, I AM 88YRS. OF AGE AND MY WIFE 83YRS. OF AGE AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS TO HER OR MYSELF WHEN TRAVELING IT IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN, WE ARE AFRAID IT MY CAUSE THE LOSS OF OUR LIVES AS A RESULT. WE HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE DID NOT EXPRESS CONCERN, AND MORE OR LESS STATED IF WE DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING WE SHOULD PARK IT AND NOT DRIVE IT. WE LIVE ON FIXED INCOME WE HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DRIVE AND CANNOT GET GM TO FIX OUR VEHICLE.THE CAR IS ALWAYS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND HAPPENS AT ALL DIFFERENT SPEEDS, HIGHWAYS, AND CITY STREETS. WITH NO WAY TO JUDGE YOUR SPEED. GM SAFETY RECALL #30710- WIRING HARNESS. GMS ANSWER IS INCOMPLETE: REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WITH REGULARITY AND WE ARE CONCERNED THE CAR WILL CATCH FIRE SOMEDAY.

NHTSA ODI 10949528

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10947020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. 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. UPDATED 05/17/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADIO HE WAS SOLD WAS USED WHICH LIMITED THE CHANNELS THAT SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE. UPDATED 08/22/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 10946360

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER SWITCH TO WARM THE SEATS FAILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,200. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *CN

NHTSA ODI 10946395

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT SWITCH FAILED TO WARM BOTH FRONT SEATS IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PART NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10946431

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS); 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.

NHTSA ODI 10946453

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (AIR BAGS, SEATS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. 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.

NHTSA ODI 10944435

MICHELIN LATITUDE TOUR HP 235/50R18 TIRES ON 2011 BUICK REGAL. TIRES REPLACED NOVEMBER 2014 AND WORE DOWN TO 4/32 TREAD ON DEC 19,2016. TIRE WAS RATED FOR 55,000 MILE WEAR. LACK OF TREAD CONTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENT ON THAT DATE. CAR WAS UNABLE TO STOP, SLIDING INTO THE CURB CAUSING $4200 IN DAMAGE EVEN THOUGH ACCIDENT WAS AT LOW SPEED. MICHELIN WILL NOT REPLACE TIRES. CAR CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. DAMAGE TO WHEELS, SUSPENSION, STEERING GEAR..

NHTSA ODI 10944006

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS). 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.

NHTSA ODI 10939750

IN AUGUST 2016, I RECEIVED AN "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL" #30710 FROM BUICK. THE EXPLANATION WAS "THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE POWER SEATS MAY CONTACT THE SEAT FRAME, CHAFE, A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR, RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE POWER SEAT ADJUSTMENTS, FLICKERING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, SPARKING OR SMOKE UNDER THE SEAT, AND POSSIBLE FIRE." HAVING NOT HEARD ANYTHING, I CONTACTED MY AGENCY ON 9/22/16 AND WAS TOLD "NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE." ON 11/23/16, BURNS BUICK SAID, "GM HAS NO SOLUTION. I CONTACTED GM AND SPOKE WITH [XXX] WHO DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER. ON 11/30/16, GM'S [XXX] SUGGESTED THAT NO DATE OR SUPPLIES HAVE BEEN SET. DO I NEED TO HAVE A FIRE IN MY CAR WHILE MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE IN THE BACK SEAT FOR GM TO FINALLY DETERMINE THIS IS REALLY AN "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL?" WHY SHOULD IT TAKE 5 MONTHS WITHOUT ANY SOLUTION? I RIDE IN FEAR EVERYDAY KNOWING THAT I AM SITTING ON A TIME BOMB. PLEASE CONDEMN THIS FAILURE TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM AND FINE THEM SO THAT THEY DO NOT DO IT TO ANYONE ELSE IN THE FUTURE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10937183

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT 82000 MILES. USING THE SCAN TOOL FROM A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE, I OBSERVED THAT THE OBD-II CODES WERE P0016 AND P0017. AROUND THE TIME THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I NOTICED THAT THE SHIFTING DONE BY THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEEMED JERKY, AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOISIER THAN USUAL EVEN WHEN IDLING. GENERALLY THE MILES ON THIS CAR ACCUMULATE FROM EQUAL TIME SPENT ON BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY CONDITIONS. THE ENGINE ROUGH IDLE AND CHOPPY GEAR SHIFTING WERE APPARENT DURING BOTH TYPES OF CONDITIONS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED LIT FOR FIVE DAYS BEFORE I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS SAID "JUMPED TIMING CHAIN FRONT GUIDE CAME APART P0011 P0014 P0016 P0017 SET IN SYSTEM." THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN USING A TIME CHAIN KIT, REPLACED THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST ACTUATORS, AND REPLACED THE OIL AND FILTER. THREE DAYS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE REPAIR WAS MADE, AND THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY.

NHTSA ODI 10937265

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MONTHS AGO, BUT THE REMEDY AND PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT LATER EXPERIENCED A FAILURE IN WHICH THE SEATS FAILED TO WARM. THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED FOR BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT A DIAGNOSTIC COULD NOT BE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE PARTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10935599