What 279 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Buick Regal Eassist

I was parking in marked space. I had turned into space, my foot was off the gas pedal. The car was 3/4 into the space when it malfunctioned and rapidly accelerated into a hardened snow bank. i instantly braked but there was not enough space to avoid collision.

NHTSA ODI 11552406

Preparing to park into a parking space in an off street parking lot the vehicle forcefully and rapidly accelerated on its' own and crashed into a fence. I was not accelerating. I attempted to stop the car using the brakes but they did not engage quickly enough to stop the rapid, forceful, and without warning acceleration. Buick has been contacted about the defect. Buick ran extensive diagnostics on the car and denies there is a defect. Police came to the scene and advised that given the 2 other incidents that I have experienced, the car is unsafe to drive given potential damage to others. A police report was filed.

NHTSA ODI 11552417

While the vehicle was driving, there was a loss of power, at that moment sparks was seen emanating from under the hood, then the vehicle completely stopped running. Once pulled over smoke was bellowing out from the hood and subsequently ignited into flames. Fire department was dispatched and fire was extinguished. The vehicle was towed away and is still at the tow yard. The tow operator, based on visual inspection stated the fire did start in the engine compartment and spread to the fire wall, totaling the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11425696

VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES. WILL BURN AS MUCH AS 3 OR MORE QUARTS IN 1000 MILES OR LESS. WAS NOTIFIED BY CHEVROLET MECHANIC THAT SOME OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NORMAL, BUT THAT IF THE CONSUMPTION WAS EXCESSIVE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY UP TO $3500 OR MORE TO FIX THE CAR. THERE ISN'T A RECALL OUT ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL, BUT ALL CARS EQUIPPED WITH THIS 2.4L ECOTECH ENGINE HAD THE SAME ISSUES FROM THE RESEARCH I CONDUCTED. THE MECHANIC I TALKED TO SAID THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE PISTON RINGS ALLOWING OIL TO REACH THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. SOMETIMES EVEN THE FUMES COME INTO THE CAR AND THEY ARE PRETTY HARSH TO BREATHE IN.

NHTSA ODI 11355327

THE THROTTLE BODY HAS A DEFECT WHICH SHUTS OFF ALL POWER TO VEHICLE WITH NO NOTICE. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION LOCK UP YOU LOSE ALL STEERING CONTROL AND NO BRAKES. ALSO NO LIGHTS SO WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT IT IS PITCH BLACK. GM DOES KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT THE LOSS OF LIFE LIKE WHAT HAPPEND WITH THE CHEVY CRUZE ALL MEMBERS OF GM ARE TOLD TO HANG UP THE PHONE. IT HAS HAPPEND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE DEALERSHIP SENT ME BACK ON THE ROAD KNOWING THE PROBLEM. DEALER REP SAID IF I WAS A BETTER CUSTOMER THAY MAY HAVE DONE MORE FOR ME.

NHTSA ODI 11120703