What 279 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Buick Regal Tourx

I hit a deer going 60 mph and the airbag didn’t deploy, the service airbag light came on after I hit it. I’d assume that means the airbag tried to deploy but ran into an issue

NHTSA ODI 11569550

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

I was driving on a back road when my car started smoking and blazed up on passenger side headlights an I see were people have been saying this was seriously fire issue now I'm out of work no car and I was only owner fa 5 months

NHTSA ODI 11473397

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE ASSEMBLY AND FOUND THAT THE PLUG THAT CONNECTS TO LIGHT BULB WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER KEN FOWLER BUICK OF UKIAH CALIFORNIA AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY DID NOT SELL JUST THE PLUG; THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE PURCHASED. . THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED, BUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE PLUG WAS BURNED INTENSIVELY, THAT EVEN THE HARNESS WAS MELTED ON THIS OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. *TT *CN

NHTSA ODI 11081531

THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN SEATS. PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. IT DIED AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AND WAS TOTALLED. GM DENIES ALL LIABILITY AND REFUSES TO OFFER ANY COMPENSATION.

NHTSA ODI 11048088

CHROME PEELING OFF INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES RESULTING IN SHARP EDGES THAT CAUSE DEEP CUTS ON MY PASSENGERS FINGERS AS WELL AS MINE.

NHTSA ODI 11023991

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. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT ADJUSTED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SMOKE ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DEALER HAD NOT RETURNED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,200.

NHTSA ODI 10897646

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V517000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 10897095

THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT BULB & CONNECTOR MELTED. BULB CAN NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE HOUSING IS DAMAGED. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALLS. I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY PARTS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A FACTORY DEFECT AND CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS PER THE DEALER IS TO REPLACE COMPLETE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ODI 10787038

THE HEADLAMPS BLOW OUT AND UPON EXAMINING THE BULB HOUSING THE WIRING AND THE CASING THAT THE REPLACEMENT BULBS IS SUPPOSE TO BE INSERTED IN IS BURNED OFF. THE WIRING AND THE CASING IS GONE. THE RECALL IS 12V484 IS NOT ADDRESSING THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE OF THE HEADLAMPS CLEARLY FAILING TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS BY BURNING OUT AND NOT GIVING ANY INDICATORS ON THE INFORMATION PANEL THAT THE HEADLAMPS ARE BLOWN. THE CASING IS SO HOT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE BULB I BURNED MY HAND AND MY VEHICLE STILL DOES NOT HAVE HEADLAMPS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED AT GM EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10648923

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT TURNED INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO THE WALL OF A BUILDING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO SHOP FOR REPAIR TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,350.

NHTSA ODI 10479716

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT OR STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE NEVER STALLED, BUT THE CONTACT WOULD LOOSE POWER STEERING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER TWICE AND WAS ALSO LOOKING AT A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER FOR MORE EXTENSIVE INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 7/12/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. HE LOST ALL POWER TO THE STEERING AND BRAKES. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL VALVE ARM WAS REPLACED. IN MAY 2012, HE WAS MAKING A TURN AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, WHICH LEFT HIM WITH NO STEERING, BRAKES OR TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER HIT A FENCE POST DRAGGING THE FRONT BUMPER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 07/18/12

NHTSA ODI 10459502

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED OF THE INCIDENT AND THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,307.

NHTSA ODI 10438895

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 22 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE FOUR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ABRUPTLY WITH A LOUD NOISE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUSTAINED BODY BRUISES AS A RESULT OF THE EXTENSIVE FORCE DURING THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND DECLARED THE AIR BAG DEFECT AS A PRODUCT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,133. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HIT THE CURB AND THE AIR BAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. 01/30/12

NHTSA ODI 10406276