What 90 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Buick Regal Eassist

BRAKE PADS RUSTED TO THE ROTORS, AFTER HAND-WASHING THE VEHICLE THE EVENING OF JULY 2ND. NEEDED TO REV THE ENGINE VERY HIGH, IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE BRAKE PADS. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN, AND THEN LETTING IT SIT FOR A DAY OR TWO. ON JAN 16, 2015 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR WARRANTY WORK, BUT THE DEALER DID NOT DO ANYTHING. ON FEB 20, 2015 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, BUT AGAIN THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING. *TR

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"SERVICE STABILITRAK" LIGHT AND MESSAGE CAME ON WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER. THIS OCCURRED 3 SEPARATE TIMES IN JAN-FEB 2014. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR WARRANTY WORK ON JAN 16, 2015, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES WITH "STABILITRAK." ON FEB 11, 2015, THE "SERVICE STABILITRACK" LIGHT AND MESSAGE CAME ON AGAIN. IT STAYED ON FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS THIS TIME. TOOK VEHICLE TO DIFFERENT DEALER ON FEB 16TH, BUT THEY INSTRUCTED US TO BRING IT BACK ON FEB 20TH. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER ON FEB 20TH, BUT AGAIN THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES WITH "STABILITRAK." *TR

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2012 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WHEELS AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE WHEELS WERE SQUEAKING, BECAUSE THERE WAS MOISTURE AND CONDENSATION ON THE ROTORS.*JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DECELERATING FROM 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERS. THE FIRST DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WHILE THE SECOND STATED THAT THE SHIFT ADAPTER NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WORSENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

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VEHICLE TURNS OFF WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. VEHICLE ALSO MAKES WEIRD SPUTTERING NOISE WHEN STARTED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2011 BUT DEALERS CAN NEVER REPLICATE THE PROBLEMS! *TR

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OUR NECKS BEGAN TO HURT ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AGO. BEFORE THEN WE HAD NOT DRIVEN THE CAR OFTEN OR FOR LONG DURATIONS. THEN THE MORE WE WERE IN THE CAR, E.G. A 5 DAY TRIP TO AND FROM NEW ORLEANS, THE MORE WE HAD NECK DISCOMFORT. INITIALLY WE THOUGHT IT COULD BE OTHER ACTIVITY BEING THE CAUSE. BUT TODAY, AFTER SEEING INFORMATION AND ILLUSTRATIONS ON THE INTERNET, WE FEEL THAT THE ANGLE OF THE HEADREST ON THE SEAT BACKS IS IMPROPER AND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. WHAT TO DO? IS THERE A "RECALL" ON THIS MATTER? SINCERELY, *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING PULLED TO THE LEFT INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT NO CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

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ON DECEMBER 12, 2012 , SHORTLY AFTER SUNSET, MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD AT ABOUT 30 MPH. I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I REACHED OVER TO SWITCH THE RADIO FROM SIRIUS TO FM, BUT INADVERTENTLY HIT THE ENGINE ON/OFF BUTTON, LOCATED ABOUT 2 CM FROM THE RADIO BUTTON. WHEN I HIT THE BUTTON, THE ENGINE WENT OFF, WE LOST ALL INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL LIGHTS, AND THE CAR SLOWED DRAMATICALLY. IT WAS TERRIFYING. WE MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAD WE BEEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, A MAJOR COLLISION AND PILE-UP LIKELY WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED. WHEN WE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT INITIALLY CLAIMED THE CAR'S INTERNAL CONTROLS WOULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM TURNING OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING BUT SUBSEQUENT DEALER TESTS DISCLOSED EVEN A SLIGHT TOUCH OF THE POWER BUTTON SHUT OFF ALL POWER. I REPORTED IT TO BUICK AND BUICK ASKED THE DEALER TO RECONFIRM THE TESTS, WHICH IT DID. THE DEALERSHIP SEEMED VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY PROBLEM BUT SAID BUICK NEEDED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. BUICK SAID THE CAR OPERATED AS DESIGNED AND THERE WAS NOTHING MORE IT COULD DO. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH BUICK'S RESPONSE; NOR SHOULD THIS AGENCY. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, I WAS GIVEN NO WARNING ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING HAZARD. ALTHOUGH THE DRIVERS' MANUAL CONTAINS MANY HIGHLIGHTED WARNINGS, IT ONLY MENTIONS THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN PASSING. QUOTING 9-18 OF THE DRIVERS' MANUAL: "DO NOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. THIS WILL CAUSE A LOSS POWER ASSIST IN THE BRAKE AND STEERING SYSTEMS AND DISABLE THE AIRBAG." NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID. THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE PRIMARY CONTROL FOR RADIO CHANNEL SELECTION TO THE POWER BUTTON, AND THE POTENTIALLY LETHAL CONSEQUENCES OF INADVERTENTLY HITTING THE POWER BUTTON IS AN INHERENTLY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. THE LACK OF EXPLICIT WARNINGS EXACERBATES THIS ALREADY SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE TECHNICIANS WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WEEKS LATER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DAMAGED SPARK PLUG. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ESCALATED HER CASE STATING THAT THEY WOULD REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH THE CONTACT. IN THE INTERIM, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A RUMBLING NOISE WHEN SHE MADE TURNS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,135 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,200.

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AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I FOUND THERE IS NO COMPACT SPARE TIRE AND WHEELS FOR THE GRAND SPORT VERSION OF THE 2012 BUICK REGAL ANYWHERE I COULD FIND. THEY ONLY PROVIDE AN INFLATER KIT. MY LAST 3 FLATS COULD NOT BE REPAIRED WITH THE INFLATER BECAUSE OF THE TYPE DAMAGE. NO WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION THAT I HAVE OBTAINED STATED THIS FACT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE FAMILY IN THE MIDDLE OF PENNSLYVANIA AND HAVE TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS WHERE THERE IS NO CELL PHONE CONDUCTIVITY (THAT ELIMINATES THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE) A REGULAR TRIP IS FOR THANKSGIVING AND WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME EXTREME WEATHER DURING SOME OFF THESE TRIPS WITH MINIMAL TRAFFIC DUE TO THE WEATHER. THEREFORE WE COULD HAVE A FLAT AND BE STRANDED DURING A SNOW STORM. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION.. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RPMS IDLES HIGH AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 45MPH. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL AND AS A RESULT, SHE HAD TO USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT DECIDED TO REPROGRAMMED THE VEHICLE COMPUTER SYSTEM AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,200.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL GS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR STICKER, LOCATED ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR, SPECIFIED TO INFLATE THE TIRES TO 80 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THAT THE TIRE LABEL INFORMATION WAS INCORRECT AND THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE WAS 38 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220.

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WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 7 MARCH 2012 AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS I WAS CHECKING IT OVER AND SAW THAT THE BACK OF THE HEADLINER WAS HANGING DOWN ABOUT AN INCH OR SO. I TOOK IT INTO THE THE GARAGE WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY HAD THEIR REPAIR PERSON CHECK IT OUT. THEY FIRST TRIED TO USE DOUBLE SIDED STICKY TAPE AND IT DID NOT WORK SO THEY WENT TO THE HEAD OFFICE OF BUICK TO TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ON 10 APRIL I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN AND THEIR FIX WAS TO STICK SMALL MAGNETS TO THE ROOF AND ALSO TO THE HEADLINER AND THEN SNAP THE MAGNETS TOGETHER. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MAGNETS THEY USED BUT THE HEADLINER IS LOOKING OK FOR NOW. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS FIX WILL LAST OR IF THE HEADLINER SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. GUESS WE WILL NEED TO WAIT AND SEE. *TR

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THE INTERIOR CENTER CONSOLE HAS A BRUSHED CHROME TRIM AROUND THE OUTSIDE AND A MIRROR FINISH CHROME BEZEL DIRECTLY SURROUNDING THE GEAR SHIFTER. I FIRST REALIZED IT TO BE A CONCERN WHEN I WAS DRIVING DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN, AND THE SUNLIGHT REFLECTED OFF THE MIRROR IMAGE CHROME BEZEL, UNDER MY DARK SUNGLASSES, AND DIRECTLY INTO MY EYES, MOMENTARILY BLINDING ME. AS SOON AS I REALIZED WHERE THE BLINDING LIGHT CAME FROM I REMOVED MY RIGHT HAND FROM THE STEERING WHEEL TO BLOCK AS MUCH OF THE GLARING LIGHT AS POSSIBLE. I HAD TO KEEP MY HAND IN THE SAME POSITION UNTIL I TURNED, AND THE SUNLIGHT NO LONGER REFLECTED OFF THE CHROME BEZEL. I HAVE CONTACTED BUICK CUSTOMER RELATIONS ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING OR EVEN CONSIDER IT TO BE A PROBLEM UNLESS A RECALL IS ISSUED, WHICH THEY WON'T DO BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM. *JS

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