What 88 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Buick Regal Eassist

GM DEALERSHIP MISDIAGNOSED THE TRANSMISSION AS NEEDING REPLACEMENT, AND QUOTE A $4500 REPAIR PRICE. AFTER GETTING 3 ALTERNATIVE EXPERT OPINIONS, THE PROBLEM WAS THE THROTTLE BODY; REPAIRED FOR $420. NOW THE FORMERLY RECALLED GENERATOR ALTERNATOR HAS FAILED. CAR WILL NOT RESTART WHEN STOPPED, WHILE DRIVING. GM HAS TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE FORMERLY RECALLED PART UNDER WARRANTY, OR BUT NOT IF FOR MISDIAGNOSING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE PART FAILING WHEN GARNERING 2ND OPINIONS. GM ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT IS NOT THE DEALERSHIP'S JOB TO ALERT A CUSTOMER OF A RECALL. IF THAT IS THEIR PROCESS FOR RECALLS, I AM AFRAID FOR THE LIVES OF OTHERS. I AM ALSO AFRAID THAT THEY POSSIBLY DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW TO DIAGNOSE A VEHICLE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY CONFIRMED THE PART NOW IN QUESTION WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AT THEIR DEALERSHIP, BUT RECOMMENDED A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO HIGH MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A GENUINE GM DEALERSHIP. I'D LIKE THE GM/ALTERNATOR, CONTROL MODULE, AND OTHER ASSOCIATE PARTS INVESTIGATED FOR VOLTAGE FAILURES RELATED TO THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF GM IS REPLACING TRANSMISSIONS, WHEN NOT NEEDED, AND THE OTHER PARTS EVENTUALLY FULLY FAIL, CONSUMERS ARE AT EXTREME RISK. MY 19 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS STUCK AT A COMPLETE STOP, FOR NEARLY 30 SECONDS SEVERAL TIMES, ON A 70 MPH FREEWAY, WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A HALT, THEN RESTARTED; REACHING FULL SPEED AND HAVING TO VEER AND SLAM ON BRAKES TO AVOID HER CAR; IN THE CENTER LANE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. [XXX]. I WILL ALSO BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF MICHIGAN FOR VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP REGULATION. DEALERSHIPS WHO ARE READING CODES, AND NOT VERIFYING THE CODES, SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN FOR GOOD. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *PM *TR

NHTSA ODI 11113038

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BATTERY AND BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V173000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A HYBRID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHUCK NASH SAN MARCOS (3209 INTERSTATE 35 FRONTAGE RD, SAN MARCOS, TX 78666) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER OPENED CASE NUMBER: 8-4380703853. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11109849

MY NAME IS [XXX] , I OWN A 2013 BUICK REGAL TURBO, ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO I STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH MY CAR ( STEREO SHUTS ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING, DASH LIGHTS FLICKER ). THINKING MY CAR NEEDED A NEW BATTERY I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT A MONTH. NOT LONG AFTER, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK, EXCEPT THIS TIME THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ALL ELECTRONICS TO STOP WORKING, INCLUDING THE HEADLIGHTS, POWER STEERING, AND BRAKES. I DROVE IT TO A GM DEALER RIGHT AWAY. 1 WEEK GOES BY AND I GET A CALL BACK SAYING THEY COULDN'T RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM. I PICK THE CAR UP AND WITHIN ONE DAY IT STALLS AGAIN, THIS TIME DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. AGAIN I BRING IT RIGHT TO THE GM DEALER. ANOTHER WEEK GOES BY AND I GET A CALL SAYING THEY REPLACED THE BCM ( BODY CONTROL MODULE ). AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STEREO SHUTS OFF, SOON AFTER THE DASH LIGHTS FLICKER, AND ALMOST RIGHT AFTER THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING THE CAR SHUT OFF, THE DOORS UNLOCKED, AND I LOSE THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE ASSIST CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AROUND A SHARP TURN AND NEARLY CRASH. I'M HONESTLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOW, AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. I SPENT A GOOD 2 HOURS READING PEOPLES STORIES ONLINE ABOUT HOW THEY HAD THE SAME EXACT EXPERIENCE AND HOW THEY ARE ALSO AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO FIX MY CAR AND NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR THAT IS WORTH LESS THAN WHAT I OWE ON IT, A CAR I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DRIVING, A CAR I'M AFRAID TO HAVE PASSENGERS IN DUE TO THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS MALFUNCTION I WOULD IMAGINE THE MALFUNCTION WOULD PREVENT THE AIRBAGS FROM DEPLOYING. BEFORE I BOUGHT THIS 2013 BUICK REGAL I WAS DRIVING A 1992 FORD F-150, AND ITS SAD TO SAY I FELT A LOT SAFER IN AN ANTIQUE TRUCK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11066121

CONSOLE WONT TURN ON IN THE HEAT. IT DISCONNECTS. PARKING LIGHT SAYS NOT IN PARK WHEN PARKED AND WONT TURN OFF. LIGHTS BURN OUT VERY FAST. HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE , NEW! IT IS VERY SLUGGISH WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11058015

CODES PRESENT IN COMPUTER ARE P1101 AIR INTAKE PERFORMANCE, P0101 MASS AIR FLOW CIRCUIT A FAILURE. THE CAR HAS REDUCED POWER AND SURGING DURING ACCELERATION. STUMBLING AT START UP. THE VEHICLE'S TURBO WASTEGATE FAILS TO CLOSE BEFORE 3,500 RPM THEREFORE CAUSING A SEVERE SPOOL TIME ON TURBOCHARGER THE MANUFACTURE IS UNABLE TO REPAIR AS PER THE 4 MONTHS THE CAR HAS BEEN BEING DIAGNOSED AND FINALLY THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS ADMITTED THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. CORPORATE GM IN INVOLVED ALONG WITH FIELD TECHNICIANS. SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO ME STILL FAILING NOW HAS ACTIVE CODES FOR U0100 LOST COMMUNICATION WITH ECM, U0140 LOST COMMUNICATION WITH BODY CONTROL MODULE, U0128 LOST COMMUNICATION WITH PARKING BRAKE MODULE, U0073 COMMUNICATION BUS A OFF, U0101 LOST COMMUNICATION WITH TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE SINCE THE CAN-BUS IS FAILING THE CAR IS NOW TRYING TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 10918054

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DOWNSHIFT INDEPENDENTLY DESPITE THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THEN I LOST THE POWER STEERING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED FLICKERING. IT THEN LOST ALL POWER AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE, NARROWLY MISSING OTHER CARS. WITHIN FIVE MINUTES, THE FLASHERS AND LIGHTS ALSO WENT TOTALLY DEAD. TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AGAIN, BUT WOULD NOT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 60,000 MILES. SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, DISCOVER A RELATED PROBLEM OF GM'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 13136 OR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V173000

NHTSA ODI 10872140

MULTIPLE INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE COMING ON WHEN NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, GRADUAL LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE. THEN MY VEHICLE WILL NOT START AT ALL. NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STARTER, BATTERY IS STILL GOOD, THE ALTERNATOR IS FINE. MY INDICATOR CONSOLE WILL NOT COME BACK ON WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON, CAR WILL NOT START WITHOUT A JUMP, BUT ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ARE ON. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS MODEL YEAR HAS A RECALL ALREADY ON IT FOR THIS SAME ISSUE ID # 13V173000 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. NOTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE AT THIS POINT IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10714265

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH TO START BUTTON WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCIDENTLY BE TURNED OFF WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. ..UPDATED 05-26-15 *BF UPDATED 10/4/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10703946

I PURCHASED A NEW 2013 BUICK REGAL E-ASSIST VEHICLE FROM THE GM DEALERSHIP IN ST. CATHARINES. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START MY NEW CAR AND DRIVE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO MY SURPRISE AND DISMAY, THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS WENT OFF, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED WIPING, AUDIBLE WARNING SOUNDS WENT OFF, AND THE CAR STARTED MAKING LOUD SCREECHING NOISES! THE VEHICLE SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS CRYING AND DYING! I WAS FRIGHTENED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO EXPLODE IN MY GARAGE! I IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE CAR. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE A FEW MOMENTS LATER, ALL POWER WAS OFF IN THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARED AS IF THE VEHICLE HAD A POWER FAILURE. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND THAT APPARENTLY, TO MY SURPRISE, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE (RECALL # 13146) DUE TO A POTENTIAL MALFUNCTION ISSUE WITH THE GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE. APPEARS THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ONE OF THE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE DEFECTIVE GCM, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME PRIOR TO HAVING THE GCM REPLACED! I AM EXTREMELY DISPLEASED THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT DEALT WITH BY THE DEALERSHIP! WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE GM DEALERSHIP AND SUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED, THIS SITUATION HAS CAUSED ME AN UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF STRESS, EMOTIONAL TRAUMA, AND PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS SUCH AS HEART PALPITATIONS AND INSOMNIA! FOR THE PAST MONTH, I HAVE HAD PERPETUAL NIGHTMARES RELATED TO THIS E-ASSIST VEHICLE! I AM EVEN FRIGHTENED TO APPROACH THE VEHICLE AND START IT, FOR FEAR OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN! I AM CONSTANTLY WORRIED THAT THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO EXPLODE OR CATCH FIRE! FURTHERMORE, I HAVE TRIED DRIVING THE CAR FOR SHORT DISTANCES DAILY, BUT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HEADACHES, ANXIETY, DIZZINESS, AND NUMBNESS WHILE DRIVING. DUE TO THE TRAUMA AND NEGATIVE HEALTH PROBLEMS (HEART PROBLEMS, INSOMNIA, ETC.) THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED AS A RESULT OF THIS E-ASSIST VEHICLE, I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRADING IN FOR A NON HYBRID. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10575636