Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Buick Regal owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Engine explosion and fire vehicle was in my driveway engine off. When I attempted to start the vehicle there was a loud explosion followed by engine fire. Flames were 20 ft high. Fire dept was called but I was able to extinguish the fire with fire extinguisher and water from my garden hose. When the fire dept arrived the fire was already out. My evaluation is the following: the force of the explosion was so great that it split open/cracked the upper intake manifold (upper planum). It also lifted the fuel rail from the engine and some injectors came loose, fuel then spilled on the engine and fire immediately ensued. The plastic fuel lines also popped off the fuel injectors rail, this spilled even more fuel and fed the fire even more. I cannot believe Buick/GM use plastic intake manifolds (upper planum) and plastic fuel line into the engine compartment. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Buick Regal. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, black fumes of smoke were noticed coming from underneath the vehicle before being inform by a follow driver that the vehicle was on fire. The contact merged to the side of the road and exited the vehicle. No police/fire report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The VIN was included in the NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part for the recall was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Buick Regal. The contact stated that the key would not turn over to start the vehicle. The contact heard an abnormal noise and the vehicle erupted into flames near the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished by a neighbor upon lifting the hood. The fire department was not notified and there was no police report or fire inspection report. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) and was waiting on the manufacturer to determine what dealer to tow the vehicle to for inspection and repair. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
On 10/28/2016 my wife had drove the car about 3 miles to the store did some shopping for approximately 30 minutes. She returned home the 3 miles parked the car in the driveway in front of the garage and went in side. She was in the garage a few minutes later and saw smoke filling the garage. She went out the back door and around the house and the car was in flames. Neighbors had all ready called 911. It took about ten minutes for the fire department to arrive. The entire engine bay and front of the car was destroyed. The paint was burned off of the garage door and blistered paint and soot on the house. The hood strut exploded and put a hole in the garage door.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Buick Regal. The contact noticed a burning odor, abnormal popping sound, and black smoke from the engine compartment. In addition the vehicle could not be started. The vehicle was placed into neutral and pushed to the contact's residence. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the parts to do the repair were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 213,011. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Buick Regal. While driving 70 MPH, the contact smelled smoke coming from the engine. The contact heard a loud pop and the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road for further examination and determined that the engine was on fire. The fire was extinguished by an innocent bystander. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was not repaired. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine). The failure mileage was 117,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Buick Regal. While pumping fuel in the vehicle, flames appeared under the hood. A station attendant opened the hood and extinguished the fire. The contact called her brother-in-law, an independent mechanic, who towed the vehicle to his residence. The mechanic assessed the damage and diagnosed that the ABS wires underneath the vehicle burned. The wires were replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Approximately eight months later, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The failure mileage was 180,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 1999 Buick Regal. The vehicle caught fire while the contact was parking in front of his house. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was engulfed in flames before the police and fire departments arrived. Police and fire reports were filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 09V116000 (engine and engine cooling) and 04V375000 (exterior lighting). The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.
4th engine service recall 15757 was performed at dealership on March 25, 2016. On May 13, 2016, attempted to started car which was parked on suburban street at 5 a.m. The vehicle had not been driven for several days. Loud bang sound. Engine ignited. Flames shot out onto street surface. Driver was able to evacuate and contain flames until police and fire department responded to call. Battery had to be disconnected. Engine casing was blown off top of engine.
Tl* the contact owned a 1999 Buick Regal. The contact noticed smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle followed by flames. The fire department extingushed the fire. A police and a fire report were filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and gasket.
Engine and engine cooling
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 Buick regal, my 1998-2003 Chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 Oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine's plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge.
Engine and engine cooling
GM is recalling 207,542 my 1997-2003 Buick regal and Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l supercharged v-6 engine. These vehicles have higher front rocker cover gasket temperatures, creating the potential for earlier degradation of the front rocker cover gasket and eventual oil seepage.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine's plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, along with the 1-3-5 spark…
NHTSA investigations
Engine compartment fires
Engine compartment fire
By letter dated March 12, 2008, general motors corp. (GM) has notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall (identified by NHTSA recall number 08v-118) to address a defect in approximately 207,542 model year (my) 1997-2003 Buick regal gs and Pontiac grand prix gtp vehicles equipped with the l67 supercharged version of GM's 3800 series ii v6 engine.the recalled regal gs vehicles were built from August 1996…
Engine complaints in other Regal years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1999 Buick Regal?
NHTSA has 91 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1999 Buick Regal, 37% of the model year's 246 complaints. The component named most often is engine (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Buick Regal engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-701 (manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe, Oct 26, 2015); NHTSA recall 09V-116 (engine and engine cooling, Apr 8, 2009); NHTSA recall 08V-118 (engine and engine cooling, Mar 12, 2008). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Buick Regal engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 102,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 42 fires and 2 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.