2001 Buick Regal Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Exhaust system
  3
• Engine
  3
• Cooling system
  2
• Engine › Gasoline
  2
• Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  12%
• 25k–50k
  510%
• 50k–75k
  48%
• 75k–100k
  918%
• 100k–150k
  1633%
• 150k+
  1429%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Buick Regal owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

On [redacted], my son drove the car to Wendy's to get lunch around 12:30 pm. He returned, parked the car in the driveway. My son entered the house and while we were eating lunch the doorbell rang, it was the police informing us that my car was on fire in the driveway. The fire department was called and they eventually extinguished the fire which started under the hood of the car. The jaws of life were used to cut the hood of the car loose to fully extinguish the fire. The car is destroyed. There is no fixing it. Marion, Virginia Fire Department extinguished the fire and stated that a report could be obtained but they were positive the fire started in the engine.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Buick Regal. The contact stated that there was a fuel odor emitted from the front of the vehicle. The contact opened the hood and noticed flames coming from the manifold and the gasket cover. The contact attempted to extinguish the fire. There were no reports filed. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who replaced the s cover, s retainer, and gasket. The contact stated that the check engine light was illuminated and all the body damage to the vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling), which stated that the consequence for the recall could result in a fire. The contact stated that the failure experienced directly related to the failure indicated in the recall notice. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …

Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Buick Regal. While the vehicle was idling flames appeared from under the hood. No injuries were reported. The cause was undetermined. The contact stated that while parked with the engine on flames were suddenly present coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. A fire department and police department reports were taken at the scene. The vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The VIN look up indicated that the vehicle was included in the NHTSA recall campaign: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 100,000.

I drove to little ceasers to get pizza, I turned the car off and went inside, approximately 5 min later and someone came inside and said that someone's car was smoking, I went outside and it was smoking heavily from the front of the car, a witness called 911, by the time the fire department showed up the front of the vehicle was in flames, a tire exploded and the fire dept was able to put it out, the engine compartment is completely burned down, I started doing research and found out that there were recalls mentioning possible fire happening even while the car is unattended, it was not running when fire started and it drove fine on the way there, was not hot or smoking while I was driving. Thank god no one was hurt and that the fire did not reach the gas tank. I am at a loss on what to do and need help.

Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Buick Regal. While driving approximately 65 MPH and pulling into a parking lot, the contact noticed smoke underneath the hood. The contact exited the vehicle and ran into ferry facility to call the fire department. The contact stated that by the time the fire department arrived at the scene, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The contact was not sure whether a fire report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed and the remnant was towed away. There were no injuries. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. Approximately seven months later, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 170,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Buick Regal. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle. The contact drove home and discovered that the engine compartment was on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the motor and the spark plugs needed to be replaced but the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact mentioned that she received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) after the failure occurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Buick Regal. After starting the engine, a loud booming sound was heard coming from the engine. Upon inspection, the contact discovered smoke under the hood. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the intake manifold was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired for the same failure per NHTSA campaign number: 09V116000 (engine) on September 20, 2016. The manufacturer was notified of the failure the failure mileage was 232,000. Updated 05/16/17 the consumer stated after the vehicle was repaired under recall the upper intake manifold exploded.

Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Buick Regal. While the vehicle was parked and the engine was started, the vehicle caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and a fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine, engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Updated 04/11/17 l's consumer stated vehicle was parked at owners home when key was turned to start car - you could hear the explosion from the house inside. Updated 9/7/18

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Buick Regal. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle lost power and the steering wheel tightened without warning. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road. Smoke and flames appeared under the hood. The fire was extinguished by the police and a police report was filed. The contact was injured, but did not receive medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Buick Regal. The contact stated that there was a burning odor coming from the engine compartment of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or inspected. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 93,764. The VIN tool confirms the parts not available.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Engine complaints in other Regal years