Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Buick Regal owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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.
I have the recall on the power seat wiring and my heated seats heat to a level then shut off continuously. I have a friend had the same issue in a camaro and had chafed wires to the heated seat. I refuse to pay for this repair and now in michigan it is very cold and I bought this car to have heated seats for a reason. The copied information is below on the recall. The dealer keeps telling me no parts are available but here I am stuck with a potential fire hazard with no repair. Manufacturer: general motors llc summary: general motors llc (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured November 3, 2009, to March 25, 2011, equipped with 8-way power adjustable front seats. The power seat wiring harness May contact the seat frame, causing the wires to chafe. Consequence: chafed harness wires May cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. As the contact backed out of the drive and placed the vehicle in drive, all the instrument panel indicators illuminated. Within a couple of seconds, all the air bags deployed, except the steering air bag. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to tow the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was not contacted. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V517000 (electrical system, seats). The contact stated that she was not notified of the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 154,200. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact stated that the front passenger seat did not move and made an abnormal noise. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact also stated that the seat belt buckle would unlatch while driving. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V517000 (electrical system, seats). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,000.
OBD warning b0074, b0081 - pps module faulty - cannot detect passenger weight in car, therefore disabled the passenger airbag. After some research, I am seeing multiple GM issues on the same error, OBD b0081, faulty pps sensor on comaros and volts
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact stated after adjusting the front driver side seat, the seat leaned forward independently. The contact later discovered a bolt was detached and on the floor near the seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the failure was diagnosed as both rear seat bolts not being secured to body, causing the seat to have excessive play. The dealer advised that holes for the body would need to be readjusted as secured. The vehicle was repaired and the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 93 and the current mileage was 141. Updated 09/14/11 updated 2/21/12
Hi, I'm writing to file a safety complaint. The Buick dealership will not perform the manufacturer safety recall free of charge. GM recall number: 2030710 NHTSA recall number: 16V517 inoperative power seats, seat fires and seat heating module connector melting the dealership stated we would need to pay $700 to repair the passenger seat's inoperative motor before they could perform the recall. The other recall on this vehicle was not performed. Buick recall number: n120212 NHTSA recall number: 12V484 turn signal lamp outage indicator not working how should I proceed? Thank you!
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V517000 (electrical system, seats). The vehicle was taken to the dealer months ago, but the remedy and parts were unavailable. The contact later experienced a failure in which the seats failed to warm. The warning indicators illuminated for both the front driver and passenger seats. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but a diagnostic could not be performed. The manufacturer was unable to supply the parts. The failure mileage was not available. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V517000 (electrical system, seats) and stated that the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 05/17/17 the consumer stated the radio he was sold was used which limited the channels that should be accessible. Updated 08/22/2017
Related recalls
Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured November 3, 2009, to March 25, 2011, equipped with 8-way power adjustable front seats. The power seat wiring harness may contact the seat frame, causing the wires to chafe.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the wiring harness, and repair any chafed wires as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2017.
Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014.
Seat complaints in other Regal years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2011 Buick Regal?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the seats of the 2011 Buick Regal, 9% of the model year's 280 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2011 Buick Regal seat problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-517 (power adjust, Jul 7, 2016); NHTSA recall 14V-447 (power adjust, Jul 23, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Buick Regal seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 98,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to seats 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.