Total Complaints
174 filings
BUICK REGAL · model year
174 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997BUICKREGAL carries 174 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 19 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 REGAL is steering:rack and pinion with 15 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (15) and electrical system (11). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1997 REGAL. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
174 filings
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 15 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 15 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 11 |
| STEERING | 11 |
| ENGINE | 11 |
| TIRES | 6 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 5 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 4 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 3 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
1997 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SAFETY RECALL ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE NOTICE . CONSUMER WRITES VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS NO PROOF FOR CAUSE OF FIRE. *AS *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *TT CONSUMER STATED DEALERSHIP IS NOW CLOSED AND WILL BE TAKING IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. UPDATED 12/20/18*JB
Mileage: 138,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *TT CONSUMER STATED DEALERSHIP IS NOW CLOSED AND WILL BE TAKING IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. UPDATED 12/20/18*JB
Mileage: 138,000
BUICK FIXED 3 RECALLS BUT WON'T FIX ON SAY I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER PART BEFORE THEY CAN FIX LAST RECALL.
BUICK FIXED 3 RECALLS BUT WON'T FIX ON SAY I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER PART BEFORE THEY CAN FIX LAST RECALL.
BUICK FIXED 3 RECALLS BUT WON'T FIX ON SAY I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER PART BEFORE THEY CAN FIX LAST RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IN A PARKING LOT, THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO WAIT FOR THE SECOND NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
1997 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEALERSHIP DENIED REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS FOR ENGINE OIL DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT, BECAUSE THE REPAIR WAS DONE AFTER THE RECALL WAS MAILED. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
Mileage: 107,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AS AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE ENGINE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED EACH TIME BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.
Mileage: 195,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN THE CAR EXPLODING IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES TOTAL. TOTAL LOSS. CAUGHT FIRE TO MY FRIENDS GARAGE. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND RUNNING WHILE WE RAN INSIDE TO PAY FOR SOME STUFF. HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND WENT TO INVESTIGATE, AND SAW THE HOOD AND DASH AND THE ENGINE ON FIRE. MY FRIEND JUMPED ON HIS TRACTOR AND PUSHED IT AWAY FROM THE GARAGE, AND STARTED DUMPING SNOW ON IT. FIRE DEPT CAME AND PUT IT OUT.
Mileage: 150,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
Mileage: 190,000
WAS DRIVING MY 1997 BUICK REGAL GS 3.8 WHEN I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR WENT TO TURN LEFT AND WHEN IN THE TURN ALL THE LIGHTS START TO FLASH AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN .. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED LATER TO FIND OUT IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH NOW CAR IS SITTING WILL NOT START ALL LIGHTS FLASH WILL NOT CRANK OR TURN OVER ... BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WOULD MAKE A LEFT TURN YOU COULD HEAR A CLICKING COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON ... EVERYTHING YOU TOUCHED ON THE STEERING WHEEL , TURN SIGNALS , WINDSHIELD WIPERS ANYTHING WOULD MAKE ALL CLUSTER LIGHTS COME ON AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR . THANK GOD KNOWONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED
Mileage: 145,000
WAS DRIVING MY 1997 BUICK REGAL GS 3.8 WHEN I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR WENT TO TURN LEFT AND WHEN IN THE TURN ALL THE LIGHTS START TO FLASH AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN .. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED LATER TO FIND OUT IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH NOW CAR IS SITTING WILL NOT START ALL LIGHTS FLASH WILL NOT CRANK OR TURN OVER ... BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WOULD MAKE A LEFT TURN YOU COULD HEAR A CLICKING COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON ... EVERYTHING YOU TOUCHED ON THE STEERING WHEEL , TURN SIGNALS , WINDSHIELD WIPERS ANYTHING WOULD MAKE ALL CLUSTER LIGHTS COME ON AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR . THANK GOD KNOWONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED
Mileage: 145,000
WAS DRIVING MY 1997 BUICK REGAL GS 3.8 WHEN I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR WENT TO TURN LEFT AND WHEN IN THE TURN ALL THE LIGHTS START TO FLASH AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN .. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED LATER TO FIND OUT IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH NOW CAR IS SITTING WILL NOT START ALL LIGHTS FLASH WILL NOT CRANK OR TURN OVER ... BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WOULD MAKE A LEFT TURN YOU COULD HEAR A CLICKING COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON ... EVERYTHING YOU TOUCHED ON THE STEERING WHEEL , TURN SIGNALS , WINDSHIELD WIPERS ANYTHING WOULD MAKE ALL CLUSTER LIGHTS COME ON AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR . THANK GOD KNOWONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED
Mileage: 145,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC 6 TIMES TO REPAIR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON/ABS LIGHT/TRAC OFF LIGHT COMING ON, HE REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WITH A MORE EXPENSIVE MODEL AND REPLACED THE MODULE ON THE ABS PUMP THAT HAS THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND PUMP GEARS. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR APPROX. 1 1/2 WEEKS AND NOW IS BACK! AM GOING TO THE MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. *TR
Mileage: 141,072
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.