BUICK REGAL · model year

2004 BUICK REGAL

94 NHTSA complaints, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004BUICKREGAL carries 94 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 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 2004 REGAL is electrical system with 31 filings, followed by engine (18) and engine and engine cooling (6). 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. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2004 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.

94
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

94 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31
ENGINE18
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)5
STEERING5
POWER TRAIN3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
STEERING:RACK AND PINION1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1
AIR BAGS1

Recalls (4)

15V70100026/10/2015

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118,

08E06300017/10/2008

STEERING

DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DU

09E00500017/02/2009

STEERING

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN

15V20100006/04/2015

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manu

Recent Complaints

20201208ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ALL 4 POWER WINDOW MOTORS DO NOT WORK. THEY ALL FAILED WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. I CHECKED ON YOU TUBE AND FOUND THAT ALMOST ALL BUICK REGALS HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF POWER WINDOW MOTORS BREAKING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON YOU TUBE ALONE FOR THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS PROOF THAT THE POWER WINDOW MOTORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND PROBABLY MADE THIS WAY TO FORCE OWNERS TO MAKE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. I AM ASKING YOU TO FORCE BUICK TO RECALL THEIR REGAL MODELS AND HAVE THE WINDOW MOTORS REPAIRED AT BUICK'S EXPENSE.

Mileage: 110,000

20201208UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ALL 4 POWER WINDOW MOTORS DO NOT WORK. THEY ALL FAILED WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. I CHECKED ON YOU TUBE AND FOUND THAT ALMOST ALL BUICK REGALS HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF POWER WINDOW MOTORS BREAKING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON YOU TUBE ALONE FOR THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS PROOF THAT THE POWER WINDOW MOTORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND PROBABLY MADE THIS WAY TO FORCE OWNERS TO MAKE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. I AM ASKING YOU TO FORCE BUICK TO RECALL THEIR REGAL MODELS AND HAVE THE WINDOW MOTORS REPAIRED AT BUICK'S EXPENSE.

Mileage: 110,000

20201201ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE FIRST TIME THE CAR STALLED WAS AS I WAS APPROACHING THE STOP SIGN.IT STALLED AND THE DASH LIGHT ALL CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO RE-START IT AFTER PUTTING IT IN PARK. IT THEN HAPPENED AGAIN THE SAME AS BEFORE I GOT HOME. THE NEXT DAY IT DROVE NORMAL FOR AWHILE THEN AS I WAS STARTING IT UP AGAIN IT STARTED WITH A NOISE AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH A LIT UP AGAIN. IT SEEMED TO RUN NORMAL AGAIN. BUT A BIT LATER AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN INTO A PARKING LOT IT STALLED AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE GARAGE AND THEY HOOKED UP TO THEIR TESTER AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ABNORMAL WITH THE CAR.

Mileage: 98,296

20190610POWER TRAIN

FROM A DEAD STOP, WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THE CAR HAS A HARD SHUDDER, TRANS SLIP...BELIEVE IT TO BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND A PROBLEM GM HAS KNOWN FOR SOMETIME WITH THEIR G4T60-E TRANSMISSION, MOST LIKELY A PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID PROBLEM OR CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.

Mileage: 57,000

20190225ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

POWER WINDOWS ON THIS CAR BURN OUT, 4 MECHANICS SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND REPAIRS OF THE POWER WINDOWS IS EXPENSIVE

Mileage: 85,000

20181218ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART BY USING THE KEY FOB, BUT WOULD SHUT BACK OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

Mileage: 97,000

20181218ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART BY USING THE KEY FOB, BUT WOULD SHUT BACK OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

Mileage: 97,000

20181115FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT SAW SMOKE ESCAPE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AS IT ENTERED INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S FRIENDS ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT AND A FIRE REPORT WERE NOT FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FIRE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

Mileage: 115,000

20180622ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOSE POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BY WIGGLING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Mileage: 95,000

20170616ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE THE DEALER (INTEGRITY DODGE LOCATED ON 6025 INTERNATIONAL DR, CHATTANOOGA, TN) FOR A RECALL REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE GRAY COVER GASKET FROM THE ENGINE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK WITH THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALMART FOR SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND A LEAK COMING FROM THE TAP OF THE ENGINE COVER AND STATED THAT THE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,284.

Mileage: 9,284

20170511UNKNOWN OR OTHER

IGNITION SWITCH IS FAILING, CAUSING STALLS, AND FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR JUST A SECOND OR 2 TODAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IT STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND I HAD TO START IT. IT KILLED IN A GARAGE, TURNING OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO A DRIVEWAY, AND SO ON. EVIDENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM IN GM CARS.

Mileage: 73,000

20170428ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING SLOW SPEEDS, ALL THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. UPDATED 06/21/17*LJ *AS

Mileage: 48,000

20160608ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V201000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20160523EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. THE MULTIFUNCTION LEVER HEADLIGHT BUTTON HAD TO BE HELD IN ORDER FOR THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO WORK. IN ADDITION, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

Mileage: 114,000

20160512ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V201000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20160330ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20160317ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSIVE OIL LEAK BUT THE RECALL REPAIR PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME THAT THE PART WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 05/03/16*LJ UPDATED 11/30/2017*JS

Mileage: 98,000

20160308ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2004 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DROPS OF ENGINE OIL DEPOSIT ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE. *LD ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR INVOICE, THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *JB

20160308ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2004 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DROPS OF ENGINE OIL DEPOSIT ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE. *LD ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR INVOICE, THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *JB

20160304ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR DIED WHILE IN MOTION; EVERYTHING SHUT OFF INCLUDING POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSED ME TO SIT IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME CLOSE TO RUNNING INTO ME. MECHANIC CHECKED EVERYTHING AND SAID IT'S A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH.

Mileage: 124,500

Compare 2004BUICKREGAL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 BUICK REGAL have?
The 2004 BUICK REGAL has 94 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 BUICK REGAL?
Yes, the 2004 BUICK REGAL has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 BUICK REGAL?
The most-complained component for the 2004 BUICK REGAL is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 31 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 2004 BUICK REGAL safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.