IllustrationFROM 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.
2004 Buick Regal
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Buick Regal do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 29.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Regal years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
325–50K
950–75K
1775–100K
11100–150K
2150K+
45 reports with mileage · 21 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports
Power Train complaints
3 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO A SHORT IN THE IGNITION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO A SHORT IN THE IGNITION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 03/09/16*LJ *TR
THE FIRST FEW TIMES, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AS I WAS BRAKING FOR STOP SIGNS. THE ANTI-LOCKS ACTIVATED, THE ANTI-LOCK WARNING CAME ON, AND THEN THE ENGINE REFIRED, THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT, AND IT RAN FINE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR A COMPLETE TUNE-UP. THEN IT QUIT ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE IGNITION WOULD REFIRE. THEN IT QUIT …
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THE FIRST FEW TIMES, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AS I WAS BRAKING FOR STOP SIGNS. THE ANTI-LOCKS ACTIVATED, THE ANTI-LOCK WARNING CAME ON, AND THEN THE ENGINE REFIRED, THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT, AND IT RAN FINE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR A COMPLETE TUNE-UP. THEN IT QUIT ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE IGNITION WOULD REFIRE. THEN IT QUIT ON AN ONRAMP AND I HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL TO RESTART IT. THE LAST TIME IT FAILED, I ATTEMPTED TO START IT IN A PARKING LOT. IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO KEEP IT RUNNING. THE LAST SEVERAL TIMES THAT IT FAILED, ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF UNTIL I RESTARTED IT. THAT WAS THE CLUE THAT I SEARCHED FOR ON THE INTERNET. I FOUND THIS PARTICULAR WEBSITE AND I ALSO FOUND VIDEOS AND BLOGS OF MY PROBLEM. MY LOCAL MECHANIC DID HIS OWN RESEARCH AND WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTACT BLOCK. SO, I TOOK THE OLD IGNITION CONTACT BLOCK APART. THREE CONTACTS WERE BURNED. TWO WERE MILD, BUT THE THIRD ONE WAS SEVERE. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT CIRCUIT IT WAS FOR, BUT IT WAS THE LAST CONTACT AWAY FROM THE CIRCULAR OPENING ON THE SIDE WHERE THE RED AND THE ORANGE WIRES ENTER THE BLOCK. SINCE THE REPAIR, THE CAR IS RUNNING GOOD. DUE TO THE RANDOM NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, I CANNOT BE COMFORTABLE QUITE YET UNTIL I PUT A FEW MORE MILES ON IT. I FRANKLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GM DOES NOT ADMIT THAT THE SCOPE OF THEIR IGNITION SWITCH RECALL IS PROBABLY MUCH LARGER THAN THEY ALREADY ADMIT TO - UNLESS IT INVOLVES THAT MANY MORE CARS. I READ AN ARTICLE WHERE THEY ARE TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO HANG ANY WEIGHT ON THE IGNITION KEY UNTIL THEY CAN GET THEIR REPAIRS DONE. I JIGGLED AND PULLED ON MY KEY WHILE CAR WAS RUNNING OK BETWEEN BOUTS OF FAILURE: IT HAD NO EFFECT. THIS REPAIR COST ME $326.54 AND I AM HOLDING MY RECEIPT JUST IN CASE EITHER THE GOVT. OR GM DOES THE RIGHT THING AND REIMBURSES ME. I THINK I WILL LOOK AT FORD NEXT TIME. *TR
Official recalls
215V701000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe
Oct 26, 2015
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, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
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 engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
Additional source detail variants (2)
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. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
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 engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
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, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
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 engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
15V201000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Apr 6, 2015
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 manufactured April 7, 2003, to June 23, 2003. On May 18, 2015, GM expanded the recall to cover an additional 49,751 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2003, to June 25, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the valve cover gasket may leak.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14574.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.