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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

Other model years Selected year
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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

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

3 reports
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110,000 miles · Dec 8, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown 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 DEFECTI…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11378434

73,000 miles · May 11, 2017
Unknown 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 CAR…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10985028

132,344 miles · Jan 22, 2016
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

I WAS LEAVING WORK ONE EVENING AND USED MY TURN SIGNALS TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CAR STARTED BACK UP IMMEDIATELY, BUT ONCE I USED THE TURN SIGNAL AGAIN, THE CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. EACH TIME I USED A TURN SIGNAL, THE CAR SHUT OFF, THOUGH IT WAS ABLE TO START BACK UP IMMEDIATELY. AFTER SEA…

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I WAS LEAVING WORK ONE EVENING AND USED MY TURN SIGNALS TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CAR STARTED BACK UP IMMEDIATELY, BUT ONCE I USED THE TURN SIGNAL AGAIN, THE CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. EACH TIME I USED A TURN SIGNAL, THE CAR SHUT OFF, THOUGH IT WAS ABLE TO START BACK UP IMMEDIATELY. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND THIS: HTTP://WWW.NPR.ORG/SECTIONS/THETWO-WAY/2014/06/16/322607434/GM-RECALLS-3-2-MILLION-MORE-CARS-FOR-FAULTY-IGNITION-SWITCHES I SEARCHED MY VIN NUMBER AND THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY SPECIFIC CAR. I CALLED GM AND THEY TOLD ME IF THERE WAS NO RECALL THEY WOULD CONDUCT A DIAGNOSTIC AND WOULD GO FROM THERE. RIGHT OR WRONG, I WAS FULLY CONVINCED THE PROBLEM WOULD BE THE IGNITION SWITCH. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC IN PHILADELPHIA BECAUSE I TRUSTED HIM AND FELT COMFORTABLE WITH HIM LOOKING AT IT. HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. AFTER DOING HIS OWN DIAGNOSTIC, HE FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I EMAILED GM ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND ASKED THEM TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE $387.00 WORTH OF REPAIRS, BUT THEY REFUSED, SAYING THE CAR WAS TOO OLD AND IT WAS NOT BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART: "...OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT A DEFECT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING AND ASSEMBLY PROCESS GENERALLY MAKES ITSELF APPARENT QUITE EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER A VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, MANY FACTORS (USAGE, OWNER MAINTENANCE, AGE AND WEAR, ETC.) CAN CONTRIBUTE TO DIFFICULTIES THAT ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE'S MANUFACTURER. A POINT IS EVENTUALLY REACHED WHERE THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY CEASES AND ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIRS OR EXPENSES BECOME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER. BECAUSE YOUR 2004 BUICK REGAL HAS BEEN IN SERVICE FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 YEARS AND HAS ACCUMULATED 132,344 MILES ON IT, WE ARE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE ON YOUR REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. "

NHTSA ODI #10821710

Official recalls

2

15V701000 · 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 engine’s 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 engine’s 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 engine’s 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.