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2012 Buick Regal

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Buick Regal do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 29.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model 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

63 reports with mileage · 29 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.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

92 reports
34,149 miles · Sep 11, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND DASH BOARD WENT HAYWIRE BRAKES LOCKED AND SERVICE STABILIKTRACK SYSTEM AND ABS ASSIST WARNINGS AND IT SMELLED LIKE MY CAR WAS ON FIRE BRAKES LOCKED STEERING AND LOST POWER TOTALLY SHUT DOWN GLAD SOMEONE WAS IN CAR TO HELP ME STEER TO…

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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND DASH BOARD WENT HAYWIRE BRAKES LOCKED AND SERVICE STABILIKTRACK SYSTEM AND ABS ASSIST WARNINGS AND IT SMELLED LIKE MY CAR WAS ON FIRE BRAKES LOCKED STEERING AND LOST POWER TOTALLY SHUT DOWN GLAD SOMEONE WAS IN CAR TO HELP ME STEER TO SIDE OF ROAD OUT OF TRAFFIC HAD TO HAVE TOWED AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE APPARENTLY GM DIDNT GET IT RIGHT I COULD HAVE DIED AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR PROBLEM SINCE THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD IT DONE BEFORE I PURCHASED IT AND THERE ARE OTHER OWNERS HAVING SAME ISSUES AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #11022715

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2017
Exterior Lighting

TAKATA RECALL I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT KEEP GETTING CONDENSATION IN IT I NOTICED THAT EVERYBODY WHO HAVE THE GS MODEL HAS CONDENSATION IN CAUSING THE BALLAST TO FILL WITH WATER AND CAUSING THE BULB TO BURN OUT AND THE BALLAST AND BULB HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WATER ENTERING INTO THE HEADLIGHT

NHTSA ODI #10994283

58,000 miles · Mar 21, 2017
Electrical SystemEquipmentInterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING TURNED ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE RADIO SPONTANEOUSLY TURNED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING TURNED ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE RADIO SPONTANEOUSLY TURNED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10967633

20,000 miles · Sep 17, 2016
Structure

TRUNK LID OPENS ON IT'S OWN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN PARKED, BUT IT OPENED AT LEAST [OR WAS DISCOVERED OPEN] WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. BLOCKING THE REAR VIEW. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES. THIS HAS ALLOWED SNOW AND RAIN TO ENTER THE TRUNK. I THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REMOTE TRUNK RELEASE WHEN THIS HAPPENS T…

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TRUNK LID OPENS ON IT'S OWN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN PARKED, BUT IT OPENED AT LEAST [OR WAS DISCOVERED OPEN] WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. BLOCKING THE REAR VIEW. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES. THIS HAS ALLOWED SNOW AND RAIN TO ENTER THE TRUNK. I THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REMOTE TRUNK RELEASE WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CONTENTS OF THE CAR AND THE CAR ARE OPEN TO THEFT. THE DEALER AND BUICK ARE KNOW ABOUT THIS BUT DO NOT ACT LIKE THIS IS IMPORTANT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL DATES,I PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEB 2013 THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS IN JULY OF 2016. THE CAR HAS 20500 MILES ON IT

NHTSA ODI #10907367

66,000 miles · Jan 19, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDEN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A VOLTAGE DRAINAGE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10820979

39,000 miles · Jun 15, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

THE CAR HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER. ANYTHING ELECTRICAL WOULDN'T WORK. WE COULDN'T REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, PUT WINDOWS OR ANYTHING. THE SECOND TIME I TRIED TO USE THE VEHICLES SELF JUMP START BUT NOTHING WOULD WORK. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER IN THIS CAR AT THIS TIME. MY WIFE SAID AT ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SHE DID SMELL A BURNI…

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THE CAR HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER. ANYTHING ELECTRICAL WOULDN'T WORK. WE COULDN'T REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, PUT WINDOWS OR ANYTHING. THE SECOND TIME I TRIED TO USE THE VEHICLES SELF JUMP START BUT NOTHING WOULD WORK. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER IN THIS CAR AT THIS TIME. MY WIFE SAID AT ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SHE DID SMELL A BURNING ODOR. WE ALSO HAD THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING. IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. WE FEEL WE ARE DRIVING A FIREBOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN AND DO NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS CAR ANYMORE. CURRENTLY ITS AT A GM DEALER AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHATS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. BEST PART IS THE DEALERS DON'T WANT THIS CAR BACK AS EVIDENCED BY THE LOW TRADE IN VALUE THAT WAS OFFERED.

NHTSA ODI #10725396

6,987 miles · Mar 21, 2015
Service Brakes

BRAKE PADS RUSTED TO THE ROTORS, AFTER HAND-WASHING THE VEHICLE THE EVENING OF JULY 2ND. NEEDED TO REV THE ENGINE VERY HIGH, IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE BRAKE PADS. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN, AND THEN LETTING IT SIT FOR A DAY OR TWO. ON JAN 16, 2015 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR WARRANTY…

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BRAKE PADS RUSTED TO THE ROTORS, AFTER HAND-WASHING THE VEHICLE THE EVENING OF JULY 2ND. NEEDED TO REV THE ENGINE VERY HIGH, IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE BRAKE PADS. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN, AND THEN LETTING IT SIT FOR A DAY OR TWO. ON JAN 16, 2015 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR WARRANTY WORK, BUT THE DEALER DID NOT DO ANYTHING. ON FEB 20, 2015 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, BUT AGAIN THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700805

3,800 miles · Mar 21, 2015
Power Train

DIFFICULT TO SHIFT MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN COLD WEATHER, ALONG WITH GEAR NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON JAN 16, 2015 AND ALL THEY DID WAS GIVE US A COPY OF GM'S CORPORATE BULLETIN 03-07-29-004I: MANUAL TRANSMISSION OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS (DEC 19, 2014). THIS DOCUMENT TOLD US TO SHIFT SLOWLY IN COLD WEATHER, BUT THEN WE CAN…

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DIFFICULT TO SHIFT MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN COLD WEATHER, ALONG WITH GEAR NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON JAN 16, 2015 AND ALL THEY DID WAS GIVE US A COPY OF GM'S CORPORATE BULLETIN 03-07-29-004I: MANUAL TRANSMISSION OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS (DEC 19, 2014). THIS DOCUMENT TOLD US TO SHIFT SLOWLY IN COLD WEATHER, BUT THEN WE CANNOT SHIFT IT AT ALL. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER ON FEB 20, 2015. THE SERVICE MANAGER TEST DROVE IT AND AGREED THERE WAS A SHIFTING ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS MUCH EASIER TO SHIFT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE NOW HAVE A VIBRATION IN 2ND GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700804

3,860 miles · Mar 21, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

"SERVICE STABILITRAK" LIGHT AND MESSAGE CAME ON WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER. THIS OCCURRED 3 SEPARATE TIMES IN JAN-FEB 2014. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR WARRANTY WORK ON JAN 16, 2015, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES WITH "STABILITRAK." ON FEB 11, 2015, THE "SERVICE STABILITRACK" LIGHT AND MESSAGE CAME ON AGAIN…

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"SERVICE STABILITRAK" LIGHT AND MESSAGE CAME ON WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER. THIS OCCURRED 3 SEPARATE TIMES IN JAN-FEB 2014. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR WARRANTY WORK ON JAN 16, 2015, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES WITH "STABILITRAK." ON FEB 11, 2015, THE "SERVICE STABILITRACK" LIGHT AND MESSAGE CAME ON AGAIN. IT STAYED ON FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS THIS TIME. TOOK VEHICLE TO DIFFERENT DEALER ON FEB 16TH, BUT THEY INSTRUCTED US TO BRING IT BACK ON FEB 20TH. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER ON FEB 20TH, BUT AGAIN THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES WITH "STABILITRAK." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700803

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2012 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WHEELS AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE WHEELS WERE SQUEAKING, BECAUSE THERE WAS MOISTURE AND CONDENSATION ON THE ROTORS.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10595100

Official recalls

7

26V113000 · Suspension:rear

Feb 26, 2026

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012–2013 Buick Regal Turbo and GS trim-level vehicles that were sold or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear suspension toe links may have received improper corrosion protection, which can result in rear toe link fracture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Rear toe link fracture can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 3, 2026. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N252537580. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall numbers 20V764, 21V633, and 21V00F.

21V00F000 · Suspension:rear

Dec 22, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.

20V764000 · Suspension:rear

Dec 21, 2020

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on January 27, 2021, and April 15, 2021. A third notification was mailed on August 19, 201. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202308930.

14V447000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Jul 23, 2014

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. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

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. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

13V173000 · Electrical System

May 6, 2013

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Regal, and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco vehicles equipped with eAssist. These vehicles may have a condition in which the Generator Control Module (GCM) may not function properly. This could cause a gradual loss of battery charge and the illumination of the malfunction indicator light.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and possibly a fire in the trunk.

Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will test the GCM and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13136.

12V484000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

Oct 4, 2012

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with two turn signal bulbs in each front turn signal. If one of the two front turn signal bulbs burn out in either front turn signal lamp, there is no indication to the driver. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the driver is not aware that a turn signal is not functioning properly, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle. If half of a front turn signal is not illuminating, other driver's may not be aware that the affected vehicle is turning, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12212.

12V093000 · Exterior Lighting

Mar 7, 2012

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 BUICK REGAL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2011, THROUGH FEBRUARY 22, 2012 FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108 “LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.” DUE TO A SOFTWARE ERROR, THE PARKING LAMPS DO NOT ACTIVATE WHEN EITHER THE PARKING LAMPS OR HEADLAMPS ARE TURNED ON.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INADEQUATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Remedy: GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GM AT 1-800-521-7300.

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

2

AQ14001 · Sands Chevrolet/hybrid System Fire/stall

Opened May 2, 2014 · Closed May 22, 2016

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

NHTSA opened AQ14-001 to determine whether Sands Chevrolet of Surprise, Arizona complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations. The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and, in turn, that a dealer not sell and deliver a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed (49 U.S.C. ?? 30112(a), 30120(i)).NHTSA issued an information request (IR) letter to Sands Chevrolet on May 5, 2014.Sands Chevrolet responded to this request on May 22, 2014.To ensure NHTSA?s information request encompassed all possible reference codes for General Motors recall 13V-173, NHTSA issued another IR letter to Sands Chevrolet on June 8, 2015.Again, a response letter was received on June 9, 2015.NHTSA?s investigation indicated that Sands Chevrolet did sell and deliver recalled vehicles that did not have the recall remedy completed at the time the vehicles were delivered to the customers.NHTSA therefore concluded that Sands Chevrolet was liable for civil penalties for violations of the Safety Act, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. ? 30165.Under a Settlement Agreement dated March 24, 2016, Sands Chevrolet represented that it improved its processes to verify that it checks every vehicle for recalls prior to delivery to the purchaser and that it has not sold and delivered any unremedied new motor vehicles since June 9, 2015.Sands Chevrolet also represented that it now also checks for open recalls on every customer vehicle brought in for service, and that it checks for open recalls on every used trade-in vehicle, regardless of make or model, and takes steps to have all used trade-in vehicles repaired prior to retail sale. Sands Chevrolet admitted to violating the law and must pay civil penalties in the amount of $40,000.This Audit Query is closed.

RQ13003 · Generator Control Module Fires

Opened Jul 5, 2013 · Closed Jul 22, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery

On July 5, 2013 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ13-003 to investigate whether the service procedures utilized in recall bulletins 13136 and 13142 for safety recall 13V-173 were sufficient to identify the safety defect in the subject vehicles.These safety recalls were issue on May 3, 2013 to address the improper function of the Generator Control Module (GCM) in certain model year (MY) 2012-13 Buick LaCrosse and Regal and MY 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco equipped with eAssist.This condition may result in a loss of battery charge, engine stall and/or inability for the vehicle to start.In severe cases it may also lead to odor, smoke and possibly a fire in the trunk.During discussions with General Motors (GM), ODI was informed that the subject vehicles could be separated into 4 distinct build populations, or groups. Group A contained vehicles built from the start of production through 3/19/2012.Group B involved vehicles built from 3/20/2012 to 8/20/2012, group C from 8/21/2012 to 12/31/12, and group D from 1/1/2013 onwards.Bulletin 13136 instructed dealers to inspect and, if necessary, replace the GCM for vehicles in groups A or C.Bulletin 13142 instructed dealers to replace the GCM of any vehicle in group B.Group D vehicles were not recalled.All eAssist vehicles have a Powerpack which contains a BAS (belt alternator-starter) Power Inverter Module (BPIM)/Accessory Power Module (APM) and a 115-V Lithium-Ion battery.The Powerpack is known by GM's Part Description System as the GCM and Battery Module. The BPIM/APM contains 3 multi-layered printed circuit boards (PCBs) comprised of conductive layers separated by isolating layers.Vehicles built within the time periods of groups A and B had PCBs using single isolation layers.Vehicles build in group C had dual isolation layers on 1 of the 3 PCBs, and group D had all 3 PCBs built with dual insulation.Adding dual insulation to a PCB makes it more robust to material and manufacturing variations, and ultimately less susceptible to an electrical short circuit and subsequent failure.Through initial analysis of the GCM failures, GM identified that vehicles within group B contained PCBs that were contaminated during production due to increased production volumes that resulted in inadequate quality control.GM also noted that GCM failures occurred early in the life of the vehicle (typically <1000 miles).Therefore a service procedure was developed to replicate early life failures by subjecting the GCM to high current loads which would cause the identified failure mechanism (copper migration) to occur quickly and reveal any underlying PCB defect.Although groups A and C were built with PCBs containing single layer PCBs, they were built using better quality control, and as the data supports, experienced significantly lower failures.GM advised that for these reasons the two different service procedures were used in the Recall 13V-173 population.In response to ODI's Information Request (IR) GM submitted 234 unique reports related to the alleged problem. It was noted that 197 (84%) of the received reports fell into the group B population.The 2 fire incidents noted were events in which flames were evident and/or damage was experienced outside of the GCM. Both of these incidents involved group B vehicles. One hundred four warranty claims were also submitted in response to the IR, with 96 claims (92%) from group B.It was also noted that none of the claims from groups A or C occurred after the service procedure was conducted, and that the majority of the A or C incidents occurred during the service procedure.Given the data, ODI believes the ser