NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
36 reportsClear category filter90,560 miles · Mar 31, 2021
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT IS OUT, CONDENSATION INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT AS WELL. BOUGHT $106.00 HALOGEN REPLACEMENT BULB AND LIGHT STILL ISN'T WORKING. AFTER LOOKING FOR OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE I SEE THIS THERE IS COMPLAINTS AND RECALL FOR "SOME" MODELS OF THE 2013 BUICK REGAL (TURBO PREMIUM 3) SPECIFICALLY BY CHECKING MY VIN FO…
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MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT IS OUT, CONDENSATION INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT AS WELL. BOUGHT $106.00 HALOGEN REPLACEMENT BULB AND LIGHT STILL ISN'T WORKING. AFTER LOOKING FOR OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE I SEE THIS THERE IS COMPLAINTS AND RECALL FOR "SOME" MODELS OF THE 2013 BUICK REGAL (TURBO PREMIUM 3) SPECIFICALLY BY CHECKING MY VIN FOR THE RECALL. OBVIOUSLY HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE OTHER REGAL MODELS OF SAME YEAR WERE RECALLED FOR.
NHTSA ODI #11405891
Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2021
Electrical System
ADDENDUM TO REPORT 11400295 - HERE'S A PICTURE OF THE AMOUNT OF WATER ACCUMULATED IN THE HEADLIGHT LENSE IN LESS THAN A WEEK. I'M REPLACING THE BULB AND BALLAST FOR THE THIRD TIM IN LESS THAN 8 MONTHS - HELP
NHTSA ODI #11402657
71,111 miles · Sep 23, 2020
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
VEHICLE COLLECTED CONDENSATION INSIDE THE DRIVER HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CAUSING A SHORTAGE/BURN OUT OF THE PROJECTOR FOR THE HID SYSTEM. $1244 WAS THE COST OF REPLACEMENT LIGHT ASSEMBLY, WHICH DIDN'T LAST LONG BEFORE THE PROJECTOR BURNT OUT AGAIN. THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE REPLACEMENT COST B…
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VEHICLE COLLECTED CONDENSATION INSIDE THE DRIVER HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CAUSING A SHORTAGE/BURN OUT OF THE PROJECTOR FOR THE HID SYSTEM. $1244 WAS THE COST OF REPLACEMENT LIGHT ASSEMBLY, WHICH DIDN'T LAST LONG BEFORE THE PROJECTOR BURNT OUT AGAIN. THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE REPLACEMENT COST BETWEEN $1000-$1600! THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT ILLUMINATE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR SAFETY WARNINGS, NOR WILL IT STORE CODES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PRESENTLY PRINTED OUT AT OCCURRING TIMES.
NHTSA ODI #11360599
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2020
Electrical System
I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WHERE MY CAR WON'T START AT TIME I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY AND HAD THE ALTERNATOR CHECK ALL GOOD SOMETIMES I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND I NOTICE THERE'S A RECALL ON 2013 BUICK REGAL GS
NHTSA ODI #11341394
120,000 miles · Jun 19, 2020
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructureCrash
I'VE HAD FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS HAD ISSUES WITH MY 2013 BUICK REGAL TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A FEW ACCIDENTS THAT HAS NEARLY CAUSE ME MY LIFE. THE CAR HAS HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES I'VE TRIED GETTING FIXED AND I'VE DEALT WITH DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE DUE TO THIS. CAR HAS TURNED OFF ON ME WHILE IN MOTION. I'VE REPLACED …
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I'VE HAD FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS HAD ISSUES WITH MY 2013 BUICK REGAL TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A FEW ACCIDENTS THAT HAS NEARLY CAUSE ME MY LIFE. THE CAR HAS HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES I'VE TRIED GETTING FIXED AND I'VE DEALT WITH DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE DUE TO THIS. CAR HAS TURNED OFF ON ME WHILE IN MOTION. I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND I'VE SPENT SEVERAL 1,000S OF DOLLARS TRYING TO GET IT REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11329679
117,000 miles · Jun 1, 2020
Electrical System
ELECTRICAL ISSUES, MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR REPLACED 3 TIMES HAS CONTINUED TO GO OUT, VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITH NO CODES AVAILABLE, VERY HAZARDOUS, VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNLESS YOU DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND RESET THE COMPUTER, AFTER THAT THE VEHICLE WILL RUN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ADD WILL SHUT DOWN AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11326757
11,700 miles · Jun 1, 2020
Electrical System
ON MY 2013 BUICK REGAL GS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HAS CONTINUED TO SHUT DOWN 3 TIMES AND HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, THE CAR CONTINUES TO SHUT DOWN WITH NO GM CODES. PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP OR I'LL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTACT MY COUNSEL TO FILE A LEGAL COMPLAINT AGAINST GM FOR DANGEROUS CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11326735
54,200 miles · Jan 21, 2020
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER LEAVING WORK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER THE LOCKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. IT TOOK THE CONTACT OVER 10 MINUTES TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE EALER SHEEHAN BUICK (2800 N FEDERAL HWY LIGHTHOUSE POINT FL 33…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER LEAVING WORK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER THE LOCKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. IT TOOK THE CONTACT OVER 10 MINUTES TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE EALER SHEEHAN BUICK (2800 N FEDERAL HWY LIGHTHOUSE POINT FL 33064-6849 (866) 586-9080) TRIED TO SET AN APPOINTMENT AND WANTED TO CHARGE A DIAGNOSTIC FEE OF $180. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,200.
NHTSA ODI #11300656
63,000 miles · Oct 30, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting
PRIOR TO THIS EVENT THE RADIO AND INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHT WOULD FLICKER AND THE RADIO WOULD TURN OFF COMPLETELY. THE BATTERY WAS THE ORIGINAL BATTERY SO WE REPLACED IT. BUT IT WASN'T COMPLETELY SHOT AT THAT POINT. DURING THE SAME TIME OF THIS HAPPENING THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB WENT BAD ALSO. SO I THOUGHT THAT MAY HAVE HAD …
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PRIOR TO THIS EVENT THE RADIO AND INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHT WOULD FLICKER AND THE RADIO WOULD TURN OFF COMPLETELY. THE BATTERY WAS THE ORIGINAL BATTERY SO WE REPLACED IT. BUT IT WASN'T COMPLETELY SHOT AT THAT POINT. DURING THE SAME TIME OF THIS HAPPENING THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB WENT BAD ALSO. SO I THOUGHT THAT MAY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY COMPLETELY TO RESET THE COMPUTER BECAUSE THERE WAS ANY POWER TO THE CAR AT ALL. WAITED A FEW MINUTES HOOKED IT BACK UP AND IT ALLOWED US TO JUMP THE CAR OFF.. THE RADIO AND LIGHTS HAVE ON A FEW OCCASIONS DID THE SAME AS BEFORE BUT NEVER THE ISSUE OF STARTING. SO NOW IT DID THE SAME THING AS BEFORE SO ONCE IT WAS JUMPED AGAIN I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL AUTOZONE AND HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED AND GOT AN ALL GOOD REPORT. IN ADDITION THIS TIME THE ABS AND THE STAILITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CANE ON AND WOULD GO OUT UNTIL THE COMPUTER WAS RESET BY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. I'VE READ A COUPLE OF FORUMS AND THE SEEMS TO BE MORE OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER OWNERS. SOME EVEN STATED THEIR VEHICLE EVEN SHUTOFF IN MOTION. AS I SIT FILLING THIS FORM OUT THE RADIO AND THE LIGHT IN THE GLOVE BOX CONTINUE TO COME ON AND OFF.
NHTSA ODI #11277187
100,300 miles · Oct 27, 2019
Electrical System
THE HEADLIGHT WIRING SYSTEM DOES NOT CONTINUE TO FUNCTION, FOR SOME REASON IT DOES NOT GIVE POWER TO THE HID HEADLIGHTS.
NHTSA ODI #11271399
Official recalls
6Feb 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.
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.
Aug 12, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Malibu, and 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 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. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 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 N212330130.
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.
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.
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.
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
2AQ14001 · 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