While merging onto the freeway, I was taking my car to be smogged. At speed, I noticed a little white puff of smoke emit from the right side of the engine bay. As I proceeded to start moving to the shoulder, this puff had turned into a gray plume. As I finally reached the shoulder, the entire front of the engine bay was billowing black smoke. As I tried to stop, the brake pedal went to the floor, so it seemed the fire had burnt through a brake line. I managed to engage the emergency brake slowly and managed to stop on the shoulder. Opening the hood, I found a small fire burning at the rear of the engine, but in front of the firewall. I had nothing with me, so I called the fire department and it was extinguished. However, by the time they got there, the entire engine compartment was totaled beyond extensive repair.
1996 Buick Regal fuel system problems
19 complaints (9% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 113,000.
- owner complaints
- 19
- of this car's complaints
- 9%
- typical mileage
- 113,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Fuel injection system6
- Delivery: fuel pump6
- Storage: tank assembly2
- Storage: fuel gauge system1
- Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1
- Delivery1
- Carburetor system1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Buick Regal fuel system problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 1996 Buick Regal fuel system
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
- What is wrong
- A backfire during engine starting can cause breakage of the upper intake manifold.
- Risk
- This condition can cause a no-start condition and possibly an engine compartment fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the powertrain control module programming. Until the campaign repair is made, the vehicle hood should be shut whenever starting the vehicle to reduce the chance of personal injury.
Recall number 96V116000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Engine compartment fires
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with gm?s actions in 03v‑473 and 04v‑090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm?s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold ruptures and related fires in other my 1995-2002 gm passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.for additional information, see the attached closing report.
EA02030
What 1996 Buick Regal owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My car started to not start after being driven and shortly after did not want to start in a simple idle. Somehow fuel has been getting trapped in a pressurized line and I'm having to release the fuel out. Oil leaked into the spark plugs caused a pilot flame. I have read multiple accounts of this happening to that specific make and year as well a few of the other 90 models. Every account says it is a flaw in the engine and fuel system.
Vehicle back fire through the intake and smoke rolls out from under the hood when trying to start the vehicle, normally start good after sitting over night, but go to start it again it will back fire or the engine idle is very erratic before it will smooth out. I replace spark plug, spark plug wires, cam sensor, pcv valve, fuel filter check battery connection.
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 buick regal. The contact noticed that the vehicle sporadically experienced a no-start condition. There was also a backfire that occurred when the vehicle was started. The upper intake manifold failed prior to the upper intake manifold. The dealer stated that his VIN was excluded from the federal safety agency campaign id number 96v116000 (fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system). The contact would not assume responsibility for the repair. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 78,117. Updated 02/05/09. *lj coolant was found in the oil when repairs were made on the manifold. Updated 02/10/09.
Dt*: the contact stated while starting the vehicle the plastic upper intake manifold exploded. There is a the federal safety agency recall, # 96v116000, regarding the fuel injection system. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the VIN. Updated 5/3/2006 - when the consumer started the vehicle an explosion was heard. The consumer exited the vehicle and opened the hood to find the engine on fire. The consumer was able to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.
Had an electric fuel pump failure after a period of problems with difficulty starting and poor acceleration. When the fuel pump was removed, there is evidence of arcing at the connector. Seems to be a fire hazard, as the pump is inside the fuel tank.
After turning the ignition to start the vehicle there was an explosion, the engine was on fire. The fire department was called, and the fire was extinguished. This vehicle was not included in the intake manifold the federal safety agency recall 96v116000. *ak the egr valve was inoperative and on another occasion the vehicle had to be jump started. *sc
At 55mph, fuel line snapped, causing fluid to leak onto the motor. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.*ak the plastic connectors at the motor manifold broke off. Dealer was notified but no call was returned to consumer. The steel tubing from the gas tank is connected to the steel manifold at the motor block with a thin walled plastic tubing. Under the vehicle, the plastic tubing is heat-shrunk to the steel tubing in which no fittings are used. At the motor manifold, plastic fittings are used. The fitting broke, and fuel was spilling onto the hot motor block and formed a puddle of hot fuel, one person inhaled the gas fumes.
While vehicle was parked there was a loud noise that came from engine. When consumer opened the hood, the engine was on fire. Contacted dealer. *ak consumer had tried to start the vehicle, once he turned the key a loud noise errupted from the hood area. Vehicle was under recall for backfire during engine starting, dealer refuses to repair without payment. *jg referenced in ea02-030
Consumer states that the intake manifold has blown up once before in the vehicle while the vehicle was being started up. Contacted dealer and the dealer noted that the vechile is not part of the recall. Nlm
Questions about the 1996 Buick Regal fuel system
Does the 1996 Buick Regal have fuel system problems?
Owners have filed 19 complaints about the fuel system of the 1996 Buick Regal, 9% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 1996 Buick Regal fuel system problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 113,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Buick Regal fuel system?
Yes, 1 recall: 96V116000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Buick Regal have the most fuel system problems?
The Buick Regal model years with the most fuel system complaints are 1996 (19 complaints) and 2011 (17 complaints).
Other 1996 Buick Regal problems
Brakes 42Engine 38Electrical 24Airbags 21Steering 18Body 10Seat belts 10Suspension 10Acceleration 9Transmission 9Visibility 7Lights 4Locks 3Seats 3Tires 3Wheels 2
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