My car started jumping forward while in park and jumping while driving. About a week or so after doing that I was driving when a huge cloud of smoke came from under the hood. After turning off the engine and getting out of the car, it was on fire in a matter of minutes. The fire dept came and eventually put the fire out. Everything under the hood is totaled, the windshield cracked, the whole interior smells of burnt rubber from the tires being burnt and all wires throughout the car are shot.
1999 Buick Regal engine complaints
Page 4 of 4: complaints 71 to 91 of 91, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Dt*: the contact stated the antifreeze was vanishing under normal road conditions. The vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who determined the manifold warped allowing the antifreeze to enter into the engine. The same problem occurred three years ago. Updated 12/05/06.
I had driven the vehicle about an hour's distance with no problems, and one half hour stop along the way. I parked the vehicle and there were no warning lights on and no smell coming from the car. I walked away to a neighbors house for about ten minutes and when I came back the entire engine compartment was on fire. This quickly spread to the interior of the car, totalling about 2/3 of the vehicle. The entire front end was just metal, it melted out the wind shield and both front windows, caused severe damage to leather interior, melted the entire dashboard, melted off one of my rear view mirrors. The local fire department came and put it out, which saved the rear fenders, bumper and trunk. All four tires were melted off, front rims damaged beyond repair.
I have a 1999 buick regal in which the intake manifold is leaking. This is not new and recalls have been issued by gm for park avenue cars with similar 3.8 l engines. The car was fine until one day all of a sudden, the service engine light along with low coolant, trac off and hot temp lights came on. The gm dealer estimates the cost to be around $700+ and thinks that because of that the gasket may have been corroded.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle had been parked for 10 minutes when the engine compartment caught on fire. The fire department responded to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, but not inspected. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss.
The plastic intake manifold melted between egr port and water jacket. This allowed coolant to flood the motor. Three weeks after this $1200 repair I spun a rod bearing probably. $2700 later.
On july 31, 2004 I attempted to start my 1999 buick regal for the first time that day and immediately noticed a tapping noise coming from under the hood along with a foul odor that did not smell like antifreeze. The low coolant light on, though I had just flushed and refilled the radiator just 3 months before. While attempting to get the car to the repair shop, it died and would not start again. I was later informed that a defect common to this engine had caused the problem; the upper intake manifold is made of plastic and had broke, allowing coolant to enter the engine. Just to replace the manifold is going to cost me $652. And the extent of the engine damage can only be determined afterwards. I do not understand how the manufacturer could build such an expensive, supposedly "luxury" vehicle with such a cheap part that they know will eventually fail without warning and end the life of the vehicle or require very high repair bills. It is just their deceptive way of making their vehicles disposable and ripping off the consumer. This is the 3rd buick I have owned and I've always praised the buick name, but they've just lost a customer!! Something should be done about their deceptive manufacturing practices.
[xxx] [xxx] subject: owner complaint my vehicle: 1999 buick regal [xxx] message: on 05/15/04, my car service engine soon indicator came on. The car was running rough and white smoke was coming from the exhaust. I had the car towed to an authorized gm dealer. After $1,226.35 I was told the problem was the upper intake manifold had leaked antifluid into the engine. Upon close inspection, the technician and I notice that the upper intake had corroded badly causing it to leak. The upper intake is made from some kind of black plastic, that layers of it comes off with a slight wipe of my finger. This in my opinion is a design flaw. Now my engine is ruin. The engine service indicator is still on because of internal engine problems caused by the corroded intake manifold. I have only 69,000 miles on the car; therefore this plastic corrosion must have started thousands of miles earlier. I believe general motors (buick) should correct this problem as soon as possible and compensate their customers who have had this design flaw problem. If your engineers wish to inspect the corroded intake manifold, please advise and I will send it to them. Please note, gm refused to acknowledge or correct this problem at gm expense. [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] *ak updated 07/25/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
When driving at any speed check engine light appeared on the dashboard. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for inspection, and mechanic determined that engine failed. Consumer will have the mechanic replace the engine. *ak prior to the engine failure the vehicle was taken to the dealer three times because the consumer noticed that oil was leaking onto her driveway.
This vehicle frequently stalls. It just stops running. It happens on the freeway, at intersections, and on city streets. It has been doing this for several months. The dealer has had this vehicle on three seperate occasions, and has not been able to fix it.
Auto design defect is bilking consumers and hurting economy.*mr the engine warning light illuminated without there being a problem. The consumer mentioned the warning lights were not doing their job. Instead of warning the driver, it's costing them money to get them turned off each time. The consumer would like to know what caused the problem and why has it not been fixed yet? *ph
The vehicle swayed left to right while driving, and the steering wheel was hard to control. *jb there was a clunk in the steering wheel which caused by the undertorqued steering gear bolts. The steering shaft was loose and was replaced by the dealer. *ts(see annotation - m. Jordan) *ts. Also the engine failed to turn over, the dealer replaced the alternator and found the no voltage on the battery, the transmission jumped when it was put into gear, the dealer found the shaft for the 4th gear worn, the vehicle pulled to the side, the rack and pinion was replaced, the oil pan and front motor mount was replaced
The intake manifold failed, which caused the engine to fail. Ph. The engine block and water pump had to be replaced.
My buick regal 3.8 1999 has stalled while running at speed 5 times in the past five days. The deale, thompson buick, placerville ca said that they could do nothing since it is an intermitant problem. I shift into n and then turn the key to start while still traveling and it usually starts.
There were loud noises coming from the engine. The plastic connecting tube which carried the antifreeze broke and allowed coolant to flow into engine, and destroyed the engine. Also, the dealer replaced the head gaskets,valve seals, flywheel, intake plenum,spark plugs and starter. *ak
While traveling at 25 MPH the vehicles engine light illuminated and the temperature gauge went to hot. The consumer was able to drive about 8 more blocks before the engine died. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the upper manifold was defective.
On december 27, 2002 and december 30, 2002. I took my vehicle to jeffrey buick 30800 gratiot ave roseville, michigan 48066 on 12/27/02 because my car would not keep antifreeze in the reservoir (possible coolant leak) and the dashboard low coolant and service engine soon (ses) light was on. The car was missing and backfiring during engine start up and was almost stalling while driving. I took the car into the shop and told the service sales advisor kenneth hope what was the problem. It was diagnosed as a spark plug problem and secondary ignition wire. I approve for them to do the repairs. On december 30, 2002 I was back at jeffrey buick service for the same problem, low coolant/service engine light (ses) and antifreeze reservoir not keeping coolant. On december 31, 2002 service sales advisor jon pingel stated that the problem was due to the engine burning coolant, and that the upper plastic intake manifold/intake gasket. R&r 3.8.k had to be replaced. I came into the shop and asked him what had caused the problem. He stated to me that this is an on going problem, a manufacture defected with the buick regal were that the hose will melt and let coolant into the engine compartment, he also indicated that he receives between five to ten buick regals a week with the same problem. I asked if there had been a recall for this problem and he stated no. He then stated that if the problem is not repaired it could lead to the engine locking up or a possible engine fire. He stated that I could contact the general motors customer relations department and make a complaint and see if they would reimburse me the cost of the repair $771.81. I called the gm customer relations department there was nothing that could be done. Consumers of the buick regal must know of the possible dangers involved with the engine/coolant problem and be reimbursed for repairs done. If you can please investigate this before someone dies like in the firestone tires incident.
Consumer called complaining about having problems with her vehicle. Consumer wanted dealer fixed her car or exchanged. Please ms. Gonzales provide further information. Ts
Vehicle stalls when coming to a stop. All lights on dash go out. Dealer has replaced fuel pump, cannot remedy problem. Diagnostic done, no code given. To dealer twice, stalled 4 times so far.
Vehicle has stalled out 5 times, all different speeds and circumstances. Engine loses power, speedometer goes up to 120mph. Problem reported to dealership 5 times, unable to fix or find prob. Occurs every 3-4 weeks.
Possible engine failure resulted in an explosion and fire under the hood of the vehicle. Nlm
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