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2003 Buick Regal: engine stalls while driving

16 of the 101 complaints about the 2003 Buick Regal describe engine stalls while driving.

owner complaints
16
of this car's complaints
16%
typical mileage
91,000
recalls
3
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls and 71 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Engine stalls while driving by model year

What owners say

Filed Jul 6, 2016 · Electrical · 69,800 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick regal. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and all the warning indicators flashed on the instrument panel. The vehicle eventually restarted. The vehicle stalled five times the same day. The contact stated that the failure occurred twelve times before the last failure. The dealer replaced the ignition switch. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 69,800.

Filed Jan 5, 2016 · Electrical · 77,582 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick regal. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled and an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, but the failure recurred. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who found no failures; however, the mechanic stated that the computer system failed intermittently. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 77,582.

Filed Feb 2, 2015 · Electrical · 173,000 miles · NJ

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 buick regal. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart after several attempts. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 173,000.

Filed Oct 28, 2014 · Electrical · 270,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick regal. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the instrument panel lights illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart, but the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced; however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 270,000.

Filed Oct 28, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 91,000 miles · MI

Driving to work in the mornings recently, I have been having some electrical issues with my car. If I use my blinkers, all the warning lights in my dash cluster will light up for a few seconds, and I could feel my brakes pulse. This morning my car stalled when I made a right hand turn. I managed to pull over and restart the car, but I didn't use the blinkers again. This really scared me, as I was just on the freeway a few minutes earlier.

Filed Oct 3, 2014 · Electrical · 150,000 miles · RI

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick regal. While driving approximately 10 MPH, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000. Updated 11/20/14*lj updated 5/4/2015

Filed Jun 13, 2014 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · CO

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick regal. The contact stated that while traveling 50 MPH, the engine stalled and the indicator lights on the instrument panel illuminated. The power steering and brakes failed. The vehicle resumed to its normal operation after being restarted. The manufacturer was contacted and did not offer a remedy. The failure has recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that there was an electrical shortage in the ignition switch and as a result, it needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 102,000. Updated 08/19/14*lj updated 08/23/2017

Filed Jun 3, 2014 · Electrical · 85,592 miles · WI

Tl * the contact owns a 2003 buick regal. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled without any warnings. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the ignition switch was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 85,592 and the current mileage was 86,500. Updated 08/11/14

Filed May 14, 2014 · Electrical · 150,000 miles · KY

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick regal. The contact stated that upon making a turn, the vehicle stalled and all of the warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact mentioned that the failure would occur intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000. The current mileage was 159,000.

Filed Apr 10, 2014 · Electrical · 35,350 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick regal. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The ignition switch was replaced. The manufacture was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,350 and the current mileage was 51,000. Updated 6/17/14*cn updated 8/17/17

Filed Apr 4, 2014 · Engine · 142,000 miles · GA · crash

My ABS, traction & service vehicle soon lights came on. Shortly after, the car stalled while turning on the turn signals. During the stall, the power steering and ABS locked up. I noticed that the car would stall whenever a turn signal was turned on. After reading forums, I see that this has been a problem for many people!

Filed Oct 31, 2011 · Electrical · 43,450 miles · AS

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick regal. The contact stated that while the turn signals were activated, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact drove the vehicle home without use of the turns signals. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer took a complaint and advised the contact that the failure was not recalled. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 43,540. Updated 12/12/11*lj the consumer stated during normal driving conditions, when he used the turn signal, the engine immediately and without warning shut down. The consumer also stated the engine shut down while stopped at a traffic signal. The problem was discovered to be the ignition switch. Updated 12/16/11

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipeReported October 26, 2015 · 1,003,556 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 15V701000 · Recall details

Engine and engine coolingReported April 8, 2009 · 1,497,516 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 buick regal, my 1998-2003 chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking.
Risk
If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine’s plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, oldsmobile at 1‑800‑630‑6537, and pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668 or http://www.pontiac.com or http:www.gmownercenter.com.

Recall number 09V116000 · Recall details

Engine and engine coolingReported March 12, 2008 · 207,542 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Gm is recalling 207,542 my 1997-2003 buick regal and pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l supercharged v-6 engine. These vehicles have higher front rocker cover gasket temperatures, creating the potential for earlier degradation of the front rocker cover gasket and eventual oil seepage.
Risk
Certain underhood fires may be caused by drops of engine oil, from seepage or spillage, being deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking. If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and, in some instances, the fire may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine’s plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, along with the 1-3-5 spark plug wire retainers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. , free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during may 2016. Until the remedy is completed, gm strongly recommends that owners observe the following important precautions (1) that owners do not park their vehicle in a garage, car port, or other structure; (2) if owners notice a burning odor, they should have their dealer inspect the vehicle. The dealer will inspect the vehicle without charge; (3) use premium fuel (91 octane or higher) in the vehicle as recommended in the vehicle's owner manual. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080 or pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668, or through their website at http://www.gmownercenter.com .

Recall number 08V118000 · Recall details

Questions about the 2003 Buick Regal stalling

Is engine stalls while driving a common problem on the 2003 Buick Regal?

16 of 101 owner complaints about the 2003 Buick Regal (16%) mention engine stalls while driving. The model year with the most reports is 2011.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2003 Buick Regal?

There are 3 recalls and 71 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2003 Buick Regal

Fire or smoke 17Loss of power 6Warning lights 5

All model years of the Buick Regal

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