2011 Buick Regal: loss of power steering

Filed Jul 16, 2020 · Engine · 116,500 miles · KY

Driving my car at around 30mph, the car completely shuts off without warning. There is no shutter or sound. It is just suddenly completely turned off. No brakes. No power steering. No gas. You must pull the car over. Come to a complete stop. Put the car in park. Turn the key completely off, and then the car will restart almost every time. This has happened to me 5 times in the 9 years that I have owned it. But it has happened 3 times in the last 3 days. No mechanic nor the dealer can identify the problem. I have replaced the serpentine belt twice, and the throttle body/throttle position sensor.

Filed Aug 10, 2017 · Brakes, Engine · 39,562 miles · NJ

Vehicle was being driven off of main highway into a shopping center parking lot when the engine shut off causing the vehicle to lose power steering and brakes. Vehicle would not restart and needed to be towed to lester glenn buick that night. The next day after sitting in the dealership parking lot, the vehicle was able to start and the dealership stated they were"unable to duplicate the problem" and found nothing wrong with the vehicle. I presently own two(2) 2011 buick regal and both have experienced this same problem with loss of steering and braking. I have contacted g m numerous times and have received no calls back from their "senior " adviser. Have also read about similar complaints on the internet with these vehicles. Hopefully g m will address this serious safety issue before someone gets seriously hurt

Filed Aug 9, 2017 · Brakes, Engine · 69,579 miles · NJ

Vehicle has 69,579 miles. While turning onto side street off of main road, engine shut off causing loss of power steering and brakes. Vehicle was able to be restarted after a minute and driven home. Vehicle was taken to lester glenn buick dealership for this problem . The dealership was "unable to duplicate the problem" and there were no codes showing a problem. I was told that the issue was that the vehicle was 100 miles overdue for and oil change and was a little low on oil. When I questioned this I was told it is a "safety feature" to protect the engine from damage because of low oil. I asked if it was a "safety feature" than why was my son able to restart the vehicle within a minute. Still have not received an answer. I have made numerous calls to g m about this issue but all I have gotten were two calls to my house phone when I was not home when I specifically left my cell phone number to be called. I have called an additional three times and left a message for a senior adjuster to call me back and still have not received a response. As luck would have it, I own two 2011 buick regals and my daughters car is experiencing the same issues, but that will be listed as another complaint . Appears to be multiple issues on the internet with this same concern, but nothing seems to get done

Filed Mar 2, 2017 · Engine · 73,500 miles · MO

When at a stop sign my vehicle died. I was able to restart it but at slow speeds it continued to die. On the way home, at highway speeds the car performed fine. At slow speeds the rest of the day and during a test drive the next day, after about 10 minutes, the vehicle died almost continuously, losing power steering etc. To get home I had to keep a foot on the gas while braking/turning and stopped to keep the idle speed up. I was able to get it to the dealer the next day. The diagnostic check revealed a p0010 failure code from which they found the intake camshaft actuator solenoid was shorted. They replaced it and currently it is operating fine. They indicated it was not covered under warranty and not subject to the specific vehicle recall that I received.

Filed Sep 29, 2016 · Brakes, Electrical · 40,105 miles · MN

My daughter drives our 2011 buick regal cxl that we purchased in february 2016. In the last several month the vehicle has stalled, steering locks up, brakes go completely out, it doesn't have an electrical and because it has an electric emergency brake there is no way for her to stop. The first two times she was driving around town and the last time it happened was last week at 70 MPH on the highway. She almost hit the car in front of her. Once it coasted to a stop she was able to start it and continue on. This gm vehicle 2011 buick regal is a death trap waiting to happen. Don't buy a buick!!! I picked it up from the local buick dealer yesterday and they can't do anything. Once the vehicle is restarted after one of these incidents the computers automatically resets and wiped clean of codes without any trace of a problem or issue. All the errors completely disappear. The service person at the dealership asked me if I had a decoder I could plug in right after it happens. This problem is all over the internet and buick does nothing. You can bet that a gm executive would decline an offer for one of his/her family members to drive it for a while. Make no mistake these cars shut down completely without any warning and absolutely nothing works at the moment. No steering, no brakes, stalled engine, and no electrical. Absolutely nothing!!! All buick says base on online comments is sorry. Sorry for what? Killing people? Not giving a [xxx] about my family or yours? If they were sorry they'd step up and do the right thing before its too late and someone dies. Insurance companies are probably paying out lots of money to their insured and the people they hit, injure or kill. I bet they would love to hear more about this issue. Be carefully what you buy because you might be surprised by your car right before you crash. I've always likes gm and buicks but not anymore. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Apr 30, 2016 · Engine · 47,000 miles · PA

While approaching an intersection at approximately 35 MPH my 2011 buick regal with less than 48,000 completely stalled out. No warning at all. All the lights were on in the dash including a stabili trac. Light and a message that read engine power reduced. I then blared my horn and cruised thru the intersection on a red light thankful it just turned red and opposing traffic hadn't started across yet. I was finally able to stop the car that had absolutely no power steering and ABS was turned off and shut the car off. I waited a few minutes until my nerves calmed down and restarted the car all the lights were off except the engine light. Drove the car home and called the dealership, who then had it towed to them. By that time the computer restarted itself and no check engine light was on, with that no reading as to what the problem was at the dealership and I was left being looked at as if I didn't know what I was talking about. This happened approximately 3 months ago and I have had the same problem a total of 3 times since then. When is buick going to step up to the plate and finally do something about this? Are they waiting for someone to be killed first? I've read this same problem with the same car numerous times on numerous sites...where is our help????

Filed Jun 17, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 96,000 miles · MI

I was driving down the highway, 78 MPH in rush hour and my engine died/no power, no brakes, no steering. Heavy traffic, no control. I made it to shoulder, very difficult to ease the vehicle over. No warning lights. Engine just died. No control. Once the car stopped after rolling at a high speed, I tried to start my engine. Engine started,and able to proceed. Next day, similar incident happened I was turning a corner. The same thing happened, I was going a lower speed. I had less control after the engine died, no warning lights etc.very difficult to maneuver. I turned the key and it started. I took it to the dealer. They said needed oil change, and 3 quarts low on oil. And I was 1000 miles over . They were sending me home with oil change, I pleaded to look into further as I was in fear of my life driving. The service sheet indicated the car had multiple cam actuator system failure codes. The service manager said low on oil, and was safe,he went to get the car. The car stalled on him ...no power, no alarms,no service engine soon lights, etc. Eventually, I convinced them to give me a vehicle to drive after initial denial. 1 week later, they have found nothing wrong. Said exhaust cam shaft actuator was broken. They replaced the timing chains, the actuators, and selenoids. Still no explanation why my car died driving down the road at 78mph they said sometimes it takes 3 failures or key cycles before an alarm will be set. Not sure if they truly found the problem so they have asked to drive my car for several days to see if the default continues to show up. I am very concerned that an engine should stop while traveling at high speeds 3 times before an alarm system or warning would ever be given to the driver that there may be a problem. I am still very concerned and am not sure if I should be driving this vehicle or not for fear of my life.

Filed Mar 13, 2014 · Engine · 17,000 miles · SC

I received a letter from buick which said my balancing belt (timing chain) could break causing engine damage. They would not do anything about it until it broke. They extended the warranty in case that happened. If the timing chain breaks and the engine stops, I will lose steering control which is a comforting thought. If I am on interstate doing 70 MPH and lose steering, good bye!

Filed May 24, 2012 · Electrical, Steering · 10,000 miles · NJ · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 buick regal. The contact stated that the vehicle would loose power sporadically. The contact stated the check transmission light or stability control light would illuminate on the instrument panel when the failure occurred. The vehicle never stalled, but the contact would loose power steering when the failure occurred. The dealer replaced the computer twice and was also looking at a possible transmission failure, but the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was left with the dealer for more extensive inspection. The failure mileage was 10,000 and the current mileage was 17,000. Updated 7/12/12 *cn the consumer stated while driving, all of a sudden the vehicle started to slow down. He lost all power to the steering and brakes. The transmission control valve arm was replaced. In may 2012, he was making a turn and the power steering went out, which left him with no steering, brakes or transmission. The consumer hit a fence post dragging the front bumper. The transmission was replaced. Updated 07/18/12