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Buick Regal knocking problems

11 of the 2,973 owner complaints about the Buick Regal describe engine knocking or ticking, most of them for the 1996 model year.

owner complaints
11
worst model year
1996
typical mileage
84,000
Is there a fix? There are 4 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2012
    1
  • 2011
    2
  • 2002
    1
  • 2001
    1
  • 1999
    1
  • 1996
    3
  • 1995
    1
  • 1993
    1

What owners say

Filed Nov 3, 2020 · Driver assistance, Engine · 163,247 miles · SC

The 2012 buick regal consumes a quart or more of oil in less than 2 weeks or 300 miles. I am putting a quart in it just to get it to read on the dip stick and more if needed. As it consumes oil, the engine gains a noticable ticking noise with a rough start. All of this is noticed while driving on a highway or rural road. The back right tire and or tire area makes a thumping noise at all speeds. The tire is not the issue. The stabilitrak warning light comes on often . I am the 3rd owner to the car with with 164,333 current miles. The car has had routine oil changes etc by all owners.

Filed Jan 30, 2019 · Engine · 98 miles · CA

My car as a engine issue every year around or near feb crazy but true I have had my car saftey recall fixed but not properly stated another dealership in sunnyvale during investigation from gm but nothing was done about it once again I had another fire from cover and still nothing was done due to my lost time and suffer of this reoccurring issue that seems to never be properly fixed or addressed still I suffer from this car all my new 'fix' to that safety recall has a bigger problem still gasket is cracked by looks since the day it was replaced and the plastic retaining clips are melting and burning my spark plugs to that clip is burning and fremont dealership won't even give me time or day gm is red flaged my phone number and now after I get my motoermounts fixed and all the money I put into keeping my car up and running it still fails me to point that my engine just started knocking really loud day after I got oil change and no warning light or anything that could help explain the problem and towed to my car shop to find out my car results and I hear it's a bad engine I need to replace it as of january 21 2019 go without a car due to a gm bad engine all around for my car the worst car ever worst service from both gm and fremont gmc has no care of my life situation because of this app engine ! Is it possible that my car is just a no good engine all around like a lemon engine? Why is this engine so great and last forever in all other buick's but mine has major issues safety issues

Filed Mar 7, 2017 · Engine · 70,000 miles · MS

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 buick regal. The contact stated that the timing chain was stretched, which caused a knocking and ticking noise from the engine. The contact was informed that there was a service bulletin associated with the issue. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact was advised to file a complaint with the federal safety agency to see if the vehicle could be repaired per a technical service bulletin. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

Filed Mar 26, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 53,000 miles · NY

I bought this 2011 buick regal with about 53000 miles on it from a private seller. From the day I got it the stereo, clock, navigation have been a problem. The clock doesn't hold the time, stereo turns off my itself or sometimes makes a loud pop noise and doesn't work. The navigation is in the state of washington, I live in n.y. The drivers heated seat doesn't work. The bumper to bumper warranty was up 3000 mile ago, at this point. Later, the timing chain needed to be replaced. The motor made a loud knock and would surge, hesitate and stall. With the timing being off, the transmission wouldn't downshift and was hard to stop the car. Two months later the same symptoms re-occurred. The dealer charged me to diagnose and told me it was down 2 quarts of oil. They changed the oil 2 months prior. Now, I noticed the rear brakes are dragging and don't release sometimes. Gm, buick and two dealer won't do anything about any of this. An expensive car that is barely years old with all these problems. I've seen the service bulletins on all off these problems. No help from gm, just index card readers from the philippines who apologize every thirty seconds and make excuses!

Filed Feb 1, 2007 · Brakes, Engine · 84,000 miles · NY

At about 80,000 miles grinding noise in right front wheel developed, replaced brakes and rotors found the right front wheel bearing was bad and had to have it replaced . At about 84,000 miles the lifters were making a ticking noise that sounded like a helicopter, replaced the lifters at a cost of $1600 this was just one month after the final payment of the 5 year loan one month after the lifters were replaced the engine seized up needed to be towed and I'm told that the main bearing has gone bad and the engine needs to be replaced or rebuilt.

Filed Sep 20, 2004 · Engine · 92,000 miles · MI

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.

Filed Sep 30, 2002 · Engine · CO

The vehicle experienced an oil leak at the intake manifold, the engine also developed rod bearing and/or wrist pin noise. Nlm

Filed Jun 30, 1999 · Acceleration, Fuel system · TX

Car fails to accelerate past 30mph under normal driving conditions. Increasing pressure on gas pedal at 30mph yields no response from car. When car hits passing gear, finally accelerates past 30mph. In addition, at interstate speeds ie. 70-75 MPH car develops almost a stutter and cannot maintain speed and starts to decelerate. Both problems occur in both drive and overdrive. Has been in for repairs to 4 different repair shops, 2 of them authorized buick dealers. They have replaced throttle position sensor, cleaned fuel injectors, new fuel pump and fuel filter, new knock sensor and blown carbon out of engine twice. Car still does not accelerate as described.

Filed Jun 3, 1999 · Engine · NM

Loud ticking noise at startup: camshaft and lifters failed.

Filed Jan 12, 1999 · Engine · OH

I have a terrible engine knock, and when taken to a mechanical shop they told me it would cost me over $4000 for a rebuilt gm engine, because it had to be replaced. Another mechanic told me the 3.8 is usually an excellent engine, and he'd never heard of onegoing bad with only the amount of miles I have on mine. I read that there have been several reports of this problem in the '93 regal...can I get it fixed under a recall or something? I love my car and I am a nurse who takes care of a totally disabled lady in her home...I need my car back as soon as possible, but I can't afford $4000. Please advise me what to do...I still owe $11,000. On this car...help me please! Other than the engine knock it has been a wonderful car. I take good care of it. I just had the body retouched so it looks like new.

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 cooling: engineReported April 6, 2015 · 330,742 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to June 23, 2003. On May 18, 2015, GM expanded the recall to cover an additional 49,751 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2003, to June 25, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the valve cover gasket may leak.
Risk
The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300, Pontiac customer service at 1‑800‑762‑2737 or Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is 14574.

Recall number 15V201000 · 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 Buick Regal knocking

Which Buick Regal years have engine knocking or ticking problems?

The model years with the most reports are 1996 (3 complaints), 2011 (2 complaints) and 1993 (1 complaints).

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