1999 Buick Regal Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jan 10, 2021 · 246 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Regal years
Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 24 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 246 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Buick Regal. That ranks 3rd out of 24 Regal model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (49 complaints, 20%), typically at around 139,000 miles. Complaints mention 8 crashes, 44 fires, 7 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.

Buick Regal
BUICK REGAL SIXTH GENERATION (OPEL INSIGNIA B) China. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

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Most common 1999 Buick Regal problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine49 · ~139,000 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling43 · ~90,739 mi
Electrical System42 · ~88,080 mi
Steering31 · ~85,000 mi
Service Brakes, Hydraulic23 · ~72,000 mi
Visibility20 · ~82,645 mi
Power Train10 · ~84,739 mi
Seat Belts10 · ~135,000 mi
Equipment8 · ~65,000 mi
Exterior Lighting7 · ~97,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine4920%139,000——
Engine and Engine Cooling4317%90,739——
Electrical System4217%88,080——
Steering3113%85,000——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic239%72,000——
Visibility208%82,645——
Power Train104%84,739——
Seat Belts104%135,000——
Equipment83%65,000——
Exterior Lighting73%97,000——
Suspension73%94,089——
Wheels73%39,500——
Unknown or Other62%120,000——
Tires52%89,000——
Vehicle Speed Control52%78,000——
Air Bags31%120,000——
Fuel System, Gasoline31%80,050——
Latches/locks/linkages31%88,100——
Structure31%45,000——
Fuel/propulsion System21%124,000——
Parking Brake21%128,484——
Service Brakes21%140,000——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)10%140,000——
Fuel System, Other10%65,500——
Interior Lighting10%148,000——
Seats10%100,100——
Visibility/wiper10%86,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2016, with 38 complaints
1999: 1319992000: 112001: 1420012002: 132003: 2420032004: 252005: 820052006: 222007: 1820072008: 142009: 720092010: 62011: 620112012: 32014: 320142015: 142016: 382016382017: 32018: 120182019: 22021: 12021

n = 246 complaints · Source: NHTSA

1999 Buick Regal recalls (6)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe; engine and engine cooling:engineOct 26, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V701000 · 1,003,556 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Engine and engine coolingApr 8, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V116000 · 1,497,516 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: Dealers will replace the engineâ’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâ’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.

Engine and engine coolingMar 12, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V118000 · 207,542 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: Dealers will replace the engineâ’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâ’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 <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .

Exterior lighting:headlightsAug 10, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V375000 · 199,793 vehicles

Problem: Certain passenger vehicles do not conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." some of these vehicles do not meet the overhead sign illumination requirements.

Risk: Less illumination may reduce the ability of the driver to read overhead signs when driving at night.

Fix: Dealers will install new low beam headlamp bulbs in both of the headlamp assemblies. The recall began on september 8, 2004. Owners should contact buick at 1-866-608-8080. Note: if the bulb needs replacement in the future, gm bulb number 89024715 is available from a dealer, or the equivalent sylvania bulb is 9006hp, with orange lettering on the bulb.

Exterior lighting:headlightsDec 17, 1999 · NHTSA campaign 99V356000 · 411,880 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not conform to the requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the vertical head lamp adjusting device may not be calibrated properly.

Risk: Driver visibility may be impaired increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Owners will be provided with an owner's manual insert containing instructions for optically aiming the headlamps.

Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slipJul 9, 1999 · NHTSA campaign 99V170000 · 168,559 vehicles

Problem: Some of these vehicles with the key in the "on" position, exhibit a condition in which the antilock brake system (abs) motor shorts to its case and grounds through a flexible brake fluid pipe.

Risk: This short can cause extreme heating of the flexible brake pipe where it can melt a nearby flexible plastic fuel hose, which could result in an underhood fire.

Fix: Dealers will install a ground cable from the electronic brake control module (ebcm) to the engine compartment body rail.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Engine compartment fire (EA07008) — opened Jun 12, 2007, closed May 1, 2008, led to recall 08V118000.
  • Engine compartment fires (EA02030) — opened Oct 22, 2002, closed Mar 9, 2004, led to recall 04V090000.
  • Engine compartment fires (PE02050) — opened Jun 13, 2002, closed Oct 22, 2002.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

07/25/2021 started the motor, in stationary in personal driveway, in idle it began to puff thick white smoke from the tail pipe and exhaust manifold in the engine compartment. Turned engine off within 15 seconds of starting the engine. Left vehicle off for 24 hrs, and tried to turn the motor back…

Engine · received Jan 10, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11387360

Weird engine noise , when switching the ignition switch sometimes delay, also dash lights and headlights also ac doesn't work and low oil , low air , and low coolant lights turn on even if all of them are full at the right level .

Electrical System · received Dec 17, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11289542

Passenger air bag light stays on all the time. Takata inflators

Air Bags · received Jan 28, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11172607

August 2017', the steering began to pull very slightly left and right at all speeds but more noticeable at low speeds or when turning the wheels at a stop with a very slight clunk noise that got louder over the year. Visible inspection at my repair shop during a flat rear tire repair did not find…

Steering · received Sep 11, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11128826

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK REGAL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE GEAR SHIFTER IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND BEGAN TO SHAKE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON AN INCLINE, IT FAILED TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE AND STARTED TO SHAKE. ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE…

Power Train · received Oct 5, 2017 · NHTSA complaint 11031897

Other Buick Regal years

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1999 Buick Regal?

Owners most often report engine, engine and engine cooling, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 49 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 1999 Buick Regal?

Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 1999 Buick Regal a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Regal model years, the 1999 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.