58 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Buick Regal cite engine and engine cooling, 19% of all 312 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 5 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE FLAMES WERE EXCESSIVE AND THE VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE FIRE, SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 THE (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 03/16/16*LJ;05/11/18*JB *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ODOR OF BURNING RUBBER. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN 15 MINUTES. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN NOVEMBER 2011 FOR A POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE. SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING THE NOTICE, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM FIXED. UPDATED 07/06/15. *JB”
“I REC'D A RECALL NOTICE ON MY VEHICLE IN NOV. 2011 AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET IT IN TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL FIXED WHEN THIS FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM PICKING UP MY SON, AND MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL, I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO AND FROM WORK, AND MY WORK IS 30 MILES AWAY. IN CONTACTING GM THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL ONLY FIX THE RECALL PART ANY OTHER DAMAGE WILL NOT BE COVERED, I DO NOT HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO FIX THIS VEHICLE AT THIS TIME AND I HAVE ALREADY MISSED 3 DAYS OF WORK, AND HAVE NO MORE PERSONAL PAID DAYS OFF TO TAKE. I AM THE MAIN BREADWINNER OF MY HOUSEHOLD AND MY HUSBAND IS USING A BORROWED VEHICLE TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AS WELL. I FEEL THAT IT IS TRULY UNFAIR GM CAN'T OR WONT HELP OUT A MOTHER OF 3 WITH FIXING THIS VEHICLE SO THAT I MAY CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY. *TR”
“1998 BUICK REGAL W/ 3.8L ENGINE. HAD RECALL ISSUE FIXED MARCH 2011. VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER DRIVING UP TO OUR LOCAL MOUNTAINS. FIRE BEGAN AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, AS WE WERE GETTING OUR CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE BEGAN AT THE SPARK PLUG WIRES, CONTINUED UP THE WIRE ASSEMBLY TO THE FUEL LINES AND BURNED THROUGH FUEL LINES. IMMEDIATELY HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY, SINCE FUEL LINES WERE SPEWING GAS AT THE FIRE. WE WERE ABLE TO PUT FIRE OUT WITH SNOW ON THE BRUSHY HILLSIDE WE WERE PARKED BESIDE. FILED CLAIM WITH GM. THEY DENIED IT DUE TO CAR'S AGE, AND CLAIMED THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY AFTER THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD. THEIR RECALL FIX DID NOT WORK. THE CAR STILL CAUGHT ON FIRE ANYWAY WITH MY FAMILY INSIDE. *KB”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENGINE OIL WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE, SOME OF THE OIL SPILLED ON TOP OF THE MANIFOLD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Showing 6 of 58 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
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.
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.