Problems · by component
1999 Buick Regal engine problems
49 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Buick Regal cite engine, 19% of all 252 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
49
19% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
23
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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 ON AND THE ENGINE SEIZED AND WOULD NOT CRANK OVER. TRIED 3-5 ADDITIONAL TIMES TO START ENGINE, WITH THE SAME OUTCOME. SINCE THIS OCCURENCE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEFT UNDRIVEABLE AND STILL REMAINS IN PERSONAL DRIVEWAY. RECALL NUMBER: 240412”
“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 .”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 BUICK REGAL. AFTER DRIVING AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE AND FLAMES APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE FAILURE, BUT THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION TOO LATE. THE RECALL INFORMATION AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.”
“THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE NO MORE THAN 3MINUTES AFTER I PARKED THE CAR. THE VALVE COVER RECALL WAS REPAIRED IN 2016. CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. I JUST HAPPENED TO GO BACK OUT TO THE CAR TO GET MY CELL PHONE WHEN I SAW SMOKE. I OPEN THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES. I USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO OUT HE FLAME OUT. NOW THE CAR STARTS BUT RUNS TOO ROUGH TO EVEN TRUST TO DRIVE IT! WHY HAVE THE RECALL IF IT WAS GOING TO CATCH FIRE ANYWAYS!”
“ON 10/28/2016 MY WIFE HAD DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 3 MILES TO THE STORE DID SOME SHOPPING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. SHE RETURNED HOME THE 3 MILES PARKED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE AND WENT IN SIDE. SHE WAS IN THE GARAGE A FEW MINUTES LATER AND SAW SMOKE FILLING THE GARAGE. SHE WENT OUT THE BACK DOOR AND AROUND THE HOUSE AND THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. NEIGHBORS HAD ALL READY CALLED 911. IT TOOK ABOUT TEN MINUTES FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ARRIVE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE BAY AND FRONT OF THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. THE PAINT WAS BURNED OFF OF THE GARAGE DOOR AND BLISTERED PAINT AND SOOT ON THE HOUSE. THE HOOD STRUT EXPLODED AND PUT A HOLE IN THE GARAGE DOOR.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 BUICK REGAL. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PARKING IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES BEFORE THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED. POLICE AND FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 04V375000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000.”
Showing 6 of 49 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.