Problems · by component

1999 Buick Regal steering problems

31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Buick Regal cite steering, 12% of all 252 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
31
12% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the steering

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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 ANYTHING WORN OUT OR DAMAGED BUT SUGGESTED MAYBE A BALL JOINT COULD BE GETTING OLD ENOUGH TO NEED REPLACED AS IT DID HAVE ABOUT 158,000 OR SO MILES ON IT BUT THEY COULDN'T INDICATE IF IT WAS A BALL JOINT SPECIFICALLY AS THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL MOVEMENT OR NOISE FROM ONE. I ALSO CHECKED AND FOUND NO ISSUES WITH ANY COMPONENT UNDERNEATH. NO LEAKS AND POWER STEERING FLUID WAS GOOD.THEN SEPTEMBER 7, 2018', WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN THE STEERING MADE A LOUD CLUNK STEERING LEFT AND REALLY BEGAN TO PULL ESPECIALLY LEFT. I GOT IT HOME 3 MILES LATER AND PUT IT ON RAMPS AND HAD SOMEONE WORK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND I FOUND THE CLUNK IS COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. YOU CAN LITERALLY SEE IT JUMP WHEN IT CLUNKS. AFTER THIS STATIONARY TEST THE STEERING WAS MUCH WORSE, THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE F THE BLOCK WITH OUT HEAVY EFFORT ON THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 11, 2018SteeringODI 11128826
“I CALLED A GM MOTORS DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEIR IS NO RECALLS ON MY CAR, BUT WHEN I LOOKED ON THIS SITE, THEIR IS 8 CODES WITH THE ONE RECALL I JUST GOT DONE NOT LONG AGO!! I WANT MY CAR FIXED!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2016Steering, Suspension, Electrical systemODI 10884645
“WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 40 MPH OR MORE THE ENGINE SUDDENLY CUTS OUT AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP AND THE CAR VIOLENTLY STOPS, WHICH COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. THIS IS VERY MUCH LIKE THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM IN THE OTHER RECALLS. AFTER A FEW TRIES THE CAR DOES START AGAIN BUT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. ALSO THERE HAS BEEN SMOKE POURING FROM THE ENGINE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EVEN OPERATING FOR MORE THAN TEN MINUTES, AND OFTEN THE SMELL OF GAS PERMEATES THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2014Steering, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10649952
“WAS DRIVEING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 AND WENT TO TURN ON MY TURN SIGNAL AND MY ENGINE STOPED. I NEARLY CRASHED THE CAR. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND EVERYTIME I USED THE BLINKERS THE CAR WOULD EITHER TURN OFF RESTARTS THE COMPUTER LIKE I JUST STARTED THE CAR. THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON NOW AND THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WONT COME ON. I HAD A FRIEND DRIVE 3 HOURS TO COME AND TOW MY CAR. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK BECAUSE OF THIS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2012Steering, Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10446109
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: STEERING ( STEERING); HOWEVER, THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 01/23/12”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2011SteeringODI 10419553
“POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. UNIT OPERATES CORRECTLY WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT, HOWEVER THERE IN INTERMITTENT POWER ASSIST TO THE LEFT. THE UNIT FAILED WHEN TURNING IN A PARKING LOT TO THE LEFT, THERE WAS A POP FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO THE LEFT. THE FLUID LEVEL IN THE POWER STEERING RESIVOIR IS NORMAL, HOW A SLIGHT PRESSURE WAS OBSERVED WHEN THE CAP WAS REMOVED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 20, 2007SteeringODI 10179234

Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Steering

Free remedy

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.

SteeringReported Feb 17, 2009NHTSA 09E005000

Steering

Free remedy

DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.

SteeringReported Oct 17, 2008NHTSA 08E063000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.