Problems · by component

2001 Buick Regal electrical system problems

33 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Buick Regal cite electrical system, 17% of all 194 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
33
17% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The 2001 buick regal that we have has very inadequate head lights as far as im concerned it is a wiring problem dims are so dim that it's like you have no head lights at all bright are just bright enough to almost see 50 to 100 feet in front of vehicle also this buick is not the only gm vehicle I have experienced this on the 98 buick century's have same head light problem some what worse though also our 2002 chevy venture van has same extremely dim dims on all three vehicles brights are substituted for dims I have tried to rimity the problem by cleaning oxidation from lenses also replacing head lamp bulbs on one vehicle lenses had condensation inside lenses replaced both lenses but the results were same extremely dim dims and still had to substitute brights for dims to see also thought batterie might be getting weak both van and buick have new batteries and alternator on Both are charging strong and to specification so after all that still have head lamp problem no worse no better”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2022Electrical systemODI 11461416
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 BUICK REGAL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING FLAMES APPEARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE ON FLAMES WERE SUDDENLY PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS WERE TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN LOOK UP INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2020Electrical system, EngineFire reportedODI 11322853
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 BUICK REGAL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A LOCAL STREET, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A PASSERBY NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND CONTACTED THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS. A FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 26, 2017Electrical system, EngineFire reportedODI 10991864
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION ANTI-THEFT CHIP CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPLACED THE KEY, WHICH RESOLVED THE FAILURE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2017Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 10979361
“TAKATA RECALL... WHILE DRIVING IN OUR CITY ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT WENT TO FLASHING AND THE GAUGES WERE QUIVERING, BELLS WENT OFF AND MY CAR DIED RIGHT THERE IN THE TRAFFIC WHILE GOING 25 MPH. I HAD MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON IN THE CAR WITH ME AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD WE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. CAR WOULDN'T RESTART FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES BUT EVENTUALLY DID WITH THE SAME THING HAPPENING WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. DAUGHTER GOT THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. HUSBAND GOT THE CAR HOME AND LEFT IT. IT WOULDN'T START BACK THE NEXT DAY BUT AFTER CONTINUALLY TRYING IT EVENTUALLY STARTED BUT HAD A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STILL GOING CRAZY. HUSBAND CALLED OUR LOCAL GARAGE WHILE I STARTED A SEARCH ON THE WEB FOR POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS. I CAME ACROSS OTHERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AS WE WERE EXPERIENCING AND FOUND THAT THEIR PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. OUR LOCAL GARAGE SUGGESTED WE LOOK FOR GROUND WIRE PROBLEMS. I WATCHED A VIDEO OF A CAR DOING THE SAME THING MINE WAS DOING, THAT PERSON REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND ALL WAS WELL. I READ AND WATCHED A VIDEO OF WHERE ONE SAID TO TURN ON THE FLASHERS OR HEADLIGHTS BEFORE TRY TO START THE CAR, THIS ALLOWED…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 6, 2017Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 10970912
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING, AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 10, 2016Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10925381

Showing 6 of 33 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.

Other 2001 Regal problem areas