Problems · by component

2003 Buick Regal engine problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Buick Regal cite engine, 25% of all 104 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
26
25% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I BACKED THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE GUAGES WERE NORMAL. WHEN I GOT OUT I SAW A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER CAR BUT WITHIN A MINUTE THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE FLAMES WERE ABOVE THE CAR. I CALLED 911 WHEN I SAW FLAMES AND KNEW I WASN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT MYSELF. THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED, IT TOOK THEM AT LEAST 30 MINUTES TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. A COUNTY DEPUTY ARRIVED AND THERE IS A POLICE REPORT (I TRIED TO UPLOAD IT AND IT FAILED EACH TIME). THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY AN INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE (UPLOAD FAILED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2023Unknown or other, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11536533
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE REPEATEDLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT'S FRIEND OPENED THE VEHICLE'S HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. POLICE AND FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED AT THE SCENE, NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 09V116(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WHICH HE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2020EngineFire reportedODI 11343064
“RECALL #15757 WAS PERFORMED BY DEALER ON 2/24/2016. THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR HAD 255,300 MILES ON IT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (BROOKDALE CHEVROLET BUICK.GMC ON 5/30/18 WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR OIL DRIPPING ON THE MANIFOLD IT HAD 258,200. THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE HAD IT IN STORAGE AFTER THE REPAIR AND TOOK IT OUT THIS SPRING. THE WIFE SAID IT SMOKED AND THEN I DROVE IT AND I HAD A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SINCE THE REPAIR WE ONLY PUT 2,900 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. SURELY IF THE REPAIR WAS DONE CORRECTLY WE SHOULDN'T BE WORRYING ABOUT OUR SAFETY. THE CAR CAN'T BE DRIVEN AS IS. THE DEALER FLATLY SAID THEY WERE NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MORE REPAIRS UNLESS I PAY THEM $1,100 TO REPLACE THE VALVE COVER AND VALVE COVER GASKET. THE CAR IS REGISTERED AT THE DEALER UNDER NL COMPANIES BECAUSE I HAVE A RENTAL. THEY CAN'T SEEM TO PUT IT UNDER MY NAME. I CAN APPRECIATE THEIR RELUCTANCE TO REDO THE REPAIRS BUT THERE IS NO WAY OIL SHOULD BE LEAKING AGAIN ON THE MANIFOLD AFTER 2.900 MILES. THEY WROTE DOWN THE WRONG MILEAGE ON THEIR 5/30/18 INVOICE. THERE SHOULD BE 4 DOCUMENTS ATTACHED IF I DID IT CORRECTLY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2018EngineODI 11099493
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2016EngineFire reportedODI 10892724
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2016EngineODI 10876222
“GENERAL MOTORS SENT LETTER SAYING PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO REPAIR ENGINES FOR RECALL # 15757, BUT MY DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN PART NUMBERS 12590366 (COVER) AND 25532619 (GASKET) SINCE EARLY MARCH. DESPITE LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS, PARTS NEEDED FOR THIS RECALL REMAIN ON BACK ORDER. IN REPEATED CALLS TO GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, I'VE BEEN TOLD THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON TIMELINES TO RESOLVE THE PARTS BACKORDER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2016EngineODI 10855481

Showing 6 of 26 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 2003 Regal problem areas