2002 Buick Regal problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (27) · Electrical System (17) · Engine And Engine Cooling (10)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Buick Regal model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
81 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2015-10-26 · campaign 15V701000 · 1,003,556 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Fix: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick c
Service bulletins (406)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-20 · PIP5358D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. technician will need to
Electrical System 2024-10-25 · PIP4723J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the tire pressure monitor, active fuel injector tester, multi media tester, pico scope, gr8 starting/charging tester and vehicle data recorder tools, giving website address and ste
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Electrical System 2024-08-26 · General Communication · Service Campaign
vehicle wide programming (vwp) is a new process to update software on gm vehicles. it provides the ability via a single selection within techline connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). the updating of modules is com
Showing the 6 most recent of 406 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-03-11 · Service Brakes“dealership sold car knowing there’s recalls and never fixed…”
2021-03-03 · Engine · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick regal. the contact was driving at 45 mph, when he detected a burning odor and saw smoke coming from under the hood. the check engine light illuminated. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as a false sensor, oil leak, and brake fluid leak. the vehicle was repaired however the fail…”
2020-02-14 · Engine · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact's son owned a 2002 buick regal. the contact stated while driving 25 mph, she saw smoke exiting the front of the vehicle. the contact stated no warning light was illuminated. the contact stated she parked the vehicle on the side of the road and when she opened the hood she saw fire located in the engine compartment. the contact state…”
2019-01-30 · Engine · 98 mi“my car as a engine issue every year around or near feb crazy but true i have had my car saftey recall fixed but not properly stated another dealership in sunnyvale during investigation from gm but nothing was done about it once again i had another fire from cover and still nothing was done due to my lost time and suffer of this reoccurring issue t…”
2018-11-17 · Service Brakes“my car was in driving mode on the road in newark california and speed limit 35 mph all of the sudden my car without warning without any issues prior to this just stopped locked up brakes locked up steering wheel car still running but won't let me accelerate car radios on toast on my battery just everything locked up out of nowhere no warning signs …”
2017-10-11 · Wheels · 138,000 mi“was driving on a trip back and forth from mississippi, was driving on firestone infinity tires sizep215.7015, had 2 blow outs on the car. the said tires didn't have but 23k miles on them the left front went 1st causing bout 2000 worth of damage, the 2nd one blew out coming back, these tires have a history of blow outs, would recommend against peop…”
2017-10-10 · Engine · 83,100 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick regal. while stationary, the vehicle caught fire under the beauty cover where oil had leaked onto the intake manifold. a police report was not filed. the contact extinguished the fire the first time. the fire occurred a second time within the same day and the fire department extinguished the fire. there were no inj…”
2017-09-27 · Unknown Or Other · 89 mi · 🔥 fire“second time around my buick regal caught on fire as it sat in driveway my car has been a vin that fit the saftey recall since 2007 3rd or 4th one since i bought my car from dealership my car has 5 recalls which 3 are recall campaign so dealer fixed only part of the recall in feb 18 2016 i was sent another safety recall letter asking me to go back t…”
2017-01-03 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 148,000 mi“since the recall on the valve cover(s) been having ignition problems. the car 's engine stops running probably due to electrical problem or some other problem, eg ignition switch. then it is difficult or impossible to start the car. after a start, have a hard time getting the car home. right mow the vehicle is not drivable and in the garage. *tr…”
2016-10-31 · Engine · 226,000 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick regal. while refueling the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. upon further inspection, the contact noticed that the engine compartment caught fire. the contact extinguished the fire. a police report was not filed and there were no injuries. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, but …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.