2003 Buick Regal problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (18) · Electrical System (15) · Steering (7)
🧭 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
68 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 (426)
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
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-06 · PIT3271P · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. general motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. technician s
Showing the 6 most recent of 426 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-08-04 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“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…”
2020-08-03 · Engine · 🔥 fire“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 sce…”
2018-12-26 · Seats“my daughter was sitting in the passenger front seat. the seat kept heating up almost unbearable. the next day car was off all night my battery died and the heated seat was still hot never shut off all night long i found a sensor under the seat and unplugged that but am nervous of my driver seat also she has newborn baby was with us and the seat def…”
2018-11-07 · Engine · 116,000 mi“while my vehicle is in motion i can smell oil burning from some where…”
2018-06-04 · Engine · 258,200 mi“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 repai…”
2018-01-13 · Exterior Lighting · 169,900 mi“the bright /dim headlight controller hits the back of the steering wheel if the steering wheel is in a position during a right direction curve in the road. this has caused the switch to catch in between settings and the headlights turn off. an example of that use would be going around a curve and need to turn bright lights off due to oncoming traff…”
2017-08-30 · Seat Belts“passenger seat belt light stays on…”
2017-08-11 · Unknown Or Other · 80,000 mi“all window components motors and regulators have been defective in all 4 doors brake shaking transmission slippage…”
2017-02-28 · Unknown Or Other“2003 buick regal. consumer writes in regards to no parts available to repair recall notice - vehicle vandalized at dealership - refuses to be held responsible for damages. *smd the consumer did not reference a recall. *jb…”
2017-02-03 · Electrical System · 300,000 mi“unannounced to purchasers, the buick regal has a redundant and defective security ignition system that prevents the vehicle from being able to start with the key after the battery is disconnected. it must now be taken to a dealership to be diagnosed and for a costly repair. it was stationary, and the battery drained down with a phone charger hooked…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.