1998 Buick Regal Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 28about this part
- Share
- 9%of 302 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 28 complaints about the visibility of the 1998 Buick Regal, 9% of the 302 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Headlights turned off during operation at night while driving. Listed below is the text of my note to the dealer more fully describing the problem. You may recall after review of your service records that I brought this vehicle to you december 3, 2002 for a faulty blower motor. After diagnosis you phoned and indicated the problem was a resistor, not the motor and during diagnosis you discovered wires under the hood damaged by an animal who had built a nest under the cowling. I authorized repair of both the resistor and the wiring. …”
NHTSA complaint #10013667, filed 2003-03, 92,000 miles“Electric windows--front passenger can only be used via controls on driver's door and rear passenger side window came down and will not stay up--we cut off the power to it and it still creeps down. It lacks about 2-3 of being shut and has to be taped to keep air/water out. This happened last summer.”
NHTSA complaint #10008396, filed 2003-03, 75,000 miles“Windshield wipers don't work 1/2 the time. They seem to go off track--you have to stop the car, open the hood and tighten the base--the nut that holds the wiper arm on works loose. This has been happening for about 8 months.”
NHTSA complaint #10008393, filed 2003-03, 90,000 miles“Power window regulator failed on left rear door in march 2002, and on the driver's door in march 2003. Both failures were of the plastic retainer for the cable end which holds the window up. Both windows dropped several inches. The rear window dropped while driving, causing driver distraction. In both cases the window could not be raised without removing the door upholstery panel. The only repair is to replace the entire window regulator assembly. List price for the driver's door parts only was $352.”
NHTSA complaint #10016800, filed 2003-04, 93,000 miles“The air conditioner blower and the headlights did not work properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they replaced the ignition switch, the air conditioner blower switch and the resistor. While traveling on the highway at 45 MPH with the blower on at a low speed, without warning it would shut off along with the headlights. This problem repeated. The consumers daughter had the same vehicle and experienced the same problem. Gm stated that there were no other instances reported. The circuit board for the blower resistor burned up, which caused other componets to fail.”
NHTSA complaint #10046203, filed 2003-12, 18,384 milesVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 5% |
| 2018 | 2 | 11% |
| 2016 | 3 | 7% |
| 2015 | 2 | 6% |
| 2014 | 3 | 8% |
| 2013 | 2 | 2% |
| 2011 | 1 | 0% |
| 2004 | 2 | 3% |
| 2003 | 4 | 4% |
| 2002 | 7 | 6% |
| 2001 | 7 | 4% |
| 2000 | 10 | 5% |
| 1999 | 21 | 9% |
| 1998 | 28 | 9% |
| 1997 | 11 | 8% |
| 1996 | 7 | 3% |
| 1995 | 11 | 6% |
| 1994 | 14 | 13% |
| 1993 | 4 | 5% |
| 1992 | 8 | 6% |
| 1991 | 2 | 1% |
| 1990 | 1 | 1% |
| 1989 | 4 | 4% |
| 1988 | 4 | 3% |
Other parts of the 1998 Buick Regal
76 complaintsEngine cooling
55 complaintsElectrical system
51 complaintsEngine
29 complaintsBrakes
27 complaintsExterior lighting
22 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsTires
11 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsEquipment
6 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsSuspension
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Buick Regal
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology