2000 Buick Regal Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2000 Buick Regal most often describe engine-compartment oil leaks that led to smoke or fire, electrical problems that shut the car down while driving (many tied to the ignition switch), and steering or front-end failures at relatively low mileage. Many complaints were filed long after purchase, between roughly 50,000 and 200,000 miles, on a car that was often otherwise well maintained.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine-compartment oil leak and fire

   • 34 complaints (18%)
   • median 117,000 mi at 10.6 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 25 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2018

   Owners describe oil leaking from the valve cover gaskets onto the hot exhaust manifold, producing smoke and, in several reports, fire in the engine compartment after the car was parked. Some say the fire started within minutes to about half an hour of shutdown and destroyed the vehicle; others noticed repeated smoke under the hood beforehand. Complaints mention that recall work was done on the front valve cover while the rear cover continued to leak, and some owners were told parts were not yet available for the recall repair. Reported across a wide mileage range, commonly between about 60,000 and 200,000 miles, and often while the car was parked shortly after being driven.

   Recall 15V701000Recall 09V116000Recall 08V118000

   What to check: Ask whether the valve cover gasket recalls (08V118000, 09V116000, 15V701000) were completed and which cover was repaired. Check both valve covers and the exhaust manifold for oil residue or a burning smell after a drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a 2000 Buick Regal gse 8/18/00 which has a supercharged engine. The car has been a great car until 12/16/2005. After I had parked the car and gone into the doctor's office, my car caught fire and was destroyed. The car was totaled and the insurance adjuster told me it was the 3rd burned Buick Regal supercharged engine that he'd seen this year alone. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10146042, filed 2005-12, 117,000 miles

   “Gm replaced front valve cover and gasket under recall, now the rear one is leaking badly. I see no difference from front to rear, it is still the same bad parts, cover and gasket leaking and it is still a fire hazard. I am sure I am not the first one it has happened to.”

   NHTSA complaint #10916837, filed 2016-10, 137,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls and dash lights flash while driving

   • 21 complaints (11%)
   • median 130,000 mi at 10.8 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2023

   Owners describe the engine cutting out with no warning, sometimes at highway speed, with the instrument panel lights flashing or going dark and the car losing power steering and power brakes. Several complaints say using a turn signal triggers the shutdown, and some report the car would not restart until it cooled. Dealers and independent shops in the complaints often traced this to the ignition switch, and some owners said their vehicle identification number was not covered by the related recall. Reported from roughly 70,000 to 180,000 miles, often during normal driving and sometimes in steering or lane-change situations.

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch or ignition cylinder has been replaced, and test-drive with turn signals, headlights and accessories on to see if the dash lights flicker or the engine stumbles.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2000 Buick Regal ls, when start car up, then drive the car for about 10-15 minutes and all the lights start flickering, and the car shut down, and I tries to start it back up, it cuts right back off I let it cool down for about an hour or 2 and it start right back up but the gear will not go out of park will not shift.”

   NHTSA complaint #10457598, filed 2012-05, 150,000 miles

   “While driving my 2000 Buick Regal I turned on the turn signal and the instrument panel lights flashed and the engine turned off. This resulted in lost of power steering and power brakes and I had to fight the car to the side of the road. This happened a total of three times.”

   NHTSA complaint #10170430, filed 2006-10, 179,635 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Rack and pinion steering failure or binding

   • 20 complaints (11%)
   • median 52,718 mi at 5.7 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2018

   Owners describe the steering binding or locking, often at low speed or while turning, with a clunk felt through the wheel and the car no longer turning in one direction. Complaints say shops diagnosed a failed rack and pinion or steering gear and replaced it, and a few mention worn or broken tie rods found during inspection. Some reports note the problem is worse in wet conditions or that it recurred after dealer visits. Reported mostly between about 35,000 and 130,000 miles, frequently at low speed or while parking.

   What to check: Turn the wheel fully both directions at low speed and listen for clunks or binding, and ask for service records showing whether the rack, tie rods or steering gear have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While the vehicle was being serviced, the dealer discovered the tie rod was broken. (this was the third incident by a GM auto with low mileage) the ABS sensor and bearing was replaced, the 2 wheel alignment, set the caster, camber 120 cr 519, and toe in to factory specifics.”

   NHTSA complaint #10019928, filed 2003-05, 37,000 miles

   “While driving 20 MPH the steering failed. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a snow bank. The consumer experienced two crashes due to the brakes and the steering locking. The consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer on three occasions for the steering problem but the locking continued. The dash lights would come on (gas gauge and oil light), the vehicle pulled to the right and the trunk would fly open while the vehicle was in motion.”

   NHTSA complaint #10067176, filed 2004-05, 35,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Ignition key hard to turn or remove

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the key becoming stuck in the ignition or being hard to turn off, sometimes taking many minutes and repeated jiggling of the steering wheel or gear selector to release it. Complaints describe the problem starting intermittently and worsening over time, and dealers in some cases advised replacing the ignition switch and key. A few owners link it to loss of electrical power and to the steering column lock engaging. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 150,000 miles, often several years into ownership.

   What to check: Try turning the car off and removing the key several times during a test drive, and ask whether the ignition cylinder or switch has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On or around october 2013, I started experiencing difficulty in turn ignition switch off and removing key. Now its worsen where I spend anywhere 5 mins. To 15 min trying to remove the key. Only way I can do that is by turning the steering wheel or moving the gear selector back an forth till it decides it release the key.I thought it might have been the anti-theft in column that was locking up. I'm scheduled to have a new ignition installed after replacing the old key with a new key. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10587661, filed 2014-05, 110,000 miles

   “After driving about ten minutes into my trip last night at about 60 MPH, my Buick Regal 2000 ended up losing the ability to accelerate. It then lost all power and left me stranded on the interstate. I lost the power steering, the instrument panel started flickering. This occurred in a work zone at about midnight. Within five minutes the flashers and lights also went totally dead. Even the trunk would not respond to my remote. The car lights and engine had been very strong and never gave any reason for concern. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10819537, filed 2016-01, 158,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   ABS and traction control warning lights

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the ABS and traction control lights coming on, sometimes along with the check engine light, and the systems becoming unavailable. Complaints describe dealers quoting repair of the electronic brake control module or the ABS pump assembly at significant cost, and one report notes a brake line rusted through by condensation from the air conditioning, causing a long pedal. Some describe the warning lights coming and going before staying on. Reported from about 35,000 to 110,000 miles, sometimes with the lights appearing intermittently before staying on.

   What to check: Confirm all warning lights go out after starting, check for a firm brake pedal, and ask whether the ABS module or pump has been replaced and whether brake lines have been inspected for rust.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At 83000 miles my ABS system failed leaving my car without ABS and traction control I think that at this low miliage this should not be a factor in this car the part to make everything work right again is $1269.00 without labor. I feel other Buick owners are having the same problem and this is a safety issue and should be looked at more closely.”

   NHTSA complaint #10067883, filed 2004-04, 83,000 miles

   “I have a 2000 Buick Regal. In june 2005 three warning lights started showing up on my dash check engine , anti lock brakes and traction control system off . The light stayed on for 1 week and then went off. Thirty days later, the light came back on and stayed on for 1 week and then went off. I took the car to the williams family auto mall dealership (where I originally purchased the car and have had my car serviced) to diagnose the problem. They told me the anti lock brake system needs to be replaced and it will cost me $3,200 to fix. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10134868, filed 2005-08, 80,000 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic check for oil leaks around both valve covers and the exhaust manifold, verify any open recalls were completed, and test the ignition switch, steering and ABS warning lights before buying. These are older, higher-mileage cars, so service records showing recent repairs on these systems are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.