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Engine coolingPart report

2001 Buick Regal Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
34about this part
Share
18%of 187 total for the year
Median mileage
81,331miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 34 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2001 Buick Regal, 18% of the 187 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 81,331 miles. 17 a fire, according to the filers. 3 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Vehicle has a 3.8 liter super charged engine. Parked car after driving approximately 70 miles with no noticeable problem. About fifteen minutes later, I saw smoke coming from under the hood. The engine compartment was engulfed. The vehicle is a total loss. The car was not running and their was no indication of smoke/fire when I turned it off.”

NHTSA complaint #10213722, filed 2008-01, 225,000 miles

“My 2011 Regal had to have the lower and upper intake gasket replaced as well as the valve cover gaskets.. A week after that the service engine soon light came on and the mechanic said it was the throttle body gasket. I then got it replaced and then a week after that the service engine soon light came on again. It was pulling up a code for a vacuum leak. Wtf! My boyfriend turned the light off and it hasn't come on since, so I don't know if it was a glitch.”

NHTSA complaint #10319972, filed 2010-03, 111,000 miles

“In dec.2008, I had my oil changed and I noticed several week later that oil was leaking on my garage floor. I then took my car to have it checked for the oil leak. My mechanic informed me that it was a problem with the intake manifold which had a bad design and it was also causing coolant to leak into the oil. I immediately checked to see if there were any recalls on my vehicle, and there were. However, when I called the Buick home office I was told that there were no recalls on my vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #10257141, filed 2009-02, 100,000 miles

“My wife went out to start the vehicle after it had been sitting for 2-3 days in 0-20 degree temperatures. Upon turning the ignition switch she heard a loud explosion sound, saw the hood bulge, and saw smoke billow out from the sides. She immediately removed key, exited the vehicle, and asked me to come out to the vehicle. Upon opening the hood we found pieces of the heat shield, and plastic intake manifold scattered through the engine compartment, along with the oil fill cap, which had been blown off.”

NHTSA complaint #10221055, filed 2008-03, 118,357 miles

“Driving the car to the shopping mall there was nothing out of the ordinary, no smell, no noise. About 15 minutes later I remembered I forgot something in the car and went out to retrieve it when I saw fire trucks. There were flames shooting out 10 feet high of a car, thinking poor fool, then realizing that fool was me! It was my 2001 Regal. The car was torched to the inside dash board. Witnesses stated sparks were coming from under the front left, when it burst into flames. Needless to say the car is toast. …”

NHTSA complaint #10224787, filed 2008-04, 65,870 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Engine cooling: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201612%
201311%
201141%
2004812%
20031010%
20021715%
20013418%
20003519%
19994317%
19985518%
19973022%
19963618%
19951911%
19941211%
199378%
199286%
1991158%
199068%
19891110%
198897%
198728%
1986217%
1985333%
1984117%

Other parts of the 2001 Buick Regal

Engine
52 complaints
Electrical system
32 complaints
Steering
14 complaints
Vehicle speed control
13 complaints
Brakes
12 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
11 complaints
Air bags
8 complaints
Other or unknown
8 complaints
Fuel system
7 complaints
Body and structure
7 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaints
Exterior lighting
6 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2001 Buick Regal

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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