2003 Buick Regal Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2003 Buick Regal most often describe the engine shutting off while driving, frequently around turns or when a turn signal is used, with many complaints pointing to the ignition switch. A second large group describes engine-compartment smoke and fires, often linked by owners to the oil-on-exhaust-manifold recall campaigns. Remaining reports cover corroded brake lines, peeling chrome on the wheels and steering noises, and most sampled complaints arrive well past 70,000 miles, though several stalling reports come at low mileage.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving (ignition switch)

   • 27 complaints (27%)
   • median 94,000 mi at 11.5 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2016

   Owners describe the engine quitting without warning, often while turning or when the turn signal is switched on, with dashboard warning lights flashing and gauges dropping. Some say the car restarts after being shifted to neutral, while others need a tow; several report losing power steering and power assist for the brakes as it happens. Complaints state that an independent mechanic or dealer traced the problem to the ignition switch and replaced it, and some owners say the switch was replaced more than once or that the stalling returned afterward. A few also mention the key failing to turn off or come out of the ignition. Reported from roughly 35,000 to 270,000 miles, with several cases under 60,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch has been replaced and when, and test that the key turns off and releases cleanly. During a test drive, use the turn signals while slowing and turning to see whether the engine or dash lights misbehave.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My ABS, traction & service vehicle soon lights came on. Shortly after, the car stalled while turning on the turn signals. During the stall, the power steering and ABS locked up. I noticed that the car would stall whenever a turn signal was turned on. After reading forums, I see that this has been a problem for many people!”

   NHTSA complaint #10577382, filed 2014-04, 142,000 miles

   “On multiple but intermittent occasions, when the left turn signal is engaged all dashboard warning lights flash and the vehicle stops running. I was fortunate in that it never occurred in heavy traffic, but it still represents a significant danger. On one particular occasion, it failed to restart and I had the vehicle towed to an authorized GM dealer who kept it for seven days but failed to find or fix the problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10396011, filed 2011-04, 47,104 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine-compartment smoke and fires

   • 25 complaints (25%)
   • median 156,000 mi at 12.2 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2023

   Owners report smoke or a burning smell from under the hood, sometimes after parking, and in several cases flames in the engine compartment that the fire department put out. Some complaints connect the fires to the recall campaigns about engine oil dripping onto the hot exhaust manifold, and some mention the recall repair being done before smoke returned. Others say they were told the parts for the recall repair were on back order for months. Mostly reported between about 136,000 and 200,000 miles, often shortly after driving and parking.

   Recall 15V701000Recall 09V116000Recall 08V118000

   What to check: Check the recall history for campaigns 15V701000, 09V116000 and 08V118000 and whether the repairs were completed. Look for oil seepage or staining around the valve covers and exhaust manifold, and watch for oil or burning smells after a drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Oil leaks,05/22/2016. I have dad several hard breaking times -highway-and I have sense noticed oil leaking and smelled oil smoke from engine.I had recall #15757 back in 02/2016.called about parts to fif problem.they say they cant get parts,-on back order- been almost 6 months,still no parts.loudacrous.no excuse.”

   NHTSA complaint #10876978, filed 2016-06, 180,000 miles

   “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 repair and took it out this spring. The wife said it smoked and then I drove it and I had a lot of smoke coming from under the hood. Since the repair we only put 2,900 miles on the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11099493, filed 2018-06, 258,200 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Corroded brake lines

   • 7 complaints (7%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2016

   Owners describe brake lines that are heavily corroded, in some cases found during inspection or at a dealer that recommended replacement. Complaints also mention rust on the frame and a brake pedal that felt very hard or loose in traffic. In most of these reports the vehicle had not yet been repaired. Reported from about 100,000 to 110,000 miles, plus a few at lower mileage.

   What to check: Have the brake lines inspected for corrosion along their full length, especially at fittings and under the doors, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “(1) I have a 2003 Buick Regal with mileage of 17700.this morning at 9 am when I stopped before the traffic light in the intersection of mound rd and 13 mile rd. (2) suddenly the brake pedal appears to be very loose and the car starts going backward slowly. I keep on pressing the brake but the car keeps going backward. I switched to parking gear and then driving gear and press the gaspedal and the car starts moving forward. Both my wife and I were in the car. Fortunately no car was behind us so no accident occured. (3) the dealer checked the car and can not find what is the problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10122584, filed 2005-05, 17,700 miles

   “While traveling at 25 MPH in traffic driver applied the brakes and the brake pedal was very hard. As a result, the driver hit another vehicle. The air bag failed to deploy during the accident. The vehicle sustained $9700 damage but the other vehicle sustained no damage.”

   NHTSA complaint #10071481, filed 2004-06, 11,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Clunk or click from the front steering

   • 7 complaints (7%)
   • median 31,500 mi at 2.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2004–2016

   Owners describe a clunking or clicking noise from the front end when turning or backing out of a parking space, sometimes with vibration felt through the steering wheel. Complaints say a dealer lubricated the intermediate steering shaft, which quieted it for a few weeks before it returned, and that the noise was not solved permanently. Others report a loose intermediate shaft making steering difficult at low speed and a power steering line that rubbed through and lost fluid. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 32,000 miles in most cases.

   What to check: Listen for a clunk or click while turning the wheel at parking speeds, and check the power steering fluid level and look for leaks along the return line.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Lost power steering fluid in my 2003 Buick Regal due to a hole in the power steering return line. The hole developed as a result of the line rubbing against transmission filler tube. This is design fault and is considered a safety issue that needs to be corrected. The odometer reading at the time of this failure was 5905.”

   NHTSA complaint #10199425, filed 2007-08, 5,905 miles

   “Steering/linkage/drive shaft problem at 31,000 miles/3 years 11/06; 1/07. 2 occurrences of loud clunking noise when backing and turning out of driveway or any parking space. Does not happen every time. First time dealer lubed intermediate drive shaft, which cured problem for couple of months. Second time dealer could not hear noise, but said they would lube same part again. Noise was not fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10182084, filed 2007-02, 31,500 miles
5. 5
   Wheels

   Peeling chrome on alloy wheels

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • median 89,275 mi at 7.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2014

   Owners report the chrome plating on the original alloy wheels peeling off in sheets, sometimes from the inside of the rim where it can contact the tire. Complaints describe air leaks and slow pressure loss that a dealer attributed to the wheel surfaces and called a known condition, and one owner noted it was discovered when buying new tires. Reported between about 53,000 and 70,000 miles, and in one case near 89,000 miles.

   What to check: Inspect the wheels inside and out for lifted or flaking plating, and check tire pressures: recurring slow leaks with sound tires point to the rim surface.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Oe chrome plated aluminum wheels on my 2003 Buick Regal. Separation occurs between the chrome and the aluminum substrate resulting in an air leak, believed to be caused by salt corrosion. Loss of air could result in a deflated tire and subsequent loss of control. Discovered upon new tire purchase.”

   NHTSA complaint #10285857, filed 2009-09, 123,550 miles

   “The chrome-plated alloy rims on the 2003 Buick Regal have the plating peeling off in sheets on the inside of the rims, where it can strike and potentially slice or damage the tires, brakes, brake lines, etc.”

   NHTSA complaint #10221115, filed 2008-03, 53,500 miles

Buying note. Ask for the recall repair history on this model year and whether the ignition switch has been replaced, since stalling and engine-fire reports are the two things owners describe most. A pre-purchase inspection that covers the ignition switch, brake lines, steering shaft and wheel rims is worth the cost on a car of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 80 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.