2003 Buick Regal Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 7%of 101 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 35,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2003 Buick Regal, 7% of the 101 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 35,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I brought my car into the dealership because of a throttle problem. They sprayed something on it (aluminum type spray) and sent us on our way until they ordered a new part. It was the wrong part and a month went by without a further call regarding any new part coming in. On september 13th I headed into anchorage on the busiest highway in the state of alaska. The throttle spring let go. I found myself clutching the steering wheel with the brake pedal to the floor. I was on the highway at 70 MPH and the brakes wouldn't work. …”
NHTSA complaint #10045045, filed 2003-10, 5,400 miles“(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“Dt: the contact stated after putting the vehicle in park, the vehicle jumped into reverse on its own slamming the contact between the driver's side door and a chain link fence. The contact suffered injuries to the left leg and calf and a broken right foot. The dealership has not been contacted yet. The vehicle was towed to a body shop. There was damage done to the vehicle and to the chain link fence. On one other occasion the vehicle jumped out of park and tried to go forward, but the contact was able to stop the vehicle in time.”
NHTSA complaint #10168133, filed 2006-09, 35,000 miles“I have not driven the car for over a year due to it not being on the recall list for the ignition not working. Some thing to do with the ignition and the transmission, you can't get the key out of ignition because it want turn off to the point of removal. I've noticed that there's a click sometimes when you put it in park and then you can remove key but it's rare, I'm afraid it's going to do the same thing the recall says will happen going down the road. …”
NHTSA complaint #10592721, filed 2014-05“The contact owns a 2003 Buick Regal. While driving 20 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently when the accelerator pedal was not depressed. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power train control module failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10872999, filed 2016-06, 82,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11006421Jul 24, 2024GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or…
- 10249579Jan 12, 2024This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine.
- 10242843Sep 1, 2023The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the…
- 10222770Sep 16, 2022This service bulletin provides information on OEM and Remanufactured Engine and Automatic Transmission/Transaxle Identification.
- 10224273Sep 1, 2022This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician to not remove the torque converter bolts and start the engine as this may cause damage to the…
- 10220319Sep 1, 2022This diagnostic tip advises the tech not to separate the flexplate from the torque convertor or damage my occur if the engine is started while diagnosing for noise from the…
- 10201098Dec 1, 2015OEM and Remanufactured Engine and Automatic Transmission/Transaxle Identification
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 6 | 30% |
| 2018 | 2 | 11% |
| 2017 | 2 | 10% |
| 2016 | 5 | 12% |
| 2015 | 1 | 3% |
| 2014 | 6 | 16% |
| 2013 | 9 | 10% |
| 2012 | 7 | 8% |
| 2011 | 39 | 14% |
| 2004 | 3 | 5% |
| 2003 | 7 | 7% |
| 2002 | 3 | 3% |
| 2001 | 11 | 6% |
| 2000 | 4 | 2% |
| 1999 | 10 | 4% |
| 1998 | 12 | 4% |
| 1997 | 7 | 5% |
| 1996 | 9 | 4% |
| 1995 | 14 | 8% |
| 1994 | 6 | 5% |
| 1992 | 19 | 13% |
| 1991 | 7 | 4% |
| 1990 | 3 | 4% |
| 1989 | 5 | 5% |
| 1988 | 10 | 8% |
| 1986 | 1 | 8% |
Other parts of the 2003 Buick Regal
35 complaintsEngine
26 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsEngine cooling
10 complaintsSteering
10 complaintsWheels
6 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Buick Regal
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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