10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
83 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1998 Buick Regal:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #9

Dec 301997

Regal 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 250 miles
Have 1998 Buick rega gs. Only 55000 miles. Have had several rotors and brake pads replaced over life of vehicle. Same problem even while under warrenty. Dealer originally turned rotors. Dealer appeared to be aware of problem. Problem returned shortly thereafter. After several rotors and brake pad replacements out of warrenty I finally replaced rotors with high performance cross drilled and slotted rotor (assuming a heat problem) but to no avail. Vehicle shakes violantly at times when brakes applied and rotors always warped. I believe GM was aware of problem from onset but refuses to recall vehicle. Please note that this vehicle did this from the day I purchased it new in decmeber of 1997 but I thought it was a new form of antilock braked that pulsated. Fear that if sold to another individual, vehicle brakes may fail.

- Charleston, WV, USA

problem #8

Dec 231997

Regal 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 500 miles
I purchased vehicle new around December 23, 1997. The vehicle had approximately 500 miles on it. I noticed that when applying brakes the was a vibration (felt like a pulse) in the vehicle and could slightly feel the vibration in the steering wheel. Owners manual advised one may feel the ABS release and reengage while applying brakes. Vehicle was only driver about 6000 miles a year. At about 8000 miles the vibration became so severe I had to take vehicle to the dealership who advised that brakes where not covered under warrenty but they would turn the rotors for free. At about 15000 miles (and now out of warrenty altogether due to past 3 years olds) had to have rotors turned again. Within a few thousand miles had to have new rotors and brakes. Within a few hundred miles of new rotors and brakes the problem came back and is severe but I cannot afford to keep replacing rotors every few hundred miles. The brake pads always appear to wear normal but the rotors are always warping. The vehicle still only has 42000 miles and is over 5 years olds. The vehicle feels unsafe to drive. I feel this problem was possibly known to GM prior to my purchase and that GM still refuses to recall the Buick Regals with this problem.

- Charleston, WV, USA

problem #7

Jul 242001

Regal

  • miles
Date of purchase was Sept 2000 used. Reported rotor brake warpage and transmission slippage. Rotors were turned but problem not completly gone. Mechanic dismissed transmission slippage as traction control activation. Transmission failed 7/22/2001.

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

problem #6

Jul 311998

Regal

  • miles
Brake problems, pulsation in brake pedal. Replaced front rotors-blue from overheating at 707 miles. Brakes vibrate, turned rotors & replaced glazed front brake pads at 1154 mi. Brakes pulsate, replace booster brake assy. At 1641 mi. Brakes pulsate, replace master cylinder at 4926 miles. Brakes pulsate, replaced both front rotors at 13,462 mi. Brakes pulsate, replaced front and rear rotors (paper thin and blue) at 14,431 mi.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #5

Dec 151999

Regal

  • miles
Front brake rotors warped soon after delivery, dealer would only turn them at my cost, after 40,000 different dealer advised rotors so badly scraped by previous Buick dealer new rotors were required at $550...I feel like these were defective from the start and should have been replaced.

- New Edinburg, AR, USA

problem #4

Dec 252000

Regal

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When applying brakes, brake caliper fell off, jamming front wheel causing it to freeze, resulting in loss of control. The vehicle would drive in reverse but the right front wheel stayed locked. The cause was found to be two bolts that hold the caliper sheared off. The caliper, after coming off, jammed the front wheel movement to halt. The vehicle shaked when backing and turning due to power steering gear failure. The brakes pulsate when applied due to excess runout of brake rotors.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #3

Nov 301999

(reported on)

Regal

  • miles
Front rotors were warped at 25,000 miles and required surfacing. The second dealer surfaced rotors correctly. When the rotors are slightly warped the ABS cycled every time the brakes are applied increasing braking distance. Upon parking the car on a slight grade and restarting the ABS cycles. With foot on the brake upon letting up to back out the ABS cycles and releases the brakes. The steeper the slope the farther you roll without brakes. More than eight feet in some instances before the brakes reapply. The dealer and Buick service state that this is normal.

- Jennings, OK, USA

problem #2

Jun 011998

Regal

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Front rotors warped. Mjs

- Orange, CA, USA

problem #1

May 011998

Regal

  • miles
Both right and left rotors warped. Violent shaking in the steering wheel and vibration occurs after being on highway, causing poor steering conditions and poor stopping power. The rotors were resurfaced, not replaced which leads me to believe that this may occur again.

- Norman, OK, USA