I WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES; I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL CAR OFF THE STREET. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *TR
2004 Buick Regal
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Buick Regal do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 29.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Regal years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
45 reports with mileage · 21 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
35 reportsIGNITION SWITCH FAILED. ALL ALARMS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP AND THE ENGINE DIED WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY AND WAS REPLACED. ALTHOUGH I FOUND INFORMATION ON THE WEB PAGE INDI…
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IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. ALL ALARMS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP AND THE ENGINE DIED WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY AND WAS REPLACED. ALTHOUGH I FOUND INFORMATION ON THE WEB PAGE INDICATING THAT GM HAD IDENTIFIED THE 2004 - 2005 BUICK REGAL LS AND GS AS HAVING IGNITION SWITCH DEFAULTS THE LOCAL DEALER ADVISED THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED AS OF NOW. *TR
MY 2004 BUICK REGAL LS, JUST RECENTLY STARTED TO SHUT OFF OR WON'T TURN ON, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WOULD BE FLASHING ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY NONSTOP. AS I WOULD TURN ON MY BUICK BY TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH, IT WOULDN'T TURN ON BUT ALSO ALL THE LIGHTS WOULD BE FLICKERING ON AND OFF RAPIDLY.…
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MY 2004 BUICK REGAL LS, JUST RECENTLY STARTED TO SHUT OFF OR WON'T TURN ON, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WOULD BE FLASHING ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY NONSTOP. AS I WOULD TURN ON MY BUICK BY TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH, IT WOULDN'T TURN ON BUT ALSO ALL THE LIGHTS WOULD BE FLICKERING ON AND OFF RAPIDLY. I WOULD HAVE TO KEEP TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT 10-20 TIMES UNTIL FINALLY MY BUICK WOULD TURN ON. NOW WHEN I WOULD BE DRIVING IT WOULD SHUT OF BY ME PUT MY TURN SIGNAL LEFT OR RIGHT OR IT WOULD SHUT OFF BY ITSELF. AGAIN AS IT WOULD SHUT OFF ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WOULD BE FLASHING ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY AND I WOULD LOOSE ACCELERATION AND POWER STEERING. SOMETIMES I WOULD BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY, BUT IF I WAS UNLUCKY I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TRY TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. IT'S NOW HAPPENING SO MUCH THAT I FOUND OUT THAT I COULD SOMETIMES TURN ON MY EMERGENCY HAZARD AND IT WOULD MAKE THE LIGHTS STOP FLICKERING AND REGAIN POWER TO THE ACCELERATION AND POWER STEERING. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MY YEAR MAKE AND MODEL ISN'T PART OF THE GM'S RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SHUT OFF PROBLEMS. WHAT WILL IT TAKE? MANY DEATHS FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? *TR
ENGINE STALLS AFTER FIRST STARTUP, THEN AFTER RESTART ALL WARNING LIGHTS BLINK FOR LONG PERIOD. VEHICLE STALLS WHEN STOPPING FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL OR SLOWING DOWN TO TURN. THEN, WHEN IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED TO OFF POSITION, COULD NOT REMOVE KEY, AND COULD NOT TURN ENGINE OFF. MECHANIC REPLACED IGNITION ELECTRICAL SWITCH, REP…
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ENGINE STALLS AFTER FIRST STARTUP, THEN AFTER RESTART ALL WARNING LIGHTS BLINK FOR LONG PERIOD. VEHICLE STALLS WHEN STOPPING FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL OR SLOWING DOWN TO TURN. THEN, WHEN IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED TO OFF POSITION, COULD NOT REMOVE KEY, AND COULD NOT TURN ENGINE OFF. MECHANIC REPLACED IGNITION ELECTRICAL SWITCH, REPLACED IGNITION TUMBLER ASSEMBLY, MADE NEW KEYS. WE SPENT $1,171.01 FOR THESE REPAIRS. WROTE A LONG LETTER TO BUICK CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER ON JULY 1, 2014, AND EXPLAINED ALL THE DETAILS OF THIS IGNITION-RELATED PROBLEM. FOUND 21 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AT SAFERCAR.GOV. GMC NEVER ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE ON THESE IGNITION-RELATED PROBLEMS, AND SAID OUR VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE CERTAIN DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURER PARTS INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. WHO THE HELL INSTALLED THESE DEFECTIVE IGNITION-RELATED PARTS? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE, STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED ON DECELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATIONS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE MINUTES LATER. T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE, STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED ON DECELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATIONS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE MINUTES LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,600. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 11/25/2014 *JS
WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN MY 2004 BUICK REGAL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK AND TRIED TO RESTART IT ALL OF THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND LUCKILY IT STARTED BACK UP AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES. I DROVE TO WORK AND THEN HOME AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO THE STORE AND AT A STOP LIGHT IT SHUT OFF COMPL…
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WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN MY 2004 BUICK REGAL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK AND TRIED TO RESTART IT ALL OF THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND LUCKILY IT STARTED BACK UP AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES. I DROVE TO WORK AND THEN HOME AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO THE STORE AND AT A STOP LIGHT IT SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AGAIN. THIS TIME IT BARELY STARTED AND I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. A THAT POINT MY CAR WOULDN'T EVEN START UP AGAIN AND I WAS WITHOUT MY CAR FOR OVER A WEEK. 460 DOLLARS LATER MY CAR IS FINALLY SAFE AGAIN. *TR
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 40MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CUT OFF AND ALL THE GAUGE LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS NEARLY SIDE SWIPED BY ANOTHER CAR. I RESTARTED THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I TRIED TO START IT UP AGAIN. IT STARTED BUT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE GAUGE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD WERE STILL ON. I RESTARTED THE CAR …
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I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 40MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CUT OFF AND ALL THE GAUGE LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS NEARLY SIDE SWIPED BY ANOTHER CAR. I RESTARTED THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I TRIED TO START IT UP AGAIN. IT STARTED BUT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE GAUGE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD WERE STILL ON. I RESTARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME; THE SIGNAL LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. WHEN I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO START IT UP AND TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I PAID A TOTAL OF $540 FOR THEM TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. GMC KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT REPORT A RECALL TO CONSUMERS NOR OFFER TO FIX IT. ALL I'M ASKING IS FOR A REFUND OF THE MONEY I PAID; $540. *TR
THE VEHICLE BEGAN RANDOMLY DYING WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS UNDER 35MPH OR IDLING AT A STOPLIGHT. THIS HAPPENED ONCE PRIOR TO AUG. '13, BUT THE FREQUENCY INCREASED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR AND NO WARNING UNTIL THE LOSS OF STEERING AND ACCELERATION. AS THE FREQUENCY INCREASED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHA…
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THE VEHICLE BEGAN RANDOMLY DYING WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS UNDER 35MPH OR IDLING AT A STOPLIGHT. THIS HAPPENED ONCE PRIOR TO AUG. '13, BUT THE FREQUENCY INCREASED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR AND NO WARNING UNTIL THE LOSS OF STEERING AND ACCELERATION. AS THE FREQUENCY INCREASED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, BUT WITH NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, THERE WERE NO REPAIR CODES TO ISOLATE THE ISSUE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX. THE PROBLEM WORSENED AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN FLASHING RANDOMLY. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE FLASHING WAS TO PUSH THE HAZARD SWITCH, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL DIED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH IN JAN. 2014. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE HAS DIED TWICE WHILE DRIVING, AGAIN WITH NO WARNINGS. TODAY THIS HAPPENED AT A LOW SPEED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND TO REAR-END ME. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION AS IT APPEARS THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES AND OTHER DRIVING AROUND THEM. *TR
FIRST TIME MY CAR STALLED AND HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED WAS 15 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT FROM A BUICK DEALER. BEGINNING 9/2011 CAR BEGAN STALLING AT MANY AND VARIOUS TIMES. I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED - TAKING TO MY BUICK DEALER ON MANY OCCASIONS AND TO MY LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC MAKING REPAIRS AS SUGGESTED AND STILL…
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FIRST TIME MY CAR STALLED AND HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED WAS 15 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT FROM A BUICK DEALER. BEGINNING 9/2011 CAR BEGAN STALLING AT MANY AND VARIOUS TIMES. I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED - TAKING TO MY BUICK DEALER ON MANY OCCASIONS AND TO MY LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC MAKING REPAIRS AS SUGGESTED AND STILL MY CAR CONTINUED TO STALL, MOST RECENT TIME OF STALLING - OCT. 2013 - HAD BUICK DEALER AGAIN CHECK AND RESEARCH TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS TO SEE WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM - BUICK COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING EVEN AFTER I ASKED THEM 'COULD IT BE MY IGNITION SWITCH' AND WAS TOLD NO. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC AGAIN AND AFTER DOING LOTS OF TESTING - HE REPLACED MY IGNITION SWITCH. CAR HAS NOT STALLED SINCE. AS I UNDERSTAND IT - MY IGNITION SWITCH COULD FAIL AGAIN AND I AM REQUESTING THAT MY MAKE AND MODEL BE REVIEWED AND INCLUDED IN THE 'RECENT' GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEYS WOULD DANGLE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEYS WOULD DANGLE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
Official recalls
215V701000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe
Oct 26, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
15V201000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Apr 6, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to June 23, 2003. On May 18, 2015, GM expanded the recall to cover an additional 49,751 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2003, to June 25, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the valve cover gasket may leak.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14574.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration