Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM | |||||
| 020139002 | 03/01/2002 | 631232 | Some customers may comment on the time it takes the right side door glass to defog. *slc | 05/21/2002 | |
| 020139001 | 02/01/2002 | 629522 | Subject regarding hvac temperature difference side to side and/or diagnostic trouble codes b0361, b0441 set. *tt | 04/02/2002 | |
| 97121797022 | 12/17/1997 | 54475 | Subject on hvac manual climate control mode selector first phase owner notification letter mailing. *yc | 04/20/1998 | |
| 97110197022J | 11/01/1997 | 54185 | Customer satisfaction campaign on hvac manual climate control mode selector. *yc | 03/30/1998 | |
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - REAR WINDOW | |||||
| 030844005B | 01/01/2005 | 030844005C | 10005588 | Poor radio reception or radio static/ increased interference with rear window defogger on or some rear window defogger grids may be inoperative. *tt | 03/04/2004 |
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - CONTROLS/WIRING | |||||
| 01650 | 01/01/2004 | 10007236 | Manual dual zone fan and mode knob replacement. service vme. *tt | 06/04/2004 | |
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||||
| 849602 | 09/01/1998 | 603828 | Some customers may comment the radio clock gains an excessive amount of time. *yc | 03/08/1999 | |
| 839607 | 10/01/1998 | 602985 | Comments on switching between local stations or cross talk in metropolitan areas with several strong am stations. *yc | 01/25/1999 | |
| 98849602A | 10/01/1998 | 84-96-02 | 602750 | Some customers may comment on radio clock gains an excessive amount of time. *yc | 01/11/1999 |
| VISIBILITY - REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES - EXTERIOR | |||||
| 111001 | 10/11/2001 | 627977 | Information on diagnosing wind noise from the outside rearview mirror area. *tt | 03/01/2002 | |
| 000851001 | 09/01/2000 | 6092333 | Some customers may comment that the black plastic housing around the outside rear view mirror turns chalky or is dull in color. *tt | 12/05/2000 | |
| VISIBILITY - SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 030867004 | 06/01/2003 | 10002878 | Parts availability for sunroof repairs. *tt | 09/30/2003 | |
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD | |||||
| 731066A | 07/01/1998 | 731066 | 615088 | Some owners may comment that the door glass sticks in the full up position. this condition mainly happens in warm weather. *tt | 12/27/2000 |
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | |||||
| 98738205A | 04/01/1998 | 601123 | Condition with windshield wiper arms/blades park at incorrect location. *yc | 07/01/1998 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY | ||||||
| EA99024 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 08/20/1999 | 01/13/2000 | WINDSHIELD WIPER | ||
| Incidents of wiper failure (owner reports and warranty) are very high, and many of reports indicate that the failures are still occurring in 1999.failure reports also indicate that the problem is not limited to freezing weather conditions. | ||||||
| PE99028 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 04/16/1999 | 08/20/1999 | WINDSHIELD WIPER | ||
| Alleged that the windshied wipers fail, particularly during cold weather operation | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM | |||
| 1 | 10/06/1997 | ||
| Design of the air flow on the window defroster is insufficient and causes poor visibility. | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - BLOWER | |||
| 18384 | 3 | 10/01/1998 | |
| The air conditioner blower and the headlights did not work properly. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they replaced the ignition switch, the air conditioner blower switch and the resistor. *ak while traveling on the highway at 45 mph with the blower on at a low speed, without warning it would shut off along with the headlights. this problem repeated. the consumers daughter had the same vehicle and experienced the same problem. gm stated that there were no other instances reported. *scc the circuit board for the blower resistor burned up, which caused other componets to fail. *jb | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - CONTROLS/WIRING | |||
| 03/30/2003 | 92000 | 1 | |
| Headlights turned off during operation at night while driving. listed below is the text of my note to the dealer more fully describing the problem. you may recall after review of your service records that i brought this vehicle to you december 3, 2002 for a faulty blower motor. after diagnosis you phoned and indicated the problem was a resistor, not the motor and during diagnosis you discovered wires under the hood damaged by an animal who had built a nest under the cowling. i authorized repair of both the resistor and the wiring. on january 3, 2003 i returned the vehicle to you for a similar problem, the blower motor would fail intermittently along with the electronically dimmed rearview mirror and the interior dash light would fail to dim when the headlights were turned on. you kept the vehicle until january 7, 2003 but were unable to observe the problem. i have had two instances of this blower failure since but was unable to get to you before the fan and associated problems disappeared. this morning shortly after 5:00 am (in the dark) i headed to the richmond airport. as i was about to pull onto route 54 from our development i decided to turn on the blower to clear moisture from the windows. when i did the headlights extinguished. had this been twenty seconds later i may have wrecked my vehicle and injured or killed my passenger and myself. *nlm | |||
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||
| 01/09/2008 | 91000 | 3 | 05/01/2002 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1998 buick regal. while driving 1-5 mph, the vehicle would constantly stall. in addition, the vehicle stalled while driving in reverse. the contact stated that the vehicle would shut off when the check engine light illuminated. the contact was able to restart the vehicle after it stalled. the failure mileage was 92,900 and current mileage was 92,988. updated 02/15/08. *lj the consumer has experienced other problems with the vehicle such as steering gear failure, which the rack and pinion was replaced. air condition failure, transmission torque converter, which the entire transmission was overhauled. the ignition switch shorted out. the right front window regulator was replaced. updated | |||
| 05/28/2005 | 3 | 12/23/2001 | |
| The window regulators are defective on 3 windows. i had to get them shut permanently with tape. unable to open all three windows - front driver and two back windows. the part alone is about $400 -visibility-power window devices and controls. *jb | |||
| 02/21/2004 | 3 | ||
| One day while driving my wife's 1998 buick regal when i heard a sudden gust of wind noise. i had found out that both of the rear windows had fallen as if they were off track, but these were electric windows. a few weeks later the front driver side window fell as well. i called 3 different buick dealers who all told me that the regulators on my year model have a very bad tendancy to go out. they also informed me that the regulator for each window is $400.00 plus labor. i spoke to buick's customer service who said that they have never received a complaint on this, but i have found countless forums online with many people who have the exact same problem of two or more windows malfunctioning all at one time...this is no coincedence. although it sounds like it's just a few window problems, unfortunately when it rains the windows fall and my wife and daughter have ended up in a very wet car trying to come home. i believe this to be an electrical problem as i have also had the wires in the rearview mirror short out and melt. this has hindered the view from my mirror as well as leaked black goo all over my console. when i told this to buick they didn't see it as a problem. i have one other complaint that the rear seat belts are not properly done. they work and don't work whenever the mood strikes them. this is very disconcerning when i have children to put in the back. *ak | |||
| 03/26/2003 | 93000 | 2 | 02/20/2002 |
| Power window regulator failed on left rear door in march 2002, and on the driver's door in march 2003. both failures were of the plastic retainer for the cable end which holds the window up. both windows dropped several inches. the rear window dropped while driving, causing driver distraction. in both cases the window could not be raised without removing the door upholstery panel. the only repair is to replace the entire window regulator assembly. list price for the driver's door parts only was $352. *jb | |||
| 03/04/2003 | 75000 | 09/10/1998 | |
| Electric windows--front passenger can only be used via controls on driver's door and rear passenger side window came down and will not stay up--we cut off the power to it and it still creeps down. it lacks about 2-3 of being shut and has to be taped to keep air/water out. this happened last summer. *nlm | |||
| 08/20/2001 | 1 | ||
| The driver side and passenger side rear electric windows failed. | |||
| 7 | 09/01/1997 | ||
| Window drive motors fail. all windows effected at least once. some fail abruptly others creep down either with car running or parked. cost per replacement is overly high.ak | |||
| 10/01/1998 | 2 | 01/03/1998 | |
| Rear window switch and seal failed. yh | |||
| 11/01/1997 | 1 | 11/01/1997 | |
| Left front door window motor makes noise during operation. yh | |||
| 07/31/1998 | |||
| Driver side power window won't go down. | |||
| 08/01/1998 | 1 | 01/01/1998 | |
| Electrical power exterior rear view mirror failed, resulting in poor visibility due to adjustment problems. mjs | |||
| VISIBILITY - REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES - INTERIOR | |||
| 08/10/2009 | 61000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 1998 buick regal. the contact stated when entering the vehicle she noticed a film covering the mirror. the following day when entering the vehicle she noticed that a substance was leaking from the mirror onto her console and melted parts of the console. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and inspected where it was determined that the automatic dem solution leaked from the mirror and the mirror would have to be replaced at a cost of 210.00 and that does not include labor. the contact is in the process of having the vehicle repaired. the contact called the manufacturer and was informed that because of the age of the vehicle, no compensation could be offered. the failure mileage was 61,000 and the current mileage is 61,300. | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD | |||
| 05/17/1998 | 05/01/1998 | ||
| There is excessive glare in the windshield of this vehicle; excessive to a point of total blindness when i enter my garage. the problem is a result of the steep angle of glass, a very light colored gray dash and the size of the dash. this combination causes the windshield to take on the appearance of being foggy at all times. at night, when driving under overhead lights the condition is even worse ; as is the case when driving the car into my garage which is also light gray. in this circumstance i am almost totally blinded by the images transposed into the windshield. i have contacted buick at least 6-8 times asking for help to resolve the problem but the most they would offer is a suggestion to get myself some polarized sun glasses or purchase a dash mat (with a warning that the dash mat may not help either). my contention is that buick built the car, they claim that it was tested for safety standards and it's not safe as far as my vision is concerned. they should be held accountable to correct defects in the products they sell. there are solutions to this problem, they are aware of it but they would rather not address it untill someone gets hurt.t. *ak | |||
| 04/28/1999 | 2 | 03/01/1998 | |
| Recurring a/c, electrical system, and window vibration problems have not been resolved by the manufacturer, despite numerous attempts. was referred to a buick regional rep, who consistently lied about the fact that buick was aware of these problems in numerous (maybe all) 1998 regals. when that didn't deter me and the truth established, he attempted to use physical threats to get me to back down. that didn't deter me either. bbb arbitration process was a farce. bbb admitted that the vehicle was considered a lemon, but their resolution was to let buick have the car for an additional 30 day period to attempt to repair it. neither the bbb, nor buick followed the bbb's own arbitration rules. buick rep and arbitrator both lied during the arbitration hearing, despite taking an oath at the beginning of the proceedings. these facts have been well documented, and were witnessed by another person who attended the hearing on my behalf. ready to start legal proceedings to protect my rights and obtain a truly fair resolution compensate for these defects. also want to make sure buick doesn't treat other customers the way they have treated me. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| The windshield design creates poor visibility due to reflection of dashboard and air vents onto area of vision. | |||
| 03/03/1998 | |||
| Black line running through windshield. | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | |||
| 03/04/2003 | 90000 | 09/10/1998 | |
| Windshield wipers don't work 1/2 the time. they seem to go off track--you have to stop the car, open the hood and tighten the base--the nut that holds the wiper arm on works loose. this has been happening for about 8 months. *nlm | |||
| 09/23/1998 | 1 | ||
| The windshield wipers failed and the motor wiper system replaced. | |||
| 08/12/2001 | 1 | 06/01/1998 | |
| Attaching nut backed off - arm detached from assembly - wiper stopped working during rainstorm - also noticed nut on other side was also loose. *ak | |||
| 02/09/2001 | 1 | 01/01/2001 | |
| Windshield wipers move up and down aproximately 4 while in the off position. additionally the wipers will stop, blocking driver view or not work at all while in the on or int positions. *ak | |||
| 01/11/1999 | 5 | 08/01/1997 | |
| No summary | |||
| 05/01/1999 | 09/01/1997 | ||
| Moisture has accumulated on inside of headlight lens. console latch broken, repaired by dealer. wiper arms would not remove snow, linkage disconnected, repaired by dealer, then went off windshield, repaired a total of 3 times. half of digital temperature-radio display went dim, repaired by dealer. digital supercharger boost guage intermitently sticks above zero, dealer could not identify problem. *ak | |||
| Windshield wipers do not clear the windows as well when it's snowing outside. dealer has replaced the blades. *ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER - MOTOR | |||
| 12/01/1997 | |||
| Intermittently in cold climates, windshield wipers malfunction, causing visual difficulty which may result in a crash. also the horn will malfunction/fumes from exhaust system will enter the vehicle, causing the occupant to feel sick. dealer cannot determine the causes. please provide further information and vin#. *ak | |||