NHTSA — Exterior Lighting Problems

2011 Buick Regal (Page 2 of 2)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,005 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Buick Regal lights problems

lights problem

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2011 Buick Regal Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #15

Feb 092019

Regal

  • 136,270 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am seeing multiple complaints online about the headlight assemblies here: On my Buick, I am having the same exact issues. For some reason, there is condensation/water entering the headlight housing and causing the ballast and bulb to fail. Buick wanted $1,215 to repair the headlights. One person in the site above said the following: "this is due to a faulty seal between the outer and inner shell assembly. This is a huge safety issue, as the vehicle may loose all headlights and cause the driver to crash. The assemblies are very costly to replace and the issue is very common on all 2011 though 2017 Regal and gs models with hid. This is dangerous and should be fixed by the manufacturer. New assemblies will result in the same safety issue in a short amount of time. This could be a design flaw or a manufacturing flaw... regardless, it is very dangerous!." I am in a major predicament. I can't afford the new headlights, and even if I could, this person is stating that they are likely to fail again. Also, the way this Buick is designed, I was able to replace the passenger side headlight with a more inexpensive bulb. I could not easily replace the driver side headlight, or another bulb that is out. The design is a safety risk as I can't afford the dealers's repair costs and cannot do it myself. The washer fluid bottle is in the way and there was no way to easily remove the headlight. This puts me at risk for a crash and also a ticket from police. Buick should fix this for all Regals with this issue - especially since their vehicles are so incredibly expensive anyway..

- Crofton, MD, USA

problem #14

Mar 012018

Regal

  • 40,000 miles
Both sealed headlight assemblies have failed and now have condensation inside of them. The lights are still functional but I am afraid of a short circuit. The dealer wanted $1,000 per headlight assembly to replace. This vehicle still has under 50,000 miles on it. It happened while it was just sitting there, but I do drive through rain.

- Moorestown, NJ, USA

problem #13

Apr 012018

Regal

  • miles
I have had the headlights replaced twice. Where you plug in the headlight (low beam), it melts and the headlight will not work anymore.

- Nacogdoches, TX, USA

problem #12

Nov 272017

Regal

  • 118,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

'takata recall' low beam headlights stopped working. But high beam works just fine.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #11

Dec 012016

Regal

  • 70,000 miles
Police stopped me due to missing passenger headlamp. As I was replacing said headlight, upon closer inspection, I noticed that the bulb wire harness were burnt black. The smell of burning was detected.

- Fort Washington, MD, USA

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problem #10

Mar 012016

Regal

  • 34,000 miles
We have lost our instrument lights many times while traveling and at many different speeds, accompanied by the smell of hot electrical wiring, I am 88yrs. Of age and my wife 83yrs. Of age and when this happens to her or myself when traveling it is a huge safety concern, we are afraid it my cause the loss of our lives as a result. We have contacted GM about this. Their representative did not express concern, and more or less stated if we did not feel comfortable driving we should park it and not drive it. We live on fixed income we have nothing else to drive and cannot get GM to fix our vehicle.the car is always in motion when this happens and happens at all different speeds, highways, and city streets. With no way to judge your speed. GM safety recall #30710- wiring harness. Gms answer is incomplete: Remedy not yet available. Please help!!!!!!! this problem happens with regularity and we are concerned the car will catch fire someday.

- Murrayville, IL, USA

problem #9

Feb 112016

Regal

  • 44,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact stated that the driver side headlamp did not function properly. The contact noticed that the headlamp bulb socket was melted. In addition, the driver side low beam headlamp did not function at all. The dealer diagnosed that the headlamp assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #8

Jan 272016

Regal

  • 85,000 miles
Passengers side head light and wire connected to it melted there was smoke in the headlight housing

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #7

Sep 232015

Regal

  • 95,000 miles
The driver side light bulb & connector melted. Bulb can not be replaced because housing is damaged. Contacted the dealer and I was told this is not covered by any recalls. I would be responsible for any parts. This is definitely a factory defect and car is not safe to drive. The only way to fix this per the dealer is to replace complete headlamp assembly.

- Dartmouth, MA, USA

problem #6

Sep 122015

Regal

  • 50,419 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact stated that the driver side tail light failed to illuminate. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 12V484000 (exterior lighting), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear driver side turning signal failed soon after the recall repair was performed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear tail light bulb needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of failure. The failure mileage was 50,419.

- White Plains, MD, USA

problem #5

Jul 272015

Regal

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. While driving at various speeds, the low beam head lamps functioned intermittently. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the bulbs, connectors, and wires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Desoto, TX, USA

problem #4

Apr 162015

Regal

  • 95,115 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. The contact stated that the front driver side turn signal, brake, and hazard lighting failed to illuminate sporadically. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician was unable to find a failure. The light bulbs were changed, but the failures persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 95,115.

- Bear , DE, USA

problem #3

Jan 192015

Regal 4-cyl

  • 74,000 miles
My cruise control and brake lights stopped working after having a recall fixed on my 2011 Buick Regal. The recalls that were fixed were an oil life monitor control module and a turn signal control module. After having this fixed, my cruise control and brake lights no longer are working. I was pulled over by a policeman, otherwise I did not know they were not working while I was driving. The brakes will come on once I depress the brake pedal all the way to the floor of the car, but not while driving in normal conditions. I could have been rear ended several times, as there was no indication that the lights were not working.

- Franklin, IN, USA

problem #2

Oct 032014

Regal 4-cyl

  • 71,000 miles
The passenger side light bulb melted. Bulb can not be replaced because housing is damaged. Contact the dealer and I was told this is not covered by any recalls. I would be responsible for any parts. This is definitely a factory defect and car is not safe to drive. I have ordered part and I'm still waiting for replacement from dealer.

- Somerset, MA, USA

problem #1

Aug 112014

Regal 4-cyl

  • 49,882 miles
The headlamps blow out and upon examining the bulb housing the wiring and the casing that the replacement bulbs is suppose to be inserted in is burned off. The wiring and the casing is gone. The recall is 12V484 is not addressing the concern that I have of the headlamps clearly failing to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards by burning out and not giving any indicators on the information panel that the headlamps are blown. The casing is so hot when attempting to replace the bulb I burned my hand and my vehicle still does not have headlamps. This should not be something that I should have to pay to repair. This should be covered at GM expense.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

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