NHTSA — Electronic Stability Control Problems

2.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,829 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.

2012 Buick Regal brakes problems

brakes problem

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2012 Buick Regal Owner Comments

problem #7

Sep 112020

Regal

  • 163,247 miles

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

The 2012 Buick Regal consumes a quart or more of oil in less than 2 weeks or 300 miles. I am putting a quart in it just to get it to read on the dip stick and more if needed. As it consumes oil, the engine gains a noticable ticking noise with a rough start. All of this is noticed while driving on a highway or rural road. The back right tire and or tire area makes a thumping noise at all speeds. The tire is not the issue. The stabilitrak warning light comes on often. I am the 3rd owner to the car with with 164,333 current miles. The car has had routine oil changes etc by all owners.

- Pickens, SC, USA

problem #6

May 162019

Regal

  • 86,047 miles
Codes P0016 P0017 dtc P0299 under turbo boost P0010 - fluid leak from transmission - stabilitrak light on and off (2017, 2018, 2019)- { I paid to have the issue fixed and less than a year later it happens again} car will not pick up speed - crank / cam position not plausible - timing chain stretched /stuck.( popping sound coming from under my seat in 2017)these are all issues that happen while driving. I am getting on the on ramp for the highway and my car will not go pass 35 mph for over 15 seconds, even if I floor it. There is on coming traffic doing 60 to 70 mph and that is a life or death situation. I have no way of moving to avoid being hit. My car will stall when I try to drive after stopping at a stop light.

- Flotissant, MO, USA

problem #5

Jun 032018

Regal

  • 73,000 miles
I have had problems with the stabilitrak - check engine light / multifunction indicator light coming on at random times (the on star diagnostic report doesn't give any indication of whats going on with the car so that regular people can understand before going in talking to a dealer about the issue) - powertrain issues I have had to replace my battery when I bought the car I was told it was newer and shouldn't have issues. My driver side headlight is full of water. There have been so many issues with this car yet no recalls have been found on my particular car. I read reviews from others and the 2012 Buick Regal just seems to have a lot of problems consumers such as myself should be entitled to a huge portion of cash paid for the defective vehicle. I thought it would be a safe family car but it just didn't turn out that way. I was afraid to take my family in my car for 6 months because I didn't know if I would we would be stranded. When I took my car to a certified dealer to get it repaired it was worse my car shook while I drove. Buick just isn't the car for me or anyone until they are able to create a safe car. Aesthetically newer model Buick are nice but mechanically they are a bust.

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #4

May 302015

Regal

  • 30,000 miles

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

General Motors denies that my car VIN number do not apply to 13V173000, recall date 05/06/2013, component electrical system, and recall campaign number is 13136 despite, key Buick performed repairs on module 2.560, the vehicle driver seat (moves up/ down, and forward/backwards) while I am driving, radio system (radio turns off and on, and can be turned off and on without keys in the ignition), indicators (not working). However, all problems still exist.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #3

Sep 022017

Regal

  • 34,149 miles
Driving on highway at 70mph and car completely shut down almost causing a serious accident and dash board went haywire brakes locked and service stabiliktrack system and ABS assist warnings and it smelled like my car was on fire brakes locked steering and lost power totally shut down glad someone was in car to help me steer to side of road out of traffic had to have towed and there was a recall for this problem before apparently GM didnt get it right I could have died and they are refusing to repair problem since the previous owner had it done before I purchased it and there are other owners having same issues again

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #2

Jan 212014

Regal 4-cyl

  • 3,860 miles
"service stabilitrak" light and message came on when driving vehicle in cold weather. This occurred 3 separate times in Jan-Feb 2014. Took vehicle in for warranty work on Jan 16, 2015, but the dealer was unable to find any issues with "stabilitrak." On Feb 11, 2015, the "service stabilitrack" light and message came on again. It stayed on for a couple of hours this time. Took vehicle to different dealer on Feb 16th, but they instructed us to bring it back on Feb 20th. Returned vehicle to dealer on Feb 20th, but again they were unable to find any issues with "stabilitrak."

- Shelby Township, MI, USA

problem #1

Dec 122012

Regal 4-cyl

  • 7,500 miles
On December 12, 2012, shortly after sunset, my wife and I were driving on a rural road at about 30 mph. I was in the front passenger seat. I reached over to switch the radio from sirius to fm, but inadvertently hit the engine on/off button, located about 2 cm from the radio button. When I hit the button, the engine went off, we lost all internal and external lights, and the car slowed dramatically. It was terrifying. We managed to pull the car to side of the road. Had we been on a major highway, a major collision and pile-up likely would have followed. When we reported the incident to the dealership, it initially claimed the car's internal controls would prevent the engine from turning off while the car was moving but subsequent dealer tests disclosed even a slight touch of the power button shut off all power. I reported it to Buick and Buick asked the dealer to reconfirm the tests, which it did. The dealership seemed very concerned about the safety problem but said Buick needed to resolve the issue. Buick said the car operated as designed and there was nothing more it could do. I am not satisfied with Buick's response; nor should this Agency. At the time of purchase, I was given no warning about this potentially life threatening hazard. Although the drivers' manual contains many highlighted warnings, it only mentions the engine shut off in passing. Quoting 9-18 of the drivers' manual: "do not turn off the engine when the vehicle is moving. This will cause a loss power assist in the brake and steering systems and disable the airbag." Nothing else was said. The close proximity of the primary control for radio channel selection to the power button, and the potentially lethal consequences of inadvertently hitting the power button is an inherently dangerous design flaw. The lack of explicit warnings exacerbates this already serious problem.

- Madison, WI, USA

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