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2003 Buick Regal

The Verdict

73 Solid Pick

The 2003 Buick Regal has 104 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (39 complaints) and electrical (35 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 73/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Buick Regal, consider the 2020 model year which has 98% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2020 has 98% fewer complaints

View the 2020 Buick Regal dashboard →

73

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000581356665
2001491135909
200230636561
200318635396
20046230262
201132287811724
201221935215
201314554135
20141428113
20156213111
20161931072
2017311402
201848151
201962145
202010100

By Category

Engine
39
Electrical
35
Body
18
Brakes
6
Transmission
6

By Severity

1
47
2
37
3
1
4
19

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 4

I BACKED THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE GUAGES WERE NORMAL. WHEN I GOT OUT I SAW A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER CAR BUT WITHIN A MINUTE THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE FLAMES WERE ABOVE THE CAR. I CALLED 911 WHEN I SAW FLAMES AND KNEW I WASN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT MYSELF. THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED, IT TOOK THEM AT LEAST 30 MINUTES TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. A COUNTY DEPUTY ARRIVED AND THERE IS A POLICE REPORT (I TRIED TO UPLOAD IT AND IT FAILED EACH TIME). THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY AN INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE (UPLOAD FAILED.

35mo ago
Engine 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE REPEATEDLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT'S FRIEND OPENED THE VEHICLE'S HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. POLICE AND FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED AT THE SCENE, NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 09V116(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WHICH HE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

72mo ago
Body 2

MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. THE SEAT KEPT HEATING UP ALMOST UNBEARABLE. THE NEXT DAY CAR WAS OFF ALL NIGHT MY BATTERY DIED AND THE HEATED SEAT WAS STILL HOT NEVER SHUT OFF ALL NIGHT LONG I FOUND A SENSOR UNDER THE SEAT AND UNPLUGGED THAT BUT AM NERVOUS OF MY DRIVER SEAT ALSO SHE HAS NEWBORN BABY WAS WITH US AND THE SEAT DEFINITELY COULD HAVE STARTED ON FIRE VERY DISTURBING ALSO VERY DANGEROUS.

92mo ago
Engine 2

WHILE MY VEHICLE IS IN MOTION I CAN SMELL OIL BURNING FROM SOME WHERE

93mo ago
Engine 1

RECALL #15757 WAS PERFORMED BY DEALER ON 2/24/2016. THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR HAD 255,300 MILES ON IT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (BROOKDALE CHEVROLET BUICK.GMC ON 5/30/18 WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR OIL DRIPPING ON THE MANIFOLD IT HAD 258,200. THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE HAD IT IN STORAGE AFTER THE REPAIR AND TOOK IT OUT THIS SPRING. THE WIFE SAID IT SMOKED AND THEN I DROVE IT AND I HAD A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SINCE THE REPAIR WE ONLY PUT 2,900 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. SURELY IF THE REPAIR WAS DONE CORRECTLY WE SHOULDN'T BE WORRYING ABOUT OUR SAFETY. THE CAR CAN'T BE DRIVEN AS IS. THE DEALER FLATLY SAID THEY WERE NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MORE REPAIRS UNLESS I PAY THEM $1,100 TO REPLACE THE VALVE COVER AND VALVE COVER GASKET. THE CAR IS REGISTERED AT THE DEALER UNDER NL COMPANIES BECAUSE I HAVE A RENTAL. THEY CAN'T SEEM TO PUT IT UNDER MY NAME. I CAN APPRECIATE THEIR RELUCTANCE TO REDO THE REPAIRS BUT THERE IS NO WAY OIL SHOULD BE LEAKING AGAIN ON THE MANIFOLD AFTER 2.900 MILES. THEY WROTE DOWN THE WRONG MILEAGE ON THEIR 5/30/18 INVOICE. THERE SHOULD BE 4 DOCUMENTS ATTACHED IF I DID IT CORRECTLY.

98mo ago
Electrical 2

THE BRIGHT /DIM HEADLIGHT CONTROLLER HITS THE BACK OF THE STEERING WHEEL IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN A POSITION DURING A RIGHT DIRECTION CURVE IN THE ROAD. THIS HAS CAUSED THE SWITCH TO CATCH IN BETWEEN SETTINGS AND THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF. AN EXAMPLE OF THAT USE WOULD BE GOING AROUND A CURVE AND NEED TO TURN BRIGHT LIGHTS OFF DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON, THE BRIGHT / DIM SWITCH HAS TO BE ACTIVATED AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW BY MYSELF IN 2003 AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER SINCE OWNING THE CAR. I FORGET ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHEN I GET HOME SO NOW I FINALLY REPORT IT IN 2018. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT BECAUSE THE SWITCH AND STEERING WHEEL ARE NOT DAMAGED. THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IS ONLY THE LAST INCIDENT.

103mo ago
Body 1

PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT STAYS ON

108mo ago
Engine 2

ALL WINDOW COMPONENTS MOTORS AND REGULATORS HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE IN ALL 4 DOORS BRAKE SHAKING TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE

108mo ago
Body 1

2003 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR RECALL NOTICE - VEHICLE VANDALIZED AT DEALERSHIP - REFUSES TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES. *SMD THE CONSUMER DID NOT REFERENCE A RECALL. *JB

114mo ago
Electrical 2

UNANNOUNCED TO PURCHASERS, THE BUICK REGAL HAS A REDUNDANT AND DEFECTIVE SECURITY IGNITION SYSTEM THAT PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM BEING ABLE TO START WITH THE KEY AFTER THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED. IT MUST NOW BE TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED AND FOR A COSTLY REPAIR. IT WAS STATIONARY, AND THE BATTERY DRAINED DOWN WITH A PHONE CHARGER HOOKED UP. EVEN FOLLOWING THE FACTORY KEY SEQUENCE, THE BATTERY RUNS DOWN BEFORE THE CODE CAN BE CLEARED AND RE-ESTABLISHED.

115mo ago
Electrical 1

MY 03 BUICK REGAL LS WILL SHUTOFF SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT, OR WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL. I CAN NOT FIND THE PAPERWORK, BUT I REMEMBER A RECALL FOR THIS ABOUT 5 TO 8 YEARS AGO. WE DID HAVE IT ADDRESSED, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK. TODAY'S DATE IS 1/9/17 AND MY WIFE HAD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN TO HER ON 1/4/17 WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND CURVE. SHE WAS NOT TURNING OR USING HER TURN SIGNAL. I ONLY HAD IT HAPPEN TO ME ONCE WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN USING MY TURN SIGNAL. MY MOTHER ALSO HAS AN 03 REGAL GS AND ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL NOR WAS THERE EVER ONE FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT I KNOW WE HAD IT ADDRESSED ABOUT 5 TO 8 YEARS AGO.

115mo ago
Engine 1

SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN 65 S HEADING TOWARD BRANDON FROM SPRINGFIELD, CAN'T GET BELT ON, AND IT WON'T EVEN TURN OVER WITHOUT A JUMP.

116mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE KEY FAILED TO EJECT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH PROPERLY. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION AND TOOK MORE THAN TWENTY ATTEMPTS FOR THE KEY TO BE REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

118mo ago
Brakes 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY, THE FOOT, AND THE NECK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 11/29/16*LJ UPDATED 12/13/16.*JB

119mo ago
Engine 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.

121mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE STALLED FIVE TIMES THE SAME DAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWELVE TIMES BEFORE THE LAST FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,800.

122mo ago
Engine 2

OIL LEAKS,05/22/2016. I HAVE DAD SEVERAL HARD BREAKING TIMES -HIGHWAY-AND I HAVE SENSE NOTICED OIL LEAKING AND SMELLED OIL SMOKE FROM ENGINE.I HAD RECALL #15757 BACK IN 02/2016.CALLED ABOUT PARTS TO FIF PROBLEM.THEY SAY THEY CANT GET PARTS,-ON BACK ORDER- BEEN ALMOST 6 MONTHS,STILL NO PARTS.LOUDACROUS.NO EXCUSE.

122mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

122mo ago
Transmission 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

123mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

123mo ago

104 total

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