RecallRepo

2002 Buick Regal Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2002 Buick Regal has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,708,614 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 150 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 15V701000 2015-10-26 1,003,556 affected
Defect

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…

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 engineÂ’s 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…

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 09V116000 2009-04-08 1,497,516 affected
Defect

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL…

Consequence

IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINEÂ’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINEÂ’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438,…

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 08V118000 2008-03-12 207,542 affected
Defect

GM IS RECALLING 207,542 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES HAVE HIGHER FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET TEMPERATURES, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR EARLIER DEGRADATION OF THE FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET AND EVENTUAL OIL SEEPAGE.

Consequence

CERTAIN UNDERHOOD FIRES MAY BE CAUSED BY DROPS OF ENGINE OIL, FROM SEEPAGE OR SPILLAGE, BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND, IN SOME INSTANCES, THE FIRE MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK…

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINEÂ’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINEÂ’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, ALONG WITH THE 1-3-5 SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. , FREE OF…

Complaints by component

ENGINE
33
1crashes15fires1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
24
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
10
4fires1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
5
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
5
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
4
1fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
3
1fires
Total complaints150

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Dealership sold car knowing there’s recalls and never fixed”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2023-08-20

“Dealership sold car knowing there’s recalls and never fixed”

ENGINE · reported 2023-08-20

“Dealership sold car knowing there’s recalls and never fixed”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2023-08-20

“Tl* the contact's son owned a 2002 buick regal. The contact stated while driving 25 mph, she saw smoke exiting the front of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated she parked the vehicle on the side of the road and when she opened the hood she saw fire…”

ENGINE · reported 2020-02-01

“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick regal. The contact was driving at 45 mph, when he detected a burning odor and saw smoke coming from under the hood. The check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as a false sensor, oil leak, and brake…”

ENGINE · reported 2019-03-03

“My car as a engine issue every year around or near feb crazy but true I have had my car saftey recall fixed but not properly stated another dealership in sunnyvale during investigation from gm but nothing was done about it once again I had another fire from cover and still nothing was done due to…”

ENGINE · reported 2019-01-21

“My car was in driving mode on the road in newark california and speed limit 35 mph all of the sudden my car without warning without any issues prior to this just stopped locked up brakes locked up steering wheel car still running but won't let me accelerate car radios on toast on my battery just…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2018-11-14

“My car was in driving mode on the road in newark california and speed limit 35 mph all of the sudden my car without warning without any issues prior to this just stopped locked up brakes locked up steering wheel car still running but won't let me accelerate car radios on toast on my battery just…”

ENGINE · reported 2018-11-14

Defect investigations

Investigation EA02030 Opened 2002-10-22 · closed 2004-03-09

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…

Investigation EA02030 Opened 2002-10-22 · closed 2004-03-09

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…

Investigation EA02030 Opened 2002-10-22 · closed 2004-03-09

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…

Investigation EA07008 Opened 2007-06-12 · closed 2008-05-01

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

BY LETTER DATED MARCH 12, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-118) TO ADDRESS A DEFECT IN APPROXIMATELY 207,542 MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL GS AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE L67…

Investigation EA07008 Opened 2007-06-12 · closed 2008-05-01

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

BY LETTER DATED MARCH 12, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-118) TO ADDRESS A DEFECT IN APPROXIMATELY 207,542 MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL GS AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE L67…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Buick Regal as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.