Safety Recalls & Notices
We found 21 safety recalls for the 1988 Buick Regal. Recalls are sourced from both NHTSA (US) and Transport Canada databases. Contact your authorized Buick dealer to schedule free repairs.
Vehicles located in the high corrosion provinces east of the Manitoba/Ontario border. Certain vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the frame/cradle retainer bolts pull through the retainers due to corrosion of the retainer. If both front bolts or both rear bolts pull through, the frame/cradle would not be properly supported and the intermediate steering shaft may separate from the steering gear. If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, a vehicle crash could result without prior warning. Correction: Dealers will replace the front and rear frame/cradle bolts and retainers. Note: This recall superceedes TC recall 1995-010.
On certain vehicles, cracks may develop in the wheel mounting surface, and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely separate from the vehicle. This could adversely affect steering and braking control and result in a crash without prior warning. Correction: Vehicles will be inspected and wheels falling within a specified date code range will be replaced.
On certain vehicles, the rear engine cradle bolts may pull through due to corrosion of the retainers. If this should occur, the cradle would no longer be supported at these mounting locations and the steering shaft may separate from the steering gear. This could result in loss of steering control. Correction: Rear cradle bolts and retainers will be replaced.
On certain vehicles, the steel wheels may develop cracks in the wheel mounting surface and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely separate from the vehicle. This could adversely affect steering and braking control and result in a vehicle crash. Correction: Wheels will be inspected and replaced if required.
Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 210 - Seatbelt Assembly Anchorages. Anchor bolt may pull through the upper anchorage plate. Correction: Nut assembly with a larger diameter flanged nut will be installed in place of the existing nut assembly.
THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE COULD CONTACT THE FENDER LINING/RAIL AREA AND EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH. THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES. THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. CORRECTION: LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AND REPLACED AS REQUIRED.
THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT COULD BECOME LOOSE ON THESE VEHICLES. ALSO, THE TIE ROD BALL STUD NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TORQUED AND COULD LOOSEN. EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A BALL JOINT SEPARATION AND CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS WILL BE REPLACED AND THE TIE ROD BALL STUD NUT TORQUE WILL BE CHECKED ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE ON THESE VEHICLES. IF THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH WERE TO DISENGAGE, THE HOOD COULD UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE HOOD COULD FLY UP AND OBSTRUCT THE FORWARD VISION OF THE DRIVER POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. CORRECTION: SECONDARY HOOD LATCH WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.
A POTENTIAL INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE AND THE PRNDL BELLCRANK CLIP CAN RESULT IN DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CABLE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN BALL STUD. THIS COULD ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO BE IN A GEAR OTHER THAN THAT DISPLAYED ON THE PRNDL INDICATOR. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: A NEWLY DESIGNED BELLCRANK CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
A LOOSE ELECTRICAL CONTACT ON THE ROTARY STOP LAMP SWITCH CAN OVERHEAT AND MELT THE SURROUNDING PLASTIC CAUSING THE CONTACT TO STICK OPEN. THIS WOULD RESULT IN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD REMAIN ENGAGED RESULTING IN A "CRUISE RESUME" CONDITION WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED AT SPEEDS ABOVE 12 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH "ON" AND TCC ENGAGEMENT UNTIL NORMAL DROP OUT SPEED. UNEXPECTED "CRUISE RESUME" OR INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: ROTARY STOP LAMP SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
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