Buick Calls Back Regal Sedans Over Power Brake Problem

A power brake problem poses a serious threat to certain Buick Regal drivers and anyone else on the road with them, the car manufacturer recently told federal regulators.  

Buick is recalling nearly 24,000 Regal sedans, the company said in a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Buick blamed a software glitch, which it said could cause power brakes to malfunction in the recalled cars.

"If the vehicle's vacuum-power brake assist partially or fully fails, braking events may require additional stopping distance, depending on the brake-pedal force applied by the driver," Buick said in the defect notice. “Increased stopping distances could increase the risk of a crash.”

The recall covers certain Regals from model years 2018 through 2020. Buick told NHTSA it plans to notify owners of recalled cars by August 15. The company, which said it was not aware of any accidents stemming from the problem, will fix the problem with a software update.

General Motors, the automaker behind the Buick brand, announced in 2020 that it was discontinuing the Regal sedan after the 2020 model year. The company was reportedly prompted by sluggish sales. The Regal nameplate continues to be in circulation in China.

Defective Vehicle? Know Your Legal Rights

Meanwhile, GM has had a hard time ensuring that the cars it still makes are actually safe to drive.

Last year, for example, the company alerted certain Buick and Chevrolet sedan owners that their cars were equipped with malfunctioning suspension components that increased the risk of an accident. 

Months later, GM recalled roughly 15,000 vehicles because of a fuel pump defect that the automaker said could cause the cars to stall unexpectedly and result in crashes. GM also recently called back approximately 95,000 sport utility vehicles, citing a defect that could cause their seatbelts to become inoperable.

The good news for GM and other car owners in California is that you do not have to wait for a recall to get a defective or malfunctioning vehicle fixed. The California lemon law offers some important rights and protections.

The lemon law requires carmakers to do a variety of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. The law also forces them to buy back (or replace, in some situations) cars that they cannot or refuse to fix. That means compensating the owner for the vehicle’s purchase price, as well as financing fees, rental car expenses and other costs.

A manufacturer covered by the lemon law is also required to foot the bill for any legal fees that a car owner or lessor incurs while enforcing his or her rights.

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you are a Buick or other car owner or lessor stuck with a lemon or locked in a dispute with a manufacturer over repairs, the lemon law attorneys at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help. 

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a lawyer today.