The 1998 Buick Regal has 3 recalls, the most serious being a fire risk on models with the 3.8L supercharged V6 engine, where the front rocker cover gasket can degrade and seep oil onto the hot exhaust manifold, potentially igniting under the hood.
The third recall involves headlamp aim: the vertical aiming device on certain vehicles may not be calibrated correctly, meaning the headlights can fall outside required aim specifications and reduce forward visibility or create glare for oncoming drivers.
At a glance
What can fail
Engine oil may leak onto the hot exhaust manifold through the front valve cover gasket, creating a fire risk. Previous repair attempts did not fully eliminate this problem.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front valve cover and gasket to stop the oil leak and eliminate the fire risk.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
At a glance
What can fail
The front rocker cover gasket runs hotter than normal on these supercharged engines, causing it to degrade faster and eventually leak oil.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front valve cover and gasket with improved parts and remove the plastic engine cover, oil-fill-tube extension, and spark plug wire retainers.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The headlamp aiming adjustment device may not be properly calibrated, causing headlamps to not aim correctly. The adjustment bubble also shifts position due to temperature changes.
What the fix does
An instruction insert for optically aiming headlamps will be added to your owner's manual.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
