HID headlight issue!

[ECH13]

Finally got a chance this weekend to replace just the bulb that was burnt out, I was surprised that when I pulled the whole socket and bulb out, all the glass of the bulb was gone. Not really sure what happened, I do not think the condensation or water, the high beam bulb sits lower in the assembly, that would have gone first. The condensation is still there, wish I had the money to just replace them both, or just buy another vehicle, not even 45,000 miles on it and the check engine light is on all the time now.

In January 2018 my 2011 Buick Regal 2.0 CXL T Flexfuel was experiencing water retention in the driver's side headlight assembly and caused it to fail. I had it replaced at a cost of $1,200. In June 2019 (out of assembly's year warranty) I noticed the condensation and retention of water in the headlight assembly was occurring again on both driver and passenger side. The headlights were still working at that time. Now in 2020 both headlights are no longer working. The failure occurred within two days of each other. I took the car to my Buick dealer and was told the price to fix both headlights was $2,720. I cannot to replace the headlights therefore I am unable to drive my vehicle at night. The Buick dealer told me that GM would do nothing about the problem. I contacted GM and was informed they would do nothing about this problem as they considered it a maintenance issue. This is not a maintenance issue when the problem occurs only after a year-and-a-half of being fixed The fact that you cannot use your vehicle during the rain, at night or should you have an emergency is more a safety issue and a product latent failure. My next step is to contact the NHSTB and file a complaint. I read in this forum that the NHSTB states there were only seven complaints filed yet in my research on this issue I find that there are many many more individuals experiencing this same problem and not with just the Buick Regal but also the Lucerne model. Today I am taking my car to a specialty shop that seals these headlight assemblies after repairing at a cost under $1,000 for both headlights. I will update you as there may be someone in your area that performs the same service. I found this company's name by visiting our local Advance Auto company. Good Luck

 

[MsReyna2019]

Seems like you guys have done a ton of research, so I'm looking for some help. My husband has a 2011 Buick Regal. His boss backed into his car and damaged the passenger side headlight which needs to be replaced. From what we're seeing and being told by the auto body repair shop... it's so expensive to replace. We are looking for a passenger side HID projector headlight. Any leads on where to order or find one that's not $1200?

Thanks in advance!

 

[MN Regal owner]

Seems like you guys have done a ton of research, so I'm looking for some help. My husband has a 2011 Buick Regal. His boss backed into his car and damaged the passenger side headlight which needs to be replaced. From what we're seeing and being told by the auto body repair shop... it's so expensive to replace. We are looking for a passenger side HID projector headlight. Any leads on where to order or find one that's not $1200?

Thanks in advance!

There are a bunch of threads on this subject throughout the blog, if you do a search I imagine this subject is the most often discussed. About two years ago I started having condensation issues in one of my HID lamp assemblies in my 2012 Regal. After fighting with it and spending lots of money in new parts trying to fix the problem (because GM stopped making the HID assemblies for these cars which is why they cost $1,200 IF you can find one) and swapped them out for new halogen lamps from Amazon which cost less than $200 per side rather than $1,200. The halogen lamps don't look as "cool" as the HID lights with the LED markers but they've been 100% trouble free and work very well.

If you can get insurance to pay for the expensive HID replacements then you're very fortunate! If it were me and it had to come out of my pocket, I'd go with the halogen lamps - but you'd have to replace both sides otherwise it will look a bit funny.

 

[Kyle3333]

I got the new pair of headlight assemblies installed today. We first loosened one side of the bumper to install one light, then tightened back up those screws, then loosening up the other side and to repeat there. As noted by pigsnzen, the harness had to be inverted, but that was not a big deal. The new headlights have a different appearance inside the lens, and lack the blue ring around the main light, but since I bought a pair they match each other, so I am fine with their appearance. I am happy to have two working headlights again, after several months.

So you can replace the HID HEADLIGHT assembly with the regular. How did you make that work? My wife has 2012 Buick Regal and I’ve replaced 1 already and now the other one has moisture.

 

[RknJohnny]

Apparently this has become so predominant an issue with our Regals, it would be great if a sticky was created wl9ngest

This is simply unacceptable. Buick needs to take the high road and address this. 'Been a fan of the brand for 40 years and you'd think they would at least contract out for some replacement HID units to return availability for Regal owners. A half dozen isn't a design flaw. Significantly more than that and clearly, there's a problem here. Loyal owners of the brand should not have to deep dive into the internet to find the answer on how to return a headlight to a functional condition. For Pete's sake, how many threads do you see titled "Can't find a way to fix my '87 Grand National's headlight?" None

Buick....step up and take care of your people. We love our GS'

I agree i have a 2011 Regal CXL TURBO and my passenger light is now out new bulb 100$ and I keep popping the fuse someone told me it's the ballast and my local dealer have problems it seems maintaining their own brand and all they do is replace parts .everyone who's owned a Regal has had these issues and we shouldn't have to spend 1200 to drive safely at night .love my regal but this is giving me 2nd thoughts on ever buying another Buick. Period!!

hich addressed the proper part #'s and options for those experiencing these condensation issues. A search engine on the topic can draw you into one helluva rabbit hole, what with the preponderance of threads trying to resolve something that frankly, GM should be ashamed of. On a related note, having read of others' issues with the dealer on this matter, I don't know how any service rep can look at someone with a straight face and claim "this is normal." I've owned 80's Triumphs and Fiats...quite possibly two of the most unreliable car manufacturers on the planet at the time, and neither had those kind of design flaws. Still love my GS, no doubt about it...it's just frustrating when seeing yet another "headlight condensation" thread created and it no longer surprises anyone.

 

[carl3pedals]

So you can replace the HID HEADLIGHT assembly with the regular. How did you make that work? My wife has 2012 Buick Regal and I’ve replaced 1 already and now the other one has moisture.

Posts 75 and 79 in this thread (posts that I made) describe the replacement headlight assemblies that I bought for my 2012 Regal GS, and from where I bought them. I don't actually know if those replacement headlight assemblies are HID or not, but they are not made by GM - I would not want them to have been made by GM, since GM has proven they don't know how to make reliable headlight assemblies for this car.

There is a small cosmetic difference between these replacement assemblies that I bought and the original: this difference is not in the external shape, but in that there is no internal blue ring visible inside the replacement assemblies. Since I bought a matching pair of replacement assemblies, this cosmetic difference does not bother me at all.

 

[Darkside03]

I have had mine replaced and now the same problem again.. Buick and the dealer are NO help. Never buy GM again!!

 

[XgeneratesX]

hey everyone! just bought a used 2011 buick regal a couple weeks ago! seems i have the same issue that everyone else is having; right headlight (HID) is out, took it to shop and he told me to buy new assemblies for both sides. got a set off of Rockauto, but when he went to install them only the high beams will work.
please help!! what have i done wrong :'(

 

[Buickregal2012]

Consider yourself lucky... It is a huge issue and seems to be way to common. Each HID assembly run $1200. I've had to replace both of mine due to condensation killing the ballast.

I just was quoted 3,297 to have both hid headlights replaced do to condensation, 2012 regal. It's so wrong!

 

[G-725619]

Wow that is a huge issue indeed. I live near Chicago and it's not that humid here. Perhaps there's more moisture in the air in your area. Where do you live?

Mine replaced once , now two years later has condensation In it .

 

[G-457612]

Same here. Mine was replaced about 2 years ago too. This morning condensation inside the lens one more time. It is always the stupid stuff.

 

[Regalese]

Just wanted to say don't let the condensation issue wallow because you will not be able to seal it and replace the bulb (if it went out) because corrosion will render the internal harnessing useless as seen in this photo. It is also emanating nasty, noxious fumes.

 

[Shelbygt40]

Yes, I've got the halogen headlight assemblies installed on my 2012 GS and they plug up directly to the factory HID harness (the plugs and all but one wire are identical on the headlight side).

Then how did you get the center Amber parking light to illuminate with the parking lamps. It’s a blinker and a parking lamp. Everything else works fine but the center parking light does not illuminate

 

[Shelbygt40]

There are a bunch of threads on this subject throughout the blog, if you do a search I imagine this subject is the most often discussed. About two years ago I started having condensation issues in one of my HID lamp assemblies in my 2012 Regal. After fighting with it and spending lots of money in new parts trying to fix the problem (because GM stopped making the HID assemblies for these cars which is why they cost $1,200 IF you can find one) and swapped them out for new halogen lamps from Amazon which cost less than $200 per side rather than $1,200. The halogen lamps don't look as "cool" as the HID lights with the LED markers but they've been 100% trouble free and work very well.

If you can get insurance to pay for the expensive HID replacements then you're very fortunate! If it were me and it had to come out of my pocket, I'd go with the halogen lamps - but you'd have to replace both sides otherwise it will look a bit funny.

Trying to reach MN Regal any possible way I can. HID to Halogen plug and play conversion. How do you get the center Amber parking lamp to illuminate when the parking lamps are turned on.

 

[pigsnzen]

Then how did you get the center Amber parking light to illuminate with the parking lamps. It’s a blinker and a parking lamp. Everything else works fine but the center parking light does not illuminate

I just went outside and checked my halogen replacement lights - I have the same issue. I never noticed it previously, and we don't have vehicle inspections in my state.

Sorry, I don't have an answer to the fix but please share if you do find one.

 

[Shelbygt40]

I just went outside and checked my halogen replacement lights - I have the same issue. I never noticed it previously, and we don't have vehicle inspections in my state.

Sorry, I don't have an answer to the fix but please share if you do find one.

I’m really happy you confirmed this. I seriously thought I was going crazy. I’ve been combing through the forums and everyone that has done this conversion swears there are no issues. This was missed by both MA and RI inspections for several years. But now since one garage flagged it , it will never pass again until it’s fixed, which is on me now. I wish I had a junk housing to take apart so I could see how it’s wired internally because GM does not publish diagrams of the lamp internals. There has to be some kind of circuit board of sorts inside because every single pin at the plug has continuity to the contacts on this center parking light, so it may take a little more than just jumping wires to make it happen. However, I have 22 days to fix it so you will have an update fairly soon on how to go about it in a safe permanent way.
Thanks again and I will be in touch soon.

 

[Miac77]

In January 2018 my 2011 Buick Regal 2.0 CXL T Flexfuel was experiencing water retention in the driver's side headlight assembly and caused it to fail. I had it replaced at a cost of $1,200. In June 2019 (out of assembly's year warranty) I noticed the condensation and retention of water in the headlight assembly was occurring again on both driver and passenger side. The headlights were still working at that time. Now in 2020 both headlights are no longer working. The failure occurred within two days of each other. I took the car to my Buick dealer and was told the price to fix both headlights was $2,720. I cannot to replace the headlights therefore I am unable to drive my vehicle at night. The Buick dealer told me that GM would do nothing about the problem. I contacted GM and was informed they would do nothing about this problem as they considered it a maintenance issue. This is not a maintenance issue when the problem occurs only after a year-and-a-half of being fixed The fact that you cannot use your vehicle during the rain, at night or should you have an emergency is more a safety issue and a product latent failure. My next step is to contact the NHSTB and file a complaint. I read in this forum that the NHSTB states there were only seven complaints filed yet in my research on this issue I find that there are many many more individuals experiencing this same problem and not with just the Buick Regal but also the Lucerne model. Today I am taking my car to a specialty shop that seals these headlight assemblies after repairing at a cost under $1,000 for both headlights. I will update you as there may be someone in your area that performs the same service. I found this company's name by visiting our local Advance Auto company. Good Luck

I’ve filed a complaint and contacted GM. I’m prepared to bring a lawsuit against GM. I need to know how many people will join. Please let me know if there is a fix.

 

[carl3pedals]

My solution was to purchase a pair of replacement headlight assemblies for my 2012 GS, where those assemblies were NOT made by GM. I did not want to buy replacement parts for GM because clearly GM has demonstrated they don't know how to manufacture a version of this which does not leak. The 3rd party headlight assemblies also cost a lot less that the prices I have heard for GM-manufactured versions. The assemblies I bought did look slightly different from the originals in that they lacked the blue circular ring inside the assembly (about 1-2 inches in diameter?), but since I bought a pair and replaced both assemblies, that difference did not bother me.

 

[PeterGunn]

I’ve filed a complaint and contacted GM. I’m prepared to bring a lawsuit against GM. I need to know how many people will join. Please let me know if there is a fix.

I have a 2016 Regal Turbo and both headlights are full of condensation, here in Florida the humidity is pretty rough.

 

[pstambau]

Final Solution...
1) Stop pulling headlights apart and resealing. It is NOT a leaking issue. The HID headlights get pretty darn hot and the air needs to expand (vent). When it cools down it drawns outside air in . Do this every day and time after time the air coming in will condense, thus moisture will form (a lot after a few years). There is a circuit board inside the light assembly that is getting wet and causing the ballast to short out.
2) Best case is to remove the HID and go with Halogen. As you can see in the photos the main, brights, and turn signals all work. The amber position light does not. I am thinking the since we are not 12 across the light ass'y circuit I can splice one of the position light wires to the main headlight wire to correct (unless I can get the wiring prints). I am ex-GM so may try to pull a few favors and view schematic.
3) The Depo light assy (~$200) connects directly to existing harness.
4) Swap takes about 45-60 minutes and there are several YouTube videos to show the location of the facia and light ass'y screws.