1994 Buick REGAL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
68 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
96,473 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 68 complaints (13.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 19.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 16.2% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 8.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 7.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 |
| Seats | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Seats: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 3; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch: 3; Tires: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 54 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 15 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 15; 1996: 6; 2000: 9; 2001: 13; 2002: 4; 2003: 4; 2004: 8; 2005: 1; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2013: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10056103 · 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR WHEN TAKING TURNS, THE ENGINE STALLED CAUSING A LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING , BRAKES, AND ENGINE MISSING WITH RPM OF 1500-2000. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. WHILE ON A TRIP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO CHEC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059827 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED AN ODOR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT CERTAIN PARTS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHERE THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE GOING TO DIE OUT. THE VOLTAGE READINGS WERE ALWAYS LOW. THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING OUT OF GEAR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE INITIAL PROBLEM WAS WITH THE UPPER IN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056887 · 2004-02-09 (February 9, 2004)
HAD INTAKE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED DUE TO A COOLING PROBLEM. WAGAMON BROTHERS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT IT. VOLTAGE GAUGE READING 18. REPLACED ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR. PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. CHECKED BATTERY. BATTERY FAILED. REPLACED BATTERY. VOLTAGE GAUGE STILL READ 18. DROVE CAR. CAR DIED IN MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. SMELL OF BURNT WIRES. TOWED CAR TO GARAGE. FIANCE WAS ABLE TO START CAR AND NOTICED GAUGES STILL LIT WHEN SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOT LIT. FIGURES ELECTRICAL UNDER DASH OR IN WIRING HARNESS.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,394 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056887 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058391 · 2004-02-18 (February 18, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. NOT ONLY THE ENGINE, BUT EVERYTHING WENT DEAD. NO POWER AT THE IGNITION SWITCH IN ACC. OR ON. THE DOME LIGHT WORKED WITH DOOR OPEN BUT ONLY IF THE KEY WAS IN THE OFF POSITION OR REMOVED. THE BATTERY IS GOOD. DOME LIGHT WOULD GO OUT IF KEY WAS TURNED. POWER CAME BACK ON AFTER REPEATEDLY PLAYING WITH IGNITION SWITCH. CAR HAS DIED TWICE NOW AND "FIXED ITSELF". I DO NOT FEEL THE PROBLEM IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I FOUND COMPLAINT ODI #7441655 TO SOUND IDENTICAL TO MY PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 92,945 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017639 · 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED AT VARIOUS TIMES, AND NOW THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START AT ALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017639 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 768967 · 2002-10-27 (October 27, 2002)
CAR IS HARD TO SHIFT OUT OF NEUTRAL UNLESS THE PARKING BRAKE IS ENGAGED, THEN DIS-ENGAGED. DT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 768967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10225540 · 2008-04-23 (April 23, 2008)
LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WHEN DIMMER SWITCHED USED TO DIM BRIGHT LIGHTS RESULTING IN NO LIGHTS TRIPPING IT SEVERAL TIMES BROUGHT LIGHTS BACK AND LEFT THEM ON DIM UNTIL I COULD GET IT SERVICED AT COST OF APPROX 400.00 THIS WAS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. RECENTLY TILT COLUMN HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO OPERATE NOW WILL NOT LOCK IN POSITION AND LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK WHEN COLUMN IS TILTED DOWN. IS THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 94 AND AM THE ONLY DRIVER. I AM AFRAID THE STEERING COLUMN WILL SHIFT UNAFFECTEDLY AND CAUSE ME TO WRECK OR …
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225540 at NHTSA ↗