U.S. public vehicle records

1996 Buick REGAL problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

124 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

87,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 56 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 124 complaints (6.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	19	15.3%
Steering behavior	18	14.5%
Electrical and battery issues	9	7.3%
Fuel system concerns	8	6.5%
Engine operation	4	3.2%
Transmission and shifting	2	1.6%

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.

Air Bags

Air Bags:Frontal

Engine And Engine Cooling

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Steering:Rack And Pinion

Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor

Electrical System

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Air Bags	8
Air Bags:Frontal	8
Engine And Engine Cooling	8
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	8
Steering:Rack And Pinion	7
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System	5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor	5
Electrical System	4

Air Bags: 8; Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 5; Electrical System: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 10

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 68 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.

1995

1996

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2012

2015

2016

2018

2019

1995: 1; 1996: 7; 2000: 14; 2001: 11; 2002: 16; 2003: 16; 2004: 27; 2005: 7; 2006: 7; 2007: 3; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2012: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 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 10017870 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)

THE BRAKES AND ROTORS EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 12,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017870 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10040415 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AFTER SEEING A DEER ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAD GONE OFF THE ROAD AND ROLLED OVER INTO A DITCH. BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER'S NOSE WAS BROKEN AND AN ARTERY WAS PUNCTURED IN THIS RIGHT EYE. *AK *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040415 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005927 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, IN ANY DIRECTION,THERE'S A "RUBBING" NOISE FROM WITHIN STEERING COLUMN. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CLOCKSPRING WAS RUBBING AGAINST SOME INTERNAL WIRES AND IF THE WIRES SHORT THE AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. PH

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005927 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007794 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)

LEVER THAT CONTROLS THE 'TILT WHEEL' BROKE OFF AT THE STEERING COLUMN. THE AUTO WAS PURCHASED NEW BY ME AND I ONLY HAVE 44,000 MILES ON IT. I CALLED LIVINGSTON MOTORS, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON THAT PART..I HAVE BEEN A REGULAR CUSTOMER THERE.

Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007794 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10009520 · 2003-02-27 (February 27, 2003)

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009520 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10013639 · 2003-03-29 (March 29, 2003)

THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED A CRACK IN UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FORCING EXCESSIVE COOLANT INTO THE TOP END OF THE ENGINE AND UPPER COMBUSTION CHAMBER. THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THE 1996 BUICK REGAL. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AS INDICATED BY THE PREVIOUS RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, THE FOLLOWING SERVICE WAS REQUIRED: REPAIR ELECTRICAL FAILURE, CLEAN EXCESSIVE COOLANT FROM UPPER COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, REMOVE COOLANT FROM TOP END OF ENGINE, REPLACE UPPER INTAKE ASSEMBLE AND…

Owner-reported narrative. 58,118 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013639 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10140533 · 2005-10-23 (October 23, 2005)

HAD AN ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP FAILURE AFTER A PERIOD OF PROBLEMS WITH DIFFICULTY STARTING AND POOR ACCELERATION. WHEN THE FUEL PUMP WAS REMOVED, THERE IS EVIDENCE OF ARCING AT THE CONNECTOR. SEEMS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD, AS THE PUMP IS INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 156,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140533 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10044989 · 2003-10-29 (October 29, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THEN, VEHICLE RESTARTED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 59,701 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044989 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050122 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL. JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE STALLING WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050122 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10041286 · 2003-10-05 (October 5, 2003)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS A LOT OF PLASTIC PARTS INSIDE, THEY MELTED DOWN DUE TO VEHICLE OVERHEATING. THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE MADE LIKE THAT OF THE OLD ONES, WITH METAL PARTS TO MAKE IT LAST LONGER. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041286 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 731396 · 2000-09-14 (September 14, 2000)

TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 731396 at NHTSA ↗