2011 Buick REGAL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
279 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
65,950 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 204 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 108 of 279 complaints (38.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 56 | 20.1% |
| Engine operation | 51 | 18.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 42 | 15.1% |
| Steering behavior | 25 | 9.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 24 | 8.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 108 |
| Electrical System | 70 |
| Power Train | 37 |
| Exterior Lighting | 36 |
| Service Brakes | 32 |
| Seats | 25 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 19 |
| Steering | 17 |
Engine: 108; Electrical System: 70; Power Train: 37; Exterior Lighting: 36; Service Brakes: 32; Seats: 25; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 19; Steering: 17
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 40 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 46 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 39 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 33 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 40; 50,000 to 74,999: 46; 75,000 to 99,999: 39; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 11
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 75 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 42 |
| 2017 | 47 |
| 2018 | 28 |
| 2019 | 35 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 1; 2011: 13; 2012: 5; 2013: 5; 2014: 18; 2015: 23; 2016: 42; 2017: 47; 2018: 28; 2019: 35; 2020: 23; 2021: 18; 2022: 9; 2023: 8; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 51 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 42 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 10405860 · 2011-06-10 (June 10, 2011)
2011 BUICK REGAL HAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AS THE FOOT IS TRANSFERRED FROM ACCELERATOR TO BRAKE WHEN APPROACHING STOP LIGHT. GM COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM. HAD TO TRADE VEHICLE IN FOR NEW CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10405860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10406816 · 2011-06-14 (June 14, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE WAS IN WHAT THE CONTACT BELIEVED TO BE AN UNSAFE POSITION ON THE CONSOLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE LEVER WAS INADVERTENTLY HIT, IT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A HALT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABRUPTLY STOP WITHOUT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE MANUF…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10406816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10431052 · 2011-10-18 (October 18, 2011)
2011 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER STATES ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE ENGINE STALLED *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. THE LAST TWO INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECM AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ON JULY 22, 2011. HOWEVER, THE STALLING CONTINUED WELL INTO THE NEXT MONTH. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10431052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459502 · 2012-05-24 (May 24, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT OR STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE NEVER STALLED, BUT THE CONTACT WOULD LOOSE POWER STEERING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER TWICE AND WAS ALSO LOOKING AT A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER FOR MORE EXTENSIVE INSPECTION. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459502 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10541994 · 2013-09-05 (September 5, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DOWNSHIFT INDEPENDENTLY DESPITE THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4000.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10541994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10554506 · 2013-12-02 (December 2, 2013)
2011 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADIO WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF BY ITSELF, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ACTING IN AN ERRATIC AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10554506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10569211 · 2014-03-13 (March 13, 2014)
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BUICK WHICH SAID MY BALANCING BELT (TIMING CHAIN) COULD BREAK CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL IT BROKE. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY IN CASE THAT HAPPENED. IF THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKS AND THE ENGINE STOPS, I WILL LOSE STEERING CONTROL WHICH IS A COMFORTING THOUGHT. IF I AM ON INTERSTATE DOING 70 MPH AND LOSE STEERING, GOOD BYE! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10569211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10593500 · 2014-05-22 (May 22, 2014)
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10971348 · 2017-05-03 (May 3, 2017)
2011 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY DIRECT IGNITION HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME IGNITION HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL FOR GMC VEHICLES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 05/03/2017*JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10971348 at NHTSA ↗