2013 Buick REGAL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
91 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 62 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 91 complaints (39.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 20 | 22.0% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 13.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 5.5% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 5.5% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 36 |
| Exterior Lighting | 34 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
Electrical System: 36; Exterior Lighting: 34; Engine: 9; Power Train: 9; Unknown Or Other: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Service Brakes: 6; Structure:Body: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 29 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2014: 5; 2015: 6; 2016: 5; 2017: 2; 2018: 14; 2019: 17; 2020: 14; 2021: 10; 2022: 5; 2023: 7; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 20 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 10700992 · 2015-03-22 (March 22, 2015)
ON 3-7-15, UPON LEAVING MCDONALD'S ON 14 MILE RD., IN ROYAL OAK, MI. I APPROACHED THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY, STOPPED, WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR. STARTING TO TURN OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I WENT TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR DID START TO GO, BUT SUDDENLY, WITH NO WARNING, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS NOW ON THE MAIN ROAD, WITH CARS APPROACHING, NO ACCELERATION. I GLIDED INTO THE DRIVEWAY RIGHT NEXT DOOR, HARDLY MADE IT SAFELY. I TESTED THE CAR IN DRIVE AND REVERSE, AND THE CAR RESPONDED. I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP, RIGH…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10700992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10714265 · 2015-05-03 (May 3, 2015)
MULTIPLE INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE COMING ON WHEN NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, GRADUAL LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE. THEN MY VEHICLE WILL NOT START AT ALL. NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STARTER, BATTERY IS STILL GOOD, THE ALTERNATOR IS FINE. MY INDICATOR CONSOLE WILL NOT COME BACK ON WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON, CAR WILL NOT START WITHOUT A JUMP, BUT ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ARE ON. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS MODEL YEAR HAS A RECALL ALREADY ON IT FOR THIS SAME ISSUE ID # 13V173000 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. NOTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE WRO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10714265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637738 · 2014-09-20 (September 20, 2014)
2013 BUICK REGAL GS FWD 18,240 MILES BRAKE NOICE IT IS SO BAD THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE TO BE REPLACED @18240 MILES THE CAR AT THE DEALER WAS DOING THE SQUEELING NOICE I WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL BECAUSE IT HAD BREMBOL BRAKES ROTORS AND PADS THE COST TO REPLACE ALL 4 PADS ROTORS IS $2201.00 THERE IS SO MUCH WEAR AND TEAR AWFUL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10637738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10820961 · 2016-01-19 (January 19, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING AREA TO APPROACH AND ENTER A PARKING SPACE AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SURGED WITH A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ABOVE 60 MPH AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXTREME FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME TO TRY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND MINOR BRUISING, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,738 miles reported. Look up ODI 10820961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10918054 · 2016-10-22 (October 22, 2016)
CODES PRESENT IN COMPUTER ARE P1101 AIR INTAKE PERFORMANCE, P0101 MASS AIR FLOW CIRCUIT A FAILURE. THE CAR HAS REDUCED POWER AND SURGING DURING ACCELERATION. STUMBLING AT START UP. THE VEHICLE'S TURBO WASTEGATE FAILS TO CLOSE BEFORE 3,500 RPM THEREFORE CAUSING A SEVERE SPOOL TIME ON TURBOCHARGER THE MANUFACTURE IS UNABLE TO REPAIR AS PER THE 4 MONTHS THE CAR HAS BEEN BEING DIAGNOSED AND FINALLY THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS ADMITTED THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. CORPORATE GM IN INVOLVED ALONG WITH FIELD TECHNICIANS. SINCE THE VEHICLE …
Owner-reported narrative. 28,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10918054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11113038 · 2018-07-23 (July 23, 2018)
GM DEALERSHIP MISDIAGNOSED THE TRANSMISSION AS NEEDING REPLACEMENT, AND QUOTE A $4500 REPAIR PRICE. AFTER GETTING 3 ALTERNATIVE EXPERT OPINIONS, THE PROBLEM WAS THE THROTTLE BODY; REPAIRED FOR $420. NOW THE FORMERLY RECALLED GENERATOR ALTERNATOR HAS FAILED. CAR WILL NOT RESTART WHEN STOPPED, WHILE DRIVING. GM HAS TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE FORMERLY RECALLED PART UNDER WARRANTY, OR BUT NOT IF FOR MISDIAGNOSING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE PART FAILING WHEN GARNERING 2ND OPINIONS. GM ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT IS NOT THE DEALERSHIP'S JOB TO ALE…
Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10703946 · 2015-04-06 (April 6, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH TO START BUTTON WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCIDENTLY BE TURNED OFF WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. ..UPDATED 05-26-15 *BF UPDATED 10/4/2017*CN
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10703946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10872140 · 2016-06-02 (June 2, 2016)
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DOWNSHIFT INDEPENDENTLY DESPITE THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THEN I LOST THE POWER STEERING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED FLICKERING. IT THEN LOST ALL POWER AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE, NARROWLY MISSING OTHER CARS. WITHIN FIVE MINUTES, THE FLASHERS AND LIGHTS ALSO WENT TOTALLY DEAD. TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AGAIN, BUT WOULD NOT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 60,000 MILES. SEARCHING ON THE INTERNE…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10872140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11066121 · 2018-01-31 (January 31, 2018)
MY NAME IS [XXX] , I OWN A 2013 BUICK REGAL TURBO, ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO I STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH MY CAR ( STEREO SHUTS ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING, DASH LIGHTS FLICKER ). THINKING MY CAR NEEDED A NEW BATTERY I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT A MONTH. NOT LONG AFTER, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK, EXCEPT THIS TIME THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ALL ELECTRONICS TO STOP WORKING, INCLUDING THE HEADLIGHTS, POWER STEERING, AND BRAKES. I DROVE IT TO A GM DEALER RIGHT AWAY. 1 WEEK GOES BY AND I GET A CALL BACK SAYING THEY COU…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11066121 at NHTSA ↗