2018 Buick REGAL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
22,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 19 complaints (36.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 47.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 21.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 10.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 10.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 |
Service Brakes: 7; Engine: 5; Unknown Or Other: 4; Electrical System: 3; Air Bags: 2; Power Train: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Visibility/Wiper: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2020: 3; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 11102996 · 2018-06-21 (June 21, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A DRIVE'THRU, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, INSPECTED THE DAMAGE, AND CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER (GREINER BUICK GMC, 14555 CIVIC DR., VICTORVILLE, CA 92394, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS FOR THE BODY DAMAGE. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 169 miles reported. Look up ODI 11102996 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11103736 · 2018-06-25 (June 25, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY OF 2018, BUT DID NOT OBTAIN IT UNTIL JUNE 15, 2018. WHILE IN A DRIVE-THRU LINE, THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE FENDER, BUMPER, AND HEADLIGHT WERE DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER (GREINER BUICK GMC, 14555 CIVIC DR., VICTORVILLE, CA 92394) WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED BUICK BODY SHOP FOR THE DAMAG…
Owner-reported narrative. 169 miles reported. Look up ODI 11103736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11139943 · 2018-10-12 (October 12, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE WAS DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN TO PRESERVE FUEL. INSTEAD, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD REV AND INCREASE TO 3,000 AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVING THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ONCE WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCELVEEN BUICK (117 FARMINGTON RD, SUMMERVILLE, SC), BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED OR DUP…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11139943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11384104 · 2020-12-18 (December 18, 2020)
WHILE BEING DRIVEN THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT GEARS WHILE RPMS ARE REGISTERED THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO RESPOND AND LACKS POWER. I WAS FORCED TO SHIFT MANUALLY TO TRY AND GET THE GEARS TO SHIFT WITH NO LUCK AFTER QUICKLY MAKING THE SWITCH BETWEEN AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL TWICE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RESPONDED WITH A LOUD CLANK AS IF THE SEMI BEHIND ME HAD HIT ME AND THE RESPONDED WITH ACCELERATION. THE ISSUE WAS REPORTED FIRST EARLY FEBRUARY 2020 AGAIN IN EARLY MAY 2020 AND RECENTLY EARLY OCTOBER 2020 SERVICE DEPARTMENT FAILS TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11384104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11650765 · 2025-03-26 (March 26, 2025)
This issue is related to the gear shifter on the vehicle. When stopping the car and putting it into park the dashboard shows the message "Shift to Park." this vehicle has only 50,000 miles on it and this issue cause safety issues as the battery on the vehicle will drain as the car can't be turned off with this message. This issue has been reported for this vehicle in NHTSA Bulletin #10252775. However, the manufacturer is stating that it doesn't link to the cars VIN #. With 10 years + of vehicles in the GM family showing this issue and the issue…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11650765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11692646 · 2025-10-11 (October 11, 2025)
My car was part of recall number 22V465, which was supposed to fix a problem with the electronic brake assist system. The recall repair was done in 2023, but after my battery recently died, the same problem has come back , my brakes are very firm, and I have to press hard to stop. The car is showing trouble codes C028F:04, C1586:04, and V0420:71, all related to the electronic brake control module.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11692646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11384103 · 2020-12-18 (December 18, 2020)
STEERING WHEEL JERKS BACK ON AUTO START AFTER AUTO STOP. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THE ISSUES HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND AT RANDOM. REPORTED THE ISSUE EARLY FEBRUARY 2020 AGAIN IN EARLY MAY 2020 AFTER FAILURE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.REPORTED THE ISSUE AGAIN EARLY OCTOBER AFTER THE ISSUE WAS WORSE. ACCORDING TO GM FIELD SPECIALIST THE STEERING RACK WAS THE ISSUE, IT WAS REPLACED BUT THE ISSUE WAS STILL PERSISTENT AND THEY CONTINUED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A MONTH. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED BACK TO ME WITH A SHARPENING NOISE …
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11384103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11539236 · 2023-08-17 (August 17, 2023)
On Monday, August 14th, at approximately 5 pm, my wife and I were traveling in our 2018 Buick Regal towards a red streetlight. I began applying my brakes to come to a stop. I was several car lengths behind a vehicle that was up ahead. My car's engine then revved up and our vehicle kept on going and jerking front and back although I was applying the brakes. Our car failed to stop so I struck the stationary vehicle. I kept on applying the brakes, but the car kept on going and jerking until I struck the car in front a second time. Our vehicles en…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11539236 at NHTSA ↗