Buick REGAL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2,748 owner complaints analyzed
99 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1973 to 2020 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,277 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 423 of 2,748 complaints (15.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 621 | 22.6% |
| Steering behavior | 364 | 13.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 206 | 7.5% |
| Engine operation | 196 | 7.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 126 | 4.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 43 | 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 423 |
| Electrical System | 361 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 149 |
| Exterior Lighting | 145 |
| Steering | 132 |
| Unknown Or Other | 110 |
| Power Train | 95 |
| Service Brakes | 91 |
Engine: 423; Electrical System: 361; Engine And Engine Cooling: 149; Exterior Lighting: 145; Steering: 132; Unknown Or Other: 110; Power Train: 95; Service Brakes: 91
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 162 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 192 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 240 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 241 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 287 |
| 150,000 and above | 155 |
Under 25,000: 162; 25,000 to 49,999: 192; 50,000 to 74,999: 240; 75,000 to 99,999: 241; 100,000 to 149,999: 287; 150,000 and above: 155
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (287). 1,471 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 | 275 |
| 1996 | 119 |
| 2000 | 162 |
| 2001 | 165 |
| 2002 | 123 |
| 2003 | 144 |
| 2004 | 173 |
| 2005 | 72 |
| 2006 | 98 |
| 2007 | 68 |
| 2008 | 81 |
| 2009 | 62 |
| 2010 | 44 |
| 2011 | 60 |
| 2012 | 37 |
| 2013 | 26 |
| 2014 | 118 |
| 2015 | 117 |
| 2016 | 256 |
| 2017 | 95 |
| 2018 | 86 |
| 2019 | 85 |
| 2020 | 75 |
| 2021 | 70 |
| 2022 | 51 |
| 2023 | 42 |
| 2024 | 22 |
| 2025 | 16 |
| 2026 | 6 |
1995: 275; 1996: 119; 2000: 162; 2001: 165; 2002: 123; 2003: 144; 2004: 173; 2005: 72; 2006: 98; 2007: 68; 2008: 81; 2009: 62; 2010: 44; 2011: 60; 2012: 37; 2013: 26; 2014: 118; 2015: 117; 2016: 256; 2017: 95; 2018: 86; 2019: 85; 2020: 75; 2021: 70; 2022: 51; 2023: 42; 2024: 22; 2025: 16; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 621 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 364 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 206 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 984940 · 1996-05-29 (May 29, 1996)
FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKE LINE PIPE WHICH CARRIES BRAKE FLUID, BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKES RECALL 83V106000. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 984940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 887368 · 2001-05-03 (May 3, 2001)
WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL IT WILL NOT TRAVEL TO FLOORBOARD. CONUMER HAS TO APPLY FORCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 887368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480326 · 1995-02-07 (February 7, 1995)
DRIVER' SEAT BACK FAILED TO HOLD DURING ACCIDENT, FORCING DRIVER INTO STEERING WHEEL/WINDSHIELD, RESULTING IN INJURY. *SKDD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 970650 · 1995-08-17 (August 17, 1995)
VACUUM ASSIST WHICH CONTROLS BRAKES AND POWER STEERING FAILED, LOSS OF BRAKES AND STEERING. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 970650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 552873 · 2000-09-01 (September 1, 2000)
DELCO BATTERY IS LEAKING ACID. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 552873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186858 · 2007-03-28 (March 28, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 BUICK REGAL WHICH SHE PURCHASED RECENTLY. THE ODOMETER ON THE VEHICLE DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT CLAIMED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLES BEFORE THEY SOLD THEM. THEY REPAIRED THE REAR BRAKES, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKES WERE STILL NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT PASS AN INSPECTION, AND NOW THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE MECHANIC BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE IN THE FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP OR SOMETHING ELSE. THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN OVER, BUT WOULD NOT START. …
Owner-reported narrative. 155,925 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480545 · 1995-01-19 (January 19, 1995)
VEHICLE STALLED;UPON RESTARTING, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 488622 · 1995-09-08 (September 8, 1995)
IGNITION COIL MODULE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029671 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)
WOULD HAVE NO REAR SIGNAL LIGHT UNLESS THE SIGNAL SWITCH IS HELD IN A CERTAIN WAY AND POSITION. THIS WOULD ALSO EFFECT THE BRAKE LIGHTS. TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHOW PROPER GEAR WHILE DRIVING. WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH OR MORE, THE GEAR SHOWS IT'S IN REVERSE INSTEAD OF THE DRIVE POSITION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029671 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048716 · 2003-11-26 (November 26, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 172,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094546 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
VEHICLE SMELLED OF GAS, THERE WAS GAS ON THE GROUND ALL THE TIME. THE GAS TANK WAS DEFECTIVE AS STATED IN RECALL 88V188000. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10094546 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2004: 2; 2005: 0; 2008: 0; 2009: 0; 2010: 0; 2011: 4; 2012: 7; 2013: 6; 2014: 2; 2015: 0; 2016: 1; 2017: 0; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2020: 2
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1974 | 0 | 2 | +1 |
| 1975 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | 0 | 3 | +1 |
| 1978 | 0 | 6 | +3 |
| 1979 | 3 | 4 | -2 |
| 1980 | 0 | 5 | +1 |
| 1981 | 0 | 3 | -2 |
| 1982 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| 1983 | 3 | 1 | -1 |
| 1984 | 5 | 4 | +3 |
| 1985 | 5 | 8 | +4 |
| 1986 | 6 | 4 | -4 |
| 1987 | 17 | 2 | -2 |
| 1988 | 90 | 10 | +8 |
| 1989 | 68 | 7 | -3 |
| 1990 | 56 | 8 | +1 |
| 1991 | 149 | 6 | -2 |
| 1992 | 85 | 2 | -4 |
| 1993 | 56 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | 68 | 3 | +1 |
| 1995 | 131 | 8 | +5 |
| 1996 | 124 | 3 | -5 |
| 1997 | 108 | 7 | +4 |
| 1998 | 245 | 6 | -1 |
| 1999 | 233 | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 | 184 | 8 | +2 |
| 2001 | 187 | 6 | -2 |
| 2002 | 117 | 3 | -3 |
| 2003 | 101 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 | 66 | 2 | -1 |
| 2005 | 4 | 0 | -2 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 279 | 4 | +4 |
| 2012 | 92 | 7 | +3 |
| 2013 | 91 | 6 | -1 |
| 2014 | 38 | 2 | -4 |
| 2015 | 33 | 0 | -2 |
| 2016 | 41 | 1 | +1 |
| 2017 | 20 | 0 | -1 |
| 2018 | 19 | 3 | +3 |
| 2019 | 18 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 | 2 | -1 |