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U.S. public vehicle records

2016 Buick REGAL: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

41 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

27,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 41 complaints (24.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior1126.8%
Braking behavior819.5%
Transmission and shifting49.8%
Engine operation24.9%
Electrical and battery issues24.9%

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.

Steering
10
Electrical System
6
Engine
5
Power Train
5
Unknown Or Other
5
Vehicle Speed Control
5
Exterior Lighting
4
Service Brakes
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering10
Electrical System6
Engine5
Power Train5
Unknown Or Other5
Vehicle Speed Control5
Exterior Lighting4
Service Brakes3

Steering: 10; Electrical System: 6; Engine: 5; Power Train: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Exterior Lighting: 4; Service Brakes: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
9
25,000 to 49,999
6
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0009
25,000 to 49,9996
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 20 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.

2016
2
2017
6
2018
3
2019
1
2020
2
2021
9
2022
9
2023
3
2024
4
2025
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20162
20176
20183
20191
20202
20219
20229
20233
20244
20252

2016: 2; 2017: 6; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 9; 2022: 9; 2023: 3; 2024: 4; 2025: 2

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10854935 · 2016-04-11 (April 11, 2016)

WHEN BACKING OUT OF A DARK AREA (SUCH AS A GARAGE) INTO BRIGHT LIGHT, OR WHEN LEAVING A DARK TUNNEL INTO BRIGHT LIGHT, THE BACKUP DISPLAY OR FORWARD NAVIGATION DISPLAY BECOME UNUSABLE DUE TO CONTRAST ("WASHOUT") ISSUES. THE SYSTEM IN THE BUICK IS A SINGLE SENSOR SYSTEM (IT ALSO CONTROLS THE AUTOMATIC HEAD LIGHTS) THAT REQUIRES 20-30 SECONDS TO ADJUST CONTRAST AFTER A TRANSITION FROM DARK TO LIGHT. THIS 20-30 SECOND DELAY IS CRITICAL WHEN BACKING UP BECAUSE YOU LOSE THE VIEW OFFERED BY THE REVIEW CAMERA UNLESS YOU STOP WHILE THE SYSTEM ADJUSTS. …

Owner-reported narrative. 125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854935 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10860271 · 2016-04-19 (April 19, 2016)

SUDDENLY AFTER LEAVING COSTCO GAS STATION AND DRIVING "NO" DISPLAY OF MILLAGE. SPEED GAUGES AND ALL CRITICAL INFORMATION WENT BLANK/BLACK ON DRIVERS DASH BOARD WITH CRITICAL LIGHTS DISPLAY SHOWING TROUBLE WITH VEHICLE BY DISPLAYING YELLOW; AND RED EXCLAMATIONS; SKID TIRE AND NO GAUGE READINGS FOR ENGINE TEMKP; OR NOTHING!. ON STAR GAVE NEGATIVE RESULTS FOR EMERGENCY HELP. DEALER STATED CAR WAS REPROGRAMED LAST WEEK. PREVIOUS RADIO AND BLUE TOOTH TROUBLE REPORTED TO GM. THEY SEEM TO IGNORE ME. TROUBLED RADIO AND NAVIGATION PURPOSIVELY FIXED…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10860271 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10945631 · 2017-01-17 (January 17, 2017)

2016 BUICK REGAL WITH 11K MIKES. THE WINDSHIELD RECENTLY DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE LEFT LOWER CORNER. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM EDGE (BELOW THE DASH) ABOUT 8 INCHES FROM THE LOWER LEFT CORNER. OVER SEVERAL DAYS, THE CRACK SLOWLY SPREAD UP AND TO THE LEFT, ENDING AT THE LEFT EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD ABOUT 6 INCHES FROM THE LOWER LEFT CORNER. THE CRACK IS IN THE INNER LAMINATED GLASS ONLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BUICK DEALER TO SEE IF THE WINDSHIELD CAN BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE ADVISOR CLAIMED IT WAS A STRESS CRACK, BUT WAN…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10945631 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10993854 · 2017-06-07 (June 7, 2017)

CAR COMPUTER IS SUCEPTIBLE TO HACKING AND REPROGRAMMING WHILE DRIVING SUSPENSION IS LOWERED OR RAISED ENGINE LOOSES POWER WHOLE CAR COMPONENTS RATTLE OR RADIO BASS LOUD WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION DOESNT SHIFT TO CORRECT GEAR STUCK ON SECOND OR THIRD AND GEAR SHIFT KNOB POPS UP WHILE DRIVING DEALER SAYS IS NORMAL BRAKES LOOSE PRESSURE TAKING LONG TO COMPLETE STOP ENGINE SHAKES WHILE IN MOTION OR IDLE RADIO AND OTHER COMPONENTS APPS TRACTION ABS DISABLED HACKED OR CONTROLLED WIRELESS/BT

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10993854 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11010894 · 2017-07-27 (July 27, 2017)

DRIVER INFOTAINMENT CENTER HAS MANY ISSUES, REMAINS BLANK WHILE RADIO IS PLAYING AND CAN BE CONTROLLED BY STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS AND HVAC VIA EXTERNAL BUTTONS. ALSO BACKUP CAMERA INTERMITTENTLY JUMPS THE VIDEO FROM CAMERA BUT NOT THE CGI LINES. THIS MAKES YOU STOP DUE TO REFLEXES THINKING SOMETHING RAN OUT IN THE WAY OF BACKING UP. ON OCCASION THE DISPLAY HAS SHOWN SYSTEM ERROR AND ALSO HVAC CONTROL NOT OPERABLE. ALSO HAVE SEEN THE CGI DIRECTIONAL LINES NOT SHOW UP UNTIL PLACED IN FORWARD GEAR JUST BEFORE THE DISPLAY TURNS OFF THE CAMERA. DEAL…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11010894 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11015791 · 2017-08-16 (August 16, 2017)

CAR APPLIED BRAKES SUDDENLY AND FULLY 4-5 TIMES DURING 200 MILE TRIP ON I-5 FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (65-70MPH). IT OCCURRED RANDOMLY, WHILE FOLLOWING OTHER VEHICLES, INCLUDING SEMI-TRUCKS, WHICH ARE NOT IN SAME LANE AND/OR ARE SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE AWAY. DID SO WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INPUT OR APPLICATION OF BRAKES. DECREASED SPEED WAS SO SUDDEN, IT CAUSED DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TO TENSE UP. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO VEHICLES DIRECTLY BEHIND MINE OR MY CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED AT FREEWAY SPEE…

Owner-reported narrative. 13,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015791 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11036011 · 2017-10-24 (October 24, 2017)

WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE GLASS FLEW IN AND OUT OF THE CAR STICKING ME IN THE FACE AND BODY. THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH ANY OUTSIDE OBJECT, THE ROAD WAS SMOOTH AND THERE WERE NO OVERHEAD TREES, SIGNS OR BRIDGES.

Owner-reported narrative. 24,233 miles reported. Look up ODI 11036011 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11042448 · 2017-11-03 (November 3, 2017)

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN VISCLOSKY ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE THE MATERIALS USED TO MANUFACTURER AUTOMOBILES SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CONSUMERS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN A MINOR ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE BUMPER MAY HAVE BEEN MADE OUT OF A TIRE COMPOUND. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE BUMPER SHOULD BE ONLY OUT OF STEEL. UPDATED 11/3/2017*JS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11042448 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

16V108000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System

Reported: 2016-02-24 (February 24, 2016)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Buick Regal Vehicles manufactured August 30, 2015, to February 12, 2016. The affected vehicles have a power-steering assist system that may fail.

Consequence: A loss of power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric belt drive rack and pinion steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 21510.

NHTSA campaign record ↗