Buick Regal Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 3,247 consumer complaints across the 30 model years of the Buick Regal (1984–2019) that have at least 5 complaints. 1998 has the most, with 302. Across all years, the part named most often is brakes (699 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Regal model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20 | 30,000 | 3 | 673 | — | Rising |
| 2018 | 19 | 22,000 | 3 | 899 | — | Stable |
| 2017 | 20 | 73,254 | 0 | 1,054 | — | Falling |
| 2016 | 41 | 27,000 | 1 | 1,213 | 24 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2015 | 33 | 29,750 | 0 | 1,526 | 6 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2014 | 38 | 48,864 | 2 | 1,753 | 21 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2013 | 91 | 58,000 | 6 | 1,883 | 66 · More | Falling |
| 2012 | 92 | 59,527 | 7 | 1,750 | 76 · More | Falling |
| 2011 | 280 | 66,900 | 4 | 1,526 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2004 | 66 | 90,963 | 2 | 396 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 101 | 96,258 | 3 | 359 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 117 | 85,000 | 3 | 319 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 187 | 91,500 | 6 | 282 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 184 | 95,804 | 8 | 249 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 246 | 89,000 | 6 | 35 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 302 | 92,000 | 6 | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 136 | 105,771 | 7 | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 204 | 87,500 | 3 | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 173 | 89,659 | 8 | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 110 | 96,472 | 3 | 4 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 85 | 75,000 | 2 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 144 | 109,500 | 2 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 200 | 94,210 | 6 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 77 | 125,538 | 8 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 106 | 80,000 | 7 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 123 | 86,000 | 10 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 25 | 60,000 | 2 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 12 | — | 4 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
| 1985 | 9 | — | 8 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 6 | — | 4 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Brakes699 24%
- Electrical system559 19%
- Engine420 14%
- Engine cooling369 12%
- Steering313 11%
- Exterior lighting231 7.8%
- Transmission and drivetrain208 7.0%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)159 5.4%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2017: “Three years in a row starting in 2020, the vacuum pump has gone out causing the brakes to malfunction (NO BRAKES). In 2020, I was coming off the freeway when the brakes went out. In 2021, the brakes went out on my daughter. June 2022, brakes out while grandson was driving. No accidents or injuries occurred. Just frazzled nerves.”
NHTSA complaint #11467933, filed 2022-06, 82,000 miles2012: “My passenger headlight went out and did know till I got a ticket. I have taken it to a repair shop for repair two times and they found that it is not sealed properly. There is corrosion under the headlight assembly due to it collecting water. How can this be fixed I have heard that this is a big issue please advise on what can be done to help everyone affected.”
NHTSA complaint #11403376, filed 2021-03, 65,000 miles2011: “I am having a braking problem with my 2011 Regal clx turbo. My brakes do not seem to be releasing when the car has been sitting outside and the temperature is high. Steering wheel shakes when applying the brakes and even when the brakes are released. The brake pedal and or parking brake does not disengaging on the Buick Regal 2011.”
NHTSA complaint #11415354, filed 2021-05, 128,880 milesOther Buick models
3,720 complaintsBuick Enclave
2,507 complaintsBuick Lacrosse
2,124 complaintsBuick Century
1,812 complaintsBuick Park Avenue
1,366 complaintsBuick Rendezvous
1,237 complaintsBuick Lucerne
943 complaintsBuick Encore
604 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology