1992 Buick Regal Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 1992 model year most often write about the brakes, describing a pedal that sinks toward the floor and longer stopping distances, and about front seat belts that will not retract. The sample complaints are spread across many years of ownership and many miles, which fits a car of this age: most issues show up as wear-and-tear failures on high-mileage vehicles rather than a single repeated fault.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pedal sinks to the floor, longer stopping distance

   • 21 complaints (15%)
   • typically at 5.5 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2000

   Complaints describe the brake pedal dropping toward the floorboard, sometimes with little or no power assist, and the car taking much longer to stop than expected. Several owners report that the master cylinder was replaced, in some cases more than once, and that calipers, rotors and pads were replaced repeatedly within a year. Some say a dealer lubricated or cleaned the brake sliders and the problem came back, and others report calipers sticking to the pads. Mileage is not recorded on most of these complaints; they were filed from the mid-1990s into the 2000s on vehicles already well used.

   What to check: Ask when the master cylinder, calipers and hoses were last replaced, and press the pedal firmly with the engine running to see whether it holds or creeps down. Check for uneven pad wear or calipers that will not release.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When the brakes were applied pedal went to the floor, resulting in extended stoppingf distance. Dealer has replaced the brake system twice. Also, when consumer went to rotate the tires the brake parts started to fall off. The manufacturer has been notified.”

   NHTSA complaint #844684, filed 1999-08

   “While driving vehicle about 10 MPH the consumer tried to step on the brake pedal for a light or stop sign. She had some problem to stop vehicle. The brakes didn't stop vehicle on time, the vehicle kept rolling. Vehicle had been taken to the shop.”

   NHTSA complaint #818501, filed 1998-01
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Front shoulder belts will not retract

   • 26 complaints (18%)
   • typically at 6.0 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2003

   Owners report that the driver or passenger shoulder belt pulls out fully and then hangs loose instead of retracting, so the belt no longer fits snugly. In some complaints the retractor or the belt webbing itself is described as broken, and in a few the belt released during a collision. One owner reports a dealer replaced the belt assembly. Most of these complaints were filed in the late 1990s, and mileage is not recorded for most of them, so age rather than mileage appears to be the common factor.

   What to check: Pull each front belt out fully and let it go; it should reel back in smoothly and lock when tugged sharply. Check both front and rear belts, since the retractors sit inside the door area on this car.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Both lock on doors do not work, also, vehicle has brake failure. The air condition was leaking, starter was replaced, check engine light appeared while driving, right inside door trim was loose, headlights were out of adjustment, window would not roll up, driver side door handle broke, and driver seat belt would not retract.”

   NHTSA complaint #827421, filed 1998-08

   “Both driver's/passenger's shoulder belts failed to retrieve into retractor. Belts hang fulley extended. Both seat belts in the front are fullt extended and will not retract, shoukler part only, the retractors are inside the front doors, the seat belt portions still work fine, consumer believes this to be a manufacturer's defect and Buick should pay to correct this safety feature.”

   NHTSA complaint #804467, filed 1996-11
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slips, sticks in reverse or fails

   • 14 complaints (10%)
   • median 98,000 mi at 11.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2006

   Complaints describe the transaxle slipping in reverse, a vehicle that moves in reverse while the indicator shows neutral, hard shifting, or grinding and a sudden loss of drive that required a tow. Some owners report repeated dealer repairs or a rebuild by an independent shop without a lasting fix. One owner notes that the fluid dipstick reads full while the transmission is actually low on fluid. Reported from roughly 46,000 to 138,000 miles in the sample, with several complaints describing failures well past 100,000 miles.

   Recall 91V214000

   What to check: Test reverse and neutral engagement on a cold start, and check the fluid level carefully rather than trusting the dipstick alone. Ask whether the reverse servo recall work was ever performed and keep the receipt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Don't know actual mileage and don't know what we can do about repair. Mechanic quoted exorbitant cost to rebuild odometer head plus cost of labor to remove & replace.also he advised that a dealer told him that this was a common problem in these cars, & replacing with a used part would likely result in same problem. What do we do?”

   NHTSA complaint #757990, filed 2002-02

   “Transmission dip-stick is too long and causes a false reading of fluid level! Hence, when fluid is 1 qt.(+/-) low dip-stick shows full, even though vehicle will not engage in gear. Many owners have towed to transmission shop for repair when all is needed is additional fluid. This causes unnessary costs (expensive, etc.) which most shops will charge for as high priced repair &/or installation of re-built transmission worst of all, the stalled vehicle can result in injury &/or death !!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10051070, filed 2003-12, 79,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Smoke from the steering column and turn signal faults

   • 9 complaints (6%)
   • typically at 6.0 yrs old
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2001

   Owners report smoke coming from the steering column or from behind the steering wheel, sometimes with a burning smell while driving, and in one case a fire. Several complaints link this to grease from the upper column bearing running into the turn signal switch and electrical parts, with turn signals then failing. Dealers reportedly cleaned the grease or replaced switch parts, and one owner was told the part had been pulled from circulation and redesigned. Filed mostly between 1997 and 2000; mileage is not recorded, and one owner describes it happening in warm weather.

   What to check: Check that the turn signals and hazard lights work on both sides, look for a burning smell or residue around the column, and ask whether the turn signal switch has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Turn signal switch failed after smoking off and on for a month. Originally tried to get it replaced but was told by dealer all of these parts had been pulled from circulation and were being evaluated. Recently my left turn signal stopped working again, the following day it started up again. It took about 5 months for the part to arrive. Gmc told me the part had been redesigned and was in the testing faze when the switch originally burned out. What ever came of this defect?”

   NHTSA complaint #740586, filed 2001-02

   “In warm weather after starting the vehicle smoke comes from the steering column caused by grease that melts from the upper bearing which runs into the electrical components in the turn signals, causing short circuit. Please give any further details.”

   NHTSA complaint #815916, filed 1997-09
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Electrical drain and burned fuses

   • 14 complaints (10%)
   • median 102,000 mi at 19.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2011

   Complaints describe interior lights, radio and cassette player losing power, with one owner reporting that opening the driver door blows the fuse for the courtesy and interior lights. Other reports mention a check engine light, a non-working odometer, and a brake switch fault said to have shorted wiring in the engine compartment. Mileage varies in this small group, with one complaint at about 102,000 miles; reports were filed from the late 1990s into 2011.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Open and close each door and watch whether the interior lights and radio behave normally, and confirm the odometer advances as you drive. Ask whether the fuse blowing has been traced and repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1992 Buick Regal, everytime I open the driver side door, it burns the fuse for the courtesy lights, radio, cassette player, all interior lights. I am afraid it might burn the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10397496, filed 2011-04, 102,000 miles

   “An mechanic told consumer that the brake switch on this vehicle went bad causing a short circut in the enigine compartment wich LED to an fire. Dealer has been contacted.”

   NHTSA complaint #833808, filed 1999-01

Buying note. With this many years and miles behind it, condition and service records matter far more than the badge. Have a mechanic check the brake hydraulics, the front belts and the transmission before purchase, and expect to budget for wear items on a car of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 56 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.