1995 Buick Regal Problems

What owners report

Owner complaints for this model year cluster around two themes: driver air bags that deploy with no impact, and brake problems — pedal going to the floor, ABS lights, and repeated rear pad and rotor wear. Air bag complaints are often tied to recall 00V171000, with many owners reporting that parts were unavailable or that their car was excluded by VIN. The rest concerns coolant loss from a leaking intake manifold, transmission leaks and failures, and door latches that stop opening.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Driver air bag deploys with no impact

   • 47 complaints (27%)
   • median 114,000 mi at 11.1 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2012

   Complaints describe the driver's air bag firing on its own — while turning, starting the engine, idling or at highway speed — with no crash or bump involved, sometimes burning the driver's hands or face. Several owners link their experience to recall 00V171000 and say the dealer could not supply parts or told them the vehicle was not covered. A few report the air bag light staying on, or air bags failing to deploy in a collision. Reported across a wide mileage range, from low-mileage cars to one over 190,000 miles.

   Recall 00V171000

   What to check: Ask the dealer or a shop to confirm whether recall 00V171000 was completed for this VIN, and whether the air bag warning light stays off after start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: the contact states there is NHTSA recall campaign 00v171000 regarding the air bags. This vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall. Also,board. The air bag light is illuminated in the dashboard, however, this vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN.”

   NHTSA complaint #10147026, filed 2006-01, 114,000 miles

   “The part to complete recall 00v-171 (frontal air bag) was on back order and the consumer was instructed to obtain a rental car, the consumer was told that GM would only pay 30 dollars a day for a rental car and the vehicle was not comparable to the Buick Regal the consumer owned, the consumer paid the difference for a comparable rental car and is requesting reimbursement. Nlm”

   NHTSA complaint #566749, filed 2002-07
2. 2
   Brakes

   Pedal to the floor and repeated rear brake wear

   • 26 complaints (15%)
   • median 45,700 mi at 2.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2003

   Owners describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor with little or no stopping, in one case followed by a master cylinder replacement, and in another by a collision after the car failed to stop. Others report premature wear of rear pads and rotors — several sets replaced — with grinding, squealing and an ABS warning light that dealers could not trace. One owner notes the rear brake hose was routed into the rear suspension and chafed. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 100,000 miles; several complaints do not state mileage.

   Recall 95V0610001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have the brake pedal firmness, rear pads and rotors, and rear hose routing checked, and ask whether the ABS pump has been serviced or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dealer has been sympathetic towards problem/Buick states the premature wear of rear disc pads and rotors are because I live in an area where there is road salt and sand.I don't think that this is the problem. Buick is advising the dealers that we have to apply the parking brake once a week to adjust the rear calipers, this was done and the problem continues. On 7-23-99 I had the car to the dealer for the third time with this problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #709357, filed 1999-07

   “Brake failure, when driving at any speed and when brakes are applied, they make a loud grinding noise. Consumer also states cassette will not accept tape it ejects,trunk light flickers when trunk is open, consumer was advised that is the way it is design it is normal, also popping noise from left front window at base when going up.”

   NHTSA complaint #801205, filed 1996-08
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission leaks, hesitation and failure

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report fluid puddles under the car that dealers could not trace, hesitation after shifting into overdrive or final gear, and in some cases sudden loss of power at highway speed with the transmission found broken internally. One car had a transmission failure at around 52,000 miles. Most complaints do not state mileage; one failure was reported near 52,000 miles, others at highway speeds.

   What to check: Check for transmission fluid leaks and staining underneath, and test-drive at highway speed to feel for hesitation or shudder in overdrive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Once car shifts into the overdrive or final gear, I experience a hesitation. The hesitation seems to disappear when vehicle speed is around 80 MPH. It also disappears when I take my foot off of the accelerator.”

   NHTSA complaint #708623, filed 1999-07

   “Vehicle experienced problem with transmission failure while turning off at an intersection. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that he never saw a transmission blow up like that one with only 52,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #851898, filed 1999-11
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Door latch breaks, door won't open from outside

   • 9 complaints (5%)
   • median 82,829 mi at 14.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2014

   Complaints describe the driver's door latch breaking so the door cannot be opened from the outside, sometimes for a second time within a few years, with owners reporting a repair cost each time. Related electrical complaints mention an anti-theft or security light that stays on and the car later refusing to start or shutting off while driving. The latch complaints were reported around 70,000 miles; several electrical complaints do not state mileage.

   What to check: Open and close each door several times from the outside and inside, and check that the security light clears after start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While traveling home from work on a very busy street (highway) the car died. Since then I never know when it's going to do it again. Some days it dies 5 or 6 times. I'm a senior reliant on social security income and any expense is unwelcome , however, I have spent nearly $1,000 to no avail. Several times after a repair the car died a block from the repair shop. This usually happens in traffic. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10568728, filed 2014-03, 110,000 miles

   “1) car shuts off while in motion 2) car refuses to start / does not recognize key & signals anti-theft I had been driving for about 30 minutes. Traffic slowed ahead for a red light. Approaching the stopped cars ahead I slowed my car down to appx. 15mph. The light turned green. I hit the gas to continue and when nothing happened I realized that my car was completely shut off. The power steering was stiff and I had just enough speed left to move across two lanes in to a store parking lot. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10607872, filed 2014-07, 76,000 miles

Buying note. A used example is worth having inspected for air bag recall completion, brake pedal feel and rear brake condition, and coolant residue at the intake manifold before purchase. Records showing the manifold gasket and brake work already done make the car easier to assess.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.