2012 Buick Regal Problems

What owners report

2012 Buick Regal owners most often report moisture getting inside the HID headlight assemblies and the lamp going out, along with engine oil consumption that owners describe as heavy between changes. Other recurring themes are a brake pedal that stays down in warm, humid weather, and intermittent electrical quirks such as battery drain and warning lights. Complaints arrive across a wide mileage span, from near-new cars to well past 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Headlight condensation and lamp failure

   • 30 complaints (33%)
   • median 66,000 mi at 8.1 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,505 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2025

   Owners describe water or condensation collecting inside the headlight housing, usually on the driver's side and often noticed after rain or overnight. The moisture is reported to reach the ballast and electrical parts, causing the bulb or the whole lamp to stop working, and replacement bulbs are described as failing again. According to complaints, dealers typically quoted replacement of the complete headlight assembly rather than a reseal, and some owners said moisture returned after a ballast or bulb replacement. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 115,000 miles, most often after rain or in damp conditions.

   Recall 12V093000Recall 12V484000

   What to check: Inspect both headlight housings for fogging, droplets or dried water marks, and confirm both low and high beams and the LED daytime running lights work. Ask whether either assembly has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 miles

   “Both headlights let water from rain in. Both hid bulbs have been replaced several times. I've had headlights go out at night. Had to park car and call someone to come pick me up. Gm needs to fix this problem before someone gets killed from there headlights going completely out at night and causing an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11302802, filed 2020-01, 70,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Battery drain and no-start

   • 10 complaints (11%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2023

   Owners describe the battery losing charge overnight or after a few days of sitting, with the car needing a jump or a new battery. Some complaints link the drain to a body control module or charging issue after the electrical system stopped working normally. Others report random warning lights, blank instrument panels and accessories behaving intermittently. Scattered from low mileage up to around 160,000 miles, with many reports in the 60,000 to 100,000 mile range.

   Recall 13V1730002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery has been replaced recently and have the charging system and any stored body control module codes checked before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My battery seems to be losing charge. Then it will completely die. When I charge it on a battery charger for a while it would hold the charge for a a couple of days then die again. I had the battery, alternator, and starter checked and machanic stated that they are all working good. This happens randomly. The driverside power control buttons work on and off. Some days they work and others they dont, almost like a short. This also happens randomly.”

   NHTSA complaint #11031942, filed 2017-10, 96,000 miles

   “The car had no electrical power. Anything electrical wouldn't work. We couldn't remove the ignition key, put windows or anything. The second time I tried to use the vehicles self jump start but nothing would work. There was absolutely no power in this car at this time. My wife said at on different occasions she did smell a burning odor. We also had the digital speedometer stop working. It started working again after the car was shut off and restarted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10725396, filed 2015-06, 39,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   High oil consumption between changes

   • 9 complaints (10%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2023

   Owners report having to add a quart or more of oil well before the next scheduled change, sometimes with no visible leak, and some describe low or empty dipstick readings at service visits. Complaints mention rough running, ticking or stalling at stops as the level drops. Dealers are described as running oil consumption tests and discussing piston replacement, while some owners say the concern was topped off and not fully diagnosed. Mostly reported between about 70,000 and 165,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the oil level on the dipstick before and after a test drive, ask for service records showing how often oil was added between changes, and ask whether an oil consumption test was ever performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Codes p0016 p0017 DTC p0299 under turbo boost p0010 - fluid leak from transmission - stabilitrak light on and off (2017, 2018, 2019)- { I paid to have the issue fixed and less than a year later it happens again} car will not pick up speed - crank / cam position not plausible - timing chain stretched /stuck.( popping sound coming from under my seat in 2017)these are all issues that happen while driving. I am getting on the on ramp for the highway and my car will not go pass 35 MPH for over 15 seconds, even if I floor it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11208170, filed 2019-05, 86,047 miles

   “The 2012 Buick Regal consumes a quart or more of oil in less than 2 weeks or 300 miles. I am putting a quart in it just to get it to read on the dip stick and more if needed. As it consumes oil, the engine gains a noticable ticking noise with a rough start. All of this is noticed while driving on a highway or rural road. The back right tire and or tire area makes a thumping noise at all speeds. The tire is not the issue. The stabilitrak warning light comes on often . I am the 3rd owner to the car with with 164,333 current miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11372918, filed 2020-11, 163,247 miles
4. 4
   Electronic stability control

   Stabilitrak and check engine lights while driving

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2020

   Complaints describe Service Stabilitrak and check engine messages appearing while driving, sometimes with reduced power or the car limiting speed. Some owners report the warnings clearing on their own after a restart, and others link them to cam or crank timing codes. Dealer visits are described as sometimes unable to reproduce or fully resolve the warnings. Reported from under 10,000 miles to around 160,000 miles, including several reports in cold weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Scan for stored codes and confirm no stability or check engine lights are on during a test drive; ask about any prior throttle body or timing related repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had problems with the stabilitrak - check engine light / multifunction indicator light coming on at random times (the on star diagnostic report doesn't give any indication of whats going on with the car so that regular people can understand before going in talking to a dealer about the issue) - powertrain issues I have had to replace my battery when I bought the car I was told it was newer and shouldn't have issues. My driver side headlight is full of water. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11099986, filed 2018-06, 73,000 miles

   “Driving on highway at 70mph and car completely shut down almost causing a serious accident and dash board went haywire brakes locked and service stabiliktrack system and ABS assist warnings and it smelled like my car was on fire brakes locked steering and lost power totally shut down glad someone was in car to help me steer to side of road out of traffic had to have towed and there was a recall for this problem before apparently GM didnt get it right I could have died and they are refusing to repair problem since the previous owner had it …”

   NHTSA complaint #11022715, filed 2017-09, 34,149 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake pedal stays down in hot, humid weather

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 83,400 mi at 6.6 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2024

   Complaints describe the brake pedal failing to return fully after being pressed when the weather is warm and humid, leaving the pedal low and requiring the driver to lift it by foot. Some owners report the pedal not springing back at all, and others mention it affecting cruise control selection. Repairs are described as inconclusive, with shops unable to reproduce the condition. Reported from about 35,000 to 120,000 miles, described as occurring in hot or humid conditions.

   What to check: Press and release the brake pedal several times after the car has sat in warm weather and confirm it returns fully each time; ask whether any related bulletin work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My brake pedal always get stuck depressed down in hot humid weather. You literally have to drive with two feet to lift pedal when time to accelerate. My driver seat also goes in and out when trying to adjust the seat. It will not move unless I play with the power adjuster a few times then it will maneuver. My radio also turns off and on by itself with bluetooth is connected or sometimes the radio wouldn't turn on with car running or turn off while car is off.”

   NHTSA complaint #11299744, filed 2020-01, 100,000 miles

   “Brake pedal sticks and stays depressed when very hot outside after sitting. This needs to be recalled. Its happened twice to me already and no shop can find anything wrong. It will work fine after pulling pedal up or driving with shaking steering wheel until it works itself out. This needs to be addressed and needs to be a recall fix.”

   NHTSA complaint #11130063, filed 2018-09, 83,400 miles

Buying note. Check the headlight housings for moisture and confirm all exterior lighting works, since that is the most frequent theme in these complaints and can mean a costly assembly replacement. Also check the oil level and service history for oil consumption, and verify whether the rear suspension and other open recalls were completed for the vehicle's registration state.

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.