2013 Buick Regal Problems

What owners report

Complaints about this model year center on the HID headlight assemblies, where moisture collects inside the housing and the lamp stops working, and on electrical problems that range from flickering dash lights to the engine shutting off while driving. Reports come in across a wide mileage span, often from 30,000 to 90,000 miles and sometimes soon after purchase, and many owners describe the electrical symptoms as sudden. Turbo and eAssist variants appear in several of the reports.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Moisture in headlight housing, lamp stops working

   • 27 complaints (30%)
   • median 61,200 mi at 6.7 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,400 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2024

   Owners describe condensation or standing water inside the headlamp assembly, usually on the driver's side first, followed by the headlight going dark and sometimes the bulb burning out or the ballast failing. Several report replacing bulbs and ballasts, or the whole assembly at a quoted cost over a thousand dollars per side, only to have the problem return. Some were told the housing seal had failed, that headlights were not covered under warranty, or that the assembly was no longer available. Reported from about 30,000 to 130,000 miles, frequently after humid or rainy weather and often noticed at night when a light is missing.

   Recall 12V484000

   What to check: Inspect both headlamp lenses for fogging, droplets, or staining inside the housing, and confirm both low and high beams work. Ask whether either assembly has already been replaced and keep in mind replacement cost.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driver side headlamp has condensation in it causing it to quit working. The car was taken to the garage and was told that this is a very common problem with the Buick Regal. I was given a repair cost of over $1600. I was also told that this will probably occur again. There was no indication that my headlight was not working until I was driving down the road at night and another vehicle flashed their high beams at me.”

   NHTSA complaint #11242245, filed 2019-08, 129,000 miles

   “My driver's side headlight is out, condensation inside the headlight as well. Bought $106.00 halogen replacement bulb and light still isn't working. After looking for others with the same issue I see this there is complaints and recall for some models of the 2013 Buick Regal (turbo premium 3) specifically by checking my VIN for the recall. Obviously having the exact same issue other Regal models of same year were recalled for.”

   NHTSA complaint #11405891, filed 2021-03, 90,560 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Lights flicker or go out, engine cuts off while driving

   • 38 complaints (42%)
   • median 66,496 mi at 6.4 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,750 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe dash lights, radio, and headlights flickering, the car losing all power and stalling at speed, and a restart only possible after disconnecting the battery to reset the computer. Some report repeated no-start conditions or a mass airflow sensor replaced several times without a lasting fix. According to the complaints, dealers sometimes could not find a cause, and one owner compared the symptoms to a charging-system recall covering eAssist vehicles. Reported anywhere from a few hundred to over 100,000 miles, with many reports in the 40,000 to 100,000 mile range and described as sudden.

   Recall 13V1730001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask about the charging system, battery, and any history of stalling or no-start events, and whether recall 13V173000 applies to the VIN on eAssist cars. A scan for stored codes and a charging-system check before purchase is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On my 2013 Buick Regal gs the mass air flow sensor has continued to shut down 3 times and has been replaced 3 times, the car continues to shut down with no GM codes. Please contact me asap or I'll have no choice but to contact my counsel to file a legal complaint against GM for dangerous car.”

   NHTSA complaint #11326735, filed 2020-06, 11,700 miles

   “I've had for the last few years had issues with my 2013 Buick Regal turning off while driving causing a few accidents that has nearly cause me my life. The car has had multiple electrical issues I've tried getting fixed and I've dealt with damage to my vehicle due to this. Car has turned off on me while in motion. I've replaced the battery and I've spent several 1,000s of dollars trying to get it replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329679, filed 2020-06, 120,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden or unintended acceleration when parking

   • 14 complaints (15%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the car surging forward on its own while parking or after releasing the brake, in some cases hitting fences, parked cars, or another vehicle despite hard braking. Complaints also describe the opposite: the accelerator stops responding while pulling into traffic. In several cases dealers could not reproduce or diagnose the event. Reported from about 500 to 67,000 miles, most often at low speed in parking situations.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, practice slow parking maneuvers and note any hesitation or surge in throttle response. Ask whether the throttle body has been inspected or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 3-7-15, upon leaving mcdonald's on 14 mile rd., in royal oak, mi. I approached the end of the driveway, stopped, waiting for traffic to clear. Starting to turn out of the driveway, I went to accelerate, the car did start to go, but suddenly, with no warning, the car would not accelerate. This occurred while I was now on the main road, with cars approaching, no acceleration. I glided into the driveway right next door, hardly made it safely. I tested the car in drive and reverse, and the car responded. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10700992, filed 2015-03, 38,000 miles

   “I pulled into a parking space and stopped. I took my foot off the break and the car lurched forward, running into a wooden rail fence. The fence which was old, was knocked down. It all happened so quickly, I wasn't sure if I had hit the accelerator. Two days later I made a normal stop in traffic. After breaking, the car lurched forward. I pushed on the break pedal to stop the car, before it could hit the car in front of me. This time I was sure my foot had not hit the gas pedal. I am now giving the car extra breaking distance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11128252, filed 2018-09, 66,450 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Stalls or loss of power, timing chain and pulley issues

   • 8 complaints (9%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2025

   Owners describe loss of acceleration, hard steering, and a car that will not restart, later traced to a detached timing chain. Other reports mention a squeaking tensioner pulley needing repeated replacement and reduced power with surging on turbo models, with dealers unable to agree on a repair. Reported mostly between about 28,000 and 100,000 miles with no clear weather pattern.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for squeaks or rattles from the accessory drive at idle and ask for service records on the timing chain, tensioner, and throttle body. On turbo cars, confirm boost builds normally on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Codes present in computer are p1101 air intake performance, p0101 mass air flow circuit a failure. The car has reduced power and surging during acceleration. Stumbling at start up. The vehicle's turbo wastegate fails to close before 3,500 RPM therefore causing a severe spool time on turbocharger the manufacture is unable to repair as per the 4 months the car has been being diagnosed and finally the service manager has admitted they are unable to repair the vehicle. Corporate GM in involved along with field technicians. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10918054, filed 2016-10, 28,300 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 Buick Regal. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a squeaking sound coming from the vehicle. While inspecting under the hood of the vehicle, it was discovered that the tensioner pully was very loose. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who indicated that the pulley needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact indicated that the tensioner pulley had been replaced on three previous occasions. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11524606, filed 2023-05, 100,000 miles

Buying note. Check the headlamp assemblies closely for moisture and recent replacement, and ask about electrical and stalling history along with any open recall work for the VIN. On a test drive, pay attention to brake-pedal return and low-speed throttle behavior.

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.