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Buick RegalYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 3,265 NHTSA owner complaints across 46 model years, the Buick Regal years to avoid are 1998, and the strongest years are 1987, 2014, 2015 and 2016. The Regal has 98 safety recalls on record.

Buick Regal
Years to avoid'98Use caution: 1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2011Best years'87 '14 '15 '16Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints3,265Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls981973–2020 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: AJM STUDIOS, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Best & worst years

Buick Regal years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Regal median. Tap a year for its full report.

'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2020Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall2019Not rated–/10020 complaints · 2 recalls2018Not rated–/10019 complaints · 3 recalls2017Not rated–/10020 complaints · 0 recalls2016Best78/10041 complaints · 1 recall2015Best79/10033 complaints · 0 recalls2014Best79/10038 complaints · 2 recalls2013Solid57/10091 complaints · 6 recalls2012Solid59/10092 complaints · 7 recalls2011Caution33/100280 complaints · 4 recalls2010Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2009Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2008Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2005Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls2004Best69/10066 complaints · 2 recalls2003Solid51/100101 complaints · 3 recalls2002Solid47/100117 complaints · 3 recalls2001Caution34/100187 complaints · 6 recalls2000Caution36/100184 complaints · 8 recalls1999Caution30/100246 complaints · 6 recalls1998Avoid28/100302 complaints · 6 recalls1997Solid46/100136 complaints · 7 recalls1996Caution34/100204 complaints · 3 recalls1995Caution39/100173 complaints · 8 recalls1994Solid53/100110 complaints · 3 recalls1993Solid57/10085 complaints · 2 recalls1992Solid45/100144 complaints · 2 recalls1991Caution38/100200 complaints · 6 recalls1990Solid59/10077 complaints · 8 recalls1989Solid54/100106 complaints · 7 recalls1988Solid49/100123 complaints · 10 recalls1987Best83/10025 complaints · 2 recalls1986Not rated–/10012 complaints · 4 recalls1985Not rated–/1009 complaints · 8 recalls1984Not rated–/1006 complaints · 4 recalls1983Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall1982Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls1979Not rated–/1003 complaints · 4 recalls1978Not rated–/1001 complaint · 6 recalls1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Buick Regal problems

All model years combined: 3,265 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic59443
Electrical system56259
Engine423117
Engine and engine cooling370111
Steering31418
Exterior lighting23110
Power train20820
Visibility1467
Air bags14457
26 other systems1075151
98 recalls

Buick Regal recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

24%Suspension: rear26V-113 · 2012–2013 · Feb 26, 2026 · 17,050 vehicles78%Control module: software22V-465 · 2018–2020 · Jun 30, 2022 · 23,734 vehicles50%Suspension: rear21V00F000 · 2012–2013 · Dec 22, 2021 · 4,271 vehicles56%Suspension: rear21V-633 · 2013 · Aug 12, 2021 · 32,894 vehicles58%Suspension: rear20V-764 · 2012–2013 · Dec 21, 2020 · 220,006 vehicles96%Disc: caliper18V-576 · 2018–2019 · Aug 30, 2018 · 210,628 vehicles99%Seat belts: rear/other18V-230 · 2018 · Apr 12, 2018 · 8,738 vehicles66%Electrical system: wiring16V-517 · 2011 · Jul 7, 2016 · 42,984 vehicles98%Electrical system: ignition16V-502 · 2011 · Jul 5, 2016 · 8,367 vehicles96%Steering: electric power assist system16V-108 · 2016 · Feb 24, 2016 · 74 vehicles26%Engine and engine cooling: engine15V-701 · 1997–2004 · Oct 26, 2015 · 1,003,556 vehicles25%Engine and engine cooling: engine15V-201 · 2004 · Apr 6, 2015 · 330,742 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 98 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

37 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Regal

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2018 · still open
    Open
  2. Sands Chevrolet/Hybrid System Fire/StallAQ14001 · 2012–2013 · closed May 22, 2016
    No recall
  3. Generator Control Module FiresRQ13003 · 2012–2013 · closed Jul 22, 2014
    No recall
  4. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREEA07008 · 1999–2002 · closed May 1, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-118
  5. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILUREEA03019 · 1996–1998 · closed Dec 18, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-527
  6. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURERQ03001 · 1996–1998 · closed Sep 15, 2003
    No recall
  7. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02030 · 1996–2002 · closed Mar 9, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-090
  8. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE02050 · 1996–2000 · closed Oct 22, 2002
    No recall
  9. STRUCTURERP01001 · 1988–1991 · closed Jun 13, 2002
    Led to recall 00V-189
  10. ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATIONEA00011 · 1989–1991 · closed Jan 12, 2001
    Led to recall 00V-189