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1988 Buick RegalProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 123 owner complaints about the 1988 Buick Regal, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 10 safety recalls.

49
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the Regal median · #12 of 28 years by complaints
Safety recalls10Free fix at dealersOwner complaints12319 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage156kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 22, 2009. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1988 Buick Regal has problems

123 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, hydraulic675
Structure173
Power train101
Engine and engine cooling91
Electrical system50
Fuel system, gasoline50
Seat belts51
Tires52
Suspension40
9 other systems233

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

10 recalls

1988 Buick Regal recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Structure

Recall 00V-189 · Jul 11, 2000 · 713,435 vehicles

Risk. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Wheels

Recall 95V-115 · Jun 5, 1995 · 22,361 vehicles

Risk. IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Wheels

Recall 94V-041 · Mar 28, 1995 · 198,163 vehicles

Risk. IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 6 more recalls
–no report yet

Seat belts

Recall 90V-054 · Mar 14, 1990 · 673,000 vehicles

Risk. SEAT BELT MAY NOT SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, AND IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN A PASSENGER, RESULTING IN INCREASED…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 88V-109 · Jul 6, 1988 · 8,328 vehicles

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND A PARTIALLOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Control arm: lower ball joint

Recall 88V-066 · Apr 18, 1988 · 3,221 vehicles

Risk. CONTINUED OPERATION OF CAR WITH EITHER CONDITION COULDRESULT IN SEPARATION OF THAT JOINT AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND ANACCIDENT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Manual transmission: column shift assembly

Recall 88V-045 · Mar 28, 1988 · 17,745 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO BE IN AGEAR OTHER THAN THAT DISPLAYED BY THE SHIFT INDICATOR.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Brake lights: switch

Recall 88V-040 · Mar 24, 1988 · 9,661 vehicles

Risk. AN OPEN CONTACT WOULD RENDER THE BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERATIVEWHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Buick.

Best & worst years

1988 vs. every other Regal year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Regal median. How we score

'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
12 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1988 Buick Regal, and the recalls they led to.

  1. THROTTLE NON-RETURNC89001 · closed Jan 16, 1990
    No recall
  2. REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILEA91005 · closed Dec 31, 1991
    No recall
  3. W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILUREEA91055 · closed Aug 17, 1992
    No recall
  4. STICKING THROTTLEEA92024 · closed Jan 31, 1994
    No recall
  5. PARKING BRAKE CABLEPE89145 · closed Sep 22, 1989
    No recall
  6. FAILURE STOP LAMP SWITCHPE90088 · closed Oct 31, 1990
    Led to recall 90V-185
  7. STEERING WHEEL SEPARATIONPE91072 · closed Jul 8, 1991
    No recall
  8. W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILUREPE91133 · closed Dec 5, 1991
    No recall
  9. SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILUREPE94048 · closed Dec 30, 1994
    No recall
  10. CORRODED REAR DISK BRAKESPE94063 · closed Dec 21, 1994
    No recall
  11. STRUCTURERP01001 · closed Jun 13, 2002
    Led to recall 00V-189
  12. CRADLE BOLT FAILURESRQ97017 · still open
    Led to recall 97V-058
In owners' words

What Regal owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARDRAIL AND WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. SHE THOUGHT THE VEHICLE HAD ANTILOCK BRAKES, BUT REALIZED IT DID NOT AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE CONTACT…
Complaint 10255953 · Jan 22, 2009 · 60,000 miles
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 BUICK REGAL WHICH SHE PURCHASED RECENTLY. THE ODOMETER ON THE VEHICLE DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT CLAIMED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLES BEFORE THEY SOLD THEM. THEY REPAIRED THE REAR BRAKES, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKES WERE STILL NOT…
Complaint 10186858 · Mar 28, 2007 · 155,925 miles
LTR ON BEHALF OF ELLE KELLY (NJ) CONCERNED THAT SOME 1988-1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA, BUICK REGAL PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES WERE STILL ON THE ROAD. *MR *SCC *JB *JB
Complaint 10031317 · Aug 28, 2003

Own a 1988 Regal?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.