Menu

1989 Buick RegalProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 106 owner complaints about the 1989 Buick Regal, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 7 safety recalls.

54
CarFlaw IndexSolid year14% below the Regal median · #15 of 28 years by complaints
Safety recalls7Free fix at dealersOwner complaints10614 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem51Service brakes, hydraulic

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 5, 2006. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1989 Buick Regal has problems

106 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, hydraulic512
Structure152
Electrical system142
Engine and engine cooling111
Parking brake50
Power train50
Exterior lighting40
Vehicle speed control42
Steering41
9 other systems152

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

7 recalls

1989 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 3 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 →

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

1989 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
11 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1989 Buick Regal, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATIONEA00011 · closed Jan 12, 2001
    Led to recall 00V-189
  2. W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILUREEA91055 · closed Aug 17, 1992
    No recall
  3. STICKING THROTTLEEA92024 · closed Jan 31, 1994
    No recall
  4. FAILURE STOP LAMP SWITCHPE90088 · closed Oct 31, 1990
    Led to recall 90V-185
  5. STEERING WHEEL SEPARATIONPE91072 · closed Jul 8, 1991
    No recall
  6. W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILUREPE91133 · closed Dec 5, 1991
    No recall
  7. SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILUREPE94048 · closed Dec 30, 1994
    No recall
  8. CORRODED REAR DISK BRAKESPE94063 · closed Dec 21, 1994
    No recall
  9. STRUCTURERP01001 · closed Jun 13, 2002
    Led to recall 00V-189
  10. CRADLE BOLT FAILURESRQ97017 · still open
    Led to recall 97V-058
  11. ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATIONRQ99002 · 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.

DRIVESHAFT PULLY THAT DRIVES SURPENTINE BELT IS HALF WAY APART, TORE BELT, CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES, NEARLY CAUSED PERSONAL INJURY, NO WARNING.
Complaint 986183 · Aug 15, 1996
FAILURE ON THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, CORRODED BRAKES, CAUSING REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFECTIVENSS AND DRAGGING PADS PE94-063. *AK
Complaint 982436 · Apr 8, 1996
REAR CALIPERS FREEZE UP; FRONT BRAKES DO ALL THE BRAKING; SEEMS TO BE AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH PARTS; FRONT PADS WEAR OUT CONTINOUSLY. *AK
Complaint 968334 · Jul 6, 1995

Own a 1989 Regal?

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