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Buick Regal Problems

The Buick Regal is a mid-size car with a production history spanning from 1973 to 2020, with a brief hiatus. With nearly 9,000 complaints and 12 reported deaths, the Regal has substantial owner feedback across its generations. The nameplate evolved from a personal luxury coupe to a modern sport sedan competing with European rivals. Different generations have vastly different reliability profiles.

8,888
Total Complaints
35
Total Recalls
39
Model Years
12
Reported Deaths
!

Years to Avoid

These years have significantly more complaints than average.

2011 1999 1998
✓

Best Years

These years have the fewest reported problems.

1978 1979 1982

Common Problem Categories

Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1,482
Electrical System 1,176
Engine 844
Engine And Engine Cooling 774
Steering 648

Complaints by Model Year

All Model Years

Year ↓ Complaints Recalls Crashes Fires Rating
2020 6 2 0 0 Good
2019 58 3 0 0 Good
2018 66 3 16 0 Good
2017 52 0 2 6 Good
2016 122 1 0 0 Average
2015 100 0 2 2 Good
2014 100 2 6 0 Good
2013 260 5 18 8 Average
2012 274 6 10 8 Average
2011 876 4 26 28 Avoid
2010 4 0 0 0 Good
2009 2 0 0 0 Good
2008 2 0 0 0 Good
2005 16 0 2 0 Good
2004 188 2 0 4 Average
2003 278 1 14 36 Average
2002 300 1 8 52 Average
2001 458 1 14 110 Below Average
2000 490 1 38 70 Below Average
1999 602 1 16 102 Avoid
1998 752 1 16 94 Avoid
1997 348 1 6 38 Below Average
1996 546 0 38 44 Below Average
1995 436 0 38 10 Below Average
1994 292 0 18 6 Average
1993 236 0 16 6 Average
1992 408 0 24 12 Below Average
1991 606 0 46 14 Avoid
1990 214 0 14 2 Average
1989 300 0 18 6 Average
1988 362 0 26 2 Below Average
1987 56 0 6 0 Good
1986 28 0 4 6 Good
1985 20 0 4 0 Good
1984 12 0 0 2 Good
1983 8 0 0 2 Good
1982 2 0 2 0 Good
1979 6 0 0 0 Good
1978 2 0 0 0 Good

Buick Regal Years to Avoid

The 2011 Buick Regal is the worst year to avoid, being the first year of the sixth generation with typical new model teething problems. The 2011-2013 models experienced issues with the 2.0L turbocharged engine, including timing chain problems and turbo failures. These years also saw complaints about the 6-speed automatic transmission's shifting behavior and reliability. The 1980s Regals with diesel engine options proved particularly troublesome with those powerplants. Early production of any generation tends to have more issues than later years.

Best Buick Regal Years

The 1982 model year represents peak Grand National era potential, with the turbocharged V6 becoming available. The 2015-2017 Regals addressed early sixth-generation issues and offer refined German-influenced driving dynamics. The Regal GS and TourX wagon variants from 2018-2020 provide enthusiast appeal with improved reliability. These later models benefit from Buick working out the platform's early problems.

Frequently Asked Questions