Buick Regal

Where it stands out against its peers

• Exterior lighting: more complaints than 98% of 2012 cars — 36% of its 92 complaints, where an ordinary 2012 car has 3%.
• Suspension: more complaints than 94% of 2012 cars — 12% of its 92 complaints, where an ordinary 2012 car has 4%.
• Electronic stability control (esc): more complaints than 92% of 2012 cars — 8% of its 92 complaints, where an ordinary 2012 car has 3%.
• Seats: more complaints than 94% of 2012 cars — 7% of its 92 complaints, where an ordinary 2012 car has 2%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 25 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• ENGINE — 9 owners reported this
• SUSPENSION — 8 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• SERVICE BRAKES — 5 owners reported this
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 3 owners reported this
• SEATS — 3 owners reported this, 1 involving a fire
• STRUCTURE — 3 owners reported this
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 2 owners reported this
• ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) — 2 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 2 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 2 owners reported this

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

56% of 2020 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 12V093000

  INADEQUATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

  GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GM AT 1-800-521-7300.

• 12V484000

  If the driver is not aware that a turn signal is not functioning properly, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle. If half of a front turn signal is not illuminating, other driver's may not be aware that the affected vehicle is turning, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

  GM will notify owners, dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12212.

• 13V173000

  If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and possibly a fire in the trunk.

  GM will notify owners and dealers will test the GCM and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13136.

• 14V092000

  If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

  General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Buick owners at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC owners at 1-800-462-8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.

• 14V409000

  If any of the components separate, the vehicle may have a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

  GM began to notify owners on June 27, 2014, and dealers will inspect the fasteners for correct torque, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac) or 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14378.

• 14V447000

  If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

• 16V108000

  A loss of power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric belt drive rack and pinion steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 21510.

• 18V230000

  If the seat belt fails to adequately restrain the passengers in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear outboard seat belts, correcting the routing of the seat belts as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 14, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 18117.

7 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  Engineering analysis, opened September 2021, still open.

• Sands Chevrolet/Hybrid System Fire/Stall

  Audit query, opened May 2014, closed May 2016.

• Generator Control Module Fires

  Recall query, opened July 2013, closed July 2014.

• Engine compartment fire

  Engineering analysis, opened June 2007, closed May 2008.

• Power rack and pinion steering failure

  Engineering analysis, opened September 2003, closed December 2003.

• Power rack and pinion steering failure

  Recall query, opened January 2003, closed September 2003.

• Engine compartment fires

  Engineering analysis, opened October 2002, closed March 2004.

• Engine compartment fires

  Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2002, closed October 2002.

• Inadvertent air bag deployment

  Engineering analysis, opened August 1999, closed December 2001.

• Windshield wiper

  Engineering analysis, opened August 1999, closed January 2000.

• Windshield wiper

  Preliminary evaluation, opened April 1999, closed August 1999.

• Inappropriate air bag deployment

  Engineering analysis, opened September 1996, closed February 1998.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Buick filed 583 bulletins about the 2020 Regal.

• Equipment: 150
• Electrical system: 90
• Engine and engine cooling: 88
• Power train: 40
• Engine: 30
• Wheels: 21
• Equipment adaptive/mobility: 19
• Structure: 13
• Tires: 9
• Visibility: 9
• Other: 114

• PI to help diagnose A/C concern · July 2026
• This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available. · April 2026
• This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect. · March 2026
• This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance. · March 2026
• This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC'ss · March 2026
• This PI advised dealer technicians of possible causes of diesel fuel contamination in gasoline powered vehicles and advises of warranty direction. · January 2026
• This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC's · January 2026
• This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance. · January 2026

575 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.