Recalls
4campaigns
2 electrical · 1 seat · 1 lighting
Source: NHTSA
Complaints
280filed
Owner reports, 2005–2016 shown
Source: NHTSA ODI
Fuel economy
24mpg combined
$2,721/yr at this week's prices
Source: EPA · EIA
Specs
2 L 4-cyl· 6-speed manual
3 engine and transmission configurations
Source: NHTSA vPIC
Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2011 Buick Regal. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Listed for 2011 Buick Regal. Not checked against your VIN.
Front Seat Wiring Harness May Cause Fire
Electrical system · wiring
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured November 3, 2009, to March 25, 2011, equipped with 8-way power adjustable front seats. The power seat wiring harness may contact the seat frame, causing the wires to chafe.
- Consequence
- Chafed harness wires may cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the wiring harness, and repair any chafed wires as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 30710.
69.2% repairedof 42,984 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 16V517000
Listed for 2011 Buick Regal. Not checked against your VIN.
Key May Be Removed When Not In Park/FMVSS 114
Electrical system · ignition
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
- Consequence
- If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
97.9% repairedof 8,367 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 16V502000
Listed for 2011 Buick Regal. Not checked against your VIN.
Seat Height Adjuster Bolt may Fall out
Seats · front assembly · power adjust
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
75.5% repairedof 414,333 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 14V447000
Listed for 2011 Buick Regal. Not checked against your VIN.
Front Turn Signal Bulbs/FMVSS 108
Exterior lighting · turn signal
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with two turn signal bulbs in each front turn signal. If one of the two front turn signal bulbs burn out in either front turn signal lamp, there is no indication to the driver. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
86.7% repairedof 120,426 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 12V484000
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (280)
280 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
7involved a crash
7involved a fire
7injuries reported
0deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 280 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 108 | 38.6% |
| Electrical system | 75 | 26.8% |
| Power train | 39 | 13.9% |
| Exterior lighting | 38 | 13.6% |
| Service brakes | 32 | 11.4% |
| Seats | 29 | 10.4% |
| Electronic stability control | 19 | 6.8% |
| Steering | 17 | 6.1% |
| Unknown or other | 16 | 5.7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 | 5% |
How 2011 compares with other Regal years
Best and worst Regal years →20054
20081
20091
20101
2011280
201292
201391
201438
201533
201641
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 280 | 4 |
| 2012 | 92 | 7 |
| 2013 | 91 | 6 |
| 2014 | 38 | 2 |
| 2015 | 33 | 0 |
| 2016 | 41 | 1 |
This year (2011)Other yearsStill collecting reports
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 24 mpg combined
24
mpg combined
20
city
31
highway
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,800
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 370 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
$2,721per year
$227per month
625gallons a year
Miles ÷ 24 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 31 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 30 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 28 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2011 Regal for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2011 Buick Regal FAQ
How many recalls does the 2011 Buick Regal have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 16V517000 (electrical), 16V502000 (electrical), 14V447000 (seat), 12V484000 (lighting). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2011 Buick Regal problems?
Owners filed 280 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (108), Electrical system (75), Power train (39) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2011 Buick Regal get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual version at 20 city, 31 highway and 24 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2011 Regal compare with other years?
Among the 2005–2016 Buick Regal model years at least five years old, the 2008 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2011 the most (280). The 2011 drew 280. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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