Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 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 ↗Loss of Power Brake Assist/FMVSS 135
- Summary
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Buick Regal vehicles. In the event of a vacuum-power brake assist failure, a software error in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may result in a loss of power brake assist. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135, "Light vehicle brake systems."
- Consequence
- A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the EBCM software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters advising owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 19, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Buick's customer service at 1-800-521-7300.
Insufficient Coating on Rear Brake Caliper Pistons
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
- Consequence
- A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
Rear Outboard Seat Belts may not Restrain Properly
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Buick Regal vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the rear seat belts may have been improperly routed around the bolster bracket on the rear outboard seats, which can cause inadequate restraint of the passengers.
- Consequence
- If the seat belt fails to adequately restrain the passengers in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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.
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 (19)
19 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 19 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 8 | 42.1% |
| Engine | 5 | 26.3% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 21.1% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 15.8% |
| Air bags | 2 | 10.5% |
| Power train | 2 | 10.5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 10.5% |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 10.5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 5.3% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 5.3% |
How 2018 compares with other Regal years
Best and worst Regal years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 280 | 4 |
| 2012 | 92 | 7 |
| 2013 | 91 | 6 |
| 2014 | 38 | 2 |
| 2015 | 33 | 0 |
| 2016 | 41 | 1 |
| 2017 | 20 | 0 |
| 2018 | 19 | 3 |
| 2019 | 19 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 | 2 |
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 26 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,150
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 344 g/mi
- EPA class
- Large Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 26 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 · 9-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 32 / 26 | $3,150 | 344 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 29 / 24 | $3,400 | 366 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 29 / 24 | $3,400 | 366 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 9-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 27 / 22 | $3,050 | 403 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2018 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
2018 Buick Regal FAQ
How many recalls does the 2018 Buick Regal have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 22V465000 (brake), 18V576000 (brake), 18V230000 (seat belt). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2018 Buick Regal problems?
Owners filed 19 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (8), Engine (5), Unknown or other (4) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2018 Buick Regal get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 9-speed automatic version at 22 city, 32 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2018 Regal compare with other years?
Among the 2011–2020 Buick Regal model years at least five years old, the 2020 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 2011 the most (280). The 2018 drew 19. 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.