Buick Regal Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Buick Regal model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2008 drew the fewest (1) and the 2011 the most (280).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 2009 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Engine | — | — |
| 2010 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Engine | — | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 22–26 |
| 2005 | 4 | 0 | Suspension | — | — |
| 2018 | 19 | 3 | Service brakes | — | 22–26 |
| 2019 | 19 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 22–26 |
| 2017 | 20 | 0 | Service brakes | 5★ | 22–24 |
| 2015 | 33 | 0 | Engine | 5★ | 22–28 |
| 2014 | 38 | 2 | Engine | 5★ | 22–28 |
| 2016 | 41 | 1 | Steering | 5★ | 22–28 |
| 2004 | 66 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 20–21 |
| 2013 | 91 | 6 | Exterior lighting | 5★ | 22–29 |
| 2012 | 92 | 7 | Exterior lighting | 5★ | 22–28 |
| 2003 | 101 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 19–20 |
| 2002 | 117 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 19–20 |
| 2000 | 184 | 8 | Electrical system | — | 19–21 |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
187 | 6 | Engine | — | 20–21 |
| 1999 Among the most complaints |
246 | 6 | Engine | — | 19–21 |
| 2011 Among the most complaints |
280 | 4 | Engine | — | 21–24 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Buick Regal years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2011 Buick Regal: 280 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 108 (39%); Electrical system 75 (27%); Power train 39 (14%).
Reports mention 7 crashes, 7 fires, 7 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 66,900 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
1999 Buick Regal: 246 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 49 (20%); Engine and engine cooling 43 (17%); Electrical system 42 (17%).
Reports mention 8 crashes, 44 fires, 7 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 89,000 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
2001 Buick Regal: 187 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 52 (28%); Engine and engine cooling 34 (18%); Electrical system 32 (17%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 48 fires, 7 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 92,000 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
The Buick Regal years with the fewest complaints
2010 Buick Regal: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 1 (100%); Vehicle speed control 1 (100%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Buick Regal owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 22,000 |
| 2017 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 76,000 |
| 2016 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27,000 |
| 2015 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 34,500 |
| 2014 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50,727 |
| 2013 | 91 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 58,000 |
| 2012 | 92 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 59,527 |
| 2011 | 280 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 66,900 |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 66 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 90,963 |
| 2003 | 101 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 97,987 |
| 2002 | 117 | 2 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 85,000 |
| 2001 | 187 | 5 | 48 | 7 | 0 | 92,000 |
| 2000 | 184 | 12 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 97,000 |
| 1999 | 246 | 8 | 44 | 7 | 1 | 89,000 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Buick Regal recalls
- SUSPENSION:SINGLE AXLE:REAR:CONTROL ARM (1981 model year; 5,821,160 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 1981; 81V025000)
- EQUIPMENT:SPEED CONTROL (1984–1987 model years; 1,755,897 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 1989; 89V102000)
- ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE (1997–2003 model years; 1,497,516 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2009; 09V116000)
- Engine Oil Dripping On Manifold may Cause Fire (1997–2004 model years; 1,003,556 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2015; 15V701000)
- GM/STEERING GEAR BEARINGS (1996–1998 model years; 750,283 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2003; 03V527000)
All 80 Buick Regal recall campaigns · Buick Regal problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Buick Regal years FAQ
Which Buick Regal year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2008 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Buick Regal years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2011, 1999 and 2001 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Buick Regal problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (384 of 1,543 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Buick Regal have?
NHTSA lists 80 recall campaigns covering the Buick Regal. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Buick Regal recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
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.