Buick Regal problems, recalls & best years
The deets on every Regal from 1990 to 2020: 2,974 owner complaints and 101 recalls across 29 model years.
The model years with the most owner complaints are 1998 (302), 2011 (280), 1999 (246). Best fuel economy: 26 mpg combined (2020).
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Problem areas across all years
Year by year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Best mpg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8 | 77 | 20 | |
| 1991 | 6 | 200 | 20 | |
| 1992 | 2 | 144 | 20 | |
| 1993 | 2 | 85 | 20 | |
| 1994 | 3 | 110 | 20 | |
| 1995 | 8 | 173 | 20 | |
| 1996 | 3 | 204 | 21 | |
| 1997 | 7 | 136 | 21 | |
| 1998 | 6 | 302 | 21 | |
| 1999 | 6 | 246 | 21 | |
| 2000 | 8 | 184 | 21 | |
| 2001 | 6 | 187 | 21 | |
| 2002 | 3 | 117 | 20 | |
| 2003 | 3 | 101 | 20 | |
| 2004 | 2 | 66 | 21 | |
| 2005 | 0 | 4 | – | |
| 2008 | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2009 | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2010 | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2011 | 4 | 280 | 24 | |
| 2012 | 7 | 92 | 24 | |
| 2013 | 6 | 91 | 24 | |
| 2014 | 2 | 38 | 24 | |
| 2015 | 0 | 33 | 24 | |
| 2016 | 1 | 41 | 24 | |
| 2017 | 0 | 20 | 24 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 19 | 26 | |
| 2019 | 3 | 19 | 26 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 2 | 26 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the Buick Regal.
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FAQ
What is the worst year for the Buick Regal?
The model years with the most owner complaints are 1998 (302), 2011 (280), 1999 (246).
How many recalls has the Buick Regal had?
Across 1990–2020, NHTSA lists 101 vehicle recall campaigns by model year (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year).