What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2012 Buick Regal

Typical pattern

5.8% of complaints about the 2012 Buick Regal came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2012 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is exterior lighting (34 complaints), typically at 8.6 yr or about 66,000 miles.

Complaints
138
Median age at failure
7.7 yr
Median mileage
60,000 n=100
Crash / fire / tow
7.2% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Exterior lighting
34 reports · 66,000 mi
8.6 yr
2.9%
Engine
21 reports · 73,000 mi
7.3 yr
4.8%
Electrical system
18 reports · 66,000 mi
7.6 yr
5.6%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

26V113000 2026-02-26
Suspension:rear

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012–2013 Buick Regal Turbo and GS trim-level vehicles that were sold or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear suspension toe links may have received improper corrosion protection, which can result in rear toe link fracture.

Rear toe link fracture can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

21V00F000 2021-12-22
Suspension:rear

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and brea

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

20V764000 2020-12-21
Suspension:rear

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

14V447000 2014-07-23
Seats:front assembly:power adjust

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.

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.

13V173000 2013-05-06
Electrical system

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Regal, and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco vehicles equipped with eAssist. These vehicles may have a condition in which the Generator Control Module (GCM) may not function properly. This could cause a gradual loss of battery charge and the illumination of the malfunction indicator light.

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.

12V484000 2012-10-04
Exterior lighting:turn signal

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."

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.

12V093000 2012-03-07
Exterior lighting

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 BUICK REGAL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2011, THROUGH FEBRUARY 22, 2012 FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108 “LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.” DUE TO A SOFTWARE ERROR, THE PARKING LAMPS DO NOT ACTIVATE WHEN EITHER THE PARKING LAMPS OR HEADLAMPS ARE TURNED ON.

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

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 66,000 mi 2.3 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A VOLTAGE DRAINAGE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Electrical system 58,000 mi 5.1 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING TURNED ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE RADIO SPONTANEOUSLY TURNED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Electrical system 96,000 mi 6.0 yr in service
MY BATTERY SEEMS TO BE LOSING CHARGE. THEN IT WILL COMPLETELY DIE. WHEN I CHARGE IT ON A BATTERY CHARGER FOR A WHILE IT WOULD HOLD THE CHARGE FOR A A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN DIE AGAIN. I HAD THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER CHECKED AND MACHANIC STATED THAT THEY ARE ALL WORKING GOOD. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THE DRIVERSIDE POWER CONTROL BUTTONS WORK ON AND OFF. SOME DAYS THEY WORK AND OTHERS THEY DONT, ALMOST LIKE A SHORT. THIS ALSO HAPPENS RANDOMLY.
Engine 40,000 mi 2.1 yr in service
VEHICLE TURNS OFF WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. VEHICLE ALSO MAKES WEIRD SPUTTERING NOISE WHEN STARTED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2011 BUT DEALERS CAN NEVER REPLICATE THE PROBLEMS! *TR

Other Regal model years

2013201220112004200320022001200019991998

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