Buick

Regal

Midsize Cars · model years 1990 to 2020

Includes Regal and Regal AWD as listed by the EPA.

See all 71 Regal trims All Buick cars

The verdict

Best year: 2017. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 23; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3.

Worst year: 2011. complaints: 279, about 12.1x this model's typical 23; recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Buick Regal
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1990	2Gas	19.5	no data	$3,200	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1990
1991	2Gas	20	no data	$3,100	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1991
1992	3Gas	20	no data	$3,100	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1992
1993	3Gas	20	no data	$3,100	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1993
1994	2Gas	20	no data	$3,100	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1994
1995	2Gas	20	no data	$3,100	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1995
1996	2Gas	21	no data	$2,950	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1996
1998	2Gas	20	no data	$3,125	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1998
1999	2Gas	20	no data	$3,500	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1999
2000	2Gas	20	no data	$3,500	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2000
2001	2Gas	20.5	no data	$3,400	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2001
2002	2Gas	19.5	no data	$3,575	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2002
2003	2Gas	19.5	no data	$3,575	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2003
2004	2Gas	20.5	no data	$3,400	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2004
2011	3Gas	23	220	$2,700	4	279	0	1,268	ENGINE 25%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, POWER TRAIN 9%
complaints: 279, about 12.1x this model's typical 23 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 Score: 16 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.7 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	7Gas	22	220	$2,850	7	91	2	1,414	EXTERIOR LIGHTING 24%, ENGINE 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 91, about 1.7x this model's typical 55 recalls: 7, about 2.3x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 Score: 20 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.0 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	7Gas	22	220	$2,850	6	91	2	1,521	EXTERIOR LIGHTING 27%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 26%, ENGINE 7%
complaints: 91, about 1.7x this model's typical 55 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 Score: 26 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.1 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	4Gas	23.5	260	$2,650	2	37	0	1,422	ENGINE 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 37, above this model's typical 31 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 66 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.9 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	4Gas	23.5	260	$2,650	0	0	0	1,245	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 31 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	4Gas	23.5	260	$2,650	1	41	0	1,001	STEERING 16%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 10%
complaints: 41, above this model's typical 31 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 66 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	3Gas	23	260	$3,200	0	0	0	844	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 23 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	3Gas	24	260	$2,950	3	19	1 (1 open)	721	SERVICE BRAKES 21%, ENGINE 15%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 19, below this model's typical 23 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 61 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	3Gas	24	260	$2,950	3	18	0	511	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21%, POWER TRAIN 21%, ENGINE 10%
complaints: 18, below this model's typical 23 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 Score: 73 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	3Gas	24	285	$2,950	2	2	0	427	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 50%, TIRES 50%
complaints: 2, below this model's typical 23 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1990: 19.5 to 2020: 24

Owner complaints2011: 279 to 2020: 2

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Buick Regal to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.