IllustrationCONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH, AND WHEN HE WENT TO APPLY BRAKES THEY DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. IT HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
1987 Buick Regal
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1987 Buick Regal do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 29.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Regal years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 25 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
25 reportsIN CHECKING YOUR DATA BASE THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 100 FAILURES, BUT NO RECORD OF AN INVESTIGATION. THE POWER MASTER SYSTEM WAS USED ONLY ON LIMITED MODELS SO THE INCIDENCE OF FAILURE IS VERY HIGH. THIS IS A FAILURE THAT LEAVES THE DRIVER WITH LITTLE OR NO BREAKING ABILITY. I AM DISAPOINTED THAT NHTSA HAS REFUSED TO LOOK INTO T…
Read full complaint
IN CHECKING YOUR DATA BASE THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 100 FAILURES, BUT NO RECORD OF AN INVESTIGATION. THE POWER MASTER SYSTEM WAS USED ONLY ON LIMITED MODELS SO THE INCIDENCE OF FAILURE IS VERY HIGH. THIS IS A FAILURE THAT LEAVES THE DRIVER WITH LITTLE OR NO BREAKING ABILITY. I AM DISAPOINTED THAT NHTSA HAS REFUSED TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS.
IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, PEDAL DOES NOT MOVE AND MORE STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED. THIS HAPPENS ON ANY TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE AT ANY SPEED. A /MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND/OR WILL HESITATE ON THE FREEWAY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO MECHANIC, ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS UNCORRECTED. *AK *ML
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELT BUCKLE. SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
A FUSE BLOWS UNEXPECTEDLY, WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE HAS NO BREAKING POWER.
FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER/LAP BELT LOCKS UP, TRAPPING OCCUPANT INSIDE VEHICLE, RELEASE BUTTON JAMS; DEALER LUBRICATED BUCKLE, REPLACED WITH REAR BELT, STILL HAS PROBLEM. *AK
ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC.
POWER BRAKES REPLACED.
THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN PASSENGER IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Official recalls
289V102000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Jun 16, 1989
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
87V168000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
Oct 26, 1987
MANUAL VALVE LINK IN THE TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VALVE LINK COULD SEPARATE RESULTING IN A GEARSELECTION DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE DRIVER SELECTS. ALSO, CAR COULD BE STARTEDWITH TRANSMISSION IN GEAR ALLOWING VEHICLE TO MOVE IN AN UNANTICIPATEDDIRECTION.
Remedy: REPLACE THE MANUAL VALVE DETENT LEVER LINK.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
6PE94048 · SUB-FRAME Absorber Failure
Opened Jun 21, 1994 · Closed Dec 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
EA92024 · Sticking Throttle
Opened Jun 26, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE91072 · Steering Wheel Separation
Opened May 1, 1991 · Closed Jul 8, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE90014 · Cruise Control Failure
Opened Oct 31, 1989 · Closed Feb 28, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available
PE89145 · Parking Brake Cable
Opened Jul 21, 1989 · Closed Sep 22, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake
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C89001 · Throttle NON-RETURN
Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jan 16, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available