IllustrationCONSUMER WAS DENIED RECALL REPAIR 00V-189 DUE TO THE MISSING UPPER BUSHINGS AND UNACCEPTABLE LOWER BUSHINGS, DEALER REFUSED REPAIR UNTIL THE BUSHINGS WERE REPAIRED. NLM
1989 Buick Regal
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Regal years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Buick Regal are substantially higher than 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: 1 of 106 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 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
106 reportsWHILE DRIVING TO WORK HEARD A LOUD NOISE. PULLED INTO A LOCAL STORE AND STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO MOVE. LOOKED UP UNDER THE FRAME, AND SAW THAT FRAME SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL DUE TO THE CRADLE BOLTS PULLING THROUGH THE RUSTED OUT FRAME. *AK
THE SPEEDOMETER IS LED DISPLAY WHICH FOR THE MOST PART DOESN'T WORK, HOWEVER, WHEN THE TEMP. DROPS IT COMES ON FOR A BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME.
WHILE DRIVING CAR CUTS OFF. *AK
WHILE DRIVING CAR CUTS OFF. *AK
THE FRONT CRADLE RETAINER WASHER (BOLTS) HAD RUSTED OUT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THIS CAUSED IT TO ROCK. DRIVER'S SIDE BOLTS HAD RUSTED, BUT HAVE NOT BROKEN THROUGH. YET, THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DROP. WAS CHANGING THE OIL & NOTICED THE CRADLE BOLTS. *AK
THE CONSUMER STATE'S WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING ROUGH DUE TO THE ECM VALVE, BATTERY FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO NOT START. CONSUMER HAS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO PROGRAM THE VEHICLE. MJS
THE FRONT CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE MOUNT ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO DROP AND SEPERATE THE STEERING LINKAGE. THIS MEANT TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS HAD BEEN REPLACED ON A RECALL BY THE LOCAL DEALER JUST 7 MONTHS BEFORE WITH NO MENTION OF THE FRONT BOLTS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED.
CAR WILL RANDOMLY STALL ON ME WHILE DRIVING. FREQUENTLY WILL START UP AGAIN. MOSTLY, I HAVE IT TOWED. GARAGE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. WHEN THERE IT STARTS AGAIN. "IF WE CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, WE CAN'T FIX IT." ALSO, STOP LIGHTS DON'T WORK. AGAIN A PROBLEM IN REPAIR. THE ENGINE STOPPING ON ME IS A VERY GREAT CONCERN TO ME. DANGEROUS…
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CAR WILL RANDOMLY STALL ON ME WHILE DRIVING. FREQUENTLY WILL START UP AGAIN. MOSTLY, I HAVE IT TOWED. GARAGE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. WHEN THERE IT STARTS AGAIN. "IF WE CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, WE CAN'T FIX IT." ALSO, STOP LIGHTS DON'T WORK. AGAIN A PROBLEM IN REPAIR. THE ENGINE STOPPING ON ME IS A VERY GREAT CONCERN TO ME. DANGEROUS. *AK
I WENT TO WEB SITE AND FOUND A LIST OF RECALLS,I WOULD LIKE MY CAR TO BE CHECK OUT FOR THESE DEFECTS AS I DON'T KNOW IF THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD OR WHERE.AND THE NOISES IT MAKES SCARES ME SOMETIMES.IF YOU COULD LET ME KNOW,AND WHERE TO TAKE IT I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.THANKS! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. INQUIRES ABOUT RECALLS.…
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I WENT TO WEB SITE AND FOUND A LIST OF RECALLS,I WOULD LIKE MY CAR TO BE CHECK OUT FOR THESE DEFECTS AS I DON'T KNOW IF THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD OR WHERE.AND THE NOISES IT MAKES SCARES ME SOMETIMES.IF YOU COULD LET ME KNOW,AND WHERE TO TAKE IT I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.THANKS! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. INQUIRES ABOUT RECALLS. *AK
Official recalls
700V189000 · Structure
Jul 11, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY. A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
97V058000 · Structure
Apr 8, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
95V115000 · Wheels
Jun 5, 1995
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
94V041000 · Wheels
Mar 28, 1995
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
90V185000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Oct 16, 1990
BRAKE STOPLAMPS MAY NOT ILLUMINATE OR, IN SOME CASES, STOPLAMPS WILL NOT STAY ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED DUE TO A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH. ALSO IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL, A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH CAN RESULT IN RESUMPTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION UPON RELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A TRAILING VEHICLE MAY NOT RECOGNIZE A BRAKING ACTIONIN TIME TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL WILL REENGAGE UPONRELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RESUME THE SET SPEED. IN EITHER CASE, IT COULDRESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: INSTALL AN IMPROVED DESIGN STOPLAMP SWITCH.
90V054000 · Seat Belts
Mar 14, 1990
FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT FASTENER MAY PULL THROUGH DOOR MOUNTED ANCHOR PLATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEAT BELT MAY NOT SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, AND IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN A PASSENGER, RESULTING IN INCREASED RISK OF GREATER INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT NUTS AND INSTALL NEW GUIDE COVER.
88V188000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Dec 6, 1988
FUEL RETURN LINES COULD FRACTURE AND ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK IN THE AREA OF THE FUEL TANK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS CONDITION COULDRESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: INSTALL NEW FUEL RETURN PIPE ASSEMBLY.
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
11RP01001 · Structure
Opened Nov 28, 2001 · Closed Jun 13, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA00011 · Engine Cradle Separation
Opened Apr 10, 2000 · Closed Jan 12, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE CRADLE FRONT BOLTS AND/OR RETAINERS MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL, POSSIBLY SEPARATING THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL
RQ99002 · Engine Cradle Separation
Opened Mar 4, 1999 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
ON APRIL 1, 1997, GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION FILED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO RECALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, REGISTERED IN 14 HIGH CORROSION STATES, TO REPLACE THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS WOULD EITHER FRACTURER OR PULL THROUGH THE RETIANERS DUE TO CORROSION.AS OF SEPTEMBER 1998, THE SIXTH QUARTER, 59.3% OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAD BEEN REPAIRED.IN ADDITION TO THE COMPLAINTS OF FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLT FAILURES IN THE ABOVE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY, ODI HAS RECEIVED SIX REPORTS OF POSSIBLE FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLT FAILURES, INCLUDING TWO CRASHES.AN RQ IS WARRANTED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF FAILURES OF THE FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
RQ97017 · Cradle Bolt Failures
Opened Oct 2, 1997 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE94063 · Corroded Rear Disk Brakes
Opened Aug 12, 1994 · Closed Dec 21, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE94048 · 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
EA91055 · W-CAR Hinge Pin Failure
Opened Dec 5, 1991 · Closed Aug 17, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE91133 · W-CAR Hinge Pin Failure
Opened Oct 1, 1991 · Closed Dec 5, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
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
PE90088 · Failure Stop Lamp Switch
Opened Jun 11, 1990 · Closed Oct 31, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
There is no summary currently available