IllustrationSEAT BELT RETURN/RETRACTOR FAILED, UNIT JAMMED.
1992 Buick Regal
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Regal years
Owner complaints for the 1992 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: 6 of 144 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 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports5 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
144 reportsIN WARM WEATHER AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE SMOKE COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED BY GREASE THAT MELTS FROM THE UPPER BEARING WHICH RUNS INTO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE TURN SIGNALS, CAUSING SHORT CIRCUIT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THEN VEHICLE WAS PLACED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN REVERSE. CONSUMER THEN PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN DRIVE; FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE, HIT A FENCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DE…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THEN VEHICLE WAS PLACED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN REVERSE. CONSUMER THEN PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN DRIVE; FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE, HIT A FENCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AT THIS TIME. *AK
SMOKE IS COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER SAID THAT GREASE IS IN THE COLUMN SHAFT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE. DEALER HAS CLEANED THE GREASE OUT FROM THE COLUMN , AND THE SMOKE IS STILL COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMITTENTLY. *AK *SLC
VEHICLE'S REAR ABS BRAKING SYSTEM IS ONLY 10% EFFECTIVE FOR STOPPING.THE ABS SYSTEM DESIGN WAS CHANGED FOR THE FOLLOWING YEARS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL CLICKS AND FROM TIME TO TIME WILL LOCK UP. *AK
DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORTS, THE SIGNAL LIGHTS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL PARTS FAILED.
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK
OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND TRYING TO USE BRAKES THEY FAILED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. MASTER CYLINDER WAS ALSO REPLACED. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR BROKEN. *AK
Official recalls
295V152000 · Exterior Lighting
Aug 8, 1995
INCORRECT CLEAR FRONT SIDE MARKER BULBS WERE INSTALLED RATHER THAN AMBER BULBS. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: DURING ILLUMINATION, THE BULBS WILL SHOW CLEAR RATHER THAN AMBER AND COULD MOMENTARILY CONFUSE OTHER DRIVERS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLEAR BULBS WITH THE CORRECT AMBER BULBS.
91V214000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Dec 6, 1991
THE REVERSE SERVO APPLY PIN MAY BIND IN THE CASE WHICH COULD CAUSE REVERSE BAND DISTRESS (LOSS OR SLIPPING OF REVERSE), REVERSE BAND DRAG IN DRIVE RANGE (POOR PERFORMANCE -- POOR POWER), OR THE TRANSMISSION TO REMAIN IN REVERSE WHILE THE SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL GEAR POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN REVERSE WHILE THE SHIFTINDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL, THE VEHICLE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE REARWARD AND RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE WHERE REQUIRED.
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
2PE94063 · 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