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2011 Buick Regal

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Regal years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Buick Regal are substantially higher than the model-year median of 29.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

204 reports with mileage · 75 unknown

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.

  • Engine. Review the 108 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports7 fire reports6 injury reports

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

14 reports
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60,800 miles · May 23, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

TAKATA RECALL - MY REGAL IS 2011. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS. MY SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGH BEGAN COMING ON ALONG WITH ABS LIGHT. I ALSO EXPLAINED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AFTER FILLING THE TANK AND IT REDUCED TO 3/4 OF TANK. LAST WEEK ALL LIGHTS CAME IN ON CAR AS I WAS PARKING. TOOK THE CAR INTO TO B…

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TAKATA RECALL - MY REGAL IS 2011. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS. MY SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGH BEGAN COMING ON ALONG WITH ABS LIGHT. I ALSO EXPLAINED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AFTER FILLING THE TANK AND IT REDUCED TO 3/4 OF TANK. LAST WEEK ALL LIGHTS CAME IN ON CAR AS I WAS PARKING. TOOK THE CAR INTO TO BE SERVICED. THE DEALER COMPLETED A DIAGNOSIS ADVISING I HAD A LEAK FROM MY FUEL PUMP. NEEDED NEW FUEL PUMP, FUEL INJECTORS. FOR THE ABS PROBLEM NEEDED NEW BEARINGS AND SENSORS. I DROVE AWAY FOR SECOND OPINION. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING SLOWED FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND PRESSED GAS TO TAKE OFF THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I HAD TO TURN CAR ON AND BACK OFF TO GET TO MOVE TO THE CENTER OF THE ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR. I SAT THERE FOR A MIN. WAS ABLE CRACK AND GET TO A SAFE PLACE OFF THE MAJOR ROAD. I GOT A SECOND OPINION HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO FIRESTONE. THEY ALSO SAW A FUEL PUMP CODE AND MENTIONED THE TIMING CHAIN. I HAD CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ON MY WAY HOME ON THE INTERSTATE. I SLOWED FOR THE EXIT AND HIT THE GAS. THE CAR STALLED AGAIN. I WAS AFRAID AT THAT POINT. THE DEALER CANNOT TELL ME WHAT THE EXACT ISSUE IS WITH THE CAR. IT IS STILL THERE FOR DIAGNOSTIC NOW. THEY HAD TO ESCALATE AND STILL NO ANSWER. THEY ARE USING TRIAL AND ERROR TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WHICH IS A DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE JOKE.

NHTSA ODI #10991178

70,000 miles · Feb 29, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

I HAVE OWNED MY REGAL SINCE 2011. AS I ACCELERATE THE CAR WOULD SHUDDER AND SHAKE, THEN I WOULD GET A SERVICE STABILLI TRAC MESSAGE FOLLOWED BY A MESSAGE STATING THAT THE ENGINE POWER HAS BEEN REDUCED. AFTER I HAVE THE ISSUE IT WILL RESET ITSELF AFTER RESTARTING AND THEN WILL RUN FINE FOR A WHILE. I CALLED ON STAR ON SEVERAL OCC…

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I HAVE OWNED MY REGAL SINCE 2011. AS I ACCELERATE THE CAR WOULD SHUDDER AND SHAKE, THEN I WOULD GET A SERVICE STABILLI TRAC MESSAGE FOLLOWED BY A MESSAGE STATING THAT THE ENGINE POWER HAS BEEN REDUCED. AFTER I HAVE THE ISSUE IT WILL RESET ITSELF AFTER RESTARTING AND THEN WILL RUN FINE FOR A WHILE. I CALLED ON STAR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT HAS AN ENGINE MISFIRE OR THE STABILITY TRAC NEEDS TO BE SERVICED OR THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY IS MALFUNCTIONING. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TRIED TO FIX WITHOUT ANY LUCK. I THINK PART OF THE TROUBLE WITH FIXING IT IS THE FACT THAT THE COMPUTER RESETS ITSELF AND THEREFORE THEY CAN'T FIND A CODE. THE OTHER ISSUE WITH TRYING TO FIX IS THE FACT THAT THE CAR ONLY HAS THE ISSUE WHEN IT IS 35-40 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND BELOW. OTHER ISSUES I HAVE HAD, DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER NOT WORKING, OUTSIDE TRUNK RELEASE NOT WORKING, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT CONNECT PROPERLY AND OF COURSE THE RECALLS FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT BOLT AND EXTERIOR TURN SIGNALS. NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS FOR MYSELF IS THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. GIVEN THE FACT THAT I HAVE READ MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND MOST OF THEM NOT BEING RESOLVED, I FIND IT VERY HARD TO BRING MYSELF TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND HAVE THEM GUESS TO WHAT THE FIX MAY BE AT MY EXPENSE.

NHTSA ODI #10838989

80,000 miles · Jul 22, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY STALLED AND DIED AT RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, OR WHEN SLOWING FOR TURNING VEHICLES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT SERIOUS AND WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR 2 DAYS LATER. DIAGNOSED AS CAMSHAFT INDICATOR. CURRENT RECALL OUTSTANDING ON SOME 2011 BUICK REGALS BUT NOT ALL. HOWEVER, BASED ON …

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VEHICLE CONTINUALLY STALLED AND DIED AT RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, OR WHEN SLOWING FOR TURNING VEHICLES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT SERIOUS AND WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR 2 DAYS LATER. DIAGNOSED AS CAMSHAFT INDICATOR. CURRENT RECALL OUTSTANDING ON SOME 2011 BUICK REGALS BUT NOT ALL. HOWEVER, BASED ON RESEARCH ON BUICK SERVICE WEBSITE, IT APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND WAS DANGEROUS CONSIDERING MY VEHICLE DIED AT AN EXIT RAMP LEAVING THE INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ODI #10735711

31,928 miles · Nov 21, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

WHEN I FILLED THE BUICK REGAL WITH GAS AND AT SPEEDS 45MPH AND UP, YOU START TO SMELL GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT'S COLD OUT SO THE WINDOWS ARE UP AND ON TWO OCCASIONS, AFTER I GOT TO WORK I WAS DIZZY AND LIGHT-HEADED AND MY HEART WAS POUNDING. TWO CO-WORKERS WOULDN'T LEAVE MY SIDE UNTIL MY HEAD CLEARED. THEY THOUGHT I WAS …

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WHEN I FILLED THE BUICK REGAL WITH GAS AND AT SPEEDS 45MPH AND UP, YOU START TO SMELL GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT'S COLD OUT SO THE WINDOWS ARE UP AND ON TWO OCCASIONS, AFTER I GOT TO WORK I WAS DIZZY AND LIGHT-HEADED AND MY HEART WAS POUNDING. TWO CO-WORKERS WOULDN'T LEAVE MY SIDE UNTIL MY HEAD CLEARED. THEY THOUGHT I WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK OR SOMETHING, BUT MY HEART AND HEAD FINALLY CLEARED. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND I WORK AN HOUR AWAY AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659960

Official recalls

4

16V517000 · Electrical System:wiring; Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Jul 7, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured November 3, 2009, to March 25, 2011, equipped with 8-way power adjustable front seats. The power seat wiring harness may contact the seat frame, causing the wires to chafe.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Chafed harness wires may cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the wiring harness, and repair any chafed wires as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 30710.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured November 3, 2009, to March 25, 2011, equipped with 8-way power adjustable front seats. The power seat wiring harness may contact the seat frame, causing the wires to chafe.

Consequence: Chafed harness wires may cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the wiring harness, and repair any chafed wires as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 30710.

Electrical System:wiring

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured November 3, 2009, to March 25, 2011, equipped with 8-way power adjustable front seats. The power seat wiring harness may contact the seat frame, causing the wires to chafe.

Consequence: Chafed harness wires may cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the wiring harness, and repair any chafed wires as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 30710.

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

14V447000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Jul 23, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

12V484000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

Oct 4, 2012

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12212.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.