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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

279 reports
82,000 miles · Nov 2, 2018
Engine

PISTON RING FAILURE CAUSING MASSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE

NHTSA ODI #11145049

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2018
Power Train

I WAS SITTING IN MY BROTHERS YARD WITH MY CAR CRUNK UP AND WHEN I BEGAN TO PUT IT IN REVERSE IT STARTED MAKING A STRANGE NOISE. SO WHEN I PUT IT BACK IN PARK THE NOISE STOPPED. SO I PUT THE CAR BACK IN REVERSE SO I COULD BACK OUT HIS DRIVEWAY, BUT THIS TIME THE CAR WOUND NOT MOVE. SO I PUT IT IN DRIVE TO SEE WOULD IT GO FORWARD …

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I WAS SITTING IN MY BROTHERS YARD WITH MY CAR CRUNK UP AND WHEN I BEGAN TO PUT IT IN REVERSE IT STARTED MAKING A STRANGE NOISE. SO WHEN I PUT IT BACK IN PARK THE NOISE STOPPED. SO I PUT THE CAR BACK IN REVERSE SO I COULD BACK OUT HIS DRIVEWAY, BUT THIS TIME THE CAR WOUND NOT MOVE. SO I PUT IT IN DRIVE TO SEE WOULD IT GO FORWARD AND IT DID FOR MAYBE A HUNDRED FEET BUT IT WOULD NOT SWITCH OUT OF SECOND GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #11143996

69,000 miles · Oct 29, 2018
EngineSteering

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. CODE P0011 PRESENT. INDICATING OVER-ADVANCED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. WHILE PERFORMING A U-TURN, THE VEHICLE DIED/LOST ENGINE POWER AND STEERING LOCKED IN PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS SPREAD ACROSS THREE LANES, AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MY U-TURN, WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING. LUC…

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. CODE P0011 PRESENT. INDICATING OVER-ADVANCED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. WHILE PERFORMING A U-TURN, THE VEHICLE DIED/LOST ENGINE POWER AND STEERING LOCKED IN PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS SPREAD ACROSS THREE LANES, AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MY U-TURN, WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR BACK UP AND REGAIN CONTROL JUST AS TRAFFIC NEARED MY POSITION. ALMOST DEADLY SITUATION. ALSO NOTICING ENGINE HESITATION AS WELL AS SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IDLING.

NHTSA ODI #11143590

180,000 miles · Oct 18, 2018
Unknown Or Other

ON 10/17/2018, I WAS LEAVING OUT OF MY WORKPLACE PARKING LOT, WHILE PULLING ON TO THE ROADWAY. MY SUNROOF EXPLODED SENDING GLASS ALL OVER MYSELF AND INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE AND I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO SEE A GAPING HOLE IN MY SUNROOF.

NHTSA ODI #11141334

84,000 miles · Oct 1, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TAMARA RECALL; MY BUICK REGEAL IS 2011 WITH 84000 MILEAGE. A FRUSTRATING ROTTING/GRANDING NOISE COMES OUT FROM THE ENGINE FROM THE CAR IGNITION TURN ON TO ACCELERATING FR0-25MPH, BEFORE THE ANNOYING NOISE STOP. ENGINE ALSO MISFIRE AND CAR DIES WHEN IT LIKES; STABILITY CONTROL INDICATE ON THE SCREEN. WHEN CHECK ONLINE, L…

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TAMARA RECALL; MY BUICK REGEAL IS 2011 WITH 84000 MILEAGE. A FRUSTRATING ROTTING/GRANDING NOISE COMES OUT FROM THE ENGINE FROM THE CAR IGNITION TURN ON TO ACCELERATING FR0-25MPH, BEFORE THE ANNOYING NOISE STOP. ENGINE ALSO MISFIRE AND CAR DIES WHEN IT LIKES; STABILITY CONTROL INDICATE ON THE SCREEN. WHEN CHECK ONLINE, LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND HOW DIFFICULT FOR IT TO BE RESOLVE AS MANY THINGS BROCKEN CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #11132660

63,800 miles · Sep 20, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

BRAKE PEDAL STAY DOWN AND DOES NOT RELEASE CAUSING HEATING AND REDUCE ACCELERATION. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE DURING FAST MOVING AND CAN'T PREDICT THE CAR MOVEMENT. BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY NOT DESIGN TO WORK IN A WIDE RANGE OF TEMPERATURES. IT IS SERIOUS DANGER IN THE HIGHWAY DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11130387

47,500 miles · Sep 12, 2018
Power Train

VEHICLE HAD 45000 MILE'S WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN OCT 2017 AND NOW HAS 47500 MILES. CAR HAD NO PROBLEMS AND DROVE AND LOOKS LIKE NEW. LAST WEEK (09/07/18) IT STARTED BUCKING GOING DOWN ROAD AT @30MPH, THEN WOULD JUMP INTO GEARS AT STOP. THEN DID NOT WANT TO GO INTO REVERSE. WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT IN FORWARD GEARS. MANUAL WOULD NOT WORK …

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VEHICLE HAD 45000 MILE'S WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN OCT 2017 AND NOW HAS 47500 MILES. CAR HAD NO PROBLEMS AND DROVE AND LOOKS LIKE NEW. LAST WEEK (09/07/18) IT STARTED BUCKING GOING DOWN ROAD AT @30MPH, THEN WOULD JUMP INTO GEARS AT STOP. THEN DID NOT WANT TO GO INTO REVERSE. WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT IN FORWARD GEARS. MANUAL WOULD NOT WORK EITHER. WE WERE STUCK IN TRAFFIC AT BUSY INTERSECTION...ALL IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES TIME. LIMPED TO AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS AND LEFT IT...DIAGNOSIS WAS NEEDED TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION..COST;3400.00 HAVE READ THIS HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER 2011 MODELS. SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL..45000 MILES IS STILL LIKE NEW AND THIS SHOULD HAVE AND COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED..I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WAS JUST DRIVING NORMAL IN CITY WHEN HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI #11129168

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2018
Service Brakes

A LOT OF PRESSURE IS NEEDED IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE BRAKE LIGHT ONLY ILLUMINATES WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP BUT NOT WHEN GRADUALLY ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. I HAVE HAD MY CAR AT A REPAIR SHOP AND DURING THE DISCUSSION I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO ADD MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES FOR THE BRAKE LIGH…

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A LOT OF PRESSURE IS NEEDED IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE BRAKE LIGHT ONLY ILLUMINATES WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP BUT NOT WHEN GRADUALLY ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. I HAVE HAD MY CAR AT A REPAIR SHOP AND DURING THE DISCUSSION I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO ADD MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE CARS BEHIND ME ARE NOT ALLOWED ENOUGH TIME TO STOP IN AN APPROPRIATE TIME. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THIS ISSUE ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT MORE PRESSURE IS NEEDED ON THE BRAKES FOR THE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THIS IS NOT GOOD AND MAKES ME FEAR FOR MY SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI #11128216

63,000 miles · Aug 20, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

AFTER THE CAR SITTING IN THE SUN, DRIVING IN SLOW TRAFFIC THE CAR IS RUNNING ROUGH, THE GAS MILLAGE DROPPED, THE BRAKE MAKING NOISE WHEN YOU STOP. WHEN ACCELERATE THERE IS GRINDING NOISE. I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND TURN OFF THE CAR FOR FIVE MINUTES, I START THE CAR AND IT RUN AS NORMAL. THIS WAS HAPPENING BEFORE FOR 2 MONTH. TAKE …

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AFTER THE CAR SITTING IN THE SUN, DRIVING IN SLOW TRAFFIC THE CAR IS RUNNING ROUGH, THE GAS MILLAGE DROPPED, THE BRAKE MAKING NOISE WHEN YOU STOP. WHEN ACCELERATE THERE IS GRINDING NOISE. I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND TURN OFF THE CAR FOR FIVE MINUTES, I START THE CAR AND IT RUN AS NORMAL. THIS WAS HAPPENING BEFORE FOR 2 MONTH. TAKE IT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES, THEY ADVISE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. LAST TIME THEY CLEAN THE BEARINGS AND IT DID NOT HELP. FINALLY THEY ADVISE TO REPLACE THE MODULAR FOR THE BRAKE AND THE ACCELERATOR AND IT REQUIRED REMOVE THE DASH BOARD AND LOT OF LABOR TIME. THEY ARE NOT SURE 100% IT WILL WORK AS IT IS NOT SHOWN ON THE SCAN

NHTSA ODI #11120982

70,000 miles · Aug 17, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineSteeringInjury

THE THROTTLE BODY HAS A DEFECT WHICH SHUTS OFF ALL POWER TO VEHICLE WITH NO NOTICE. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION LOCK UP YOU LOSE ALL STEERING CONTROL AND NO BRAKES. ALSO NO LIGHTS SO WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT IT IS PITCH BLACK. GM DOES KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT THE LOSS OF LIFE LIKE WHAT HAPPEND W…

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THE THROTTLE BODY HAS A DEFECT WHICH SHUTS OFF ALL POWER TO VEHICLE WITH NO NOTICE. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION LOCK UP YOU LOSE ALL STEERING CONTROL AND NO BRAKES. ALSO NO LIGHTS SO WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT IT IS PITCH BLACK. GM DOES KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT THE LOSS OF LIFE LIKE WHAT HAPPEND WITH THE CHEVY CRUZE ALL MEMBERS OF GM ARE TOLD TO HANG UP THE PHONE. IT HAS HAPPEND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE DEALERSHIP SENT ME BACK ON THE ROAD KNOWING THE PROBLEM. DEALER REP SAID IF I WAS A BETTER CUSTOMER THAY MAY HAVE DONE MORE FOR ME.

NHTSA ODI #11120703

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.