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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
58,161 miles · Jan 17, 2018
Engine

ENGINE NOISE AT START-UP AND IDLE; EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION

NHTSA ODI #11063334

35,943 miles · Jan 17, 2018
Engine

BROKEN PURGE VALVE

NHTSA ODI #11063332

35,564 miles · Jan 17, 2018
Engine

UNEXPLAINED ENGINE STALLING; ROUGH IDLE AND NOISE ON START. VEHICLE SPUTTERS

NHTSA ODI #11063331

102,000 miles · Jan 11, 2018
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

BOUGHT MY CAR FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER. THE CAR WAS A FUN TOY FOR ME TO DRIVE. MY 2011 REGAL APPARENTLY HAD HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE SHOP SAYS NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS SEALED AND CAN'T BE SERVICED. ANYWAY MULTIPLE TIMES I'M ON THE ROAD AND IN TOWN AND THE CAR DRIVES OKAY, BUT AS SOON AS MERGE ONTO THE…

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BOUGHT MY CAR FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER. THE CAR WAS A FUN TOY FOR ME TO DRIVE. MY 2011 REGAL APPARENTLY HAD HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE SHOP SAYS NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS SEALED AND CAN'T BE SERVICED. ANYWAY MULTIPLE TIMES I'M ON THE ROAD AND IN TOWN AND THE CAR DRIVES OKAY, BUT AS SOON AS MERGE ONTO THE HIGH WAY THE CAR STALLS. HERES WHAT HAPPENS AS SOON AS I MERGE ONTO THE HIGH WAY THE RPM'S GO WAY UP. THE TRASSMISSION IS STALLED.THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE. MULTIPLE TIMES I'VE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS "D" FLASHING AND ENGINE LIGHT IS OFF. I PULL OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TURN THE CAR OFF, AND THEN RESTART THE CAR AND THEN IT WORKS AGAIN. THIS SUCKS. IT HONESTLY A 50 50 CHANCE THE CAR TRANSMISSION WILL STALL WHEN I MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I FEEL THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE. MANNY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS RECENTLY AROUND THE SAME MILLAGE OF MINE. AROUND 100,000 MILES. ONLY PROBLEM IS BUICK TAKES BLAME ON THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ENCLAVE,BUT NOT THE REGAL. WHAT A SHAME.

NHTSA ODI #11062133

69,926 miles · Jan 8, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AT A RED LIGHT AND NEVER RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND DISRUPTED THE ENGINE, LEAVING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AT A RED LIGHT AND NEVER RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND DISRUPTED THE ENGINE, LEAVING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS VISUALLY DIAGNOSED. THE VISUAL DIAGNOSIS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE PART WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,926. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI #11061114

156,000 miles · Dec 15, 2017
Engine

I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AN ISSUE IN 2016 WITH ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WHERE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS ENGINE FAILURE, LOSS OF POWER AND WAS PUT IN A VERY UNSAFE POSITION. AFTER I COASTED MY CAR, WITH 4 WAYS ON, TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I CALLED A TOW TRUCK WHICH TOW…

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I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AN ISSUE IN 2016 WITH ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WHERE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS ENGINE FAILURE, LOSS OF POWER AND WAS PUT IN A VERY UNSAFE POSITION. AFTER I COASTED MY CAR, WITH 4 WAYS ON, TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I CALLED A TOW TRUCK WHICH TOWED ME TO THE NEAREST GM DEALER WHICH WAS VICTORY CHEVY IN MILAN MICHIGAN. AFTER SOME DIAGNOSIS THEY INFORMED ME OF THE COMPLETE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AND INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. AT THE TIME I HAD 111K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I WAS INFORMED THE CAR NEEDED A COMPLETE REBUILD AND I VOICED MY DISPLEASURE ABOUT THE FAILURE SO SOON AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE 100K WARRANTY. WHAT GM DID AGREE TO WAS TO SPLIT THE REPAIR 60-40 WHERE I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROX. $2700 OF THE REBUILD. AT THAT TIME I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE REBUILD VERSUS A NEW MOTOR AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS ALL THEY WOULD OFFER ME. I AGAIN COMPLAINED THAT IF IT'S REBUILT I WILL BE BACK IN WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE FUTURE SO HERE I AM LESS THAN 18 MONTHS AFTER A REBUILT MOTOR I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR A LOUD NOISE ON STARTUP AND SMELL OF AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER NOW TELLS ME THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN ALONG WITH A TOP END REBUILD COSTING APPROX. $4500 ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO DRIVABILITY ISSUE WITH THE CAR. SO I CALLED GM CUSTOMER CENTER AND SPOKE WITH THE SUPPOSED "HEAD SERVICE ADVISOR" AND WAS TOLD BY HIM THAT SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY THEY WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. I INFORMED HIM I HAVE BEEN A GM CUSTOMER SINCE 2003 AND THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. THE TIMING CHAIN IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN THESE CARS FOR FAILURE AND NOT JUST WITH HIGHER MILEAGE ENGINES. WHY IS GM NOT ISSUING A CAMPAIGN FOR THESE VEHICLES AND THEIR MOTORS? I HAVE REPLACED SO MANY THINGS ON THIS CAR I AM GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND PURSUE LEMON LAW.

NHTSA ODI #11054867

90,000 miles · Dec 12, 2017
Engine

THE MORNING OF DEC 8 I WAS PULLING INTO MY JOB PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF 3 TIMES. AFTER WORK ON THE WAY HOME I NOTED A ROUGH IDLE. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. I WAS ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM MY GM DEALERSHIP SO I PARKED IT THERE FOR SERVICE/REPAIR THE NEXT DAY. I WAS CALLED ON THE 10TH AND WAS TOLD IT…

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THE MORNING OF DEC 8 I WAS PULLING INTO MY JOB PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF 3 TIMES. AFTER WORK ON THE WAY HOME I NOTED A ROUGH IDLE. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. I WAS ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM MY GM DEALERSHIP SO I PARKED IT THERE FOR SERVICE/REPAIR THE NEXT DAY. I WAS CALLED ON THE 10TH AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THIS REPAIR WOULD COST APPROX. $2200. I WAS THEN TOLD ON THE 12TH THAT THE TIMING SPROCKET AND CAM SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED ADDING COST TO THIS POOR MATERIAL OR POOR WORKMANSHIP. I REMEMBER A RECALL ON A ENGINE EARLIER IN THE YEAR THAT I THOUGHT THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED WHICH I BELIEVE WAS SOMETHING INVOLVED WITH THE CAM SHAFT BUT I KNOW THEY HAD TO GO INTO THE ENGINE. THIS SHUTTING OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION REALLY SCARED ME AND THE CAM SHAFT, CAM SHAFT SPROCKET AND TIMING CHAIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE OF A BETTER MATERIAL, A STRONGER MATERIAL. $2000 SPENT EARLIER PLUS THE $2200 ESTIMATED NO I COULD HAVE PURCHASED AN ENGINE FOR $4200. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT BURNS CHEVROLET BEING REPAIRED SINCE DEC 8TH. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.

NHTSA ODI #11054383

118,000 miles · Dec 8, 2017
Exterior Lighting

'TAKATA RECALL' LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. BUT HIGH BEAM WORKS JUST FINE.

NHTSA ODI #11053518

52,000 miles · Nov 22, 2017
Electrical SystemFire

THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN SEATS. PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. IT DIED AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AND WAS TOTALLED. GM DENIES ALL LIABILITY AND REFUSES TO OFFER ANY COMPENSATION.

NHTSA ODI #11048088

96,351 miles · Nov 14, 2017
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS A MISFIRE IN THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO COUNTRYSIDE GM …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS A MISFIRE IN THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO COUNTRYSIDE GM (N8167 KELLOM RD, BEAVER DAM, WI 53916, (920) 885-3301) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,351.

NHTSA ODI #11045934

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.