IllustrationWHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE GLASS FLEW IN AND OUT OF THE CAR STICKING ME IN THE FACE AND BODY. THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH ANY OUTSIDE OBJECT, THE ROAD WAS SMOOTH AND THERE WERE NO OVERHEAD TREES, SIGNS OR BRIDGES.
2016 Buick Regal
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Buick Regal do not stand out strongly from 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
90–25K
625–50K
150–75K
275–100K
3100–150K
0150K+
21 reports with mileage · 20 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.
- Steering. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Visibility/wiper complaints
3 reports2016 BUICK REGAL WITH 11K MIKES. THE WINDSHIELD RECENTLY DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE LEFT LOWER CORNER. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM EDGE (BELOW THE DASH) ABOUT 8 INCHES FROM THE LOWER LEFT CORNER. OVER SEVERAL DAYS, THE CRACK SLOWLY SPREAD UP AND TO THE LEFT, ENDING AT THE LEFT EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD ABOUT 6 INCHES FROM THE LOW…
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2016 BUICK REGAL WITH 11K MIKES. THE WINDSHIELD RECENTLY DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE LEFT LOWER CORNER. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM EDGE (BELOW THE DASH) ABOUT 8 INCHES FROM THE LOWER LEFT CORNER. OVER SEVERAL DAYS, THE CRACK SLOWLY SPREAD UP AND TO THE LEFT, ENDING AT THE LEFT EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD ABOUT 6 INCHES FROM THE LOWER LEFT CORNER. THE CRACK IS IN THE INNER LAMINATED GLASS ONLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BUICK DEALER TO SEE IF THE WINDSHIELD CAN BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE ADVISOR CLAIMED IT WAS A STRESS CRACK, BUT WANTED TO CHECK WITH THE GM ZONE REP. BEFORE PROCEEDING. GM ZONE REP. DENIED THE WARRANTY CLAIM BECAUSE HE FELT SOMETHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE CRACK. THE WINDSHIELD HAS NO SIGNS OF ANY IMPACT ON IT. THE GM ZONE REP. NEVER ACTUALLY INSPECTED THE CAR. VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN A GLASS SHOP FOR THEIR OPINION. THE GLASS SHOP CLAIMED THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY EITHER A DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD OR IMPROPER INSTALLATION. APPARENTLY IS MAY BE A KNOWN ISSUE ON 2013-2014 BUICK REGALS.
WHEN BACKING OUT OF A DARK AREA (SUCH AS A GARAGE) INTO BRIGHT LIGHT, OR WHEN LEAVING A DARK TUNNEL INTO BRIGHT LIGHT, THE BACKUP DISPLAY OR FORWARD NAVIGATION DISPLAY BECOME UNUSABLE DUE TO CONTRAST ("WASHOUT") ISSUES. THE SYSTEM IN THE BUICK IS A SINGLE SENSOR SYSTEM (IT ALSO CONTROLS THE AUTOMATIC HEAD LIGHTS) THAT REQUIRES 2…
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WHEN BACKING OUT OF A DARK AREA (SUCH AS A GARAGE) INTO BRIGHT LIGHT, OR WHEN LEAVING A DARK TUNNEL INTO BRIGHT LIGHT, THE BACKUP DISPLAY OR FORWARD NAVIGATION DISPLAY BECOME UNUSABLE DUE TO CONTRAST ("WASHOUT") ISSUES. THE SYSTEM IN THE BUICK IS A SINGLE SENSOR SYSTEM (IT ALSO CONTROLS THE AUTOMATIC HEAD LIGHTS) THAT REQUIRES 20-30 SECONDS TO ADJUST CONTRAST AFTER A TRANSITION FROM DARK TO LIGHT. THIS 20-30 SECOND DELAY IS CRITICAL WHEN BACKING UP BECAUSE YOU LOSE THE VIEW OFFERED BY THE REVIEW CAMERA UNLESS YOU STOP WHILE THE SYSTEM ADJUSTS. THERE ARE MANY SITUATIONS WHERE YOU CAN'T STOP BACKING (ESPECIALLY FOR 30 SECONDS) ONCE YOU HAVE STARTED. THE "WASHOUT" OF THE DISPLAY WHEN USING THE NAVIGATION MAP IS ALSO A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. IF TRYING TO FOLLOW THE MAP/DIRECTIONS WHEN EXITING A TUNNEL (THE TUNNEL IS DARK ENOUGH TO REQUIRE THE AUTO HEADLIGHTS TO TURN ON) YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO SEE THE MAP FOR 20-30 SECONDS WHILE THE SYSTEM ADJUSTS TO THE CHANGE IN LIGHTING. AT THE VERY LEAST THIS CAUSES A DISTRACTION FOR THE DRIVER TRYING TO FOLLOW THE MAP. BUICK TOUTS THE BACKUP CAMERA AND THE BIG NAVIGATION DISPLAY AS VEHICLE SAFETY AIDS, BUT THE IMPLEMENTATION IS FLAWED AND A DANGER TO THE DRIVER OR OTHERS.
Official recalls
116V108000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Feb 24, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Buick Regal Vehicles manufactured August 30, 2015, to February 12, 2016. The affected vehicles have a power-steering assist system that may fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A loss of power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric belt drive rack and pinion steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 21510.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.