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1979 Buick Regal

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

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: 1 of 3 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.

  • Tires. Review the 3 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 reports0 injury reports

Tires complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2004
Tires

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE/FENDER; AND DOOR. CONSUMER CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. FIRESTONE FR480…

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WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE/FENDER; AND DOOR. CONSUMER CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. FIRESTONE FR480, P215/70R14 #DOT W2HY1MD519. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10089960

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2004
Tires

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. CONSUMER CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANT TO CHANGE THE TIRE. FIRESTONE FR480, SIZE P215/70R14, DOT W2HY1MD519. *AK THE TIRE BLOWOUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHIC…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. CONSUMER CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANT TO CHANGE THE TIRE. FIRESTONE FR480, SIZE P215/70R14, DOT W2HY1MD519. *AK THE TIRE BLOWOUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT FENDER AND DOOR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10073751

84,009 miles · Aug 1, 2003
Tires

WHIHLE DRIVNG THE TREAD OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROMTHE TIRE. THE TIRE DENTED THE RIGHT FENDER AND RIGHT FRONT DOOR. *MR *CB *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10031941

Official recalls

4

84V149000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft

Nov 24, 1984

REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AXLES THAT WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE BUFFALO PLANT. IF SO, THEY WILL MAKE AXLE MEASUREMENTS AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE OR MODIFY AFFECTED AXLE COMPONENTS WITHOUT CHARGE.

81V025000 · Suspension:rear

Feb 25, 1981

THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE LOWER REAR CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME MAY FRACTURE. THE REAR CONTROL ARM SUPPORTS AND POSITIONS THE REAR AXLE. FRACTURE OF THE BOLTS WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP FREE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: BOTH REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.

79V214000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Sep 18, 1979

THE SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED BACKWARDS OR NOT AT ALL. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SPRING CLIP IS TO SECURE THE LOWER END OF THE SHIFT CABLE HOUSING TO THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE CLIP IS BACKWARD OR MISSING, THE CONSOLE SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR THE TRANSMISSION RANGE INDICATOR MAY INDICATE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE "PARK" OR "P" POSITION WHEN IT IS NOT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY CORRECT THE SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP INSTALLATION AT NO CHARGE.

79V142000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Jun 6, 1979

ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT LUBRICANT ON THE ACTUATING PLUNGER. THIS CAN CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE STOPLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL, IF ACTIVATED, TO STAY ELECTRICALLY ENGAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AT NO COST TO OWNER.

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

1

EA86006 · Brake Backing Plate

Opened Nov 27, 1985 · Closed Nov 28, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SUMMARY:GM IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN (85V-048)INVOLVING 2,136,826 VEHICLES. THE RECALL IS LIMITED TO VEHICLES BUILT ATCERTAIN ASSEMBLY PLANTS WHICH, ACCORDING TO GM, OVERTORQUED THE BRAKEPIPE NUT,THEREBY OVERSTRESSING THE WHEEL CYLINDER SUPPORT AREA OF THEBACKING PLATE.ANALYSIS:FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE SUFFICIENT BRAKING FOR PASSENGER CARSIN MOST NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. ALL AFFECTED TRUCKS ARE INCLUDED INTHE CURRENT RECALL.IN MOST CASES THE PROBLEM IS DISCOVERED DURING BRAKEMAINTENANCE.THE RECALL APPEARS TO COVER THOSE GROUPS OF CARS WITH THEHIGHEST FAILURE RATES.STATUS:ANALYZING GM IR RESPONSE AND NEW COMPLAINT DATA. DRAFT CLOSINGREPORT BY 5/15/88.===