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1994 Buick Regal

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Regal years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Buick Regal are substantially higher than the model-year median of 29.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 14 of 110 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

25 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED AN ODOR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT CERTAIN PARTS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICA…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED AN ODOR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT CERTAIN PARTS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHERE THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE GOING TO DIE OUT. THE VOLTAGE READINGS WERE ALWAYS LOW. THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING OUT OF GEAR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE INITIAL PROBLEM WAS WITH THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE BRAKES WERE BAD AND THE MUFFLER HAD A BIG HOLE IN IT. ALSO, COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10059827

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKE CALIPER FROZE UP, CAUSING A GRINDING SIGN. CALIPER HAD DUG INTO THE ROTOR AT LEAST AN INCH DEEP. ROTORS, AND CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED REPAIR CENTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #871164

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
SeatsService Brakes, Hydraulic

WAS RIDING THROUGH SHOPPING CENTER WITH SMOOTH PAVEMENT WHEN DRIVER SEAT ALL OF A SUDDEN BROKE LOOSE AND STARTED TO TIP REARWARD, WENT TO BUICK DEALER (HUDSON BUICK POGHKEEPSIE, NY) ABOUT A HALF MILE AWAY WHERE I GOT A SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO LOOK AT IT. HE IMMEDIATELY WENT UNDER THE SEAT LIKE HE HAS SEEN THE PROBLEN A NUMBER OF T…

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WAS RIDING THROUGH SHOPPING CENTER WITH SMOOTH PAVEMENT WHEN DRIVER SEAT ALL OF A SUDDEN BROKE LOOSE AND STARTED TO TIP REARWARD, WENT TO BUICK DEALER (HUDSON BUICK POGHKEEPSIE, NY) ABOUT A HALF MILE AWAY WHERE I GOT A SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO LOOK AT IT. HE IMMEDIATELY WENT UNDER THE SEAT LIKE HE HAS SEEN THE PROBLEN A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE AND TOLD ME THAT THE LEFT FRONT SEAT MOUNT TO THE SEAT RAIL IS SNAPPED AND THE LEFT SEAT RAIL MUST BE REPLACED. WHEN I EXAMINED THE PART BY LOOKING UNDER THE SEAT IT APPEARS THAT THE SEAT MOUNT HAD THE RIPPLED APPEARANCE OF METAL FATIGUE. (WHAT GOOD ARE SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS IF THE SEAT IS GOING TO FALL OUT!) THIS CAR IS A LITTLE OVER 6 YEARS OLD, HAS UNDER 42000 MILES. INDOOR GARAGED AND HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.. THE MASTER CYLINDER: I WAS DRIVING ON RT 52 WEST WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STOPPED AND THEN I SLOWLY PROCEEDED TO A NEARBY MIDAS MUFFLER WHO TOLD ME THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER BECAUSE OF THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. I DID AND CONTACTED BUICK WHO AGREED TO HAVE THE DEALER REPLACE THE PART FOR FREE WITH ME PAYING FOR THE LABOR. THE WORK WAS DONE AT COLANDREA BUICK RT 17K NEWBURGH, NY SINCE I WAS TOO FAR FROM THE DEALER THAT SOLD THE CAR AND THEY WERE LOCAL. ALMOST A YEAR LATER THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN WHILE I WAS RIDING ON RT 17K WEST IN NEWBURGH, NY AND I WAS SLOWLY ABLE TO LIMP IT TO THE DEALER. THEY LOOKED AT THE BRAKES AND REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE MASTER CYLINDER SEENS ALL RIGHT NOW BUT I HAVE NO IDEA IF IT WILL FAIL AGAIN LIKE IT DID 10000 MILES AGO AND ABOUT 8000 MILES BRFORE THAT.

NHTSA ODI #729818

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

EXCESSIVE ROTOR CORROSION REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THIS IS THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH ROTOR CORROSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #724646

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE LOCKS UP AND MAKES LOUD NOISES. ABS REAR SENSOR AND HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED, WATER DAMAGE HAD CORRODED SENSOR AND WIRING. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #851220

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS INDICATES A BRAKE FAILURE WHICH CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED IT MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND KEEPS ON ROLLING, THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IF DRIVER STEPS HARD ON THE BRAKES, AS IF THEY WERE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, THEY RESPOND P…

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THE ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS INDICATES A BRAKE FAILURE WHICH CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED IT MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND KEEPS ON ROLLING, THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IF DRIVER STEPS HARD ON THE BRAKES, AS IF THEY WERE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, THEY RESPOND PERFECTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846196

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 1999
Air BagsSeat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 25MPH APPLIED BRAKES AND WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP. STRUCK VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, AND SEAT BELT DIDN'T RETRACT AS QUICKLY AS NEEDED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT HEAD AND LEFT HAND ON WINDSHIELD, SUSTAINING INJURIES. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843441

Mileage unknown · May 26, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 45 MPH, AND APPLYING BRAKES, BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD, AND BRAKES AREN'T STOPPING THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS TO PUMP THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE WILL SLOW DOWN. THEN WILL APPLY BRAKES IN LOW SPEED, AND VEHICLE WILL COME TO A STOP. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE IS IN SHOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838458

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MOTOR KIT WITHIN ABS HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES.THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKES WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830361

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE CALIPERS FROZE UP CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO PADS AND ROTORS.

NHTSA ODI #536211

Official recalls

3

97V017000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring

Feb 11, 1997

SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN A SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE OLD DESIGNED WASHER/WIPER SWITCHES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

95V152000 · Exterior Lighting

Aug 8, 1995

INCORRECT CLEAR FRONT SIDE MARKER BULBS WERE INSTALLED RATHER THAN AMBER BULBS. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: DURING ILLUMINATION, THE BULBS WILL SHOW CLEAR RATHER THAN AMBER AND COULD MOMENTARILY CONFUSE OTHER DRIVERS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLEAR BULBS WITH THE CORRECT AMBER BULBS.

95V061000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Mar 22, 1995

THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE HOSE(S) CAN CONTACT THE REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE(S) TO WEAR THROUGH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BRAKE HOSE POSITION AND REPLACE THOSE HOSES IN AN INCORRECT POSITION WITH NEW HOSES AND CORRECTLY ROUTED.

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.