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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.

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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

Engine complaints

108 reports
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18,000 miles · Feb 2, 2015
EnginePower Train

THE VEHICLE LOST MOST OF ITS POWER, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WOULD NOT EVEN ACCELERATE TO 40 MPH. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE MINIMUM SPEED IS 45 MPH. APPARENTLY, THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON WITH THAT ENGINE. I AM NOW PAYING $611 TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY THAT APPARENTLY IS THE SOURCE OF THE PR…

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THE VEHICLE LOST MOST OF ITS POWER, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WOULD NOT EVEN ACCELERATE TO 40 MPH. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE MINIMUM SPEED IS 45 MPH. APPARENTLY, THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON WITH THAT ENGINE. I AM NOW PAYING $611 TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY THAT APPARENTLY IS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM ON THIS ESSENTIALLY NEW CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680501

33,000 miles · Jul 24, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

WELL FIRST THERE ARE A FEW COMPLAINTS , FIRST FEW MONTHS ,CAR ALARM GOING OFF AT RANDOM , THEN TRUNK POPPED AT RANDOM ,BROUGHT IN TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO DEALER FOR SERVICE WAS SAID TO BE FIXED . THEN LEFT SIGNAL OUTAGE FEW OCCASIONS BROUGHT IN WITH THE OTHER WORK , HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE BULBS TILL THIS SITE , THEN RADIO ON AN…

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WELL FIRST THERE ARE A FEW COMPLAINTS , FIRST FEW MONTHS ,CAR ALARM GOING OFF AT RANDOM , THEN TRUNK POPPED AT RANDOM ,BROUGHT IN TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO DEALER FOR SERVICE WAS SAID TO BE FIXED . THEN LEFT SIGNAL OUTAGE FEW OCCASIONS BROUGHT IN WITH THE OTHER WORK , HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE BULBS TILL THIS SITE , THEN RADIO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENT , BATTERY OR OTHER CAR DIES CHARGES WILL DRIVE ALL DAY END OF DAY AFTER A BATTERY JUMP STUTTERS AS DRIVING OR FEELS LIKE GOING TO JUST DIE . GOT HOME ON 7/21/2014 AND NOTICED ALL THE RECALLS ON NEWS HAD NO CLUE IT WAS THIS MAKE,MODEL ,YEAR,ETC., MY 18 HAS DRIVEN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS (GOD FORBID) ! ALSO I'M READING WHERE THIS MAKE TAKES OFF AT RANDOM HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN DRIVE THRU ASSUMED I HADN'T APPLIED ENOUGH PRESSURE TO BRAKE . I'M FURIOUS AND HONESTLY WITH YOUNG ADULT DRIVERS SCARED TO DEATH NOW! OHHH AND NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL INFO ON THIS VEHICLE EVER! OH AND MY KEY BROKE TO ONLY THING IS IT BENT AND HAD REPLACED ! AND SEAT WAS LOOSE ALSO . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615961

43,507 miles · Jun 6, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNING, IT ACTS DEAD, BUT THE BATTERY IS OKAY. AFTER A FEW TRIES IT DOES START BUT THEN I HAVE THE DASH LIGHT BEHAVING CRAZY - EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON AND VARIOUS MESSAGES IN MY CENTER DASH. I RESET EVERYTHING TO NORMAL AND AM OKAY. UPON A RESTART LATER IN THE DAY, THINGS ARE USUALLY OKAY. BEING A…

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WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNING, IT ACTS DEAD, BUT THE BATTERY IS OKAY. AFTER A FEW TRIES IT DOES START BUT THEN I HAVE THE DASH LIGHT BEHAVING CRAZY - EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON AND VARIOUS MESSAGES IN MY CENTER DASH. I RESET EVERYTHING TO NORMAL AND AM OKAY. UPON A RESTART LATER IN THE DAY, THINGS ARE USUALLY OKAY. BEING A SENIOR CITIZEN I DON'T GO VERY FAR BUT YESTERDAY, AS I WAS ENTERING A TRAFFIC CIRCLE, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT, A HUGE TRAILER TRUCK WAS BEARING DOWN ON ME AND LUCKILY THE CAR STARTED BACK UP JUST IN TIME. THE BUICK DEALER (DARBY) TREATED ME RUDELY OVER A MINOR PROBLEM SO NOW I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO DO FOR HELP ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596587

69,000 miles · May 21, 2014
Engine

I HAVE HAD TO TURN MY VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS REGARDING MY VEHICLE BREAKING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, THE CARD BASICALLY RUNS LIKE A TOY! WITHIN MONTHS OF PURCHASING THIS PRECERTIFIED ONE OWNER VEHICLE, THE OIL LIGHT SUPPOSEDLY WAS RECALLED AND DID NOT FUNCTION-CAR HAD ABSOLUTELY NO OIL. I CONTINUED TO …

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I HAVE HAD TO TURN MY VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS REGARDING MY VEHICLE BREAKING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, THE CARD BASICALLY RUNS LIKE A TOY! WITHIN MONTHS OF PURCHASING THIS PRECERTIFIED ONE OWNER VEHICLE, THE OIL LIGHT SUPPOSEDLY WAS RECALLED AND DID NOT FUNCTION-CAR HAD ABSOLUTELY NO OIL. I CONTINUED TO RECEIVED BUICK HANDLED MAINTENANCE AND STILL EXPERIENCING ISSUES. THE VEHICLE STILL LOOSES OIL WITHIN RANGE OF NOT NEEDING A CHANGE. THE CARD JERKS AND WHEN APPROACHING STOPS AND WILL COMPLETELY CUT OFF. I RECENTLY GOT MY CAR BACK AFTER TWO WEEKS OF REPAIRS REPLACING OF ENGINE PISTONS, BELTS SO ON AND SO FORTH HOWEVER TODAY AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND SHAKE AND THE DIED. THE LIGHT TURN GREEN AND I WAS IN FRONT OF A SCHOOL BUS! I CANNOT BE ON THE ROAD AND MY CAR CUTTING OFF IN TRAFFIC AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS! THIS WAS MY FIRST CAR PURCHASE AND I AM MORE THAN DISAPPOINTED. ONCE AGAIN I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR IN TO SEE WHY THE ISSUE CONTINUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592981

40,000 miles · May 15, 2014
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE NOR DID THEY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CODE WAS CLEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BY AN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE NOR DID THEY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CODE WAS CLEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO SEE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10588647

17,000 miles · Mar 13, 2014
Engine

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BUICK WHICH SAID MY BALANCING BELT (TIMING CHAIN) COULD BREAK CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL IT BROKE. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY IN CASE THAT HAPPENED. IF THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKS AND THE ENGINE STOPS, I WILL LOSE STEERING CONTROL WHICH IS A COMFORTING THOUGHT. IF I AM …

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I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BUICK WHICH SAID MY BALANCING BELT (TIMING CHAIN) COULD BREAK CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL IT BROKE. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY IN CASE THAT HAPPENED. IF THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKS AND THE ENGINE STOPS, I WILL LOSE STEERING CONTROL WHICH IS A COMFORTING THOUGHT. IF I AM ON INTERSTATE DOING 70 MPH AND LOSE STEERING, GOOD BYE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569211

35,000 miles · Jul 31, 2013
Engine

I EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT NOISE FROM THE RIGHT/PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I DROVE VEHICLE TO SUBURBAN BUICK GMC AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE NOISE AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. ON WHILE IN EL PASO, TX THE NOISE RETURN AND WOULD NOT STOP. DROVE VEHICLE TO SHAMALEY BUICK GMC ON JUNE 28, 2012 AND THE BELT TENSIONER WA…

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I EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT NOISE FROM THE RIGHT/PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I DROVE VEHICLE TO SUBURBAN BUICK GMC AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE NOISE AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. ON WHILE IN EL PASO, TX THE NOISE RETURN AND WOULD NOT STOP. DROVE VEHICLE TO SHAMALEY BUICK GMC ON JUNE 28, 2012 AND THE BELT TENSIONER WAS REPLACE (INVOICE 25754MILAGE 35416). AGAIN, THE INTERMITTENT NOISE RETURN AND AGAIN I TOOK VEHICLE TO SUBURBAN BUICK GMC AND SERVICE CENTER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE NOISE. ADVISE SERVICE OF PREVIOUS REPAIR AND SINCE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED IN SERVICE AREA, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. WHILE IN LAS VEGAS, NV TOOK VEHICLE TO FAIRWAY CHEVROLET BUICK GMC ON JUNE 17, 2013 FOR ANOTHER CONCERN. WHILE IN SERVICE AREA SERVICE ADVISOR DUPLICATED THE NOISE WHILE MOVING VEHICLE. SERVICE ADVISOR KNOW WHAT CAUSES THE NOISE, THE REPAIR WAS PERFORM IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER CONCERN. REPLACE BELT TENSIONER AND SERPENTINE BELT (TAG 0059 MILEAGE 71195) THE ORIGINAL PART FAILS AND WAS REPLACE THEN THE SECOND PART FAILS. THIS PART SHOULD NOT FAIL IN 35,000 MILES. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532956

17,000 miles · Jul 19, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other

WHILE TRAVELING 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGH WAY THE CAR SHUT OFF CAUSING ME TO FORCE THE WHEEL ON THE ROAD. I REPORTED THIS AND WAS GIVEN RENTAL CARS FOR THE NOISES AND BELTS TO BE EXAMINED. THE NOISE SUBSIDED A FEW WEEKS ONLY TO RETURN WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CAR CUT OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME IN TRAFFIC MARCH…

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WHILE TRAVELING 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGH WAY THE CAR SHUT OFF CAUSING ME TO FORCE THE WHEEL ON THE ROAD. I REPORTED THIS AND WAS GIVEN RENTAL CARS FOR THE NOISES AND BELTS TO BE EXAMINED. THE NOISE SUBSIDED A FEW WEEKS ONLY TO RETURN WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CAR CUT OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME IN TRAFFIC MARCH 2013. THE THIRD TIME WAS IN APRIL 2013 . THE LAST TIME WAS JUNE 16, 2013. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 45 DAYS. NOTHING WAS TOLD TO ME WAS WRONG. THEN WHY IS IT SHUTTING OFF WHILE IM DRIVING? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525771

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.