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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

Engine complaints

108 reports
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60,000 miles · Jul 8, 2019
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

2011 BUICK REGAL PURCHASED FROM SHOW ROOM FLOOR IN 2011. PRESENTATIVE MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE. NO WARNING LIGHTS. SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION, ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET APPROACHING INTERSTATE AT 25 MPH, CAR STARTING STALLING, PUTTERING, LOSING POWER. PULLED OVER, PUT IN PARK. THEN CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO…

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2011 BUICK REGAL PURCHASED FROM SHOW ROOM FLOOR IN 2011. PRESENTATIVE MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE. NO WARNING LIGHTS. SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION, ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET APPROACHING INTERSTATE AT 25 MPH, CAR STARTING STALLING, PUTTERING, LOSING POWER. PULLED OVER, PUT IN PARK. THEN CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. WOULD ACCELERATE BUT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR OR MOVE. HAD TO BE TOWED. FIRST THING DEALER SERVICE CENTER SUGGEST IS $3000 TRANSMISSION. CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES, ONE OWNER. NO WAY! NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS OR WARNING LIGHTS, IN FACT ONSTAR DIAGNOSTICS CURRENTLY SHOWING NO ISSUES FOUND WITH ENGINE/TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED!!! 2011 BUICK REGAL DIAGNOSTICS REPORT FROM YOUR 2011 BUICK REGAL AS OF 07/08/2019 NO ISSUES FOUND

NHTSA ODI #11230038

88,000 miles · Jun 13, 2019
Engine

BACK ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 2019 I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND RECEIVED WHATEVER PREMIUM-ULTRA SYNTHETIC OIL THEY HAD. THIS OIL WAS RATED UP TO 9,000 MILES I BELIEVE. AS I WAS HEADING IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 2ND, 2019 THE CAR SUDDENLY LOCKED WITH BRAKES AND STEERING BECOMING EXTREMELY STIFF. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THIS OCCUR…

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BACK ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 2019 I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND RECEIVED WHATEVER PREMIUM-ULTRA SYNTHETIC OIL THEY HAD. THIS OIL WAS RATED UP TO 9,000 MILES I BELIEVE. AS I WAS HEADING IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 2ND, 2019 THE CAR SUDDENLY LOCKED WITH BRAKES AND STEERING BECOMING EXTREMELY STIFF. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THIS OCCURRED BUT HAD BEEN COMING TO A STOP WITH NOBODY IN FRONT OF ME LUCKILY. HAD THIS HAPPENED 15 SECONDS BEFORE AS I WAS GOING 55MPH AROUND A CURVE, I WOULD HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY KILLED MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. THERE WAS NO ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR OR BRAKE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THE ENGINE WOULD REQUIRE A COMPLETE REBUILD, COSTING SEVEN-THOUSAND-DOLLARS. THEY CLAIM IT WAS CAUSED BY A "LACK OF MAINTENANCE (IE. NOT KEEPING UP ON OIL CHANGES)". THE LACK OF OIL THEN CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK, WHICH THEN FURTHER DAMAGED INTAKE VALVES, HEAD GASKETS, BALANCE CHAIN, ETC. NOW I KNOW FEBRUARY 9TH AND JUNE 2ND IS NEARLY FOUR MONTHS APART, HOWEVER, IN THAT TIME I HAD PUT LESS THAN 2,000 MILES ON THE CAR. HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT MY ULTRA SYNTHETIC OIL WHICH IS RATED FOR FOUR TIMES LONGER, IN A CAR THAT IN THAT TIME HAD BEEN REPORTED TO BURN OIL, AND DOESN'T HAVE AN OIL LEVEL SENSOR, WOULD BURN OIL? IN MY MIND THIS ISN'T A LACK OF MAINTENANCE, IT IS GM'S LACK OF COMMUNICATION. GM NEVER INFORMED ME OF ANY ISSUES REGARDING OIL BURN, YET THEY SUPPOSEDLY REQUIRE TECHNICIANS TO ROLL BACK THE SENSOR BECAUSE OF THIS VERY ISSUE. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT MIRACULOUSLY THE CAR WASN'T GIVING ANY OUTWARD SIGNS OF DISTRESS INCLUDING EXTRA NOISE, LOUD IDLE, HANDLING DIFFERENCES OR ANYTHING. WHILE MY SITUATION ENDED WITH NO INJURIES, AFTER READING ABOUT THIS ISSUE I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES. THIS ISSUE IS NOT ONLY UNJUSTLY DRAINING BANK ACCOUNTS BUT ALSO COSTING LIVES.

NHTSA ODI #11219822

154,000 miles · May 8, 2019
Engine

HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE BECAUSE OF DETERGENT IN RECOMMENDED ENGINE OIL. WITH THE YEARLY OIL CHANGE AND HIGH DETERGENT LEVELS IT EATS AWAY AT SEALS AND GASKET.

NHTSA ODI #11206252

50,000 miles · Apr 17, 2019
Engine

THE CAR WAS VERY NOISY AT START UP. HAD THE OIL CHANGED, THE NOISE WAS BETTER FOR A WHILE BUT CAME BACK IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AND NOW IT IS CONSTANT. THE CAR WILL STALL OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I WILL LOSE EVERYTHING, ELECTRICAL AND POWER STEERING. THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHETHER OR NOT ON A HIGHWAY OR DURING CITY DRIVING. ENGINE…

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THE CAR WAS VERY NOISY AT START UP. HAD THE OIL CHANGED, THE NOISE WAS BETTER FOR A WHILE BUT CAME BACK IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AND NOW IT IS CONSTANT. THE CAR WILL STALL OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I WILL LOSE EVERYTHING, ELECTRICAL AND POWER STEERING. THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHETHER OR NOT ON A HIGHWAY OR DURING CITY DRIVING. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS IN REDUCE POWER MODE. CAMSHAFT CORALATION CODE.

NHTSA ODI #11197025

75,000 miles · Apr 16, 2019
Engine

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AT JUST LESS THAN 75,000 MILES. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT IT WOULD BE EASIER TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE THAN GET THE PIECES OUT OF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #11196643

55,000 miles · Apr 11, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System

NYB CAR HAS LESS THAN 69K MILES AND IS BURNING THROUGH OIL. I BOUGHT IT USED AND THE DEALER LIKED WARRANTY ENDED BEFORE PROBLEMS STARTED. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN THE FIRST 2000 MILES OF ME DRIVING AND THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME ANOTHER $200 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. SO I WENT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE ENGINE WAS BUR…

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NYB CAR HAS LESS THAN 69K MILES AND IS BURNING THROUGH OIL. I BOUGHT IT USED AND THE DEALER LIKED WARRANTY ENDED BEFORE PROBLEMS STARTED. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN THE FIRST 2000 MILES OF ME DRIVING AND THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME ANOTHER $200 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. SO I WENT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE ENGINE WAS BURNING THROUGH OIL FASTER THAN IT SHOULD. AT THIS POINT THE CAR HAD TURNED OFF WHILE UNDER 10MPH TWICE WHICH IS DANGEROUS AS THE BRAKES LOCK UP ALONG WITH STEERING BECOMING VERY STIFF. A MECHANIC DID WORK ON THE CAR REPLACING PLUGS AND OTHER PARTS THAT HAD BEEN DAMAGED FUE TO THE OIL BEING GONE, BUT THE SAME ENGINE IS STILL IN THE CAR. NOW LESS THAN A YEAR LATER ALONG WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES THE CAR STILL BURNS THROUGH OIL. THE ENGINE CAUSES THE CAR TO ROCK WHEN AT IDLE AND WHEN MOVING UNDER 5MPH. MY FEAR IS THAT IVE CAR WILL SHUT OFF AGAIN. THIS IS A FAULT OF BUICK FOR DESIGNING AN ENGINE THAT CAN'T HOLD OIL.

NHTSA ODI #11195575

10 miles · Mar 12, 2019
Engine

ENGINE OF MY CAR ACTS WEIRD AND I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY SAY THERES NOTHING WRONG

NHTSA ODI #11186085

93,000 miles · Mar 1, 2019
EnginePower TrainSteering

OUR CUR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ALL POWER LIGHTS ENGINE EVERYTHING DOING 80 MPH ON INTERSTATE 84 IN IDAHO. A SEMI SEEN IT HAPPEN JUMPED IN THE MIDDLE OF BOTH LANES TO BLOCK TRAFFIC SO WE COULD GET TO THE SHOULDER. IN A NO CELL PHONE AREA 13 WE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND HAD TO SHIFT SRIVE IT IN LIMP MODE. NO ALERT LIGHTS CAME ON …

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OUR CUR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ALL POWER LIGHTS ENGINE EVERYTHING DOING 80 MPH ON INTERSTATE 84 IN IDAHO. A SEMI SEEN IT HAPPEN JUMPED IN THE MIDDLE OF BOTH LANES TO BLOCK TRAFFIC SO WE COULD GET TO THE SHOULDER. IN A NO CELL PHONE AREA 13 WE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND HAD TO SHIFT SRIVE IT IN LIMP MODE. NO ALERT LIGHTS CAME ON WE TOOK IT YO A CERTIFIED DEALER TO FIND THE PISTONS, TIMING CHAIN AND OTHER THINGS ARE NTOKEN GM/ BUICK WAS NOTIFIED THEY DECIDED TO DECLINE ASSISTANCE BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF WARRANTY 93K MILES ON THE CAR AND OVER 5,000$ IN REPAIR AND POSSIBLY ANOTHER 2100$ TO REPAIR THE CADILITIC CONVERTER. WE WERE IN A NO CELL SERVICE AREA AND HAD TO DRIVE IN THE SHOULDER NOW THE HEADLIGHTS WON'T TURN ON AT ALL EITHER. THE CAR NEVER ALERT US IT JUST SHUT OFF THE DEALER SAYS THE OIL WAS VERY LOW AGAIN NO OIL LIGHT CAME ON WITH THAT YHE DEALER SAYS THERECOULD BE A BCM/ECM COMMUNICATION ISSUE COSTING 1200.00 TO 2500.00 TO FIX. THEY CAN'T ASSESS COMPLETELY UNTIL THE PISTON/ TIMING BELT ISSUE IS FIXED BUT THE CAR IS NOT COMMUNICATING THE STEERING IS NOW SUPER TIGHT AND THE ONLY YHING IT SAYS NOW IS SERVICE STIBILATRAC AND THE MECHANIC DIDN'T EVEN BRING THAT UP

NHTSA ODI #11183503

130,000 miles · Feb 18, 2019
Engine

TIMING CHAIN ENGINE FAILURE

NHTSA ODI #11180817

85,000 miles · Jan 16, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

ICAR ONLY HAS APPROX 86,000 MILES. WAS RIDING DOWN STREET CAR SHUT OFF. IT TURNED RIGHT BACK ON BUT IT WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE. PARKED IT. NEXT MORNING WENT TO START IT AND IT WOULDN'T. HAD TIMING SILENOIDS AND STARTER CHANGED. CAR IS READ NO CODES AND IT STILL WENT START. HAD TAKEN TO ANOTHER SHOP FOR SECOND OPINION. THEY …

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ICAR ONLY HAS APPROX 86,000 MILES. WAS RIDING DOWN STREET CAR SHUT OFF. IT TURNED RIGHT BACK ON BUT IT WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE. PARKED IT. NEXT MORNING WENT TO START IT AND IT WOULDN'T. HAD TIMING SILENOIDS AND STARTER CHANGED. CAR IS READ NO CODES AND IT STILL WENT START. HAD TAKEN TO ANOTHER SHOP FOR SECOND OPINION. THEY SAID I NEEDED A MOTOR. WHERE AM I TO GET $2800

NHTSA ODI #11170378

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.