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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

What owners actually said

279 reports
59,500 miles · Jul 21, 2018
Service Brakes

THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT RETURN WHEN INTERIOR TEMPERATURES ARE VERY HIGH CAUSING BRAKES TO DRAG AND POTENTIALLY OVERHEAT AND PREMATURELY WEAR. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A WHILE.

NHTSA ODI #11112802

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2018
Engine

WE ARE BIG FANS OF OUR BUICK'S, AS OF NOW WE'VE OWNED THREE AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. BUT NOW WITH ONLY 87,000 MILES ON IT THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE TENSIONER HAS TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED IN AN EMISSIONS TEST. WE'VE LOOKED ON LINE FOR A RECALL AND ALL WE SEE ARE SO MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND NO HELP. THIS IS EXTR…

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WE ARE BIG FANS OF OUR BUICK'S, AS OF NOW WE'VE OWNED THREE AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. BUT NOW WITH ONLY 87,000 MILES ON IT THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE TENSIONER HAS TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED IN AN EMISSIONS TEST. WE'VE LOOKED ON LINE FOR A RECALL AND ALL WE SEE ARE SO MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND NO HELP. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING TO US AS BUICK OWNERS . I'M ASKING THAT YOU RECALL THIS ISSUE AND KEEP US BUICK OWNERS. IT'S A VERY COSTLY ISSUE TO REPLACE AND FOR LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON OUR REGAL THAT'S NOT NORMAL. I AM ASKING YOU TO CONTRIBUTE/REIMBURSE US FOR AT THE VERY LEAST A PORTION OF THE COST. WITH A BABY ON THE WAY WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE IT IN FOR THE REPAIRS. WE'D LOVE TO CONTINUE WITH PURCHASING BUICKS IN THE FUTURE BUT IF THIS WILL NOT BE LOOKED INTO WE WILL HAVE TO RETHINK GM PRODUCTS. PLEASE HELP ALL YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS. WHATEVER YOU CAN DO WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED..

NHTSA ODI #11100210

115,000 miles · Jun 6, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO LA FONTAINE BUICK GMC OF ANN ARBO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO LA FONTAINE BUICK GMC OF ANN ARBOR (500 AUTO MALL DR., ANN ARBOR , MI 48103, (734)7079368) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. IN ADDITION, METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #11100155

Mileage unknown · May 26, 2018
SeatsUnknown Or Other

HI, I'M WRITING TO FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT. THE BUICK DEALERSHIP WILL NOT PERFORM THE MANUFACTURER SAFETY RECALL FREE OF CHARGE. GM RECALL NUMBER: 2030710 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 16V517 INOPERATIVE POWER SEATS, SEAT FIRES AND SEAT HEATING MODULE CONNECTOR MELTING THE DEALERSHIP STATED WE WOULD NEED TO PAY $700 TO REPAIR …

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HI, I'M WRITING TO FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT. THE BUICK DEALERSHIP WILL NOT PERFORM THE MANUFACTURER SAFETY RECALL FREE OF CHARGE. GM RECALL NUMBER: 2030710 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 16V517 INOPERATIVE POWER SEATS, SEAT FIRES AND SEAT HEATING MODULE CONNECTOR MELTING THE DEALERSHIP STATED WE WOULD NEED TO PAY $700 TO REPAIR THE PASSENGER SEAT'S INOPERATIVE MOTOR BEFORE THEY COULD PERFORM THE RECALL. THE OTHER RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PERFORMED. BUICK RECALL NUMBER: N120212 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 12V484 TURN SIGNAL LAMP OUTAGE INDICATOR NOT WORKING HOW SHOULD I PROCEED? THANK YOU!

NHTSA ODI #11098095

78,000 miles · May 24, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD WHINING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COPPLE CHEVROLET GMC IN LOUISVILLE, NEBRASKA WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND WAS AL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD WHINING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COPPLE CHEVROLET GMC IN LOUISVILLE, NEBRASKA WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11097762

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2018
Exterior Lighting

I HAVE HAD THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED TWICE. WHERE YOU PLUG IN THE HEADLIGHT (LOW BEAM), IT MELTS AND THE HEADLIGHT WILL NOT WORK ANYMORE.

NHTSA ODI #11089876

59,000 miles · Mar 27, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE ASSEMBLY AND FOUND THAT THE PLUG THAT CONNECTS TO LIGHT BULB WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER KEN FOWLER BUICK OF UKIAH CALIFORNIA AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY DID NOT SELL JUST THE PLUG;…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE ASSEMBLY AND FOUND THAT THE PLUG THAT CONNECTS TO LIGHT BULB WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER KEN FOWLER BUICK OF UKIAH CALIFORNIA AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY DID NOT SELL JUST THE PLUG; THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE PURCHASED. . THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED, BUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE PLUG WAS BURNED INTENSIVELY, THAT EVEN THE HARNESS WAS MELTED ON THIS OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. *TT *CN

NHTSA ODI #11081531

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineSuspension

THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO WANT TO CUT OFF WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT! I SIMPLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE SO LOUD. I HAD BOTH SHOCKS AND STRUTS REPLACED AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE FRAME SEEMS TO NOSE DIVE OR "WANDER" WHILE I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, TOTALLY UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING. TIRES ARE BASICALLY …

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THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO WANT TO CUT OFF WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT! I SIMPLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE SO LOUD. I HAD BOTH SHOCKS AND STRUTS REPLACED AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE FRAME SEEMS TO NOSE DIVE OR "WANDER" WHILE I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, TOTALLY UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING. TIRES ARE BASICALLY NEW I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT SEEMS TO BE GOING ON WITH THIS CAR!

NHTSA ODI #11064874

70,703 miles · Jan 17, 2018
Engine

VEHICLE STILL STALLING; REPLACED BELT AND TENSIONER 3RD TIME SINCE AUG 2014

NHTSA ODI #11063340

48,507 miles · Jan 17, 2018
Engine

VEHICLE RUNNING ROUGH AND STALLING; 2ND REPLACEMENT OF TIMING CHAIN, FUEL PUMP TENSIONER/BELT

NHTSA ODI #11063337

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.