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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
7,000 miles · Oct 15, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY BROUGHT TO A STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RED WARNING LIGHT WAS BLINKING ON THE SHIFTER PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INSTRUCTE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY BROUGHT TO A STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RED WARNING LIGHT WAS BLINKING ON THE SHIFTER PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE VEHICLE BUT AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED ALONG WITH THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE OPENING INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ODI #10480191

7,350 miles · Oct 11, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT TURNED INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO THE WALL OF A BUILDING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO SHOP FO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT TURNED INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO THE WALL OF A BUILDING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO SHOP FOR REPAIR TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,350.

NHTSA ODI #10479716

10,000 miles · May 24, 2012
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteeringCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT OR STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE NEVER STALLED, BUT THE CONTACT WOULD LOOSE POWER STEERING WHEN THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT OR STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE NEVER STALLED, BUT THE CONTACT WOULD LOOSE POWER STEERING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER TWICE AND WAS ALSO LOOKING AT A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER FOR MORE EXTENSIVE INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 7/12/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. HE LOST ALL POWER TO THE STEERING AND BRAKES. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL VALVE ARM WAS REPLACED. IN MAY 2012, HE WAS MAKING A TURN AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, WHICH LEFT HIM WITH NO STEERING, BRAKES OR TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER HIT A FENCE POST DRAGGING THE FRONT BUMPER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 07/18/12

NHTSA ODI #10459502

780 miles · Apr 14, 2012
Electrical SystemEquipment Adaptive/mobility

NAVIGATION SYSTEM HAS FAILED THREE TIMES INCLUDING NOT ACCEPTING KNOWN ADDRESSES AND SENDING YOU TO A WRONG ADDRESS WHICH IN ONE CASE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE SENDING YOU INTO AN AREA WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY AN AREA OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE DOCTORS OFFICE WE WERE TRYING TO LOCATE. IT WILL NOT EVEN ACCEPT MY HOME A…

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NAVIGATION SYSTEM HAS FAILED THREE TIMES INCLUDING NOT ACCEPTING KNOWN ADDRESSES AND SENDING YOU TO A WRONG ADDRESS WHICH IN ONE CASE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE SENDING YOU INTO AN AREA WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY AN AREA OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE DOCTORS OFFICE WE WERE TRYING TO LOCATE. IT WILL NOT EVEN ACCEPT MY HOME ADDRESS AS A DESTINATION LOCATION. I HAVE ANOTHER NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN OUR OTHER VEHICLE AND ALSO A PORTABLE SYSTEM WHICH ACCEPTS MY ADDRESS AS A DESTINATION. I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS SYSTEM CAN BE COUNTED ON IN AN EMERGENCY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED OR REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10455247

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2012
Equipment

I PURCHASED 2011 BUICK REGAL 2011 CXL TURBO #7. SINCE THEN, I HAVE EXPERIENCED SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES WITH AM/FM/XM STEREO SYSTEM WITH NAVIGATION AND 40GB HARD DRIVE IT IS PROBLEMATIC, AND IT WAS CHALLENGING TO GET ADEQUATE DIRECTIONS, BECAUSE OF ITS POOR QUALITY OF MAP DATA. A TRIP TAKEN TWICE A YEAR I FELT A BUILD IN NAVIGATI…

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I PURCHASED 2011 BUICK REGAL 2011 CXL TURBO #7. SINCE THEN, I HAVE EXPERIENCED SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES WITH AM/FM/XM STEREO SYSTEM WITH NAVIGATION AND 40GB HARD DRIVE IT IS PROBLEMATIC, AND IT WAS CHALLENGING TO GET ADEQUATE DIRECTIONS, BECAUSE OF ITS POOR QUALITY OF MAP DATA. A TRIP TAKEN TWICE A YEAR I FELT A BUILD IN NAVIGATION SYSTEM WOULD BE MORE SECURE AND ACCURATE. ROAD NETWORK ATTRIBUTES ARE CONTAINED IN THE MAP DATABASE THE MAP DATABASE DID NOT INCLUDE DATA FOR OLD CONSTRUCTED AREAS OR LONG TERM POINT OF INTEREST. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUES FOR THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS. I WAS GIVEN WRONG DIRECTIONS AND DIRECTED TO FAR LOCATION WHEN A CLOSER LOCATION WAS AVAILABLE SINCE UPDATED INFORMATION WAS NOT INCLUDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443396

15,307 miles · Dec 7, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED OF THE INCIDENT AND THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED OF THE INCIDENT AND THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,307.

NHTSA ODI #10438895

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2011
Unknown Or Other

DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE WHEN STEPPED ON DURING EXIT/ENTRY OR DURING THE COURSE OF DRIVING. MAT CAN BECOME LODGED UNDER BRAKE PEDAL RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, DEMONSTRATED PROBLEM, WAS TOLD THAT NO FIX EXISTS. CONTACTED CORPORATE AND EXPLAINED DANGER,…

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DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE WHEN STEPPED ON DURING EXIT/ENTRY OR DURING THE COURSE OF DRIVING. MAT CAN BECOME LODGED UNDER BRAKE PEDAL RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, DEMONSTRATED PROBLEM, WAS TOLD THAT NO FIX EXISTS. CONTACTED CORPORATE AND EXPLAINED DANGER, WAS TOLD THAT MATS ARE FUNCTIONING AS THEY SHOULD, NO REPAIR EXISTS. I AM A FORENSIC ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONIST AND HAVE SEEN THE RESULTS OF FLOORMATS BECOMING DISLODGED AND HAMPERING EMERGENCY BRAKING ATTEMPTS. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10437523

5,000 miles · Nov 28, 2011
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) DISPLAY IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING TOWARD BRIGHT SUNSHINE. THIS CONDITION DOES NOT AFFECT THE IPC OPERATION. THIS CONDITION COULD BE CAUSED BY AN INSUFFICIENT COLOR CONTRAST IN THE IPC DISPLAY AND BY INSUFFICIENT AMBIENT LIGHT REACHING THE CLUSTER FACE DUE TO DEEP TUNNELS AROUND THE IPC GAUG…

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INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) DISPLAY IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING TOWARD BRIGHT SUNSHINE. THIS CONDITION DOES NOT AFFECT THE IPC OPERATION. THIS CONDITION COULD BE CAUSED BY AN INSUFFICIENT COLOR CONTRAST IN THE IPC DISPLAY AND BY INSUFFICIENT AMBIENT LIGHT REACHING THE CLUSTER FACE DUE TO DEEP TUNNELS AROUND THE IPC GAUGES. PLEASE REFER TO: GM DOCUMENT ID: 2371933 ________________________________________ #06-08-49-021F: DIFFICULT TO VIEW INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) DISPLAY WHEN DRIVING TOWARD BRIGHT SUNSHINE (INSTALL NEW INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WITH LED BACK LIGHTING) - (DEC 3, 2009) *KB

NHTSA ODI #10437428

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2011
Electrical System

DURING THE DAY THE SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE ARE NOT READABLE DURING THE DAY. DIFFICULT TO VIEW INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) DISPLAY WHEN DRIVING TOWARD BRIGHT SUNSHINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436393

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2011
Electrical System

MY INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER IS SO DIM DURING THE DAY I CAN'T TELL HOW FAST I'M GOING... MY PREVIOUS 2009 BUICK LUCERNE HAD A BULLETIN FOR INSTRUMENT PANEL BACK LIGHT REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434386

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.