1993 Buick Regal

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 85 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip12
102
Vehicle Speed Control6
400
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc6
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads4
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper4
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components4
000
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage4
001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor3
000
Seat Belts3
006

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting95V152000
Filed Aug 8, 199583,247 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. 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."

Risk. 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.

Seats93V035000
Filed Mar 9, 19935,574 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINING MECHANISMS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." THE SEAT BACK MECHANISMS WILL NOT LATCH UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

Risk. THE SEATS MAY RECLINE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, RESULTINGIN A HAZARD TO SEAT OCCUPANTS AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy. REPLACE THE MANUAL SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM WITH A MECHANISM THAT COMPLIES WITH FMVSS 207.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed May 12, 201641,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED AND REMAINED LOCKED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 06/29/16*LJ UPDATED 08/03/16.*JB UPDATED 11/23/16.*JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Nov 7, 2006OH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE HAD PERMANENT TO WORSENING CONDITIONS WITH THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE DESIGN WAS FOUR WHEEL ABS. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND CALIPERS HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE BEFORE, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL DUE TO THE VIN AND AGAIN REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND CALIPERS. THE VEHICLE STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS COMPARED TO NHTSA COMPLAINT # 532762 ABOUT THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK. THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/1/06. *JB

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Aug 30, 2004195,000 milesPA

WHEN DRIVING, THE CONSUMERS SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT HE MAY FALL BACK WITH NO WARNING AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE ANCHOR OF THE SEAT WAS BROKEN. *JB *SC *JB

Suspension
Filed Feb 11, 2004CA

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Sep 12, 2003CA

THE BATTERY WAS DEAD CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. ALL THE DOORS LOCKED AND THE MANUAL OVERRIDE FROZE SO THAT THE DRIVER COULD NOT EXIT THE VEHICLE. AFTER A LENGTH OF TIME, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH THE DOOR CONTROLS IN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls1 injured
Filed Aug 15, 2003OH

VEHICLE POWER WINDOWS ROLLED UP WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED TRAPPING 5-YEAR OLD CHILD'S HEAD. *MR WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONSUMERS FIVE YEAR OLD SONS NECK BECAME STUCK IN THE POWER WINDOW AS IT ROLLED UP. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE CHILD FROM THE WINDOW UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CHILD COULDN'T BREATH, EVEN AFTER THE REMOVAL. *SCC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 25, 200375,000 milesRI

THE METAL FRAME MOUNTS THAT HOLD ENGINE UP IN THE VEHICLE DETERIORATED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP TO THE GROUND WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Mar 7, 2002PA

THERE IS A LEAK ON LEFT HAND ON DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR NEAR BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT SITUATION, AND NO ONE CAN FIND OUT WHERE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Feb 26, 2002CA

CONSUMER'S PARENTS WERE DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. THEY GOT OUT, VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, AND IT BURNED COMPLETELY, EVEN TIRES EXPLODED. CONSUMER'S PARENTS WERE EMOTIONALLY TRAUMATIZED.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jan 11, 2002WA

WHILE DRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL AND CUT OFF ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. DEALER HAS REPLACED INGITION MODULE, BUT THAT HAS NOT REMEDIED PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Tires › Bead2 killed
Filed Jan 2, 2002DE

EARLY DEC 2001 AHD SLOW LEAK WENT TO DEALER AND TIRE WAS REPLACED FOR CORD POBLEM WITH ANOTHER MICHELIN X RADILA PLUS. WENT ON LONG TRIP AND HAD BOUNCING EFFECT AND ON RETURN WENT BACK TO DEALER WHERE SAME CORD PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED ON ONE OF REMAINING TIRES. AGAIN REPLCED WITH X RADIAL PLUS.ON SECOND FAILURE TIRE WAS SERIOUSLY OUT OF ROUND AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT INTERSTATE SPEED OF 65MPH. ALLOWANCE GRANTED BY DEALER(SAMS CLUB) OF 30% TREAD WEAR.WAS ALSO ADVISED BY DEALER THAT TIRE WAS DISCONTINUED WHICH CAUSES CONCERN ABOUT THE TIRE WITH 2 FAIURES IN LESS THA 30 DAYS. WAS THERE A PROBLEM FOR IT TO BE DISCONTINUED.*AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: P225/60R16)

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Aug 23, 2001CO

WHILE PROCEEDING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH MOTOR DIES WITHOUT WARNING AT DEALERS SUGGESTION, REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND FILTER, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS, DEALER NOW SUGGESTS REPLACING SENSOR THAT CHANGES RPM WHEN DECELERATING. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Aug 7, 2001OH

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURES, THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS FAILED CAUSING VIBRATION/SHIMMY, THE R/F WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND REAR CALIPER FAILED. NLM

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Jul 5, 2001MI

SEAT BELT TURNING LOOPS WOULD NOT SUSTAIN STRUCTURAL LOADING IN AN IMPACT. (WEB WOULD CUT). *AK

Structure
Filed Jun 12, 2001MI

WHILE IN REVERSE ENGINE CRADLE COLLAPSED DUE TO RUST RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Apr 23, 2001CA

THERE IS A LEAK IN GAS LINE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING FIRE HAZARD. *AK CONSUMER STATES IT IS AT THE CONNECTION TO METAL PIPE FROM TANK. *SLC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Mar 13, 2001TX

VEHICLE HAS INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCE DURING ALL KIND OF WEATHER. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES HARD THERE IS A GRINDING SOUND. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Mar 13, 2001AR

DRIVER SEATBELT WILL NOT LOCK WHEN BRAKING WITH FORCE. *AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Feb 23, 2001MI

WHILE TRAVELING OVER A POTHOLE FRONT END OF VEHICLE DROPPED. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED, TECHNICIAN STATED FRONT COLE SPRING HAD FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Nov 3, 2000VA

BRAKES WOULD STICK WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. CALIPERS WOULD FREEZE UP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED ROTORS AND CALIPERS. PROBLEM RETURNED.*AK

20 of 85 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1998
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20202200Routine
201919300Routine
201819300Routine
201720010Routine
201641100Routine
201533010Routine
201438200Routine
201391620Routine
201292720Routine
2011279470Above average
20101000Routine
20091000Routine
20081000Routine
20054000Routine
200466420Routine
20031015140Routine
20021175230High concern
20011878480High concern
200018410300High concern
19992468441Fatalities reported
19983027410High concern
19971368190Routine
19962044160Above average
1995173840Routine
1994110320Routine
1993 — this page85232Fatalities reported
1992144251Fatalities reported
1991200740Above average
199077911Fatalities reported

Compare every Regal year →

Reading this record

2 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 8, 1995. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.