Buick Regal: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
1,298 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Buick Regal, model years 2000 to 2020. 4 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2011 (engine 11×); 2001 (engine 8.2×); 2000 (engine 5.9×); 2002 (engine 4.6×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2017, 2019, 2015. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Regal | 184 | engine 5.9× | 10 | |
| 2001 Regal | 187 | engine 8.2× | 8 | |
| 2002 RegalFEW REPORTS | 117 | engine 4.6× | 5 | |
| 2003 RegalFEW REPORTS | 101 | — | 5 | |
| 2004 RegalFEW REPORTS | 66 | — | 4 | |
| 2005 RegalFEW REPORTS | 4 | — | 0 | |
| 2008 RegalFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 0 | |
| 2009 RegalFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 0 | |
| 2010 RegalFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 0 | |
| 2011 Regal | 280 | engine 11× | 4 | |
| 2012 RegalFEW REPORTS | 92 | — | 7 | |
| 2013 RegalFEW REPORTS | 91 | — | 6 | |
| 2014 RegalFEW REPORTS | 38 | quiet: 4 of 13 | 2 | |
| 2015 RegalFEW REPORTS | 33 | quiet: 3 of 13 | 0 | |
| 2016 RegalFEW REPORTS | 41 | quiet: 5 of 13 | 1 | |
| 2017 RegalFEW REPORTS | 20 | quiet: 1 of 13 | 0 | |
| 2018 RegalFEW REPORTS | 19 | — | 3 | |
| 2019 RegalFEW REPORTS | 20 | quiet: 2 of 13 | 2 | |
| 2020 RegalFEW REPORTS | 2 | — | 1 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Buick models
Buick Century · Buick Enclave · Buick Encore · Buick Encore GX · Buick Envision · Buick LaCrosse · Buick LeSabre · Buick Lucerne · Buick Park Avenue · Buick Rainier · Buick Rendezvous · Buick Terraza · Buick Verano. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 200020012011