Problems · NHTSA complaints

1998 Buick Regal problems

Owners filed 312 complaints about the 1998 Buick Regal with NHTSA between Jan 1998 and Mar 2022. The most-cited component is steering (76).

Complaints
312
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
41
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering76
  2. Engine and engine cooling58
  3. Electrical system52
  4. Engine29
  5. Visibility26
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic25
  7. Exterior lighting21
  8. Power train13
  9. Structure10
  10. Tires10
  11. Suspension7
  12. Equipment7
  13. Seat belts6
  14. Air bags5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
199813
199946
200016
200122
200210
200329
200439
200517
200620
20075
200815
200915
20105
201111
20125
20133
20145
201512
201615
20173
20182
20191
20201
20211
20221

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

76 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V527000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,013.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 23, 2015SteeringODI 10712391

Engine and engine cooling

58 reports23 fires3 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 5 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE FLAMES WERE EXCESSIVE AND THE VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE FIRE, SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 THE (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 03/16/16*LJ;05/11/18*JB *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2015Engine and engine cooling, EngineFire reportedODI 10810085

Electrical system

52 reports1 crash7 fires
“On my way home from purchasing the vehicle, the car began to lose power and i noticed black smoke though the rear view mirror. Another driver signaled me down, so I pulled over and realized my car was on fire. The fire was in the engine compartment from what appeared to be the exhaust manifold. Since i was in a residential area, i grabbed a water hose and began to diffuse the fire. The fire department arrived and forced my hood open to reassure the fire was out. Luckily i was able to make it out safe. But i strongly believe my life and the lives of other drivers were definitely in danger”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2022Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineFire reportedODI 11455963

Engine

29 reports1 crash11 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS IDLE AT A GUARD SHAFT, WHEN SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER MOVED FORWARD AWAY FROM THE GUARD SHAFT AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HER HUSBAND OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THE GUARD PROVIDED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO HER HUSBAND TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE CONTACT STATED SHE RECEIVED RECALL LETTER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FAILURE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2019EngineFire reportedODI 11240685

Visibility

26 reports
“THE VEHICLE HAS HAD 14 POWER WINDOW MECHANISMS REPLACED AND THE WINDOWS CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. 14 REPLACEMENTS IN ONE CAR, THIS CAN'T BE THE ONLY VEHICLE IN WHICH THIS IS OCCURRING. *KB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2011VisibilityODI 10413973

Service brakes, hydraulic

25 reports1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN PROCEEDING TO MAKE A TURN. THE CONTACT EXERTED MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V527000 (STEERING;RACK AND PINION). THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURES IDENTICAL TO THE ONES MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,000. THE ABS MOTOR FAILED WHICH PREVENTED THE REAR BRAKES FROM WORKING AND ALSO THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. UPDATED 03/04/09. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2009Steering, Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical systemODI 10254767
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.