Problems · NHTSA complaints

2015 Buick Regal problems

Owners filed 33 complaints about the 2015 Buick Regal with NHTSA between Aug 2015 and Jul 2024. The most-cited component is engine (9).

Complaints
33
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
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. Engine9
  2. Exterior lighting8
  3. Electrical system5
  4. Fuel/propulsion system4
  5. Air bags3
  6. Service brakes2
  7. Seat belts2
  8. Wheels2
  9. Electronic stability control (esc)2
  10. Structure2
  11. Visibility/wiper2
  12. Suspension1
  13. Steering1
  14. Latches/locks/linkages1

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
20152
20166
20171
20183
20194
20208
20212
20222
20232
20243

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

Engine

9 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2015 Buick Regal. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, upon reaching a stop light, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and was able to restart. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who determined that the engine was experiencing a vacuum leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 102,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2024EngineODI 11604819

Exterior lighting

8 reports
“I purchased my 2015 buick in May of 2015. At about December of 2017 the drivers HID head light was breached and moisture crept in creating an inner fog and eventually a puddle of water. In the falloff 2018 the same thing happened on the passengers side. I've removed both head assemblies and tried to fix the problem with very little success. Now I am looking at replacing both lamp assemblies at a cost of $2200 not counting labor.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2022Exterior lightingODI 11490719

Electrical system

5 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BUICK REGAL. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK WAS PRESSED, WHICH ACTIVATED THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE AND THE OCCUPANTS BECAME TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2019Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 11231421

Fuel/propulsion system

4 reports1 crash
“I STARTED EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE OIL BURN AT AROUND. SINCE THEN, I HAVE CHECKED MY OIL BIWEEKLY TO TOP OFF AND KEEP AT PROPER LEVELS ALONG WITH CONSISTENT OIL CHANGES AS THE OIL GETS DIRTY QUICKLY. DEALERSHIPS BEFORE HAVE TOLD ME THAT ITS "NORMAL" FOR THESE ENGINES. I DISCOVERED A BAD OIL LEAK. VACUUM PUMP ISSUES. MULTIPLE CAMSHAFT SEALS WORN AWAY, THAT WERE HARD AS ROCK FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT INCLUDING PISTON SEALS THAT HAD BEEN AFFECTED. THOUGHT THIS POSSIBLY HAD FIXED THE EXCESSIVE OIL BURN. A FEW WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED THE OIL LEVEL LOW NOTIFICATION ON THE CAR COMPUTER. I CHECK AND ITS VERY LOW. THE OIL BURN IS CONTINUING WITH NO CLEAR SIGNS OF AN OIL LEAK WITH DIRTY OIL. THERE IS POSSIBLY MORE PROBLEMS WITHIN THE ENGINE THAT AREN'T SEEN. I HAVE CHECKED PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS. I NOTICE THAT THIS ENGINE HAS MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE TURBO PACKAGE ON GM VEHICLES. IT HAS A ROUGH IDLE AND ENGINE HESITATION. THESE CHARACTERISTICS SEEM TO INCLUDE INCONSISTENT ENGINE PERFORMANCE SOUND AND ARE FELT THROUGH THE PEDALS, THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL, THERE IS A PUTTER AND HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2021Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11400008

Air bags

3 reports
“Airbag Red Light indicator on for 2+ weeks, ambient temperature sensor malfunction and vehicle seems to have less pressure when accelerating”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2023Electrical system, Air bags, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11534658

Service brakes

2 reports
“After starting my vehicle with foot on the brake and putting the vehicle in gear it will move forward and occasionally roll for 4 or 5 feet before the brake engages. This is extremely dangerous as I'm pulling out of a parking space and merging with ongoing traffic !This has been going on for approximately three weeks. The vehicle literally has no brakes for four or five feet despite the fact that my foot being pressed all the way down on the brake pedal!! Last week I came very close to a major accident when I couldn't stop for an on oncoming car. Thank goodness the operator of the other vehicle stopped in time to avoid a serious accident! I immediately took the car to a local garage to have my brakes checked. They found no issues. I then took it to the Buick dealer,BICAL, and they found a serious issue. The brake vacuum pump had frozen and had actually disintegrated and no longer was functional. Parts from the pump entered the valve shaft area also. The end result was a $3,000 repair bill. The important issue here is the driver safety on the road.Although this was only occasional and at low speeds left unattended would lead to a total brake failure with major…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2024Service brakesODI 11586939
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.