Research · complaint index
Buick Regal years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 18 model years of the Buick Regal by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2011, 1998 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
1.0 = typical year for this model
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 0.1 | 2 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2019 | 20 | 3 | 0.5 | 3 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2018 | 19 | 2 | 0.4 | 3 | 5 | Fewest complaints |
| 2017 | 20 | 2 | 0.4 | 0 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2016 | 41 | 4 | 0.7 | 1 | 0 | Typical |
| 2015 | 33 | 3 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | Typical |
| 2014 | 38 | 3 | 0.6 | 2 | 1 | Typical |
| 2013 | 91 | 7 | 1.3 | 6 | 6 | Typical |
| 2012 | 92 | 6 | 1.2 | 7 | 3 | Typical |
| 2011 | 280 | 18 | 3.4 | 4 | 7 | Most complaints |
| 2004 | 66 | 3 | 0.6 | 4 | 0 | Typical |
| 2003 | 104 | 4 | 0.8 | 5 | 5 | Typical |
| 2002 | 129 | 5 | 1.0 | 5 | 2 | Typical |
| 2001 | 194 | 7 | 1.4 | 8 | 5 | Typical |
| 2000 | 196 | 7 | 1.4 | 10 | 12 | Typical |
| 1999 | 252 | 9 | 1.7 | 8 | 8 | Typical |
| 1998 | 312 | 11 | 2.1 | 7 | 7 | Most complaints |
| 1996 | 207 | 7 | 1.3 | 4 | 14 | Typical |
- 20202 complaints · 2 recallsFewest complaints
- 201920 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
- 201819 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
- 201720 complaints · 0 recallsFewest complaints
- 201641 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 201533 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 201438 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 201391 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 201292 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2011280 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
- 200466 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2003104 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2002129 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2001194 complaints · 8 recallsTypical
- 2000196 complaints · 10 recallsTypical
- 1999252 complaints · 8 recallsTypical
- 1998312 complaints · 7 recallsMost complaints
- 1996207 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
Data from NHTSA Complaints & Recalls APIs · synced Nov 10, 2026
Fewest complaints for their age: 2020, 2017, 2018, 2019.
About this comparison
What Buick Regal years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2011, 1998 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 18 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.