2011 Buick REGAL

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Buick REGAL has 441 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: 2011 buick regal. consumer states on five separate occasions the engine stalled *tgw the consumer stated when the vehicle stalled, it was difficult to restart. the last two instances, the vehicle had to be towed. the dealer reprogrammed the ecm and replaced the fuel pump on july 22, 2011. however. ⚠️ 13 fire reports filed.

13 fire reports 6 crash reports 8 injuries

441

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

112 complaints

25%

• 2011 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER STATES ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE ENGINE STALLED *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. THE LAST TWO INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECM AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ON JULY 22, 2011. HOWEVER
• WHILE TRAVELING 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGH WAY THE CAR SHUT OFF CAUSING ME TO FORCE THE WHEEL ON THE ROAD. I REPORTED THIS AND WAS GIVEN RENTAL CARS FOR THE NOISES AND BELTS TO BE EXAMINED. THE NOISE SUBSIDED A FEW WEEKS ONLY TO RETURN WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CAR CUT OFF AGA
• I EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT NOISE FROM THE RIGHT/PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I DROVE VEHICLE TO SUBURBAN BUICK GMC AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE NOISE AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. ON WHILE IN EL PASO, TX THE NOISE RETURN AND WOULD NOT STOP. DROVE VEHICLE TO SHAMALEY BUICK GMC ON JUNE 28,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“2011 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER STATES ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE ENGINE STALLED *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. THE LAST TWO INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECM AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ON JULY 22, 2011. HOWEVER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

76 complaints

17%

• WE HAVE EXPERIENCED STARTER MISHAPS OFF AND ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE EG: WHEN WE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN UNTIL KEY WAS REMOVED. ON 01/17/11, MY BUICK REGAL 2011 ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK IT TO DEALER SERVICE WHERE I BOUGHT IT (LAKE GMC/BUICK OF LAKE ELSINORE
• MY INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER IS SO DIM DURING THE DAY I CAN'T TELL HOW FAST I'M GOING... MY PREVIOUS 2009 BUICK LUCERNE HAD A BULLETIN FOR INSTRUMENT PANEL BACK LIGHT REPLACEMENT. *TR
• DURING THE DAY THE SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE ARE NOT READABLE DURING THE DAY. DIFFICULT TO VIEW INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) DISPLAY WHEN DRIVING TOWARD BRIGHT SUNSHINE. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 7 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WE HAVE EXPERIENCED STARTER MISHAPS OFF AND ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE EG: WHEN WE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN UNTIL KEY WAS REMOVED. ON 01/17/11, MY BUICK REGAL 2011 ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK IT TO DEALER SERVICE WHERE I BOUGHT IT (LAKE GMC/BUICK OF LAKE ELSINORE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

39 complaints

• 2011 BUICK REGAL HAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AS THE FOOT IS TRANSFERRED FROM ACCELERATOR TO BRAKE WHEN APPROACHING STOP LIGHT. GM COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM. HAD TO TRADE VEHICLE IN FOR NEW CAR. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED NO FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT OR STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE NEVER STALLED, BUT THE CONTACT WOULD

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“2011 BUICK REGAL HAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AS THE FOOT IS TRANSFERRED FROM ACCELERATOR TO BRAKE WHEN APPROACHING STOP LIGHT. GM COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM. HAD TO TRADE VEHICLE IN FOR NEW CAR. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

38 complaints

• THE HEADLAMPS BLOW OUT AND UPON EXAMINING THE BULB HOUSING THE WIRING AND THE CASING THAT THE REPLACEMENT BULBS IS SUPPOSE TO BE INSERTED IN IS BURNED OFF. THE WIRING AND THE CASING IS GONE. THE RECALL IS 12V484 IS NOT ADDRESSING THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE OF THE HEADLAMPS CLEARLY FAILING TO CONFORM T
• THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT BULB MELTED. BULB CAN NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE HOUSING IS DAMAGED. CONTACT THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALLS. I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY PARTS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A FACTORY DEFECT AND CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE ORDERED PART AND I'M ST
• MY CRUISE CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AFTER HAVING A RECALL FIXED ON MY 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE RECALLS THAT WERE FIXED WERE AN OIL LIFE MONITOR CONTROL MODULE AND A TURN SIGNAL CONTROL MODULE. AFTER HAVING THIS FIXED, MY CRUISE CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHTS NO LONGER ARE WORKING. I WAS PUL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“THE HEADLAMPS BLOW OUT AND UPON EXAMINING THE BULB HOUSING THE WIRING AND THE CASING THAT THE REPLACEMENT BULBS IS SUPPOSE TO BE INSERTED IN IS BURNED OFF. THE WIRING AND THE CASING IS GONE. THE RECALL IS 12V484 IS NOT ADDRESSING THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE OF THE HEADLAMPS CLEARLY FAILING TO CONFORM T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

32 complaints

• THE BRAKES ON MY 2011 BUICK REGAL NEVER FELT RIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO DOWN ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, THEY TESTED IT AND SAID THAT WAS THE WAY THE BRAKES ARE ON ALL THE REGALS. THEN IN THE VERY HOT SUMMER OF 2012 THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED TO STICK TO FLOOR WHEN I STARTED T
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL CXL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS OVERHEATED AND GRABBED, CAUSING THE BRAKE NOT TO RELEASE AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNA
• SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THIS USED VEHICLE (WITH 29,000 MILES ON IT) IT COMPLETELY STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH. IT STARTED BRAKING BY ITSELF MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO GET TO AN EMERGENCY PULL OFF AREA. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT CONSIDERING IT WAS RUSH HOUR.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE BRAKES ON MY 2011 BUICK REGAL NEVER FELT RIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO DOWN ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, THEY TESTED IT AND SAID THAT WAS THE WAY THE BRAKES ARE ON ALL THE REGALS. THEN IN THE VERY HOT SUMMER OF 2012 THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED TO STICK TO FLOOR WHEN I STARTED T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 441 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 2011 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER STATES ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE ENGINE STALLED *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. THE LAST TWO INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECM AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ON JULY 22, 2011. HOWEVER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WE HAVE EXPERIENCED STARTER MISHAPS OFF AND ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE EG: WHEN WE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN UNTIL KEY WAS REMOVED. ON 01/17/11, MY BUICK REGAL 2011 ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK IT TO DEALER SERVICE WHERE I BOUGHT IT (LAKE GMC/BUICK OF LAKE ELSINORE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 2011 BUICK REGAL HAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AS THE FOOT IS TRANSFERRED FROM ACCELERATOR TO BRAKE WHEN APPROACHING STOP LIGHT. GM COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM. HAD TO TRADE VEHICLE IN FOR NEW CAR. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: THE HEADLAMPS BLOW OUT AND UPON EXAMINING THE BULB HOUSING THE WIRING AND THE CASING THAT THE REPLACEMENT BULBS IS SUPPOSE TO BE INSERTED IN IS BURNED OFF. THE WIRING AND THE CASING IS GONE. THE RECALL IS 12V484 IS NOT ADDRESSING THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE OF THE HEADLAMPS CLEARLY FAILING TO CONFORM T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)