Is the 2012 Buick REGAL reliable?

The 2012 Buick REGAL has 137 complaints filed with NHTSA (2.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: LIGHTING problems.

What are common problems with the 2012 Buick REGAL?

Top problems: LIGHTING (35 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (21 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (18 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2012 Buick REGAL?

Yes, there are 7 recall(s): SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION:REAR. Contact any Buick dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to charge a 2012 Buick REGAL?

The 2012 Buick REGAL has an EPA rating of 23 MPGe. At the current US average residential electricity rate, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $3341. State rates vary significantly — see the interactive calculator on this page.

How much does it cost to insure a 2012 Buick REGAL?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2012 Buick REGAL is approximately $1,708/year (ev-mainstream class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Does the 2012 Buick REGAL qualify for tax credits?

The federal EV tax credit (Section 30D) expired for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. If purchased before that date, the 2012 Buick REGAL may still qualify on the 2025 tax return. State-level incentives remain active in 13+ states — see the incentives section on this page for details.

2012 Buick REGAL

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Buick REGAL has 137 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.7x the segment average of 51. The most common issue is lighting problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 buick regal. contact stated that the brake lights and headlights stopped working. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and repaired. no further information was available. the contact also indicated that after shutting the vehicle off, the engine would not restart. the vehi. There are 7 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 4 crash reports 2 injuries

137

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

2.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

LIGHTING

35 complaints

26%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHI
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING TURNED ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE RADIO SPONTANEOUSLY TURNED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN W
• TAKATA RECALL I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT KEEP GETTING CONDENSATION IN IT I NOTICED THAT EVERYBODY WHO HAVE THE GS MODEL HAS CONDENSATION IN CAUSING THE BALLAST TO FILL WITH WATER AND CAUSING THE BULB TO BURN OUT AND THE BALLAST AND BULB HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WATER ENTERING INTO TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2012 Buick REGAL

Based on 100 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 60K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

Earlier than typicalmedian 35K mi · 7 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

Earlier than typicalmedian 34K mi · 7 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

Earlier than typicalmedian 23K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

Earlier than typicalmedian 12K mi · 5 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

Reported earliermedian 39K mi · 5 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

LIGHTING

In line with typicalmedian 66K mi · 24 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (7)

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST23/07/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

Risk: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

Charging Cost Calculator for 2012 Buick REGAL

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local electricity price)

Per year

$3,311

Per month

$276

Per mile

27.6¢

kWh/mi

1.47

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Buick REGAL

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,708

Full coverage / month

$142

Liability only / year

$638

vs US avg

+2%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (ev-mainstream)1.18x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1708

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Buick New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

4 yr / 50K mi

Powertrain

6 yr / 70K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

6 yr / 100K mi

Roadside assistance

6 yr / 70K mi

These are the terms for a new Buick. If you're buying a used 2012 REGAL, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Buick dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

EV Incentives for 2012 Buick REGAL

Updated 2026-07

Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30

Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.

State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)

CaliforniaUp to $12,000

Clean Cars 4 All

ColoradoUp to $5,000

Innovative Motor Vehicle Credit

ConnecticutUp to $4,250

CHEAPR (Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate)

DelawareUp to $2,500

Clean Vehicle Rebate

IllinoisUp to $4,000

Illinois EV Rebate Program

MarylandUp to $3,000

Excise Tax Credit for Plug-in Electric Vehicles

MassachusettsUp to $3,500

MOR-EV

New JerseyUp to $4,000

Charge Up New Jersey

New YorkUp to $2,000

Drive Clean Rebate

OregonUp to $7,500

Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate

PennsylvaniaUp to $3,000

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Rebate Program

Rhode IslandUp to $2,500

DRIVEEV

TexasUp to $2,500

Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive

VermontUp to $5,000

Incentive Program for New Electric Vehicles

See full state-by-state EV incentive details

Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.

Estimated Repair Costs

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~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 137 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
LIGHTING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE TECHNICIANS WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETUR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RPMS IDLES HIGH AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 45MPH. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL AND AS A RESULT, SHE HAD TO USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: THE 2012 BUICK REGAL CONSUMES A QUART OR MORE OF OIL IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS OR 300 MILES. I AM PUTTING A QUART IN IT JUST TO GET IT TO READ ON THE DIP STICK AND MORE IF NEEDED. AS IT CONSUMES OIL, THE ENGINE GAINS A NOTICABLE TICKING NOISE WITH A ROUGH START. ALL OF THIS IS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING ON A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 7 recalls have been completed — free at any Buick dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)