2018 Buick REGAL
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2018 Buick REGAL has 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2018 buick regal. while driving through a drive'thru, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle inadvertently accelerated and crashed into a pole. the contact exited the vehicle, inspected the damage, and concluded that the vehicle was able to be driven. the dealer (grein.
33
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
BRAKES
8 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A DRIVE'THRU, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, INSPECTED THE DAMAGE, AND CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER (GREIN
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY OF 2018, BUT DID NOT OBTAIN IT UNTIL JUNE 15, 2018. WHILE IN A DRIVE-THRU LINE, THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE FEND
- • The contact owns a 2018 Buick Regal. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V465000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A DRIVE'THRU, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, INSPECTED THE DAMAGE, AND CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER (GREIN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
5 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE WAS DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN TO PRESERVE FUEL. INSTEAD, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD REV AND INCREASE TO 3,000 AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM D
- • WHILE BEING DRIVEN THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT GEARS WHILE RPMS ARE REGISTERED THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO RESPOND AND LACKS POWER. I WAS FORCED TO SHIFT MANUALLY TO TRY AND GET THE GEARS TO SHIFT WITH NO LUCK AFTER QUICKLY MAKING THE SWITCH BETWEEN AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL TWICE THE AUTOMAT
- • DURING THE COLD WEATHER WHILE BEING DRIVEN THE AC UNIT OR HEATER THROWS MOISTURE INTO THE CABIN RESULTING IN COMPLETE VISION IMPAIRMENT. THIS HAPPENED FIRST WHILE GOING UP A MOUNTAIN ROAD AND THE CAR HAD TO BE COMPLETELY STOPPED HOPING NOT TO GET HIT. THE DEFROST WAS MAXED AND THE IMPAIRMENT WAS S
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE WAS DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN TO PRESERVE FUEL. INSTEAD, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD REV AND INCREASE TO 3,000 AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM D”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
4 complaints- • REVERSING CAMERA CAMERA IS INSTALLED AND EQUIPPED WITH GUIDE LINES SHOWING DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND WHEEL POSITION. THESE GUIDELINES INTERMITENTLY DISAPPEAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IF THE CAR IS PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO REVERSE LINES REAPPEAR. SINCE THE LINES ARE A FEATURE OF THE VEHI
- • DURING THE COLD WEATHER WHILE BEING DRIVEN THE AC UNIT OR HEATER THROWS MOISTURE INTO THE CABIN RESULTING IN COMPLETE VISION IMPAIRMENT. THIS HAPPENED FIRST WHILE GOING UP A MOUNTAIN ROAD AND THE CAR HAD TO BE COMPLETELY STOPPED HOPING NOT TO GET HIT. THE DEFROST WAS MAXED AND THE IMPAIRMENT WAS S
- • The check engine light is always on and has not been diagnosed (as of yet) by Circle Buick - Highland, IN. There is an auto-engine-shutoff feature when the vehicle stops at traffic lights, and when you resume driving there can be a lengthy delay and/or an engine & transmission jolt after the brake
“REVERSING CAMERA CAMERA IS INSTALLED AND EQUIPPED WITH GUIDE LINES SHOWING DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND WHEEL POSITION. THESE GUIDELINES INTERMITENTLY DISAPPEAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IF THE CAR IS PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO REVERSE LINES REAPPEAR. SINCE THE LINES ARE A FEATURE OF THE VEHI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
3 complaints- • The check engine light is always on and has not been diagnosed (as of yet) by Circle Buick - Highland, IN. There is an auto-engine-shutoff feature when the vehicle stops at traffic lights, and when you resume driving there can be a lengthy delay and/or an engine & transmission jolt after the brake
- • Increased stopping distance during certain brake vacuum loss events. My check engine light goes on and off periodically. When I’m at a red light my whole car shuts off and goes into a neutral mode then once I press the brake it starts back up.
- • This issue is related to the gear shifter on the vehicle. When stopping the car and putting it into park the dashboard shows the message "Shift to Park." this vehicle has only 50,000 miles on it and this issue cause safety issues as the battery on the vehicle will drain as the car can't be turned of
“The check engine light is always on and has not been diagnosed (as of yet) by Circle Buick - Highland, IN. There is an auto-engine-shutoff feature when the vehicle stops at traffic lights, and when you resume driving there can be a lengthy delay and/or an engine & transmission jolt after the brake ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
2 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A DRIVE'THRU, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, INSPECTED THE DAMAGE, AND CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER (GREIN
- • WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY I CAME TO A STOP DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. ONCE I GOT THROUGH THE ACCIDENT I TRIED TO SPEED UP AND THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO SPEED UP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE ACCELERATION IS NECESSARY TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A DRIVE'THRU, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, INSPECTED THE DAMAGE, AND CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER (GREIN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 33 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A DRIVE'THRU, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, INSPECTED THE DAMAGE, AND CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER (GREIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE WAS DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN TO PRESERVE FUEL. INSTEAD, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD REV AND INCREASE TO 3,000 AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: REVERSING CAMERA CAMERA IS INSTALLED AND EQUIPPED WITH GUIDE LINES SHOWING DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND WHEEL POSITION. THESE GUIDELINES INTERMITENTLY DISAPPEAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IF THE CAR IS PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO REVERSE LINES REAPPEAR. SINCE THE LINES ARE A FEATURE OF THE VEHI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: The check engine light is always on and has not been diagnosed (as of yet) by Circle Buick - Highland, IN. There is an auto-engine-shutoff feature when the vehicle stops at traffic lights, and when you resume driving there can be a lengthy delay and/or an engine & transmission jolt after the brake
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Buick REGAL — Year Comparison
How does 2018 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 33
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 7
- Injury reports
- 6
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2018 Buick REGAL