2012 Buick Regal: owner complaints and recalls

Analysis of 92 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 7 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.

92
Complaints
7
Recalls
3
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
4
Injuries
60.9
Severity index

Severity index 60.9 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.

Among the 129 2012 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2012 Buick Regal ranks 73 of 129 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 43% of its model-year peers. See the full 2012 ranking.

What actually fails

ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3335.9%
ENGINE2122.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1819.6%
SUSPENSION1112.0%
SERVICE BRAKES99.8%
POWER TRAIN77.6%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)77.6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL66.5%

The single most-reported system is EXTERIOR LIGHTING, cited in 33 of 92 complaints (35.9%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.

Complaints filed per year

2012: 72013: 42014: 22015: 42016: 22017: 52018: 122019: 102020: 112021: 182022: 62023: 52024: 32025: 22026: 1121314151617181920212223242526
YearComplaints
20127
20134
20142
20154
20162
20175
201812
201910
202011
202118
20226
20235
20243
20252
2026 (year to date)1
Complaint volume is declining, consistent with a defect that was addressed by recall or that affected early builds.

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
14V44700023/07/2014SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUSTGeneral 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
12V48400004/10/2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNALGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with two turn signal bulbs in each front turn signal. If one of the two front turn signal bulbs burn out in either front turn
12V09300007/03/2012EXTERIOR LIGHTINGGENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 BUICK REGAL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2011, THROUGH FEBRUARY 22, 2012 FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108 “LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUI
13V17300006/05/2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEMGeneral Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Regal, and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco vehicles equipped with eAssist. These vehicles may have a condition in which the Generator Control Module (GCM) may not function properly. This c
20V76400021/12/2020SUSPENSION:REARGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michiga
21V00F00022/12/2021SUSPENSION:REARGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michiga
26V11300026/02/2026SUSPENSION:REARGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012–2013 Buick Regal Turbo and GS trim-level vehicles that were sold or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.