2012 Buick Regal problems and recalls

Owners have filed 92 complaints on the 2012 Buick Regal, and NHTSA has issued 7 recalls. The most cited component is the Exterior Lighting (33 complaints).

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

Severity index 60.9 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 60.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 73 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 44% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 33 complaints (35.9%)33 36%EngineEngine: 21 complaints (22.8%)21 23%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 18 complaints (19.6%)18 20%SuspensionSuspension: 11 complaints (12.0%)11 12%Service BrakesService Brakes: 9 complaints (9.8%)9 10%Power TrainPower Train: 7 complaints (7.6%)7 8%Electronic Stability Co…Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 7 complaints (7.6%)7 8%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 6 complaints (6.5%)6 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
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%

Complaints filed per year

09182012: 72013: 42014: 22015: 42016: 22017: 52018: 122019: 102020: 112021: 182022: 62023: 52024: 32025: 22026: 1 (partial year)12131415161718192021182223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20127
20134
20142
20154
20162
20175
201812
201910
202011
202118
20226
20235
20243
20252
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.3x those in 2020 to 2022 (10 against 35).

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

Other Buick Regal model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 8 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.