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Buick Regal Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2000 to 2020, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Buick Regal model years through 2024, 2015 and 2017 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2000 has the most (8). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Buick Regal: Key Facts

Model years with data
15 (2000–2020)
Distinct recall campaigns
26
Fewest recalls
2015 and 2017 (0)
Most recalls
2000 (8)
Most recalled system
Engine and engine cooling (14)
5-star overall rating
2012, 2013, 2014 and 3 more years

Buick Regal Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Buick Regal — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2000–2020
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2020 2 Not rated Seats, Service brakes, hydraulic
2019 3 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic, Seats
2018 3 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic, Seat belts
2017 0 5 stars None on record
2016 1 5 stars Steering
2015 0 5 stars None on record
2014 2 5 stars Power train, Steering
2013 6 5 stars Suspension, Electrical system, Exterior lighting
2012 7 5 stars Suspension, Exterior lighting, Electrical system
2011 4 Not rated Seats, Electrical system, Exterior lighting
2004 2 Not rated Engine and engine cooling
2003 3 Not rated Engine and engine cooling
2002 3 Not rated Engine and engine cooling
2001 6 Not rated Engine and engine cooling, Seat belts, Air bags
2000 8 Not rated Engine and engine cooling, Seat belts, Air bags

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 20202 recalls
  2. 20193 recalls
  3. 20183 recalls
  4. 20170 recalls
  5. 20161 recall
  6. 20150 recalls
  7. 20142 recalls
  8. 20136 recalls
  9. 20127 recalls
  10. 20114 recalls
  11. 20042 recalls
  12. 20033 recalls
  13. 20023 recalls
  14. 20016 recalls
  15. 20008 recalls

Buick Regal: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Buick Regal recalls are engine and engine cooling (14), suspension (7), service brakes, hydraulic (6), seat belts (5) and seats (5). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA has an overall star rating for 6 of these 15 model years, and 2012, 2013, 2014 and 3 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.

FAQ: Buick Regal Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Buick Regal?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2015 and 2017 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.

Which Buick Regal model years have the most recalls?

2000 has the most, with 8 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Regal", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy