RoadVitals

1981 Buick Regal

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
0
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Mar 23, 1981
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1981 Buick Regal. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
81V036000

WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER

Mar 23, 1981
6,690 units potentially affected
The defect: "TX" HEAVY DUTY WHEELS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH LAMINATED STEEL. THE WHEEL DISC MAY FRACTURE AND THE WHEEL AND TIRE COULD PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: THE DEFECTIVE WHEELS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
81V025000

SUSPENSION:REAR

Feb 25, 1981
5,821,160 units potentially affected
The defect: THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE LOWER REAR CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME MAY FRACTURE. THE REAR CONTROL ARM SUPPORTS AND POSITIONS THE REAR AXLE. FRACTURE OF THE BOLTS WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP FREE.
The remedy: BOTH REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
81V009000

WHEELS

Jan 13, 1981
17 units potentially affected
The defect: THE STEEL USED IN SOME COMPACT SPARE WHEELS IS TOO THIN. WHILE IN SERVICE THE WHEEL MAY FRACTURE, RESULTING IN A PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL AND TIRE FROM THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: SPARE WHEELS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNERS WITHIN 60 DAYS OF RECALL NOTIFICATION.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA86006ClosedEngineering Analysis

BRAKE BACKING PLATE

Opened Nov 27, 1985
Closed Nov 28, 1988

SUMMARY:GM IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN (85V-048)INVOLVING 2,136,826 VEHICLES. THE RECALL IS LIMITED TO VEHICLES BUILT ATCERTAIN ASSEMBLY PLANTS WHICH, ACCORDING TO GM, OVERTORQUED THE BRAKEPIPE NUT,THEREBY OVERSTRESSING THE WHEEL CYLINDER SUPPORT AREA OF THEBACKING PLATE.ANALYSIS:FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE SUFFICIENT BRAKING FOR PASSENGER CARSIN MOST NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. ALL AFFECTED TRUCKS ARE INCLUDED INTHE CURRENT RECALL.IN MOST CASES THE PROBLEM IS DISCOVERED DURING BRAKEMAINTENANCE.THE RECALL APPEARS TO COVER THOSE GROUPS OF CARS WITH THEHIGHEST FAILURE RATES.STATUS:ANALYZING GM IR RESPONSE AND NEW COMPLAINT DATA. DRAFT CLOSINGREPORT BY 5/15/88.===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buick Regal by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2020220—
2019183039.3
2018193162.9
2017200037.8
2016411034.9
2015330035.7
2014382047.9
2013916262.0
2012927257.9
20112794049.9
2010100—
2009100—
2008100—
2005400—
2004664045.0
20031015055.9
20021175263.8
20011878267.5
200018410366.7
19992468366.4
19983027666.0
19971368665.3
19962044665.9
19951738160.0
19941103049.2
1993852260.5
19921442258.7
199120071064.0
19907791066.8
198910681166.1
1988123111266.9
1987253662.1
1986125570.0
1985996—
1984653—
1983410—
1982121—
1981Viewing031—
1980061—
1979351—
1978172—
1977040—
1976020—
1975020—
1974020—
1973010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.