RoadVitals

1986 Buick Regal Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

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.
12
Latest Mar 12, 2002
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Buick Regal, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Driver assistance430.8%
  • Brakes215.4%
  • Body & structure215.4%
  • Engine215.4%
  • Other / unspecified17.7%
  • Tires & wheels17.7%
  • Transmission17.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I TRIED TO CONTACT THE GUY IN THE WSJOURNAL ABOUT ENGINES ACCELERATING, TO NO AVAIL. HAVE HIM SEND ME AN EMAIL AND I WILL ENLIGHTEN HIM AS TO CAUSE ON THE FIRST ONE. HAVENT FIGURED OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS RUN AMOK CAR,YET. BUT WILL SEND DETAILS IN EMAIL! *AK

NHTSA ID 725181 · filed Jul 10, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE JUST TOOK OFF WIDE OPEN WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE MY WIFE HAD TO STAND UP ON THE BRAKES AND REACH DOWN TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID 807412 · filed Jan 10, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY HARD AND SOMETIMES THE PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. *AK

NHTSA ID 844427 · filed Aug 5, 1999

HAVING PROBLEM WITH DISC BRAKES CALIPER PINS AND ROTORS FROZE AND RUSTED. TT

NHTSA ID 968971 · filed Jul 18, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FRONT CRADLE BOLT PULLED THROUGH RETAINER DUE TO CORROSION. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY TWO MASTER TECHNICIANS AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GET FIXED. *YH

NHTSA ID 8005473 · filed Mar 12, 2002

CORROSION LEAD TO WASHER FAILURE RESULTING IN SUBFRAME ABSORBER FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAIL. TT

NHTSA ID 961302 · filed Mar 3, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE DRIVING. PREVIOUS REPAIRS WERE DONE, INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION. SPEED ABOUT 35 MPH, PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT, LEFT CAR PARKED. FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT SHOW UP. *AK

NHTSA ID 827621 · filed Sep 4, 1998

ENGINE REPLACED TWICE, ONCE RESULTING IN ENGINE CATCHING ON FIRE.

NHTSA ID 514592 · filed Feb 6, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THREE WHEELS HAVE HAD FAILURE IN THEIR STRUCTURE/CRACKS ON THE SPOKES.

NHTSA ID 536052 · filed May 26, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE RIM AND CAME OFF WHILE IN MOTION. *AK

NHTSA ID 837086 · filed Jun 7, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE DRIVING. PREVIOUS REPAIRS WERE DONE, INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION. SPEED ABOUT 35 MPH, PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT, LEFT CAR PARKED. FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT SHOW UP. *AK

NHTSA ID 827621 · filed Sep 4, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .