1987 Buick Regal Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 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
- Brakes1765.4%
- Seat belts311.5%
- Engine27.7%
- Suspension13.8%
- Other / unspecified13.8%
- Driver assistance13.8%
- Steering13.8%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKES AT TIMES TAKE EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO STOP CAR. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND WILL THEN WORK NORMAL AGAIN. THIS IS A TURBO REGAL EQUIPPED WITH A POWER MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM UNIQUE TO THESE CARS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO HAVE A BRAKE SYSTEM THAT CAN FAIL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE BRAKES BECAME EXTREMELY RESISTANT AND DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT HAD THE MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELT BUCKLE. SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER/LAP BELT LOCKS UP, TRAPPING OCCUPANT INSIDE VEHICLE, RELEASE BUTTON JAMS; DEALER LUBRICATED BUCKLE, REPLACED WITH REAR BELT, STILL HAS PROBLEM. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND/OR WILL HESITATE ON THE FREEWAY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO MECHANIC, ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS UNCORRECTED. *AK *ML
ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRAILING ARM AND BUSHING IN VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING. TT
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
HUB CAPS DISLODGE FROM WHEELS. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT RESPOND TO MY CORRESPONDENCE FOR ASSISTANCE. I HAVE PHOTOS AND CORRESPONDENCE. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE QUARTER PANEL. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. HE DID NOT FILE A POLICE REPORT. AFTERWARDS, HE NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED ALTHOUGH THE BRAKE DISENGAGED THE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
VACUUM ASSIST WHICH CONTROLS BRAKES AND POWER STEERING FAILED, LOSS OF BRAKES AND STEERING. TT
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .