1989 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 1989 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
- Brakes5846.4%
- Body & structure1512.0%
- Electrical129.6%
- Engine118.8%
- Visibility43.2%
- Driver assistance43.2%
- Steering43.2%
- Interior & seats32.4%
- Powertrain (other)32.4%
- Fuel system32.4%
- Seat belts21.6%
- Transmission21.6%
- Heating & air conditioning10.8%
- Suspension10.8%
- Tires & wheels10.8%
- Other / unspecified10.8%
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
I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME RECALL ON THE REAR CALIPERS BUT THE LOCAL DEALER SAID NO... I CHECKED THE SITE AND CANT FIND ANY INFO WAS I JUST MIS INFORMED? NLM
REAR DISC BRAKES FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES CALIPERS WOULD NOT MOVE FREELY, AND PADS WOULD RUB ON ROTORS. BRAKES WERE RUSTY. NOT ABLE TO TURN DUE TO RUBBING. WAS REPLACED 3 YEARS AGO. *AK
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING UNDER 10 MPH, THE ENGINE FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE REAR CRADLE BOLT BROKE AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V058000, REGARDING THE STRUCTURE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
CRADLE HAS ROTTED OUT BECAUSE THE CRADLE BOLTS HAVE RUSTED. GMC HAS ISSUED A RECALL 00 V 189 000. DEALER : NEAL BUICK, MEDFORD, NY 631-289-7800 REFUSED TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO ENGINE CRADLE ROTTING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER TRAVELING 35 MILES, ON FREEWAY, STALLED OUT GOING DOWN OFF RAMP,ON RAMP, APROX 20 MPH.WAS TO TOWED TO GARAGE. STARTED RIGHT UP AFER COOLED DOWN FOR 1HOUR. DAUGHTERS 1989 OLDS DOES SAME THING.IS THERE A RECALL OF SOME KIND I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? CRUISE CONTROL DOESNT WORK. *AK
2 OCCURRENCES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. FIRST REPORTED TO GM DEALER 2/13/92. DEALER STATED DEFECTIVE ECM AND REPLACED ECM. NO PROBLEMS TILL RECENTLY. WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE CAR ACCELERATED WITH FULL RPM. CAR CRASHED INTO ROW OF TRESS, TOTALLED VEHICLE AND INJURING DRIVER. WOULD NOW LIKE TO KNOW RECOURSE WITH GM.*AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE ENGINE FAIL FROM UNDER VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICE TECHNICIAN NOTICE CRADLE MOUNTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LOST POWER CAUSING A CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER WINDOWS MOTOR SHORT-CIRCUITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK
REAR BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING BRAKES TO GRIND; ALSO REPLACED REAR BRAKE PADS/REAR CALIPER SLIDE KITS AND REPLACED LEFT FRONT POWER DOOR WINDOW. *AK
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
2 OCCURRENCES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. FIRST REPORTED TO GM DEALER 2/13/92. DEALER STATED DEFECTIVE ECM AND REPLACED ECM. NO PROBLEMS TILL RECENTLY. WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE CAR ACCELERATED WITH FULL RPM. CAR CRASHED INTO ROW OF TRESS, TOTALLED VEHICLE AND INJURING DRIVER. WOULD NOW LIKE TO KNOW RECOURSE WITH GM.*AK
THE BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK AND THE CRUISE CONTROL RESUMES ON ITS OWN. *AK RECALL 90V185000 INVOLVES THE BRAKE STOPLAMPS, HOWEVER DEALER INFORME CONSUMER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, CONSUMER HAD REPAIRS MADE AT HIS COSTS. *SLC
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
STEERING FAILURE.
STEERING FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE SPEEDOMETER IS LED DISPLAY WHICH FOR THE MOST PART DOESN'T WORK, HOWEVER, WHEN THE TEMP. DROPS IT COMES ON FOR A BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME.
DIGITAL DISPLAY CONSOLE; INSIDE THE DASH LOCATED AT TOP WHERE DISPLAY CONSOLE IS DRIVER HEARD A POP, THEN SMOKE APPEARED. OWNER OPENED WINDOW AND SMOKE CLEARED BUT RETURNED ABRUPTLY FOLLOWED BY FIRE. DASH BOARD HAD TO BE DESTROYED DUE TO FIRE RESTARTING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVESHAFT PULLY THAT DRIVES SURPENTINE BELT IS HALF WAY APART, TORE BELT, CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES, NEARLY CAUSED PERSONAL INJURY, NO WARNING.
ODOMETER INOPERATIVE. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE SMELLED OF GAS, THERE WAS GAS ON THE GROUND ALL THE TIME. THE GAS TANK WAS DEFECTIVE AS STATED IN RECALL 88V188000. *AK
ALTERNATOR/ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND 2 INJECTORS FAILED/REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T RELEASE AT TIMES. *AK
PLASTIC PIECE ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE. TT
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT INDICATION VEHICLE ENGINE DROPPED, AND CONSUMER LOST ALL STEERING AND BRAKE POWER. *AK TRANSMISSION ALSO DROPPED TO THE GROUND CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE POWER, MUFFLER BREAKING AND WATER PUMP LEAK. *YH
STEERING FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VECHICLE'S AIR COND. HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. IT WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALER TWICE. THEY REPLIED THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM BUT EVERY YEAR THE SYSTEM NEEDS RECHARGED, SOMETIMES TWICE A YEAR.
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
WHEN PULLING OUT OF A STATION WELDS FOR THE HOUSING OF FRONT BUSHINGS BROKE. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
FIRST TIRE DEVELOPED A OBLONG BUBBLE APPROX TEN INCHES LONG UNDER THE TIRE TREAD, WOBBLED REAL GOOD. SECOND TIRE YOU COULD TELL WAS OUT OF ROUND BY GOING REAL SLOW, STEEL TREADS SHOWING THROUGH. THESE TIRES WERE A 4 YRS OLD AND HAD 25000 MILES ON THEM. ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED.*AK (TIRESIZE: P205/70R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/70R14 )
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
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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 .