RoadVitals

1990 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.
77
Latest Sep 26, 2017
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
14
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.
8

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1990 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

  • Brakes4450.0%
  • Body & structure66.8%
  • Engine66.8%
  • Suspension66.8%
  • Other / unspecified44.5%
  • Electrical44.5%
  • Fuel system33.4%
  • Transmission33.4%
  • Seat belts33.4%
  • Airbags22.3%
  • Driver assistance22.3%
  • Interior & seats22.3%
  • Steering22.3%
  • Visibility11.1%

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.

44
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT 20 MPH BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ,AND VEHICLE CONTINUE ON BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI

NHTSA ID 8013481 · filed Jul 9, 2002

REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WOULD LOCK UP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. HAD BRAKES REPLACED TWICE DUE TO PADS WEARING EXCESSIVELY. MECHANIC INDICATED CAUSE OF PROBLEM WAS MASTER CYLINDER.*AK

NHTSA ID 895395 · filed Aug 29, 2001
All 44 reports naming brakes

Body & structure

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

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS BROKE AND THE CRADLE SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING LINKAGE COUPLERS TO SEPARATE AND FALL OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CRADLE BOLTS RUSTED. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF CORROSIVE RESTRAINT PARTS WERE USED WHEN THE REAR CRADLE BOLT RECALL 97V058000 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, PER THE DEALERSHIP.*AK A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE FRONT AND REAR CRADLE BOLTS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO FIND OUT WHEN OR IF THE BOLTS WERE EVER REPLACED. THE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO OUTSTANDING RECALL ON THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT TELL THE CONSUMER WHEN THE RECALL WERE DONE. *NM

NHTSA ID 10081463 · filed Sep 28, 2004

AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE CRADLE BOLTS WAS COMPLETED, THE STEERING FAILED. RECALL #00 V 189 000. *JB AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE CRADLE BOLTS WAS COMPLETED, THE STEERING FAILED. RECALL #00 V 189 000. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON BRAKES-CONSUMER'S BRAKES FAILED AFTER THE CLASS ACTION SUIT.*MR

NHTSA ID 10015824 · filed Apr 14, 2003

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.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE WAS SOUNDING LIKE SOMETHING WAS RATTLING AND IT WAS JERKING. ALSO, CONSUMER SAW A LOT OF SMOKE, THEN VEHICLE CUT OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID 866472 · filed Aug 1, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE STALLED/SURGED AND IDLED TO HIGH RPMS. CONSUMER STATED BRAKES HAVE TO BE DEPRESSED MOST OF TRAVELING. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID 860901 · filed Apr 25, 2000

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.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE WAS SOUNDING LIKE SOMETHING WAS RATTLING AND IT WAS JERKING. ALSO, CONSUMER SAW A LOT OF SMOKE, THEN VEHICLE CUT OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID 866472 · filed Aug 1, 2000

CRADLE BOLTS RUSTED AND BROKEN CAUSING FRAME TO COME APART, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. MJS

NHTSA ID 549233 · filed Oct 25, 1999

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.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL VIBRATED. DRIVER PULLED OVER, PULLED OFF LUGS, AND NOTICED THE RIM WAS CRACKED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. RECALL 94V041000 WAS ISSUED ON THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID 10057704 · filed Feb 9, 2004

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND THE PART WAS ON ORDER.*AK

NHTSA ID 873119 · filed Oct 17, 2000

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

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CONTROLLED BY SIGNAL LEVER DO NOT WORK EXCEPT BY HOLDING LEVER IN CERTAIN POSITIONS: I.E. BRAKE LIGHTS, SIGNAL LEVER L UP, TURN SIGNALS SWITCH LEVER UP, HIGH BEAMS NO GO ETC. ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ID 11030063 · filed Sep 26, 2017

NOT STARTING (ENGINE TRIES TO START BUT JUST WON'T CATCH) AND STALLING WHILE IDLING. #1 OF 6: TOOK CAR FROM HOME, DROVE ABOUT 15 MILES, TURNED IT OFF FOR OVER AN HOUR, DROVE ABOUT 1/10 MILE, TURNED IT OFF FOR OVER AN HOUR, WOULDN'T START. LEFT IT SIT FOR 30 MINUTES. STARTED UP JUST FINE. #2 OF 6: TOOK CAR FROM HOME, DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES, TURNED IT OFF FOR 2 HOURS, DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE, TURNED IT OFF FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, WOULDN'T START. LEFT IT SIT FOR 10 MINUTES. STARTED UP FINE, ALTHOUGH I FOLLOWED PROCEDURE FOR FLOODED ENGINE. STOPPED ABOUT 2 BLOCKS AGAIN TO GET GAS. STARTED UP FINE AGAIN. #3 OF 6: TOOK CAR FROM HOME, DID A LOT OF START/STOP DRIVING THAT MORNING. LATER THAT AFTERNOON DROVE ABOUT 10 MILES, TURNED IF OFF FOR OVER AN HOUR, STARTED UP FINE, DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE, HAD TO STOP AT STOP LIGHT. WHILE IDLING, STALLED OUT. WOULDN'T START FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. AT THIS POINT I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PROM AND IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. #4 OF 6: 2 DAYS AFTER DEALER REPLACED THE ABOVE, IT STALLED AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK AND DRIVING JUST A SHORT DISTANCE. HOWEVER, UNLIKE ALL OTHER TIMES IT STARTED UP WITHIN A MINUTE. (IT WAS RAINY THAT EVENING.) TOOK BACK TO DEALER. HE SEALED THE CONNECTIONS - THOUGHT MAYBE THEY GOT WET. #5 OF 6: ABOUT 5 WEEKS LATER WE WENT ON A LONG TRIP AND ALL WAS WELL UNTIL WE WENT TO A STORE AND BACK AND THEN ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER IT WOULD NOT START. #6 OF 6: DROVE HOME FROM WORK (14 MILES), STOPPED FOR GAS ABOUT 1 MILE FROM HOME, FILLED TANK, DROVE HOME, LEFT CAR SIT FOR 45 MINUTES, DROVE ABOUT 3 MILES, LEFT CAR SIT FOR 1 AND 1/4 HOURS, WOULDN'T START. HAD RAINED EARLIER IN THE DAY, BUT THE ROADS WERE FAIRLY DRY. THIS HAPPENED TONIGHT. TOMORROW I WILL PHONE THE DEALER. DOES THIS HAPPEN TO OTHER REGAL OWNERS AND WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT IT? I AM ALMOST SCARED TO DRIVE ANYMORE. DEPENDING WHERE IT STALLS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. MIGHT I ADD THAT I HAVEN'T HAD ANY MAJOR PRO

NHTSA ID 700497 · filed Nov 10, 1998

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FUEL INJECTORS FAILED.

NHTSA ID 523657 · filed Oct 9, 1997

ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA ID 602001 · filed Oct 25, 1996

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 740038 · filed Jan 28, 2001

ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA ID 602001 · filed Oct 25, 1996

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DOOR WAS FORCED OPENED BY THE FORCE, DOOR LATCH PULLED STRIKER FROM DOOR PILLAR AND DOOR OPEN LEAVING THE SEAT BELT USELESS , AS A SAFETY RESTRAINT, AND PASSANGER WAS EJECTED AND KILLED. THE DOOR MOUNTED DESIGN IS TOTALLY USELESS ON DOOR OPENING, SEATBELTS SHOULD STAY ON PELVIS, IN ALL ACCIDENT CONDITIONS, G.M INSTALLED THIS DESIGN IN THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES, THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT THESE TYPE OF RESTAINT IN THEIR VEHICLES, ANYBODY WITH ANY KIND OF BRAINS SHOULD HAVE SEEN THAT, THEIR ENGINEERS ARE STUPID OR THEY DON'T CARE. THIS TYPE OF SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM KILLED MY DAUGHTER, AND THERE WILL BE MANY PEOPLE DYING BECAUSE OF THIS, G.M. SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED PUT THIS TYPE OF RESTRAINT IN THERE DOOR.

NHTSA ID 704178 · filed Mar 8, 1999

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. *SD

NHTSA ID 488077 · filed Nov 15, 1995

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

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON EXPRESSWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN U-TURN IN MIDDLE OF STREET, AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM SIDE OF CAR. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID 877105 · filed Dec 27, 2000

VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES/FADING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TWO COLLISIONS DUE TO THE BRAKES NOT ENGAGING AND GIVING SUFFICIENT BRAKING DISTANCE.

NHTSA ID 522007 · filed Sep 12, 1997

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE SURGED OUT OF CONTROL WHEN STARTED. *DH

NHTSA ID 505012 · filed May 29, 1996

ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.

NHTSA ID 489759 · filed Sep 29, 1995

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

1990 BUICK REGAL HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. *KB ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, UPON INSPECTION OF THE HOOD LATCH AND BRACKET, THE OFFICER DISCOVERED PART OF THE BRACKET AT THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE BAY WAS MISSING. THE BOLT WAS MISSING AS WELL. THE CRASH WAS DUE TO THE HOOD LATCH AND BRACKET COMING APART, WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO OPEN AND SLAM AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).

NHTSA ID 10209421 · filed Nov 15, 2007

WHEN SHUTTING THE DOOR THE DOOR DOESN'T CATCH SHUT, AND THE DOOR COMES OPEN WHILE DRIVING. HAS NOT SEEN DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID 819572 · filed Dec 23, 1997

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FRONT CRADLE RUSTED AND FELL DOWN WHILE DRIVING CAUISING LOSS OF STEERINF ABILITY AND LOSS OF CONTROL. *YC

NHTSA ID 548578 · filed Sep 21, 1999

VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY EMITS SMOKE FROM STEERING COLUMN. *DH

NHTSA ID 504711 · filed May 24, 1996

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

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER CAME UP TO A DRIVE THROUGH TRY TO PUSH THE WINDOW DOWN IT WOULD NOT GO DOWN OR UP CONSUMER HAD HAND OUT AND WINDOW WENT UP AND CAUGHT CONSUMER ARM. TT

NHTSA ID 965153 · filed May 11, 1995

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 .