2018 Buick Regal reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2018 Buick Regal has 19 complaints with NHTSA after 9 years, or 3 per year. That is about even with the other Regal years here. Their median is 3 complaints per year. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Vacuum, Caliper, and Rear or other.

2012 Buick Regal — Photo by Zoerides, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (7 of 19), then Engine (5) and Electrical system (3). Those filings include 5 that report a crash and 3 that report an injury.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 Regal has 20 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 19 complaints, 2 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Buick Regal. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (3)

Recall hydraulic brakes, power assist, vacuum 2022-06-30 · NHTSA campaign 22V465000

Summary General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Buick Regal vehicles. In the event of a vacuum-power brake assist failure, a software error in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may result in a loss of power brake assist. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135, "Light vehicle brake systems."

Remedy Dealers will update the EBCM software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters advising owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 19, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Buick's customer service at 1-800-521-7300.

Recall hydraulic brakes, foundation components, disc, caliper 2018-08-30 · NHTSA campaign 18V576000

Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

Recall seat belts, rear or other 2018-04-12 · NHTSA campaign 18V230000

Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Buick Regal vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the rear seat belts may have been improperly routed around the bolster bracket on the rear outboard seats, which can cause inadequate restraint of the passengers.

Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear outboard seat belts, correcting the routing of the seat belts as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 14, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 18117.

Complaints by component (19 total)

Service brakes

Engine

Electrical system

Air bags

Powertrain

Speed control

Visibility and wipers

Fuel and propulsion system

Hydraulic brakes

Seat belts

Seats

Steering

Tires

Show 5 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"My car was part of recall number 22V465, which was supposed to fix a problem with the electronic brake assist system. The recall repair was done in 2023, but after my battery recently died, the same problem has come…"
Service brakes · filed 2025-10-11
"This issue is related to the gear shifter on the vehicle. When stopping the car and putting it into park the dashboard shows the message "Shift to Park." this vehicle has only 50,000 miles on it and this issue cause…"
Electrical system, Unknown or other, Engine · filed 2025-03-26
"Was driving home from work and my brakes suddenly stopped working, if I press all the way down on the brakes they somewhat work. Checked brake fluid and brake lines and everything seems fine. Could this be from vacuum…"
Service brakes · filed 2024-10-28
"Increased stopping distance during certain brake vacuum loss events. My check engine light goes on and off periodically. When I’m at a red light my whole car shuts off and goes into a neutral mode then once I press the…"
Electrical system, Service brakes · filed 2023-12-14
"The contact owns a 2018 Buick Regal equipped with General Tires, Tire Line: Unknown, Tire Size: 245/45R18, and DOT Number: Unknown. The contact stated that after traveling over 3,000 miles and driving at an undisclosed…"
Tires · filed 2023-11-28

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2018 Buick Regal 5 HB FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Regal	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (9-speed)	Front-wheel drive	22	32	26 MPG	$3050
Regal all-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	21	29	24 MPG	$3300
Regal all-wheel drive	3.6L, 6-cyl	Automatic (9-speed)	All-wheel drive	19	27	22 MPG	$2950
Regal TourX all-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	21	29	24 MPG	$3300

Specs and fitment

Fifth generation (Opel Insignia based), 2018–2020

Body styles Sedan, Wagon

Oil 0W-30 (2.0L turbo) , 6 qt capacity

Tire size 245/45R18 (common)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 22V465000 covers certain 2018-2020 Buick Regal vehicles where, if vacuum power brake assist fails, an electronic brake control module (EBCM) software error may also lose power brake assist (FMVSS 135); dealers update EBCM software. Recall 18V576000 covers certain 2018-2019 Regal vehicles (with Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt, Bolt EV, Terrain, LaCrosse, XTS, and Malibu) whose rear brake caliper pistons may have insufficient coating that can form gas pockets and reduce rear brake performance; dealers bleed the brake system. Recall 19V762000 covers certain 2019-2020 Regal vehicles whose driver or passenger front seat frames may have a lower crossbar that was improperly welded; dealers inspect the welds and replace the seat back frame as needed.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Buick Regal Next year 2019 Buick Regal See every Buick Regal model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Buick Regal reliable?

What are common problems with a 2018 Buick Regal?

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (7 of 19), then Engine (5) and Electrical system (3). Those filings include 5 that report a crash and 3 that report an injury.

Is the 2018 Buick Regal more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 Regal has 20 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 19 complaints, 2 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Buick Regal been recalled?

The 2018 Buick Regal has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Buick Regal?

Owners have filed 19 complaints about the 2018 Buick Regal with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Buick Regal get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Buick Regal is 24 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a fifth-generation Buick Regal take?

0W-30 for the 2.0L turbo; capacity about 6 qt—confirm in the owner’s manual.

Is there a rear suspension recall on 2012-2013 Regals?

Recalls 20V764000 and 26V113000 cover certain 2012-2013 Regals in salt-belt states for rear toe links with inadequate corrosion protection; dealers replace the toe links.