AI Damage2018 Buick Regal: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Buick Regal filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and engine. The maker issued 587 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 19
- involving a crash
- 5
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 587
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 42% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 26% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 16% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 11% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 11% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 8 Tires 5% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 8 complaints (42% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 24.
- Engine: 5 complaints (26% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 67.
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (16% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 106.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 61.
- Visibility: 2 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 14.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
- automatic, 9-speed
Drive: AWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 19 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 8 | 4 | 24 |
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 67 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 106 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 61 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Air bags | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 20 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 209 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 90 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My car's engine then revved up and our vehicle kept on going and jerking front and back although I was applying the brakes. Our car failed to stop so I struck the stationary vehicle. I kept on applying the brakes, but the car kept on going and jerking until I struck the car in front a second time.
There were no warning lights, and only later that night did I remember that I had received a recall letter.
Vehicle was in motion: 'driving through an empty parking lot. 'followed road around the building. 'blinded by sunlight. 'hit stationary pole head ' on. Weather conditions : heavy rain : prior to 2:00pm light rain and sunshine between : 2:45pm and 3:04pm fault or problem description: knee / lower extremity airbag…
While in a drive-thru line, the contact removed his foot from the brake pedal and the vehicle lurched forward and crashed into a pole. The front driver side fender, bumper, and headlight were damaged. There were no injuries and a police report was filed.
The tire was taken to the dealer, who determined that the bubble was the result of the vehicle having been driven over a pothole. All four tires were replaced. The tires were not original to the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 29,500.
The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the front driver's seat metal frame to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,164.
The check engine light is always on and has not been diagnosed (as of yet) by Circle Buick - Highland, IN. There is an auto-engine-shutoff feature when the vehicle stops at traffic lights, and when you resume driving there can be a lengthy delay and/or an engine & transmission jolt after the brake pedal is released.
During the cold weather while being driven the ac unit or heater throws moisture into the cabin resulting in complete vision impairment. This happened first while going up a mountain road and the car had to be completely stopped hoping not to get hit.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,274 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 39% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Regal has 17 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 19, about average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced…
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle…
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
- This Preliminary information communicates a possible issue with an engine timing chain, gear or crankshaft key
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- Provide info on that parts restriction ending for the rear diff clutch control 19435910
NHTSA lists 587 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Buick Regal?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, engine, electrical system. Total complaints: 19. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: jerking, harsh shifts (16%), warning lights, check engine (16%), brake failure (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Buick Regal?
NHTSA lists 587 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Buick Regal from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.