2018 BUICK Regal Problems

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Complaints Reported

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Complaints by Component

SERVICE BRAKES

4 complaints

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 back — my brakes are very firm, and I have to press hard to stop. The car is showing trouble codes C028F:04, C1586:04, and V0420:71, all related to the electronic brake control module.

Oct 11, 2025

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 power brake assist fail?

Oct 28, 2024

September 10, 2022 I was backing out of my driveway, but the car would not slow down, and I hit a tree on my neighbor's easement across the street. After a minute, I decided to move the car, put the car in drive, and again the car would not slow down, and wound up hitting the porch of my neighbor 2 houses over. I have used my left foot for braking since 1966, so it is not a case of mixing up pedals. My wife called 911, the police and ambulance showed up, and I was taken to the hospital. After x-rays, ultrasound, and 2 CT scans, it was determined that I did not have a brain bleed and I was sent home. The car was towed, examined by the insurance adjustor and body shop, and determined totalled. There were no warning lights, and only later that night did I remember that I had received a recall letter.

Sep 28, 2022

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY OF 2018, BUT DID NOT OBTAIN IT UNTIL JUNE 15, 2018. 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 DEALER (GREINER BUICK GMC, 14555 CIVIC DR., VICTORVILLE, CA 92394) WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED BUICK BODY SHOP FOR THE DAMAGES. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169. *TT

Jun 25, 2018

Crash: 1

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

2 complaints

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 safety issues as the battery on the vehicle will drain as the car can't be turned off with this message. This issue has been reported for this vehicle in NHTSA Bulletin #10252775. However, the manufacturer is stating that it doesn't link to the cars VIN #. With 10 years + of vehicles in the GM family showing this issue and the issue being all over the internet, the issue must be reported for this vehicle.

Mar 26, 2025

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. The vehicle must be retested every two years for emissions compliance for IN, but cannot do so because of the check engine light never going off. This is a safety issue not to get hit from behind in local traffic. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Jul 12, 2022

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

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 brake it starts back up.

Dec 14, 2023

TIRES

1 complaint

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 speed, upon reaching his destination, he became aware that an abnormal buddle had developed on the side wall of the front passenger side tire. 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.

Nov 28, 2023

SEAT BELTS,SERVICE BRAKES,AIR BAGS

1 complaint

On Monday, August 14th, at approximately 5 pm, my wife and I were traveling in our 2018 Buick Regal towards a red streetlight. I began applying my brakes to come to a stop. I was several car lengths behind a vehicle that was up ahead. 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. Our vehicles engine continued to revve up and the brakes continued to fail and I struck the rear end of the car in front of me again. The other driver crossed the intersection with us traveling right behind with no control over our vehicle. When we crossed the intersection there was an incline, so this slowed down our car since our brakes did not work, I pulled the steering wheel to the right towards the cement curb, then I put the transmission into Park, then the car's engine revved up once again and made a loud noise. Both vehicles sustained damage. I then was able to turn the engine off. This action was the only maneuver which stopped our car. Both my wife and I had injuries which we were checked at a hospital emergency room. We have our vehicle parked at our home's driveway and it it available for inspection. The fact that our vehicle's brakes failed to function placed me and my passenger and others at risk. My wife called our dealership the following day, and a manager stated we needed to report this incident. Our vehicle has not been inspected at this point. There were no symptoms of the problem that appeared other than the engine making a sound like increasing in speed and the brakes failing. At the hospital I was diagnosed with a concussion. My wife was diagnosed with neck pain since her head kept snapping back and forth and hitting the dashboard area and the headrest. The seatbelts plus the airbags also failed to properly function.

Aug 17, 2023

Crash: 1

Injuries: 2

SEATS

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Regal. The contact stated that the front driver’s side seat failed to move forward or backward. 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.

Dec 05, 2022

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Regal. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V465000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while attempting to depress the brake pedal excessive amount of pressure was needed to depress the brake pedal to bring the vehicle to a stop. The failure was more evident while reversing the vehicle. The failure was intermittent. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Aug 24, 2022

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 complaint

STEERING WHEEL JERKS BACK ON AUTO START AFTER AUTO STOP. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THE ISSUES HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND AT RANDOM. REPORTED THE ISSUE EARLY FEBRUARY 2020 AGAIN IN EARLY MAY 2020 AFTER FAILURE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.REPORTED THE ISSUE AGAIN EARLY OCTOBER AFTER THE ISSUE WAS WORSE. ACCORDING TO GM FIELD SPECIALIST THE STEERING RACK WAS THE ISSUE, IT WAS REPLACED BUT THE ISSUE WAS STILL PERSISTENT AND THEY CONTINUED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A MONTH. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED BACK TO ME WITH A SHARPENING NOISE AND A STEERING WHEEL GOING LEFT. HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FOR REPAIRS.

Dec 18, 2020

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

WHILE BEING DRIVEN THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT GEARS WHILE RPMS ARE REGISTERED THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO RESPOND AND LACKS POWER. I WAS FORCED TO SHIFT MANUALLY TO TRY AND GET THE GEARS TO SHIFT WITH NO LUCK AFTER QUICKLY MAKING THE SWITCH BETWEEN AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL TWICE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RESPONDED WITH A LOUD CLANK AS IF THE SEMI BEHIND ME HAD HIT ME AND THE RESPONDED WITH ACCELERATION. THE ISSUE WAS REPORTED FIRST EARLY FEBRUARY 2020 AGAIN IN EARLY MAY 2020 AND RECENTLY EARLY OCTOBER 2020 SERVICE DEPARTMENT FAILS TO DUPLICATE ISSUE. MY DASHCAM CAPTURED VIDEO WHILE BEING DRIVEN BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT EXPRESSING THE STRANGE FEELING THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GIVE THEM WITH TORQUE AND SHIFTS.

Dec 18, 2020

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 complaint

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. THE DEFROST WAS MAXED AND THE IMPAIRMENT WAS STILL POSSIBLE, NO MATTER HOW HOT IT GOT IN THE CABIN THE MOISTURE WAS TO MUCH, TAKING MY AND WIPING THE MOISTURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WATER DRIPPED DOWN. IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR NOW WITH THE AC TURNING ON BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING. FIRST REPORTED THE ISSUE EARLY FEBRUARY 2020 AGAIN IN MAY 2020 AND AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2020 WITH COMPLAINTS OF SMELL COMING FROM THE AC. SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IS HOW THE UNIT IS SUPPOSED TO OPERATE!?...

Dec 18, 2020

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY I CAME TO A STOP DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. ONCE I GOT THROUGH THE ACCIDENT I TRIED TO SPEED UP AND THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO SPEED UP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE ACCELERATION IS NECESSARY TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC.

Oct 09, 2019

AIR BAGS

1 complaint

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 DEPLOYMENT. HIGH RISK OF LOWER EXTREMITY INJURY FOR BOTH IN-POSITION AND OUT-OF-POSITION SMALL FEMALE DRIVERS. MY LEFT FOOT WAS FORCED UPWARD DUE TO THE FORCE OF CRASH. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITH SUCH FORCE, IT SNAPPED MY LEFT FOOT DOWNWARD. THE RESULT IS A LEFT ANKLE DISLOCATED AND SEVERE LEFT TIBIA / FIB FRACTURE. BASICALLY, I BROKE EVERY BONE IN MY LEFT FOOT APART FROM MY HEEL AND TOES. SURGERY, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018: OPEN REDUCTION / INTERNAL FIXATION (ORIF) WITH LEFT BIMALLEOLAR ANKLE FRACTURE / DISLOCATION WITH CLOSE MANAGEMENT TALUS FRACTURE / SUBTALAR SURGERY. I NOW HAVE A PLATE AND SIX (6) SCREWS INSIDE THE BONE TO HOLD THEM IN THE CORRECT PLACE SO THE BONES DO NOT HEAL ABNORMALLY. THE ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON INFORMED ME, DUE TO THIS TYPE OF INJURY, ARTHRITIS WILL SET IN MY ANKLE. I MAY WANT TO CONSIDER ANKLE FUSION SURGERY IN THE FUTURE. THE FUSION SURGERY WOULD HELP REDUCE THE CHRONIC PAIN. FUSION SURGERY WOULD RESULT THE INABILITY TO USE MY ANKLE, I.E., TO FLEX, POINT, BEND ANKLE, AND ROTATE THE ANKLE AT ALL. THE FUSION SURGERY IS PERMANENT. COMPONENT PART OR SYSTEM THAT MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE SAFETY RISK: DRIVER LOWER EXTREMITY RESPONSE AND INJURY WITH KNEE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND EVIDENCE RELATED TO YOUR COMPLAINT: WILL BE SCANNED AND SENT LATER.

Jan 11, 2019

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

REVERSING CAMERA CAMERA IS INSTALLED AND EQUIPPED WITH GUIDE LINES SHOWING DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND WHEEL POSITION. THESE GUIDELINES INTERMITENTLY DISAPPEAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IF THE CAR IS PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO REVERSE LINES REAPPEAR. SINCE THE LINES ARE A FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE AND ARE NOT WORKING RELIABLY I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT, IT IS A DEFINITE DISTRACTION FROM THE INFORMATION THAT THE CAMERA IS PROFFERING. GM ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM INITIALLY AND REPLACED A MODULE 4 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITHOUT SUCCESS NOW THEY HAVE TAKEN THE POSITION THAT THE CAMERA IS WORKING AS DESIGNED... CLEARLY SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD WORK RELIABLY 100% OF THE TIME WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS. IN DISCUSSION WITH OTHER GM OWNERS AND RESEARCH ONLINE THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT ON OTHER GM MODELS ACROSS THE PRODUCT LINE. IT APPEARS TO BE BE LINKED THE NUMBER OF SAFETY FEATURES INSTALLED ON THE CAR. THE MORE SAFETY FEATURES THE MORE LIKELY OF FAILURES. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS AND CAN BE RECREATED AT WILL. IT WILL HAPPEN ANY TIME THE CAR IS TRAVELING IN REVERSE

Jan 10, 2019

ENGINE

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE WAS DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN TO PRESERVE FUEL. INSTEAD, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD REV AND INCREASE TO 3,000 AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVING THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ONCE WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCELVEEN BUICK (117 FARMINGTON RD, SUMMERVILLE, SC), BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED OR DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.

Oct 12, 2018

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A DRIVE'THRU, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, INSPECTED THE DAMAGE, AND CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER (GREINER BUICK GMC, 14555 CIVIC DR., VICTORVILLE, CA 92394, (760) 245-3451) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS FOR THE BODY DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169. *TT *TR

Jun 21, 2018

Crash: 1

4.3/5.0

30 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2018 BUICK Regal have?

The 2018 BUICK Regal currently has 19 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2018 BUICK Regal?

The most common problems reported for the 2018 BUICK Regal are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2018 BUICK Regal problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2018 BUICK Regal comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.