Buick Regal VIN Check — Free Recall & Complaint Lookup

Quick answer

The most-reported Regal run is 2G4WB55K211 (2001 builds) with 19 complaints, 7.6× the typical run. Service brakes problems make up 19% of reports; 1998 is the worst model year at 7.7 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 84 recall campaigns for Regal model years 1981–2020.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Buick Regal has 1,081 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 3% of every Regal complaint on file.

FIG.01·Buick Regal — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)	Year	Complaints	Involved a crash	Fire
2G4WB55K211••••••	2001	19	—	4
2G4WB52K1X1••••••	1999	17	—	6
2G4WB52K3W1••••••	1998	17	—	4
2G4WB52K9X1••••••	1999	17	—	4
2G4WB52K2W1••••••	1998	16	—	1
2G4WB52K6W1••••••	1998	15	—	1
2G4WF5217W1••••••	1998	15	1	1
2G4WB52KXW1••••••	1998	15	—	4
2G4WF5213W1••••••	1998	14	—	1
2G4WB52K5X1••••••	1999	13	—	1
2G4WB55K011••••••	2001	13	—	4
2G4WB52K0X1••••••	1999	12	2	1

ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 1,069 Regal runs has 12 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 56 Regal VINs so far, most often 2016, 2015, 1987 builds.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Buick Regal the gap between build years is 7×: a 1998 car draws 7.7 complaints per run, a 2019 one 1.1.

FIG.02·Buick Regal — complaint rate by model year
Year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Crashes
2019	1.1	18	16	—
2018	1.2	17	14	4
2017	1.4	20	14	1
2016	1.3	40	31	—
2015	1.5	33	22	1
2014	1.2	33	27	1
2013	2.3	90	39	6
2012	1.8	89	50	3
2011	2.1	259	123	7
2004	2.6	58	22	—
2003	2.8	83	30	4
2002	2.9	97	34	2
2001	4	153	38	3
2000	3.5	149	43	7
1999	6.7	188	28	6
1998	7.7	246	32	6
1997	3.6	108	30	3
1996	2.8	162	58	10
1995	1.8	138	75	13
1994	2.1	98	47	6

ROWS 20·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 1998 at 7.7 complaints per run; lightest is 2019 at 1.1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 19% of everything Buick Regal owners report: Service Brakes, 529 of 2,661 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Buick Regal — most-reported systems
System	Complaints	Involved a crash	Fire
Service Brakes	529	33	5
Electrical System	470	6	39
Hydraulic	431	27	1
Engine	393	5	103
Engine And Engine Cooling	278	4	86
Steering	260	12	2
Exterior Lighting	206	2	6
Power Train	162	11	4

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 84 recall campaigns on the Buick Regal; the 6 below cover build years 1984 to 2004. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Buick Regal — recall campaigns
Campaign	Component	Model years
09E005000	Steering	1997–2004
15V701000	Engine And Engine Cooling:engine	1997–2004
06E043000	Fuel System, Gasoline	1984–1991
08V118000	Engine And Engine Cooling	1997–2003
09V116000	Engine And Engine Cooling	1997–2003
08E063000	Steering	1999–2004

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

The Regal against its rivals

The Regal draws 2.5 complaints per production run; the Cadillac CTS 2.9, the Ford Fusion 11.9 and the Kia Optima 8.2. That is the lowest rate of the 4.

FIG.05·Buick Regal VIN check vs rivals
Model	Complaints	Runs	Per run	Involved a crash
Buick Regal	2,661	1,081	2.5	5%
Cadillac CTS	1,912	650	2.9	8.2%
Ford Fusion	20,718	1,734	11.9	3.5%
Kia Optima	7,004	853	8.2	4%

ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 2,661 reports on the Buick Regal, 5% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·Buick Regal — complaint severity
Outcome	Buick Regal	All vehicles
Complaints filed	2,661	1,115,966
Involved a crash	133 (5%)	64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire	235 (8.8%)	26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported	143	58,013
Deaths reported	4	2,728

ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Buick Regal share of that is 2,661 complaints over 1,081 runs, 0.24% of everything on record.

Everything on the Buick Regal

Recalls173 campaigns Fuel economy29 mpg best Reliability4.0/5 Common problems3,594 complaints DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space25 cu ft Used prices644 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1981–2020

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Buick Regal VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 2,661 NHTSA complaints from 1,081 Regal runs and 84 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Regal production run has the most complaints?

2G4WB55K211, a 2001 build, with 19 complaints. The typical Regal run has 2.5.

Which Regal years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 1998 is heaviest at 7.7 complaints per run and 2019 lightest at 1.1.

Does the Regal get more complaints than the Cadillac CTS?

No: 2.5 complaints per production run for the Regal against 2.9 for the Cadillac CTS.

How many Regal complaints involve a crash?

5% of 2,661 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 235 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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