2013 BUICK REGAL — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 90 complaints · 6 recalls
Most-reported system: EXTERIOR LIGHTING (33 complaints · 36.7%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 6
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 5
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2012 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution EXTERIOR LIGHTING appears in 33 of 90 owner complaints (36.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 33 complaints, 36.7% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 33 · 36.7% · 1 crash reports 1 fire reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 21 complaints, 23.3% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21 · 23.3% VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 6 complaints, 6.7% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6 · 6.7% · 2 crash reports STEERING: 4 complaints, 4.4% of reports STEERING 4 · 4.4% · 1 crash reports 1 fire reports ENGINE: 3 complaints, 3.3% of reports ENGINE 3 · 3.3% POWER TRAIN: 3 complaints, 3.3% of reports POWER TRAIN 3 · 3.3% SERVICE BRAKES: 3 complaints, 3.3% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 3 · 3.3% STRUCTURE: 2 complaints, 2.2% of reports STRUCTURE 2 · 2.2% · 1 crash reports SUSPENSION: 2 complaints, 2.2% of reports SUSPENSION 2 · 2.2% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 14 complaints, 15.6% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14 · 15.6% · 1 crash reports 1 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 33 36.7% 1 crashes · 1 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21 23.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6 6.7% 2 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 4 4.4% 1 crashes · 1 fires
ENGINE 3 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 3 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 3 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 2 2.2% 1 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 2 2.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14 15.6% 1 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2014; the first recall shown was reported in Oct 2012. 2014-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2019-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2019-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2020-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2020-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2020-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2020-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2024-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 Owner reports Oct 2012 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 12V484000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V484000 Recall campaign 13V173000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V173000 Recall campaign 20V764000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V764000 Recall campaign 21V633000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V633000 Recall campaign 21V00F000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V00F000 Recall campaign 26V113000 ◆ Recall campaign 26V113000 Investigation RQ13003 ● Investigation RQ13003 Investigation AQ14001 ● Investigation AQ14001
  • Campaign 26V113000 was reported 1,256 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2014-Q1 Owner reports 2
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 1
2014-Q4 Owner reports 1
2015-Q1 Owner reports 2
2015-Q2 Owner reports 2
2015-Q3 Owner reports 1
2016-Q1 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 1
2016-Q4 Owner reports 3
2017-Q1 Owner reports 1
2017-Q4 Owner reports 1
2018-Q1 Owner reports 3
2018-Q3 Owner reports 6
2018-Q4 Owner reports 5
2019-Q1 Owner reports 2
2019-Q2 Owner reports 5
2019-Q3 Owner reports 6
2019-Q4 Owner reports 4
2020-Q1 Owner reports 5
2020-Q2 Owner reports 4
2020-Q3 Owner reports 4
2020-Q4 Owner reports 1
2021-Q1 Owner reports 5
2021-Q2 Owner reports 3
2021-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q2 Owner reports 3
2022-Q3 Owner reports 2
2023-Q1 Owner reports 2
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 4
2024-Q1 Owner reports 2
2025-Q1 Owner reports 1
2026-Q2 Owner reports 3
Recall campaign 1 12V484000
Recall campaign 1 13V173000
Recall campaign 1 20V764000
Recall campaign 1 21V633000
Recall campaign 1 21V00F000
Recall campaign 1 26V113000
Defect investigation 1 RQ13003
Defect investigation 1 AQ14001
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (6)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 12V484000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    If the driver is not aware that a turn signal is not functioning properly, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle. If half of a front turn signal is not illuminating, other driver's may not be aware that the affected vehicle is turning, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    GM will notify owners, dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12212.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 13V173000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and possibly a fire in the trunk.
    Remedy:
    GM will notify owners and dealers will test the GCM and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13136.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 20V764000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on January 27, 2021, and April 15, 2021. A third notification was mailed on August 19, 201. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202308930.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 21V00F000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 21V633000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212330130.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 26V113000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    Rear toe link fracture can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 3, 2026. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N252537580. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall numbers 20V764, 21V633, and 21V00F.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 90 complaints · page 1 of 4

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources