1996 Buick Regal: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 273 complaints
273
Total Complaints
85,000mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Top Issue
19
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

42,590 25th Percentile
85,000 Median Mileage
125,700 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
15
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
9
AIR BAGS
8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
8
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
7

Severity Assessment

19
Crashes
22
Fires
25
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"REAR BRAKES GRIND EXCESSIVELY, RUSTING AND WARPING ROTORS. OWNER HAS USED EMERGENCY BRAKES FOR ADJUSTING, NO CHANGE. TT EVEN THE THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE IS STILL GRINDING, DEALER KEEPS INFROMING CONSUMER THAT THIS IS NORMAL, CONSUMER FEELS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *SLC"
"LOUD THUMPING NOISE UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED, RESULTING IN HITTING A POLE. TT"
"LOUD THUMPING NOISE UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED, RESULTING IN HITTING A POLE. TT"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28