1997 Buick Regal: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 174 complaints
174
Total Complaints
106,500mi
Median Mileage
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
Top Issue
3
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

75,969 25th Percentile
106,500 Median Mileage
140,359 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION
15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
15
ENGINE
11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
11
STEERING
11
TIRES
6
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
4

Severity Assessment

3
Crashes
19
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG COVER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE HAS CAME LOOSE ABOUT A 1/2 INCH FROM DASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK"
"WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON A MEDIUM INCLINE , IGNITION ON AND THE SHIFT INDICATOR IN THE DRIVE POSITION, DRIVER TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE DRIFTED BACKWARDS DOWN INCLINE UNTIL DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN. ALSO, WHEN DRIVER IS GOING FORWARD ON ANINCLINE WITH TRANSMISSION IS IN REVERSE, ..."
"STEERING WHEEL SHAKES ON LEFT HAND TURNS."

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