2012 Buick Regal Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2012 Buick Regal has a Complaint Index of 92, ranking 2nd-worst of 14 model years, and earns an Avoid verdict. It logged 92 complaints, 7 recalls, 3 crashes, 2 fires and 4 injuries, with electrical system issues making up 49% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 92/100
- #2 of 14 Regal years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 92
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 7
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22.5
- 19 city / 29.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2012 Buick Regal problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System45 (49%)
- Engine25 (27%)
- Brakes16 (17%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires12 (13%)
- Structure & Body10 (11%)
- Other8 (9%)
- Transmission & Powertrain7 (8%)
- Fuel System2 (2%)
- Steering1 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the driver's seat or interior catching fire without warning, sometimes with flames visible while the vehicle was idling or driving.
- Headlights with HID bulbs develop condensation and randomly shut off while driving, reducing visibility at night.
- Some drivers describe sudden unintended acceleration while trying to decelerate, leading to a crash.
- Brake pedals have been reported as suddenly stiff or unresponsive at highway speed, resulting in rear-end collisions.
- At least one owner reported the vehicle jerking abnormally at 55 mph, with dealers unable to duplicate or fix the issue.
- The Grand Sport trim was reported to ship without a compact spare tire, leaving drivers without a usable spare after a flat.
2012 Buick Regal recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V113000Feb 26, 2026Suspension, Wheels & Tires17,050 vehicles
Suspension:rear
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012â2013 Buick Regal Turbo and GS trim-level vehicles that were sold or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear suspension toe links may have received improper corrosion protection, which can result in rear toe link fracture.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 21V00F000Dec 22, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires4,271 vehicles
Suspension:rear
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 20V764000Dec 21, 2020Suspension, Wheels & Tires220,006 vehicles
Suspension:rear
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.
Risk: 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.
2012 Buick Regal fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 29.5 MPG
- Combined
- 22.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,875
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Gasoline or E85
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other Regal years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Buick Regal reliable?
- Compared to other Regal model years, 2012 ranks poorly. It has a Complaint Index of 92, the 2nd-worst of 14 model years tracked, and carries an Avoid verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Buick Regal?
- Electrical system complaints lead at 49% of all reports, followed by engine issues at 27% and brakes at 17%, according to NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2012 Buick Regal have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2012 Buick Regal, covering suspension toe links, body control module software, turn signal bulbs, height adjuster bolts, and a General Control Module issue on eAssist models.
- What is the median mileage for failures on the 2012 Regal?
- Across all reported problems, the median mileage at failure was 59,527 miles, though this varies by system, ranging from 23,074.5 miles for transmission issues to 72,000 miles for suspension issues.
- How does the 2012 Regal compare to the 2011 and 2013 model years?
- The 2011 Regal has a higher Complaint Index of 100 and is also rated Avoid, while the 2013 Regal has a slightly lower index of 85 and is also rated Avoid, making 2011-2013 a consistently weak stretch for the Regal.