YearToAvoid

2012 Buick Regal Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 25 engine complaints for the 2012 Buick Regal, 27% of its 92 total complaints that year. There is no related engine recall listed. Median mileage at failure was 71,500 miles.

Engine complaints
25
27% of 92
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
71,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine jerks or bucks abnormally during steady highway driving around 55 mph, a fault dealers sometimes could not fully diagnose or repair.
  • Vehicle stalls or shuts off unexpectedly at low speed, in one case with the brake warning light illuminated.
  • Engine turns off when shifted into reverse and produces a sputtering noise at startup.
  • Check engine light comes on with a "reduce speed" message, limiting the car to about 20 mph; one owner traced this to timing chain wear.
  • Excessive oil consumption, reported as roughly a quart per 1,000 miles, linked by an owner to the 2.4-liter engine and requiring piston and ring replacement.

When 2012 Buick Regal engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 21, 2012, latest Nov 26, 2024.

2012 Buick Regal engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2012Apr 2014Mar 2018Nov 2018May 2019Nov 2020Jul 2021Nov 2024
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2012 to Nov 2024; peak Aug 2018 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2012 Buick Regal

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Regal model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20101 (100%)
  2. 2011120 (43%)
  3. 201225 (27%)
  4. 201317 (19%)
  5. 201410 (26%)
  6. 20159 (27%)
  7. 20168 (20%)
  8. 20170 (0%)
  9. 20187 (37%)
  10. 20193 (16%)
  11. 20200 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2012 Buick Regal have?
NHTSA lists 25 engine complaints for the 2012 Buick Regal, which is 27% of the 92 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Buick Regal engine?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for the engine problem area on the 2012 Regal.
At what mileage do 2012 Buick Regal engine problems typically occur?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2012 Regal is 71,500 miles.
What specific engine issues do 2012 Buick Regal owners report?
Owners describe abnormal jerking while driving, unexpected stalling, engine shutoff in reverse, reduced-speed warnings tied to timing chain wear, and excessive oil consumption around a quart per 1,000 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.