YearToAvoid

2013 Buick Regal Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

90/100

#2 most-complained of 11 Regal years

The 2013 Buick Regal ranks 2nd worst of 11 model years, with a complaint index of 90, 91 complaints, and 6 recalls. Electrical System issues dominate at 69% of complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Regal years.

Complaints
91
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
6 / 2
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22.5
19 city / 29 hwy

Top 2013 Buick Regal problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System63 (69%)
  2. Engine17 (19%)
  3. Other9 (10%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain9 (10%)
  5. Brakes8 (9%)
  6. Structure & Body6 (7%)
  7. Fuel System4 (4%)
  8. Steering4 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (4%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers2 (2%)

What owners report

  • Headlights fail while driving, with wiring found melted at the connector and the failure recurring after dealer repair.
  • Vehicle unexpectedly powers off or shuts down while in motion, sometimes leading to crashes.
  • Push-to-start button positioned too close to the steering wheel causes accidental shutoff while driving.
  • Vehicle surges independently to high speed while maneuvering at low speed in a parking area, overwhelming braking efforts.
  • Moonroof shatters while driving, scattering glass into the cabin.
  • Vehicle lurches or moves without warning while parking, resulting in collisions with other parked vehicles.
2013 Buick Regal complaints: complaints filed per quarter102014 Q12015 Q22016 Q42018 Q42020 Q12021 Q22023 Q12026 Q2
127 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2018 Q3 (10).

2013 Buick Regal recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V113000Feb 26, 2026Suspension, Wheels & Tires17,050 vehicles

    Suspension:rear

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012–2013 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.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 21V633000Aug 12, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires32,894 vehicles

    Suspension:rear

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Malibu, and 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 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. 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.

See all 6 recalls for the 2013 Buick Regal →

2013 Buick Regal fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
22.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,875
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
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.

2013 compared with other Regal years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Avoid100279423
2012Avoid8092722.5
2013Avoid9091622.5
2014Good4038224
2015Caution6033024

All Buick Regal years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Buick Regal reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 Regal has a complaint index of 90 and ranks 2nd worst among 11 model years, making it one of the Regal years to approach with caution.
What is the biggest problem with the 2013 Buick Regal?
Electrical System issues are the top problem area, accounting for 69% of the 91 complaints filed, with a median mileage at failure of 60,600 miles.
Does the 2013 Buick Regal have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2013 Regal, covering suspension rear toe links and electrical issues including a generator control module and turn signal bulb wiring.
How does the 2013 Regal compare to other years?
The 2013 Regal's complaint index of 90 is close to the worst year, 2011, at 100, but well above better years like 2019 at 20 and 2017 at 30.
What mileage do 2013 Regal problems typically occur at?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 58,000 miles for the 2013 Regal overall, with electrical failures reported around 60,600 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.