2018 Buick Regal Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
70/100
#4 most-complained of 11 Regal years
The 2018 Buick Regal has a Complaint Index of 70 and ranks 4th worst out of 11 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Brakes are the top problem area (42% of complaints), with 3 recalls covering brakes and seat belts.
- Complaints
- 19
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 5 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 29 hwy
Top 2018 Buick Regal problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes8 (42%)
- Engine7 (37%)
- Other4 (21%)
- Electrical System3 (16%)
- Airbags2 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (11%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (11%)
- Fuel System1 (5%)
- Seat Belts1 (5%)
- Steering1 (5%)
What owners report
- Brake pedal fails to slow the car during low-speed maneuvers like backing out of a driveway or approaching a drive-thru, sometimes leading to a crash into a fixed object.
- Vehicle lurches forward on its own when the driver's foot comes off the brake pedal at low speed.
- Engine RPMs surge to around 3,000 when the vehicle should be idling or shutting down at a stoplight, forcing the driver to shift to neutral.
- Owners report the transmission hesitates or fails to shift gears, with a loud clanking noise when manually forcing a gear change.
- Steering wheel jerks unexpectedly after the auto-stop/auto-start feature reactivates the engine.
- Excessive interior moisture from the AC or heater fogs the windshield so badly that visibility is completely lost, even with defrost on.
2018 Buick Regal recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V465000Jun 30, 2022Brakes23,734 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:electric:control module:software
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Buick Regal vehicles. In the event of a vacuum-power brake assist failure, a software error in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may result in a loss of power brake assist. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135, "Light vehicle brake systems."
Risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the EBCM software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters advising owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 19, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Buick's customer service at 1-800-521-7300.
- NHTSA 18V576000Aug 30, 2018Brakes210,628 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
- NHTSA 18V230000Apr 12, 2018Seat Belts8,738 vehicles
Seat belts:rear/other
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Buick Regal vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the rear seat belts may have been improperly routed around the bolster bracket on the rear outboard seats, which can cause inadequate restraint of the passengers.
Risk: If the seat belt fails to adequately restrain the passengers in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear outboard seat belts, correcting the routing of the seat belts as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 14, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 18117.
2018 Buick Regal fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,175
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- 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.
2018 compared with other Regal years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Buick Regal reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2018 Regal a Complaint Index of 70, ranking it 4th worst among the 11 model years covered, with a Caution verdict relative to other Regal years. Brakes account for 42% of its complaints.
- What problems does the 2018 Buick Regal have?
- Owners most often report brake issues (8 complaints, 42% share) and engine problems (7 complaints, 37% share), including unintended acceleration at stops and transmission hesitation. Four of the 19 total complaints involved crashes.
- Does the 2018 Buick Regal have a brake recall?
- Yes. NHTSA recall 22V465000 covers a software error in the electronic brake control module that can cause loss of power brake assist, and recall 18V576000 covers a brake bleeding issue. There is also a seat belt recall, 18V230000.
- How does the 2018 Regal compare to other Regal years?
- The 2018 model's Complaint Index of 70 is worse than 2014 (40), 2017 (30), and 2019 (20), but better than 2011 (100), 2012 (80), and 2013 (90). NHTSA lists 2019 as the Best year and 2011-2013 as Avoid years.
- How many recalls does the 2018 Buick Regal have?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 Buick Regal: two covering the brake system and one covering improperly routed rear seat belts. None are do-not-drive recalls.