Complaints
273
Crashes
19
Fires
22
Injuries
25
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1996 Buick Regal Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#115 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:17,000 mi
Crash-related:4
#212 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Avg mileage:113,000 mi
Crash-related:7
#311 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Avg mileage:110,950 mi
Fires:3
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Buick Regal.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 15 | 4 | — | 17,000 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 | 7 | — | 113,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 11 | — | 3 | 110,950 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 8 | 1 | — | 74,712 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 8 | — | — | 65,632 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 7 | — | — | 96,638 mi | |
| Fuel Pump | 6 | — | — | 156,000 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 6 | — | 4 | 73,389 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 5 | — | 3 | 97,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 | — | — | 30,000 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 5 | — | — | 80,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 4 | — | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 4 | — | 2 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
15
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
17,000
Air Bags:Frontal
12
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
—
Avg Miles
113,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
110,950
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
74,712
Engine & Cooling
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
65,632
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
96,638
Fuel Pump
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
156,000
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
73,389
Unintended Acceleration
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
97,000
Electrical System:Ignition
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
30,000
Automatic Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,000
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1996 Buick Regal. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Buick Regal Years
1996 Buick Regal — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1996 Buick Regal reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1996 Buick Regal has 273 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 15 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1996 Buick Regal?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (15 complaints, avg 17,000 mi); Air Bags:Frontal (12 complaints, avg 113,000 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (11 complaints, avg 110,950 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1996 Buick Regal?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 80,023 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1996 Buick Regal?
NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Buick Regal include 19 crash-related reports, 22 fire reports, 25 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1996 Buick Regal have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1996 Buick Regal as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1996 Buick Regal?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Buick Regal reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1996 Buick Regal
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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