Complaints
174
Crashes
3
Fires
19
Injuries
2
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1
Worst 1997 Buick Regal Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#115 complaints
Engine & Cooling
Avg mileage:93,917 mi
Fires:8
#215 complaints
Steering:Rack And Pinion
Avg mileage:84,264 mi
#311 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:108,779 mi
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Buick Regal.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine & Cooling | 15 | — | 8 | 93,917 mi | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 15 | — | — | 84,264 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 11 | — | 1 | 108,779 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 11 | — | 6 | 147,667 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 11 | — | — | 101,783 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 | — | — | 140,000 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | — | — | — |
Engine & Cooling
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
8
Avg Miles
93,917
Steering:Rack And Pinion
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,264
Electrical Faults
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
108,779
Engine Problems
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
6
Avg Miles
147,667
Steering Defects
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
101,783
Tire Defects
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
140,000
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Buick Regal. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1997 Buick Regal
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,003,556 vehicles.
15V701000Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
~1,003,556 affectedGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Other Buick Regal Years
1997 Buick Regal — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Buick Regal reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1997 Buick Regal has 174 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Engine & Cooling with 15 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Buick Regal?
Top reported problems: Engine & Cooling (15 complaints, avg 93,917 mi); Steering:Rack And Pinion (15 complaints, avg 84,264 mi); Electrical Faults (11 complaints, avg 108,779 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 1997 Buick Regal?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 107,548 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Buick Regal?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Buick Regal include 3 crash-related reports, 19 fire reports, 2 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 1997 Buick Regal have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,003,556 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1997 Buick Regal?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
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 1997 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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