Complaints
376
Crashes
8
Fires
47
Injuries
5
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1
Worst 1998 Buick Regal Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#136 complaints
Steering:Rack And Pinion
Avg mileage:75,320 mi
Crash-related:1
#233 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:119,496 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:5
#329 complaints
Engine Problems
Crash-related:1
Fires:11
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Buick Regal.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 36 | 1 | — | 75,320 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 33 | 1 | 5 | 119,496 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 29 | 1 | 11 | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 26 | — | 20 | 108,390 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 23 | 1 | — | 95,173 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 14 | — | 1 | 166,250 mi | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 13 | — | — | 86,333 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 11 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 | — | 2 | 73,167 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 10 | — | — | 135,071 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 9 | — | — | 375 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 8 | — | — | 58,500 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 7 | — | — | 90,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 | — | — | 74,420 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 5 | — | 1 | 98,887 mi | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack | 5 | — | — | 77,036 mi | |
| Body Structure | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 | — | 1 | — |
Steering:Rack And Pinion
36
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
75,320
Electrical Faults
33
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Avg Miles
119,496
Engine Problems
29
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
11
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
26
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
20
Avg Miles
108,390
Steering Defects
23
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
95,173
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
166,250
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
86,333
Tire Defects
11
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
73,167
Headlight/Taillight Failures
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
135,071
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
375
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
58,500
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
90,000
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
74,420
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
98,887
Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
77,036
Body Structure
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Buick Regal. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1998 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
1998 Buick Regal — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Buick Regal reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1998 Buick Regal has 376 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Steering:Rack And Pinion with 36 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Buick Regal?
Top reported problems: Steering:Rack And Pinion (36 complaints, avg 75,320 mi); Electrical Faults (33 complaints, avg 119,496 mi); Engine Problems (29 complaints). 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 1998 Buick Regal?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 95,820 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Buick Regal?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Buick Regal include 8 crash-related reports, 47 fire reports, 5 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 1998 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 1998 Buick Regal?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1998 Buick Regal shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
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 1998 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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