2011 Buick Regal Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Buick Regal.

20102012
Complaints
438
Crashes
13
Fires
14
Injuries
12
Fatalities
Recalls
4

Worst 2011 Buick Regal Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1107 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:72,919 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:1
#269 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:76,715 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:7
#336 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:78,407 mi
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Buick Regal.

Engine Problems
107
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
72,919
Electrical Faults
69
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
7
Avg Miles
76,715
Headlight/Taillight Failures
36
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
78,407
Transmission / Drivetrain
36
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
67,390
Brakes
32
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
68,969
Seat-Related Issues
25
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
104,499
Electronic Stability Control
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
56,672
Steering Defects
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
73,551
Fuel System
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
66,251
Unintended Acceleration
13
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
39,818
Airbags
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
80,412
Suspension Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
180,000
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel Pump
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Buick Regal. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2011 Buick Regal

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~586,110 vehicles.

16V517000Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust · Electrical System:wiring
~42,984 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured November 3, 2009, to March 25, 2011, equipped with 8-way power adjustable front seats. The power seat wiring harness may contact the seat frame, causing the wires to chafe.

16V502000Electrical System:ignition · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
~8,367 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

14V447000Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust
~414,333 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

12V484000Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
~120,426 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with two turn signal bulbs in each front turn signal. If one of the two front turn signal bulbs burn out in either front turn signal lamp, there is no indication to the driver. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Other Buick Regal Years

2011 Buick Regal — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2011 Buick Regal reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2011 Buick Regal has 438 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 107 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2011 Buick Regal?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (107 complaints, avg 72,919 mi); Electrical Faults (69 complaints, avg 76,715 mi); Headlight/Taillight Failures (36 complaints, avg 78,407 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 2011 Buick Regal?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 75,011 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2011 Buick Regal?
NHTSA complaints for the 2011 Buick Regal include 13 crash-related reports, 14 fire reports, 12 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 2011 Buick Regal have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 586,110 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 2011 Buick Regal?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2011 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.

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