2012 Buick Regal Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Regal years
- More complaints than other years 11th of 24 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 7 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Buick Regal. That ranks 11th out of 24 Regal model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is exterior lighting (33 complaints, 36%), typically at around 66,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.

- 92owner complaints
- 7safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Buick Regal problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 33 | 36% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 21 | 23% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 18 | 20% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 11 | 12% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 9% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 7 | 8% | 34,149 | — | — |
| Power Train | 7 | 8% | 23,075 | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 7% | 88,450 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 7% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 5% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 4% | 10,083 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 2% | 29,110 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 2% | 38,082 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 1% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Buick Regal recalls (7)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension:rear
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012â2013 Buick Regal Turbo and GS trim-level vehicles that were sold or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear suspension toe links may have received improper corrosion protection, which can result in rear toe link fracture.
Risk: Rear toe link fracture can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 3, 2026. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N252537580. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall numbers 20V764, 21V633, and 21V00F.
Suspension:rear
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.
Risk: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.
Suspension:rear
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.
Risk: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on January 27, 2021, and April 15, 2021. A third notification was mailed on August 19, 201. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202308930.
Seats:front assembly:power adjust
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
Electrical system
Problem: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Regal, and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco vehicles equipped with eAssist. These vehicles may have a condition in which the Generator Control Module (GCM) may not function properly. This could cause a gradual loss of battery charge and the illumination of the malfunction indicator light.
Risk: If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and possibly a fire in the trunk.
Fix: GM will notify owners and dealers will test the GCM and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13136.
Exterior lighting:turn signal
Problem: 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."
Risk: If the driver is not aware that a turn signal is not functioning properly, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle. If half of a front turn signal is not illuminating, other driver's may not be aware that the affected vehicle is turning, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12212.
Exterior lighting
Problem: General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2012 buick regal vehicles manufactured from february 22, 2011, through february 22, 2012 for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108 âlamps, reflective devices and associated equipment.â due to a software error, the parking lamps do not activate when either the parking lamps or headlamps are turned on.
Risk: Inadequate lighting could reduce the visibility of the vehicle, increasing the potential for a crash.
Fix: General motors will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module free of charge. The safety recall began on march 29, 2012. Owners may contact gm at 1-800-521-7300.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Sands Chevrolet/Hybrid System Fire/Stall (AQ14001) — opened May 2, 2014, closed May 22, 2016.
- Generator Control Module Fires (RQ13003) — opened Jul 5, 2013, closed Jul 22, 2014.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Rear passenger side toe link did fracture causing vehicle to spin out of control.
The contact owns a Safety 1st Car Seat, Model Name: Disney Baby Jive 2-in-1 Convertible, Model Number: CC286-GAD, Manufactured Date: August 17, 2022. The contact stated that the forward-facing safety seat head detached from the seat with the screws still attached. The contact attempted to tighten…
There is a water seal leak around the driver side headlight. I have photos showing proof of standing water. It has now caused the headlight, left turn signal, and drivers side brake light to fail. My passenger side headlight is doing the same. I have no headlights, no driverside lights period. I…
[XXX] my car failed to let me use the brake, i was going about 45mph and when i went to apply brake pressure the pedal was so stiff i couldnt use the brake. Causing from end collision, when i made a trip to springdale to have my car inspected it didnt make it, started backfiring and dying around 65…
Hard to be able to control the vehicle due to something going on the rear
Other Buick Regal years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Regal | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 Regal | 19 | 3 |
| 2018 Regal | 19 | 3 |
| 2017 Regal | 20 | 0 |
| 2016 Regal | 41 | 1 |
| 2015 Regal | 33 | 0 |
| 2014 Regal | 38 | 2 |
| 2013 Regal | 91 | 6 |
| 2012 | 92 | 7 |
| 2011 Regal | 280 | 4 |
| 2010 Regal | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 Regal | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 Regal | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 Regal | 4 | 0 |
| 2004 Regal | 66 | 2 |
| 2003 Regal | 101 | 3 |
| 2002 Regal | 117 | 3 |
| 2001 Regal | 187 | 6 |
| 2000 Regal | 184 | 8 |
| 1999 Regal | 246 | 6 |
| 1998 Regal | 302 | 6 |
| 1997 Regal | 136 | 7 |
| 1996 Regal | 204 | 3 |
| 1995 Regal | 173 | 8 |
See all Buick Regal problems by year, every Buick model, or the Buick VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Buick Regal?
Owners most often report exterior lighting, engine, electrical system problems. The top one, exterior lighting, accounts for 33 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Buick Regal?
Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Buick Regal a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Regal model years, the 2012 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.