Buick Regal Steering Problems
Owners have filed 279 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Buick Regal across 19 model years. The 1998 model year has the most (76). The words owners use most often: “rack pinion” (22% of reports).
- 279steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $1,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 20%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Rack pinion: mentioned in 61 of 279 complaints (22%)
- Steering gear: mentioned in 19 of 279 complaints (7%)
- Making turn: mentioned in 18 of 279 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Buick Regal at $1,550, and half of them between $1,150 and $2,200.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2007), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 169 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 279 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury.
Buick Regal steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Regal | 1 | 5% | 22,000 |
| 2017 Regal | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2016 Regal | 10 | 24% | 80,000 |
| 2015 Regal | 1 | 3% | 51,000 |
| 2014 Regal | 3 | 8% | 55,500 |
| 2013 Regal | 4 | 4% | 70,645 |
| 2012 Regal | 1 | 1% | 10,000 |
| 2011 Regal | 17 | 6% | 69,579 |
| 2005 Regal | 1 | 25% | 45 |
| 2004 Regal | 6 | 9% | 96,000 |
| 2003 Regal | 10 | 10% | 32,000 |
| 2002 Regal | 4 | 3% | 57,946 |
| 2001 Regal | 14 | 7% | 66,000 |
| 2000 Regal | 30 | 16% | 52,718 |
| 1999 Regal | 31 | 13% | 85,000 |
| 1998 Regal | 76 | 25% | 78,750 |
| 1997 Regal | 37 | 27% | 89,871 |
| 1996 Regal | 18 | 9% | 68,544 |
| 1995 Regal | 14 | 8% | 110,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Steering:electric power assist system
Model years: 2016
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Buick Regal Vehicles manufactured August 30, 2015, to February 12, 2016. The affected vehicles have a power-steering assist system that may fail.
Risk: A loss of power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric belt drive rack and pinion steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 21510.
Steering
Model years: 2014
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Impala vehicles. Improperly torqued fasteners may cause the steering intermediate shaft and the steering gear and/or the lower control arm and the lower ball joint to separate.
Risk: If any of the components separate, the vehicle may have a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM began to notify owners on June 27, 2014, and dealers will inspect the fasteners for correct torque, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac) or 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14378.
Steering:rack and pinion
Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These retainers could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Risk: If this occurs, the pinion shaft can be forced upward during left turns and back down as the steering wheel is moved back and to the right. If the pinion shaft moves further, the driver will need to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. If the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. With the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. In any of these conditions, a crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began on february 5, 2004. Owners should contact buick at 1-866-608-8080; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537; or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Model years: 1995
Problem: The four (4) steering column support bracket attaching bolts were under torqued during assembly.
Risk: Inadequate torque can cause these bolts to vibrate, loosen, or fall out resulting in loss of steering control and increase the potential for a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will retorque the steering column support bracket attaching bolts to the correct specifications.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
While in motion at about 25-30 miles per hours, slightly stepping on the brake to slow down, the car just⦠wouldnât, I was forced to swerve, preventing damage to cars ahead, I went over a curb
My steering failed and started pulling left into traffic. It was hard to keep it in my lane. Had to have it towed by AAA. Took to my mechanic and he said it was the electric belt drive rack &pinion steering. He told me there was a recall on it. When I checked I was told that my vin # was not…
When i turn the car off the key will not allow me to remove it from ignition to the proper position to remove the key. This is a safety hazzard. I have to mess with the brakes, steering wheel and parking console and keep starting and turning off the car to get key removed. The dealer said they…
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Regal. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the vehicle became difficult to steer. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an…
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Regal. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed during rainy weather, and making a left or right turn, the steering wheel intermittently made a grinding and clicking sound. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Buick Regals have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 279 owner complaints about steering for the Buick Regal. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Buick Regal steering?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Buick Regal?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,550 (half paid between $1,150 and $2,200), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Buick Regal?
The most frequent phrase is “rack pinion”, in 61 of 279 complaints, followed by “steering gear” (19).
Other Buick Regal problems
- Electrical System problems (487)
- Engine problems (421)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (293)
- Exterior Lighting problems (196)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (177)
- Power Train problems (157)
- Air Bags problems (134)
- Visibility problems (108)
See all Buick Regal problems.