1998 Buick Regal reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1998 Buick Regal — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 376
- 4 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- STEERING:RACK AND PINION
- 36 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 8 reported crashes · 5 injuries · 47 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,399
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Buick median
+179
median 197 across 98 Buick records
Vs 1996-2000
+108
median 268 complaints in 623 records
Top component share
16%
Steering: 59 complaints
What owners report fails — 1998 Buick Regal
- STEERING:RACK AND PINION 36
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 33
- ENGINE 29
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 26
- STEERING 23
1 recall on record for the 1998 Buick Regal
- NHTSA 15V701000 · 2016 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1998 Buick Regal
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1998 Buick Regal units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Buick Regal reliable?
NHTSA has 376 consumer complaints on record for the 1998 Buick Regal and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is steering:rack and pinion (36 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1998 Buick Regal units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Buick Regal?
Owners most often report problems with: steering:rack and pinion (36), electrical system (33), engine (29), engine and engine cooling (26). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1998 Buick Regal?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.