2012 Buick Regal reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Buick Regal — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 137
- 37 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- 32 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 7
- see below
- Reported harm
- 5 reported crashes · 4 injuries · 4 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#3,412
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Buick median
-60
median 197 across 98 Buick records
Vs 2010-2014
-155
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
23%
Exterior Lighting: 32 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Buick Regal
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 32
- ENGINE 21
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14
- SUSPENSION 10
- SERVICE BRAKES 8
7 recalls on record for the 2012 Buick Regal
- NHTSA 26V113000 · 2026 · SUSPENSION:REAR Rear toe link fracture can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 21V00F000 · 2022 · SUSPENSION:REAR A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 20V764000 · 2021 · SUSPENSION:REAR A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 12V484000 · 2014 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL If the driver is not aware that a turn signal is not functioning properly, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle.
- NHTSA 14V447000 · 2014 · SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of th
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 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 2012 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 2012 Buick Regal reliable?
NHTSA has 137 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Buick Regal and 7 recalls. The most-reported problem area is exterior lighting (32 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Buick Regal units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Buick Regal?
Owners most often report problems with: exterior lighting (32), engine (21), electrical system (14), suspension (10). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 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.