1988 Buick Regal

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

• NHTSA recall #00V189000July 11, 2000713,435 vehicles affected

  structure

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia, where road salt use is heavy. A condition where one or both front engine cradle bolts Can pull through the retainers due to corrosion of the retainers.

  If both bolts pull through, the front of the cradle would no longer be supported at the mounting locations and the steering intermediate shaft could separate from the steering gear.

  Remedy

  Dealers will replace the front and rear frame/cradle bolts and retainers.

• NHTSA recall #97V058000April 8, 1997676,535 vehicles affected

  structure

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles and mini vans originally sold or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, illinois, indiana, maine, massachusetts, michigan, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont and wisconsin. The rear cradle bolts pull through the retainers due to corrosion of the retainer. If both bolts pull through, the rear cradle would not longer be supported at these mounting locations and the steering intermediate shaft Can separate from the steering gear.

  If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, a vehicle crash could result.

  Remedy

  Dealers will replace the rear cradle bolts and retainers.

• NHTSA recall #95V115000June 5, 199522,361 vehicles affected

  wheels

  Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.

  If wheel separation occurs while the vehicle is in motion, loss of steering and brake control of the vehicle occurs, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.

  Remedy

  Dealers will inspect the manufacturing date codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.

• NHTSA recall #94V041000March 28, 1995198,163 vehicles affected

  wheels

  Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.

  If wheel separation occurs while the vehicle is in motion, loss of steering and brake control of the vehicle occurs, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.

  Remedy

  Dealers will inspect the manufacturing codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.

• NHTSA recall #90V054000March 14, 1990673,000 vehicles affected

  seat belts

  Front shoulder belt guide loop attachment fastener may pull through door mounted anchor plate.

  Seat belt may not sustain loads required by FMVSS 210, and in a vehicle accident, the seat belt may not properly restrain a passenger, resulting in increased risk of greater injury to an occupant.

  Remedy

  Replace front shoulder belt guide loop attachment nuts and install new guide cover.

• NHTSA recall #88V109000July 6, 19888,328 vehicles affected

  service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

  Twisted components could allow the left front brake hose to contact the fender lining/rail area; over time the brake hose could wear through.

  This could result in a loss of brake fluid and a partialloss of braking capability which could result in an accident.

  Remedy

  Inspect left front brake hose for proper installation and replace, as necessary.

• NHTSA recall #88V065000April 18, 198812,457 vehicles affected

  latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch

  The secondary hood latch may not properly engage.

  If primary latch disengages, hood could unexpectedlyopen. If car was in motion, hood could contact the windshield, reduce thedrivers forward vision area, and could result in an accident.

  Remedy

  Replace secondary latch with a new latch.

• NHTSA recall #88V066000April 18, 19883,221 vehicles affected

  suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint

  Lower control arm to ball joint attachment Can become loose. Also, certain cars could have tie rod ball stud nuts that were not properly torqued and could loosen.

  Continued operation of car with either condition couldresult in separation of that joint and possible loss of steering control and anaccident.

  Remedy

  Replace both lower control arms; also, check tie rod ball stud nut torque.

• NHTSA recall #88V045000March 28, 198817,745 vehicles affected

  power train: manual transmission: column shift assembly

  An interference between the transmission shift cable and the bellcrank clip in the steering column Can result in disengagement of the transmission cable.

  This condition could allow the transmission to be in agear other than that displayed by the shift indicator. The vehicle could movein an unexpected direction and cause a vehicle crash without prior warning.

  Remedy

  A newly designed bellcrank clip will be installed.

• NHTSA recall #88V040000March 24, 19889,661 vehicles affected

  exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

  The stop lamp switch may have a loose electrical contact. The loose contact Can overheat and melt the surrounding plastic causing the contact to stick open.

  An open contact would render the brake lights inoperativewhen the brake pedal is depressed. Also, the transmission clutch control andcruise control contacts would remain closed. This condition would result incruise resume upon brake pedal release if the cruise control is in the onposition. Either an unexpected cruise resume or inoperative brake lights couldresult in a vehicle crash without prior warning.

  Remedy

  The rotary soplamp switch will be replaced on all involved vehicles.

Other model years

• 1987 25
• 1988
• 1989 106
• 1990 77
• 1991 200
• 1992 144
• 1993 85
• 1994 110
• 1995 173
• 1996 204
• 1997 136
• 1998 302
• 1999 246
• 2000 184
• 2001 187
• 2002 117
• 2003 101
• 2004 66
• 2011 280
• 2012 92
• 2013 91
• 2014 38
• 2015 33
• 2016 41