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Buick Regal VIN Number Check

A free NHTSA vPIC decode tells you which Buick Regal you are looking at. Then check its model year against 55 NHTSA recall campaigns and what owners have reported.

VIN prefix2G4W041G4

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Buick Regal

About the Buick Regal

Buick sold the Regal in the US for model years 1990–2020. Across those years NHTSA lists 55 vehicle recall campaigns and 2,991 owner complaints. The 1998 has the most complaints of any model year (302). EPA rates it at 19–29 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years1990–2020
EPA classMidsize Cars
NHTSA recall campaigns55
Owner complaints2,991 at NHTSA
Buick Regal photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Buick Regal at a glance

One generation in the data, 1990–2020: 55 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2,991 owner complaints.

1 / 1
Regal
1990–2020Midsize Cars
Buick Regal (1990–2020)

Photo: AJM STUDIOS, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

1990199520002005201020152020
1990–2020

Buick Regal

EPA classMidsize Cars
EPA combined mpg19–29
NHTSA recalls55

Engines (EPA)

  • 3.1 L 6-cyl · 1990–1997
  • 3.8 L 6-cyl · 1990–2004
  • 3.8 L 6-cyl (supercharged) · 1997, 1999–2004
  • 3.8 L 6-cyl (turbo, supercharged) · 1998
  • 2.0 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2011–2020
  • 2.4 L 4-cyl · 2011–2017
  • 2.4 L 4-cyl (hybrid) · 2012–2016
  • 3.6 L 6-cyl · 2018–2020

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD, FWD
  • automatic (1990–2004, 2011–2020), manual (2011–2016), CVT (2012)

Known issues to check

Engine and cooling (773)Brakes (637)Electrical system (571)9 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 2,991 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · Regal2G4WB52K?W1······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 1998 Buick Regal LS, built in Oshawa #2, Ontario
Check a Regal VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Regal model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 55 campaigns on file for Regal model years 1990–2020, and the 1990, 1995 and 2000 show up in the most (8 each). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2000
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Buick Regal owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Complaints peak with the 1998 (302 of 2,991). Tap any bar or generation.

2,991NHTSA complaints, 1990–2020
142mention a crash
270mention a fire
146injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearRegal: 2,991 complaints · most for the 1998 (302)

Top complaint areas · Regal

Mentions in 2,991 complaints, 1990–2020.

Engine and cooling773
Brakes637
Electrical system571
Steering313
Exterior lighting219
Powertrain (transmission, driveline)190
Crashes 142Fires 270Injuries 146

1990–2020

NHTSA data summary

The 1998 is the outlier. On its own it has 302 of the ’s 2,991 complaints (10%), more than any other Regal model year. By area, nothing stands out. Engine and cooling leads with 773, with the brakes (637) and the electrical system (571) close behind.

What Regal owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2011–2017 (5th generation)

The 2011 draws by far the most complaints, and later years have modest totals. NHTSA owners of the 2011 describe stalling, brake concerns and timing chain trouble, along with headlight and seat problems. CarComplaints lists stalling, timing chain issues and a transmission that will not engage for 2011, and brake failure, engine failure and a broken timing chain for 2012. Recalls cover power seat wiring on some 2011 models that may chafe, front seat height adjuster bolts on 2011–2012 models that may fall out and turn signal warnings on 2011–2013 models. [1] [2] [3] [4]

What to check before buying

  • Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the power seat recalls on 2011 and 2012 models.
  • Ask whether the timing chain has been replaced.
  • On the drive, listen for a rattle at cold start, feel for stalling or delayed engagement into gear and check that the brakes feel firm and the headlights work.
Sources (4) and method
Sources:
  1. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2011 Buick Regal
  2. CarComplaints.com, 2011 Buick Regal problems
  3. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2012 Buick Regal
  4. CarComplaints.com, 2012 Buick Regal problems

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

Regal complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Hybrid Regal versions count alongside gas ones. Tap a year to see its top systems.

2,991complaints, 1990–2020
142mention a crash
270mention a fire
146injuries reported
4complaints report a death
Most complaints: 1998 (302), 2011 (280), 1999 (246)
’90’95302’98246’99’00’05’10280’11’15’20

1998 · 302 complaints

Crashes 7 · fires 41 · injuries 3

Steering76
Engine and engine cooling55
Electrical system51
Engine29
Service brakes27

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Regal CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 83 Regal versions for model years 1990–2020 (gas and hybrid). The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 312 g/mi, for the 2016 hybrid. Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Regal1990–2020

19–29 mpg · CO₂ 312–468 g/mi

2020
26combined MPG
343CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$3,150EPA yearly fuel cost
5/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
5/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III ULEV70 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 70Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2020: Regal · Auto (S9), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo — 26 MPG · 343 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
25035045055065019901995200020052010201520201990 · Gas: 4441991 · Gas: 4441992 · Gas: 4441993 · Gas: 4441994 · Gas: 4441995 · Gas: 4441996 · Gas: 4231997 · Gas: 4231998 · Gas: 4231999 · Gas: 4232000 · Gas: 4232001 · Gas: 4232002 · Gas: 4442003 · Gas: 4442004 · Gas: 4232011 · Gas: 3702012 · Gas: 3702013 · Gas: 3762014 · Gas: 3722015 · Gas: 3722016 · Gas: 3722017 · Gas: 3742018 · Gas: 3442019 · Gas: 3452020 · Gas: 3432012 · Hybrid: 3172013 · Hybrid: 3122014 · Hybrid: 3122015 · Hybrid: 3142016 · Hybrid: 312
GasHybrid

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Regal vs Honda Accord vs Chevrolet Malibu

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 1990–2020. NHTSA lists 55 recall campaigns for the Regal, against 70 for the Honda Accord and 51 for the Chevrolet Malibu. Pick a range to compare.

Buick Regal

Model years 1990–2020

NHTSA recall campaigns
55
NHTSA owner complaints
2,991
EPA combined mpg
19–29
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.0, 2.4 L · 6-cyl 3.1, 3.6, 3.8 L
Also listed
supercharged, turbo, hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2017)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 773
  2. Brakes 637
  3. Electrical system 571

Honda Accord

Model years 1990–2020

NHTSA recall campaigns
70
NHTSA owner complaints
23,733
EPA combined mpg
19–48
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.5–2.4 L · 6-cyl 2.7, 3.0, 3.5 L
Also listed
hybrid, plug-in hybrid, turbo
Drive (EPA)
FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2017)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Air bags 4,104
  2. Electrical system 4,033
  3. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 3,824

Chevrolet Malibu

Model years 1990–2020

NHTSA recall campaigns
51
NHTSA owner complaints
20,604
EPA combined mpg
18–46
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.5–2.5 L · 6-cyl 3.1–3.9 L
Also listed
hybrid, turbo
Drive (EPA)
FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2017)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Steering 6,473
  2. Electrical system 5,099
  3. Engine and cooling 3,018

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Buick Regal VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Regal

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Dark grey Buick Regal (sixth generation) liftback, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The Regal was discontinued after 2020. Locate its VIN at the base of the driver's side windshield. Door jamb sticker and trunk lid label are secondary locations. Regal TourX wagon variants add a cargo area sticker in the rear.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Buick Regal VIN questions

Which Buick Regal model years have the most owner complaints?

The 1998 leads with 302, ahead of the 2011 (280) and 1999 (246). Those first two alone make up 19% of the 2,991 Regal complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Buick Regal had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 55 vehicle campaigns for model years 1990–2020, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which Buick Regal recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 93V-145, 96V-116, 08V-118, 09V-116, 15V-701, 99V-170, 15V-201, 16V-517 and 1 more. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the Buick Regal get?

It varies. EPA rates the 1990–2020 Regal at 19–29 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Buick Regal compare with the Honda Accord and Chevrolet Malibu on recalls?

For 1990–2020 models the Regal has 55 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Honda Accord has 70, the Chevrolet Malibu 51. Complaints run 2,991, 23,733 and 20,604 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

What crash rating does the Buick Regal have?

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2017 Regal 5 stars overall. Both rated versions, FWD and AWD, get that score.

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