Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1988 Buick Regal, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic67
- Structure17
- Power train10
- Engine and engine cooling9
- Tires5
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Seat belts5
- Electrical system5
- Exterior lighting4
- Wheels4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 8 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls in Canada
10 Transport Canada recalls for the 1988 Buick Regal.
| 2001028 8 Feb 2001 | Suspension Vehicles located in the high corrosion provinces east of the Manitoba/Ontario border. Certain vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the frame/cradle retain… |
| 1995100 16 Jun 1995 | Suspension On certain vehicles, cracks may develop in the wheel mounting surface, and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely separate from the… |
| 1995010 31 Jan 1995 | Steering On certain vehicles, the rear engine cradle bolts may pull through due to corrosion of the retainers. If this should occur, the cradle would no longer be suppor… |
| 1994042 1 Mar 1994 | Suspension On certain vehicles, the steel wheels may develop cracks in the wheel mounting surface and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely s… |
| 1990044 15 Mar 1990 | Seats And Restraints Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 210 - Seatbelt Assembly Anchorages. Anchor bolt may pull through the upper anchorage plate. Correction: Nut assembly … |
| 1988097 11 Jul 1988 | Brakes THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE COULD CONTACT THE FENDER LINING/RAIL AREA AND EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH. THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF BR… |
| 1988052 14 Apr 1988 | Structure THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE ON THESE VEHICLES. IF THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH WERE TO DISENGAGE, THE HOOD COULD UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN. IF THIS WERE … |
| 1988053 14 Apr 1988 | Suspension THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT COULD BECOME LOOSE ON THESE VEHICLES. ALSO, THE TIE ROD BALL STUD NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TORQUED AND COU… |
| 1988045 28 Mar 1988 | Powertrain A POTENTIAL INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE AND THE PRNDL BELLCRANK CLIP CAN RESULT IN DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CABLE FROM THE STEERI… |
| 1988043 24 Mar 1988 | Electrical A LOOSE ELECTRICAL CONTACT ON THE ROTARY STOP LAMP SWITCH CAN OVERHEAT AND MELT THE SURROUNDING PLASTIC CAUSING THE CONTACT TO STICK OPEN. THIS WOULD RESULT IN … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT FASTENER MAY PULL THROUGH DOOR MOUNTED ANCHOR PLATE.
TWISTED COMPONENTS COULD ALLOW THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE TO CONTACT THE FENDER LINING/RAIL AREA; OVER TIME THE BRAKE HOSE COULD WEAR THROUGH.
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE.
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.
AN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE AND THE BELLCRANK CLIP IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAN RESULT IN DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CABLE.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Buick told its dealers about the 1988 Buick Regal: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 6088680 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF GRINDING / SCRAPING / GROANING NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
STRUCTURE
CRADLE BOLT FAILURES
CORRODED REAR DISK BRAKES
SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILURE
STICKING THROTTLE
W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILURE
W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILURE
STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION
REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAIL
FAILURE STOP LAMP SWITCH
PARKING BRAKE CABLE
THROTTLE NON-RETURN
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation