This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a grind growl noise on the 1-2 shift that can be felt in the clutch pedal and brake pedal if applied during a 1-2 shift under light or normal acceleration. Dealer should communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Buick Regal cruise control problems
moderate Owners of the 2012 Buick Regal have filed 3 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Regal | 7 |
| 2012 Regal (this page) | 3 |
| 2013 Regal | 3 |
| 2016 Regal | 4 |
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Buick Regal we track for cruise control problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (3).
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I got a 2012 Buick regal I brought it july 2018 my car was died out of nowhere about 5 months prior list and then after I changed my oil my car didn't go anymore it sounded like a chain the first night after they change the oil and then the next day I drove it for 2 hours I don't know if the timing is off or what
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Buick regal. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently. The brake warning light was illuminated at the time of the failure. The contact was able to restart the vehicle but the warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was notified but provided no…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2012 Buick Regal?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2012 Buick Regal?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 3 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 86,047 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Buick/Regal.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.