This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and Transaction Submission information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Buick Regal electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Buick Regal have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 66,000 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Regal | 65 |
| 2012 Regal (this page) | 14 |
| 2013 Regal | 32 |
| 2014 Regal | 5 |
| 2015 Regal | 5 |
| 2016 Regal | 5 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 14 electrical complaints filed for the 2012 Buick Regal, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 8 model years of Buick Regal in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA electrical 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 electrical 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.
This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and Transaction Submission information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Water seals around the headlight assemblies fail consistently, allowing moisture to pool inside the housings. This causes headlights to go dark, turn signals to fail, and fuses to blow repeatedly—sometimes even after replacement bulbs are installed. Multiple owners report this problem recurring even after spending $1,600–$1,800 to replace one headlight assembly. GM issued a recall for a similar issue on the Cadillac SRX (2010–2015), but Regal owners say dealerships refuse to cover the same defect on their vehicles.
Complete electrical power loss while driving is reported by at least two owners. The vehicle shuts down entirely—no lights, no emergency flashers, no power steering or brakes—creating an immediate crash risk. Battery and alternator diagnostics come back normal, yet the problem recurs. One owner had the alternator replaced two weeks after the initial failure, with no resolution.
Battery drain is a recurring complaint: batteries die overnight or fail to hold charge despite multiple replacements. Mechanics confirm the battery and alternator test good, pointing to a deeper voltage drain issue that remains undiagnosed. Random electrical shorts plague power windows, radios, interior lights, and seat adjusters—some work, some don't, with no clear pattern or permanent fix documented. One owner reports a diagnostic code P0062 (Electrical Control Module) but no follow-up on what was done about it.
Same Buick Regal electrical reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Headlight assembly water intrusion and condensation
Water seals around headlight assemblies fail, allowing standing water and condensation to accumulate inside the lamp housings. This causes bulb failure, blown fuses, and complete loss of headlight function. Multiple owners report the same issue recurring even after replacement. Some note ballast/HID component failure secondary to moisture exposure.
When: Reported across various mileages (34K to 66K+); occurs early in ownership and recurs
Symptoms owners cite: Standing water visible in headlight assembly; Condensation inside headlight lens; Headlight goes dark or fails entirely; Left turn signal failure; Driver-side brake light failure; Fuses blown repeatedly when attempting repair
Codes mentioned: Blown headlight/turn signal fuses
Repairs/costs cited: Headlight assembly replacement cited at $1,600–$1,800 per side; ballast replacement mentioned. One owner reported $3,200–$5,000 total repair estimate from dealership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM and Cadillac addressed similar issue on Cadillac SRX (2010–2015) with recall; Buick Regal owners report dealership refusal to cover repair and no recall issued for this model.
Complete electrical power loss while driving
Vehicle experiences sudden total loss of electrical power while in motion, resulting in engine stall, loss of brake lights, loss of emergency flashers, loss of power steering and brakes. Battery and alternator diagnostics are inconclusive; issue recurs intermittently. One owner reports the problem occurred twice before alternator replacement.
When: Occurred while vehicle moving at highway speed; intermittent and recurring
Symptoms owners cite: Complete electrical shutdown while driving; Engine stalls mid-motion; No electrical systems respond (lights, 4-way flashers, power steering, brakes); Battery drains despite recent charging; Battery shows no dead cells but is nearly drained; Vehicle restarts after shutdown
Codes mentioned: P0062 (Electrical Control Module, GCM)
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replaced 2 weeks after initial power loss diagnosis; battery subsequently replaced. Issue persisted or recurred post-repair in some cases.
Battery discharge and voltage drain
Battery loses charge overnight, completely drains, or fails to hold charge despite repeated replacements. Owner reports battery, alternator, and starter tested good by mechanic. One owner had alternator and battery replaced; another owner diagnosed with voltage drainage issue by independent mechanic after failure to restart.
When: Occurs randomly and repeatedly; one report at 66K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Battery completely dead overnight; Battery dies after holding charge for only a couple of days; Battery drains despite being recently charged; Vehicle will not start without external boost or recharge; Battery and alternator test good but drain continues
Codes mentioned: Voltage drainage issue (diagnosed by independent mechanic)
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replaced multiple times without resolution; alternator replaced in one case; starter verified good.
Intermittent electrical shorts and component failures
Random electrical gremlins affecting multiple systems: power window controls work intermittently, radio turns on/off spontaneously, interior lights activate/deactivate without user input, driver seat power adjuster malfunctions, digital speedometer stops working temporarily. Pattern suggests internal short or loose connection rather than component failure.
When: Occurs randomly and intermittently; reported at 58K miles for interior lighting/radio
Symptoms owners cite: Power window buttons work some days, not others; Radio spontaneously turns on and off; Interior lighting turns on/off without warning; Digital speedometer stops working, then restarts; Power seat adjuster requires multiple attempts to function
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented for these individual issues; one owner reports dealer unable to diagnose or repair interior lighting/radio problem.
Headlight ballast failure and blown fuses
Headlight ballast (HID component) fails, preventing headlights from powering on. Fuse replacement alone does not resolve the issue; entire headlight assembly must be replaced. Failures occur even with new bulbs installed.
When: Reported at 35K+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights do not illuminate despite bulb replacement; Fuses blown repeatedly; Headlamp assembly not receiving power
Codes mentioned: Blown headlight fuses
Repairs/costs cited: Headlamp assembly replacement at $1,600 each; ballast replacement mentioned as root cause.
Condensation and blown fuse in headlight circuit
Condensation accumulates in headlight assembly and triggers blown fuse in the headlight circuit. No diagnostic codes are stored, making the issue difficult for dealer to identify without direct inspection.
When: Reported at 34K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Condensation visible in driver-side headlight; Fuse blown in headlight circuit; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; owner did not pursue dealer or manufacturer contact.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Buick regal. The contact noticed condensation in the driver's side headlight and that the fuse was blown. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 34,000.
[XXX] my car failed to let me use the brake, i was going about 45mph and when i went to apply brake pressure the pedal was so stiff i couldnt use the brake. Causing from end collision, when i made a trip to springdale to have my car inspected it didnt make it, started backfiring and dying around 65 mph then the motor blew, it had some issues starting but nothing like what happened within that few…
The headlight area had condensation in it that resulted in water in the headlight. This caused the headlight to go dark. This is a safety issue as one of my headlights is not working. I can’t see that section of the road or adjacent sidelines. Very dangerous particularly at this time of year with deer running into road from the side. There are many other regal owners with this problem which…
Had electrical 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 electrical problem on the 2012 Buick Regal?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 40,000 and 83,000 miles, with the median around 66,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 83,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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.