This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Headlamp, Tail Lamp, License Lamp or Fog/Driving Lamp Damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Buick Regal lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Buick Regal have filed 27 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 61,200 miles at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Regal | 27 |
| 2012 Regal | 28 |
| 2013 Regal (this page) | 27 |
| 2014 Regal | 3 |
| 2015 Regal | 7 |
| 2016 Regal | 5 |
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 27 lighting complaints filed for the 2013 Buick Regal, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Owners have filed 27 lighting complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 6 model years of Buick Regal in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting 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 service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leaks and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leaks and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2013 Buick Regals equipped with HID headlights consistently report moisture and condensation building up inside the headlight housing, even without visible cracks or external damage. The water damages the ballast (mounted underneath the assembly), corrodes circuit boards, and causes bulbs to fail or explode. Failures occur as early as 30,000 miles and happen without any dashboard warning to alert the driver—discovering the failure only when driving at night in poor visibility creates an immediate safety hazard.
The core problem is a defective seal on the headlight assembly. Replacing just the bulb ($100) or ballast ($300–$650) is temporary; water returns within days or weeks. The only fix owners report is full headlight assembly replacement, which runs $1,500–$2,000 per side plus labor. Once warranty expires, Buick declines coverage. Worse, after dealers replace the assembly under warranty, the same failure recurs months or years later on the same side or opposite side, forcing repeat replacements.
Multiple owners cite replacing the assembly three or more times. Some dealers have stopped stocking the part. Buick has acknowledged reported claims about this issue to owners but issued no recall and treats condensation as outside the scope of warranty protection. Owners note this problem appeared in 2011–2012 model years yet continued unchanged into 2013.
Same Buick Regal lighting reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Headlight assembly moisture ingress and seal failure
Water and condensation accumulate inside the headlight housing without visible cracks or damage, indicating a defective seal design. Owners report the headlight housings fill with moisture that damages internal electronics, ballasts, and bulbs. The HID ballast is mounted underneath and becomes exposed to water damage. Some owners describe the plastic case burning through, allowing water to reach the ballast.
When: Occurs as early as 30,000 miles; some failures reported at 35,000–82,000 miles. One owner noted recurrence within six years of initial warranty replacement.
Symptoms owners cite: Water or condensation visible inside headlight lens; Headlight bulb failure or bulb burns out prematurely; Headlight assembly fails to illuminate; No warning indicator when headlight fails; Moisture accumulation even without rain or visible damage to the light; Bulb explodes due to moisture contact; Headlight circuit board corrosion
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement bulb costs approximately $100; HID ballast replacement approximately $300–$650; full headlight assembly replacement $1,500–$2,000 per side. One owner cited a $3,000 estimate for headlamp replacement. Labor charges additional. One dealer charged $650 for ballast replacement, which failed again within 3 miles. Lens replacement quoted at $1,143 + labor. Resealing alone (attempted by independent mechanic) did not resolve the problem long-term.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Buick declined warranty coverage for out-of-warranty vehicles and stated that condensation/seal issues are not a concern unless there is a safety issue. One customer satisfaction program request was denied. No recall has been issued despite multiple complaints. Buick confirmed they had reported claims about this issue but took no corrective action. Multiple dealers informed owners the repair was not covered under warranty (some vehicles had extended warranties that still excluded headlights).
HID headlight electrical short and wiring failure
Water ingress into the headlight assembly causes electrical shorts in the wiring harness and connector. Owners report that wiring melts and connectors fail. Even after ballast and bulb replacement, daytime running lights stop working, indicating a broader electrical system compromise from moisture damage.
When: Occurs coincident with or following moisture accumulation in the headlight housing.
Symptoms owners cite: Wiring harness short in the lighting circuit; Melted wiring and failed connectors; Daytime running lights cease to function after repair attempt; Headlight fails to work even after bulb and ballast replacement; Electrical short when vehicle is started in morning
Repairs/costs cited: Connector replacement performed at dealer; failure persisted. Full headlight assembly replacement necessary to resolve electrical issues.
Recurrent headlight failure (serial failures)
Owners report that after factory or dealer replacement of the headlight assembly, the same condensation and failure pattern recurs on the same side or the opposite side. One owner had the left headlamp assembly replaced under warranty at an earlier date, and it failed again by 60,000 miles. Another owner had the assembly replaced three times at the same dealer. This pattern suggests the replacement assemblies carry the same design defect.
When: First failure varies; recurrence within months to years. One owner had initial replacement six years prior and both headlights failed again at 60,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight fails again after dealer replacement; Condensation and moisture buildup recurs in replacement assembly; Pattern repeats on opposite side of vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement headlight assembly costs $1,500–$2,000 per occurrence. One owner reports dealer replaced the assembly three times, most recently one week before complaint. Multiple replacement cycles incur cumulative costs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Buick has not issued a redesigned replacement part or acknowledged the defect as systemic. Parts have become unavailable at some dealers, forcing owners to source through other channels or pay inflated costs.
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
My drivers side HID headlight assembly developed condensation inside the assembly causing a headlight failure. Though the car is a 2013, it had only 64000 miles on it when the condition occurred. This is obviously a manufacturing defect since there has been no impact to the headlight assembly and no visible break in the seal.
Moisture built up in the drivers side headlight cause the whole headlight assembly to fail. I paid to have it replaced last year and now the passengers side has done the exact same thing. It is a condensation problem causing the units to fail and should be considered a safety issue! When your headlight goes out without warning on a stormy night it is dangerous not only for you but anyone in the…
Condensation, water accumulation in headlight assembly. No damage or cracks in headlight. Bulb went out. Purchased new bulb to replace and replacement did not work.
Moisture in drivers side HID headlight caused damage to ballast blowing headlight . Replaced ballast and bulb,but daytime running light does not illuminate. Headlight shorted out when car was started in morning.
I recently got pulled over by the local police department that noticed that my driver side headlight was out as I was pulling out of my drive way first thing in the morning .after changing the headlight bulb ($100.00)the headlight did not turn on.under recommendation of the part clerk of my local parts store we looked at the headlight ballast ($300.00).this vehicle headlight design somehow…
Had lighting trouble with your 2013 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 lighting problem on the 2013 Buick Regal?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 27 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 45,000 and 72,000 miles, with the median around 61,200. A quarter of owners report trouble before 45,000; a quarter make it past 72,000. 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 $250 for lighting 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 lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting 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/2013/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.