Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

ProblemsByVin File / 2018-BUICK-REGAL NHTSA data synced 8 hours ago
2018 · Buick

Buick Regal problems

Light NHTSA footprint — 19 owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.

0 5 10
Reliability score
8.4 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2018 Regal?
Generally reliable

Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Embed this reliability snapshot

Free to use on your site, post, or video — keep the link back. Preview the widget →

<iframe src="https://problemsbyvin.com/embed/reliability/2018-buick-regal/" width="100%" height="340" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" title="2018 Buick Regal reliability snapshot" loading="lazy"></iframe>

Top trouble spots 2 categories with 3+ complaints

brakes
5 reports · fails ~28,000 mi · avg $450
severe
electrical
3 reports · avg $850
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2018 Regal's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2018 Regal?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2018 Regal · steering
Steering wheel jerks back on auto start after auto stop. Extremely dangerous the issues happened while driving and at random. Reported the issue early february 2020 again in early may 2020 after failure to duplicate the issue by the service department.reported the issue again…
12/18/2020 · at 22,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11384103.0
2018 Regal · powertrain
While being driven the vehicles transmission fails to shift gears while rpms are registered the transmission fails to respond and lacks power. I was forced to shift manually to try and get the gears to shift with no luck after quickly making the switch between automatic to…
12/18/2020 · at 22,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11384104.0
2018 Regal · electrical
Increased stopping distance during certain brake vacuum loss events. My check engine light goes on and off periodically. When I’m at a red light my whole car shuts off and goes into a neutral mode then once I press the brake it starts back up.
2018 Regal · brakes
Was driving home from work and my brakes suddenly stopped working, if I press all the way down on the brakes they somewhat work. Checked brake fluid and brake lines and everything seems fine. Could this be from vacuum power brake assist fail?
View all 19 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2018 Buick Regal? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 18V230000 April 12, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Buick Regal vehicles

If the seat belt fails to adequately restrain the passengers in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear outboard seat belts, correcting the routing of the seat belts as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 14, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 18117.

Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA

EA Air Bags › Frontal · opened September 2021

NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →

How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →

Common questions

Is the 2018 Buick Regal reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.4 out of 10 based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Buick Regal is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

Should you avoid the 2018 Buick Regal?

On the NHTSA data, the 2018 Buick Regal does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.4/10 — above the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What's the most common problem on the 2018 Buick Regal?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is brakes, with 5 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 28,000 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The brakes is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 28,000 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Buick Regal has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2018 Buick Regal?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 19 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $450, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 8 hours ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Buick/Regal. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Buick. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
Get a free warranty quote →
Sponsored — we earn a commission if you complete a quote. Disclosure.