2013 Buick Regal problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Exterior Lighting (31) · Electrical System (16) · Vehicle Speed Control (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Buick Regal model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
62 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Suspension:rear 2026-02-26 · campaign 26V113000 · 17,050 vehicles
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012–2013 Buick Regal Turbo and GS trim-level vehicles that were sold or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear suspension toe links may have received improper corrosion protection, which can result in
Risk: Rear toe link fracture can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 3, 2026. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N252537580. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall numbers 20V764, 21V633, and 21V00F.
Suspension:rear 2021-12-22 · campaign 21V00F000 · 4,271 vehicles
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of e
Risk: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.
Suspension:rear 2021-08-12 · campaign 21V633000 · 32,894 vehicles
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Malibu, and Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion
Risk: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212330130.
Suspension:rear 2020-12-21 · campaign 20V764000 · 220,006 vehicles
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoatin
Risk: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on January 27, 2021, and April 15, 2021. A third notification was mailed on August 19, 201. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202308930.
Electrical System 2013-05-06 · campaign 13V173000 · 42,904 vehicles
Defect: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Regal, and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco vehicles equipped with eAssist. These vehicles may have a condition in which the Generator Control Module (GCM) may not function properly. This could cause a gradual loss of battery charge and the illumination of the malfunction indicator light.
Risk: If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and possibly a fire in the trunk.
Fix: GM will notify owners and dealers will test the GCM and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13136.
Exterior Lighting:turn Signal 2012-10-04 · campaign 12V484000 · 120,426 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with two turn signal bulbs in each front turn signal. If one of the two front turn signal bulbs burn out in either front turn signal lamp, there is no indication to the driver. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: If the driver is not aware that a turn signal is not functioning properly, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle. If half of a front turn signal is not illuminating, other driver's may not be aware that the affected vehicle is turning, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12212.
Service bulletins (1,885)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-05-19 · PIP6113 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this document provides the technician with a diagnostic tip if the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic trouble code p0191 and may also set p0172. the diagnostic tip has the technician inspect the high pressure fuel pump body markings to confirm it is an original manufacture part. if it is not an origi
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,885 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-05-08 · Electrical System · 130,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 buick regal. the contact stated that while stopped at a stop light and depressing the brake pedal, the hybrid battery would power off as intended; however, when the brake pedal was released, the vehicle would lose automotive power before suddenly independently powering on before jolting. the check engine light illuminated. t…”
2026-05-05 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“while in motion at about 25-30 miles per hours, slightly stepping on the brake to slow down, the car just… wouldn’t, i was forced to swerve, preventing damage to cars ahead, i went over a curb …”
2026-04-30 · Vehicle Speed Control“, while driving, doing a steady 25-30 mph my vehicle completed transformed behavior, literally, i could only guess the problem(s) …”
2025-03-13 · Power Train“i have a continuous problem where the vehicle goes into limp mode/reduce power mode it studders and stalls out. the check engine and stabilitrak light comes on. it is extreamly dangerous at it happens on the road and in traffic. i have thousands of dollars, a new thortle body sensor, a new crank positioner, new timing chain, new ecm, new gaskets an…”
2024-02-23 · Vehicle Speed Control“second time, the car has basically shut down. brake assist, abs and traction control lights on. stabilitrak service light. had to slow down to 25 miles an hour because it was shaking so bad and limped it home. last time they said it was a bearing in one of the tires. also states said it has multiple misfires. having it towed tomorrow to see what it…”
2024-01-05 · Exterior Lighting:headlights · 42,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 buick regal. the contact stated that the front driver's side headlight was replaced by the dealer six years ago. the contact stated that the front passenger's side front headlight was inoperable and replaced three years ago; however, the contact stated that the front driver's and passenger's side headlights have since become…”
2023-08-30 · Electrical System“projector lights in headlamp assembly go out and moisture gets into headlamp causing poor visibility after sundown or poor weather. general motors case number: 9-10416199921…”
2023-07-26 · Engine“while driving the vehicle, i received an alert message on the instrument panel that stated “remote not detected,” then the vehicle immediately shutdown in the middle of the road. i lost all power to the vehicle, i couldn’t put the vehicle in gear, neutral or anything to get it out of the road. i immediately replaced the key fob battery, no change v…”
2023-07-21 · Exterior Lighting“there is condensation and moisture present inside the high definition front headlight assemblies, which causes the headlight illumination to be diminished and created a visibility hazard while driving at night. the vehicle was taken to the ganley chevrolet dealership who diagnosed that the front headlight assemblies were faulty and needed to be r…”
2023-07-20 · Electrical System“condensation is getting in the high def headlamps, and causing headlights to blow. it's a known issue and the assembly is between $1,200 and $1,500 dollars…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.