Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1996 Buick Regal
NHTSA data on file today
The 1996 Buick Regal has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 204 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #07E021000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V527000 GM/STEERING GEAR BEARINGS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #96V116000 Fuel System, Gasoline — Fuel Injection System NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #96V069000 Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 37 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 35 complaints
- Electrical System 24 complaints
- Air Bags 21 complaints
- Steering 18 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 17 complaints
Of the 204 complaints on file, 14 report a crash and 16 a fire; across all 204 complaints, owners report 21 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1996 Buick Regal shows issues across various systems, particularly in brakes, engine, electrical, and steering components, leading to a below-average reliability rating. With 204 complaints and 4 recalls, the vehicle's reliability data is concerning. However, the lack of excessive recall campaigns suggests that while problems exist, they may not always lead to critical failures.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braking system | 70,000-100,000 miles | $300–$600 | common |
| Engine cooling | 80,000-110,000 miles | $400–$800 | common |
| Electrical system | 90,000-120,000 miles | $200–$500 | occasional |
| Steering system | 85,000-115,000 miles | $500–$900 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacement
- Coolant flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Air filter replacement
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Brake squealing or grinding
- Engine overheating
- Frequent electrical issues
- Steering wheel vibration
- Check engine light warnings
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1996 Buick Regal at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.