Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Buick Regal
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Buick Regal has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 302 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #15V701000 Engine Oil Dripping On Manifold may Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V116000 ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E005000 STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING/LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V118000 UNDERHOOD FIRES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V527000 GM/STEERING GEAR BEARINGS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V356000 GM/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V102000 GM/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 76 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 55 complaints
- Electrical System 51 complaints
- Engine 29 complaints
- Visibility 26 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 24 complaints
Of the 302 complaints on file, 7 report a crash and 41 a fire; across all 302 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Buick Regal has a below-average reliability rating due to a significant number of complaints (302) and multiple safety-related recall campaigns (7). Notably, concerns with the steering, engine, and electrical systems are prevalent. The existing data, while extensive, indicates recurring issues, suggesting caution for potential buyers.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering rack | Unknown | $400–$800 | common |
| engine oil seals | Unknown | $250–$600 | common |
| electrical system | Unknown | $300–$750 | common |
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 and rotor replacement
- Transmission fluid service
- Coolant system flush
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Steering alignment check
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering wheel vibration
- Oil leaks under the car
- Electrical issues (flickering lights)
- Overheating engine
- Unexpected power loss
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Buick Regal at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.