Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Buick Regal
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Buick Regal has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 19 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #22V465000 Loss of Power Brake Assist/FMVSS 135 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V576000 Insufficient Coating on Rear Brake Caliper Pistons NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V230000 Rear Outboard Seat Belts may not Restrain Properly NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes 7 complaints
- Engine 5 complaints
- Unknown or Other 4 complaints
- Electrical System 3 complaints
- Air Bags 2 complaints
- Power Train 2 complaints
Of the 19 complaints on file, 5 report a crash; across all 19 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,500–$9,200AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Buick Regal faces several critical recalls affecting brakes and seat belts, in addition to numerous owner complaints about the braking system. These issues significantly impact its reliability and cost of ownership, making it a below-average choice for long-term investment.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| brake vacuum assist | 40,000–60,000 miles | $300–$600 | very common |
| rear brake calipers | 30,000–50,000 miles | $200–$400 | common |
| engine | 50,000–70,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
| electrical system | 40,000–60,000 miles | $150–$400 | occasional |
| rear seat belts | 30,000–50,000 miles | $100–$250 | rare |
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 change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Transmission fluid change at 60,000 miles
- Engine air filter replacement annually
- Tire rotation every 5,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Loss of brake power
- Engine knocking noises
- Dashboard warning lights
- Weak braking response
- Electrical system failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Buick Regal at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.