1985 Buick Regal

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1985 Buick Regal
RENDERED 2026-09-16T21:47:18.926Z

Only 9 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

Only 9 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Buick Regal Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1985 highlighted. 1982: 1 complaints 1982 1983: 4 complaints 1984: 6 complaints 1985: 9 complaints 1985 1986: 12 complaints 1987: 25 complaints 1987 1988: 125 complaints 1989: 107 complaints 1990: 77 complaints 1991: 201 complaints 1992: 145 complaints 1992 1993: 86 complaints 1994: 119 complaints 1995: 174 complaints 1996: 204 complaints 1997: 136 complaints 1997 1998: 302 complaints 1999: 246 complaints 2000: 184 complaints 2001: 187 complaints 2002: 117 complaints 2002 2003: 101 complaints 2004: 66 complaints 2005: 4 complaints 2008: 1 complaints 2009: 1 complaints 2009 2010: 1 complaints 2011: 279 complaints 2012: 92 complaints 2013: 91 complaints 2014: 38 complaints 2014 2015: 33 complaints 2016: 41 complaints 2017: 20 complaints 2018: 19 complaints 2019: 19 complaints 2019 2020: 2 complaints 2020
1985: 9 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19810
19821
19834
19846
19859
198612
198725
1988125
1989107
199077
1991201
1992145
199386
1994119
1995174
1996204
1997136
1998302
1999246
2000184
2001187
2002117
2003101
200466
20054
20081
20091
20101
2011279
201292
201391
201438
201533
201641
201720
201819
201919
20202

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Only 9 complaints on file for this model year -- too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.

SERVICE BRAKES

3 of 9 total reports mention: service brakes, most commonly citing hydraulic.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

3 of 9 total reports mention: engine and engine cooling, most commonly citing gasoline and hoses/lines/piping/fittings.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 of 9 total reports mentions: vehicle speed control.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

RECALL RELATED, 86V030000, THROTTLE WENT INTO OPEN POSITION AFTER PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE,IMPACT 6:00 POSITION AND 12:00 POSITION. TT

NHTSA ODI report, 19951121

STEERING

1 of 9 total reports mentions: steering, most commonly citing steering wheel/handle bar.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 of 9 total reports mentions: electrical system, most commonly citing fuses and circuit breakers.

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19841001 — steering

THE TIE RODS ARE PART OF THE STEERING LINKAGE AND TRANSMIT TURNING MOVEMENTS TO THE WHEELS. THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE TIE RODS TO THEIR ADJUSTERS MAY NOT BE TIGHT ENOUGH. THIS COULD ALLOW THE TIE ROD

Remedy: THE TIE ROD END BOLTS WILL BE TIGHTENED WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER.

Campaign 84V124000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19841127 — seat belts

THE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WHICH MAY NOT PERFORM ADEQUATELY DURING A COLLISION.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FREE OF CHARGE.

Campaign 84V154000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19850515 — visibility

A LOSS OF BONDING ADHESION BETWEEN THE PAINT AND THE WINDSHIELD OPENING AREA COULD ALLOW THE WINDSHIELD TO SEPARATE DURING A 30 MILE PER HOUR FRONTAL BARRIER TEST REQUIRED BY FMVSS 212, WINDSHIE

Remedy: REMOVE AND REINSTALL WINDSHIELD IF A LACK OF PAINT BONDING IS EVIDENT.

Campaign 85V047000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19850926 — equipment

THE CERTIFICATION LABEL LOCATED ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR DID NOT INCLUDE A REQUIRED FEDERAL CERTIFICATION STATEMENT.

Remedy: LABELS CONTAINING CORRECT INFORMATION ARE BEING MAILED AND SHOULD BE INSTALLED ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR.

Campaign 85V114000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19860307 — vehicle speed control

THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING ASSEMBLY MAY FAIL PREVENTING THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE CLOSED (IDLE) POSITION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED.

Remedy: REPLACE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING.

Campaign 86V030000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19860825 — EA (closed 19880302)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS

R 19870827 — structure

SMALL CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE BODY PILLAR AROUND THE DOOR STRIKER BOLT HOLE.

Remedy: INSTALL INNER AND OUTER REINFORCEMENT PLATE ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BODY PILLARS.

Campaign 87V124000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19880209 — PE (closed 19880511)

HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILURE

R 19880211 — exterior lighting

UNDER EXTENDED HEADLAMP USAGE, CIRCUITRY IN THE HEADLAMP SWITCH PANEL MIGHT EXPERIENCE INCREASED RESISTANCE AND EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP.

Remedy: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH MODIFIED SWITCH.

Campaign 88V014000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19890306 — C (closed 19900116)

THROTTLE NON-RETURN

I 19890317 — PE (closed 19890512)

JAMMED STEERING MECHANISM

I 19890721 — PE (closed 19890922)

PARKING BRAKE CABLE

I 19891031 — PE (closed 19900228)

CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE

R 20061018 — fuel system, gasoline

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURE

Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Campaign 06E043000 — check if this car was fixed

R Date not on file — structure

THE REAR BUMPER MAY FRACTURE DURING A REAR END COLLISION, PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK, AND CAUSE A FUEL LEAK.

Remedy: REPLACE THE REAR BUMPER BRACKETS AND THE "L" SHAPED REINFORCEMENT WITH A "U" SHAPED FULL REINFORCEMENT.

Campaign 85V049000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1985 Buick Regal — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for service brakes issues (3 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (3 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (1 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 85V049000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 84V124000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 84V154000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 85V047000 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 85V114000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 86V030000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 87V124000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 88V014000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E043000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2015 ▲ 2014 ▲ 2016

WORST YEARS

■ 1998 ■ 2011 ■ 1999

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1985 Buick Regal reliable?

There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.

What are the most common problems with the 1985 Buick Regal?

The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 33% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1985 Buick Regal have?

9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-09-16 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.