MYRModel Year Report

1988 Buick Regal

● Typical for this model
1988 Buick Regal
RENDERED 2026-09-16T17:44:51.372Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

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.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Buick Regal Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1988 highlighted. 1982: 1 complaints 1982 1983: 4 complaints 1984: 6 complaints 1985: 9 complaints 1986: 12 complaints 1987: 25 complaints 1987 1988: 125 complaints 1988 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
1988: 125 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

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

SERVICE BRAKES 72%

72% of complaints: service brakes — 90 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASH INJURY DEATH
STRUCTURE 14%

14% of complaints: structure — 18 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frame and members and hinge and attachments.

CRASH
POWER TRAIN 10%

10% of complaints: power train — 12 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and gear position indication (prndl).

INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR FELL OFF, RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FAILING. *DH

NHTSA ODI report, 19940729

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8%

8% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 10 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

VEHICLE STALLED;UPON RESTARTING, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19950223

TIRES 4%

4% of complaints: tires — 5 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing tread/belt.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE IN MOTION THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE RIGHT FORNT TIRE CAUSING CONSUMER TO CRASH. THIS RESULTED IN CONSUMER SUSTAINING SEVERAL INJURIES. *JG *JB

NHTSA ODI report, 20030108

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19880413 — exterior lighting

THE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY HAVE A LOOSE ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THE LOOSE CONTACT CAN OVERHEAT AND MELT THE SURROUNDING PLASTIC CAUSING THE CONTACT TO STICK OPEN.

Remedy: THE ROTARY SOPLAMP SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.

Campaign 88V040000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19880415 — power train

AN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE AND THE BELLCRANK CLIP IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAN RESULT IN DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CABLE.

Remedy: A NEWLY DESIGNED BELLCRANK CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED.

Campaign 88V045000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19880422 — latches/locks/linkages

THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE.

Remedy: REPLACE SECONDARY LATCH WITH A NEW LATCH.

Campaign 88V065000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19880429 — suspension

LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT CAN BECOME LOOSE. ALSO, CERTAIN CARS COULD HAVE TIE ROD BALL STUD NUTS THAT WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND COULD LOOSEN.

Remedy: REPLACE BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS; ALSO, CHECK TIE ROD BALL STUD NUT TORQUE.

Campaign 88V066000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19880726 — service brakes, hydraulic

TWISTED COMPONENTS COULD ALLOW THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE TO CONTACT THE FENDER LINING/RAIL AREA; OVER TIME THE BRAKE HOSE COULD WEAR THROUGH.

Remedy: INSPECT LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AND REPLACE, AS NECESSARY.

Campaign 88V109000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19890306 — C (closed 19900116)

THROTTLE NON-RETURN

I 19890721 — PE (closed 19890922)

PARKING BRAKE CABLE

I 19900611 — PE (closed 19901031)

FAILURE STOP LAMP SWITCH

R 19900723 — seat belts

FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT FASTENER MAY PULL THROUGH DOOR MOUNTED ANCHOR PLATE.

Remedy: REPLACE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT NUTS AND INSTALL NEW GUIDE COVER.

Campaign 90V054000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19901031 — EA (closed 19911231)

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAIL

I 19910501 — PE (closed 19910708)

STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION

I 19911001 — PE (closed 19911205)

W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILURE

I 19911205 — EA (closed 19920817)

W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILURE

I 19920626 — EA (closed 19940131)

STICKING THROTTLE

R 19940505 — wheels

CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

Campaign 94V041000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19940621 — PE (closed 19941230)

SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILURE

I 19940812 — PE (closed 19941221)

CORRODED REAR DISK BRAKES

R 19950614 — wheels

CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

Campaign 95V115000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19970611 — structure

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE,

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

Campaign 97V058000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19971002 — RQ (open)

CRADLE BOLT FAILURES

R 20000928 — structure

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA,

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

Campaign 00V189000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20011128 — RP (closed 20020613)

STRUCTURE

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

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1988 Buick Regal — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for service brakes issues (90 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for structure issues (18 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (12 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 88V040000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 88V045000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 88V065000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 88V066000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 88V109000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 90V054000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 94V041000 (wheels) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 95V115000 (wheels) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V058000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V189000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E043000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2015 ▲ 2014 ▲ 2016

WORST YEARS

■ 1998 ■ 2011 ■ 1999

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1988 Buick Regal reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1988 Buick Regal is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1988 Buick Regal?

The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 72% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1988 Buick Regal have?

11 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.