1999 Buick Regal
This year had more than double the complaints 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.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 |
| 1981 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 |
| 1983 | 4 |
| 1984 | 6 |
| 1985 | 9 |
| 1986 | 12 |
| 1987 | 25 |
| 1988 | 123 |
| 1989 | 106 |
| 1990 | 77 |
| 1991 | 200 |
| 1992 | 144 |
| 1993 | 85 |
| 1994 | 110 |
| 1995 | 173 |
| 1996 | 204 |
| 1997 | 136 |
| 1998 | 302 |
| 1999 | 246 |
| 2000 | 184 |
| 2001 | 187 |
| 2002 | 117 |
| 2003 | 101 |
| 2004 | 66 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 279 |
| 2012 | 91 |
| 2013 | 91 |
| 2014 | 38 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 41 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 18 |
| 2020 | 2 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
20% of complaints: engine — 49 distinct reports on file.
FIRE INJURYShow complaint excerpts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA ODI report, 20151217
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND BEGAN TO PRODUCE SMOKE WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT.
NHTSA ODI report, 20151215
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE FRONT VALVE COVER TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING HEAVY BURNING OIL SMOKE.
NHTSA ODI report, 20120719
11% of complaints: electrical system — 27 distinct reports on file.
FIRE INJURYShow complaint excerpts
WEIRD ENGINE NOISE , WHEN SWITCHING THE IGNITION SWITCH SOMETIMES DELAY, ALSO DASH LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS ALSO AC DOESN'T WORK AND LOW OIL , LOW AIR , AND LOW COOLANT LIGHTS TURN ON EVEN IF ALL OF THEM ARE FULL AT THE RIGHT LEVEL .
NHTSA ODI report, 20191217
8% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 19 distinct reports on file.
FIRE6% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 14 distinct reports on file.
FIRE5% of complaints: steering — 12 distinct reports on file.
Show complaint excerpts
AUGUST 2017', THE STEERING BEGAN TO PULL VERY SLIGHTLY LEFT AND RIGHT AT ALL SPEEDS BUT MORE NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS AT A STOP WITH A VERY SLIGHT CLUNK NOISE THAT GOT LOUDER OVER THE YEAR.
NHTSA ODI report, 20180911
SAFETY TIMELINE
SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WITH THE KEY IN THE "ON" POSITION, EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MOTOR SHORTS TO ITS CASE AND GROUNDS THROUGH A FLEXIBLE BRAKE FLUID PIPE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND CABLE FROM THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE (EBCM) TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BODY RAIL.
Campaign 99V170000 — check if this car was fixed
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE VERTICAL HEAD LAMP ADJUSTING
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPTICALLY AIMING THE HEADLAMPS.
Campaign 99V356000 — check if this car was fixed
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES DO NOT ME
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW LOW BEAM HEADLAMP BULBS IN BOTH OF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080. NOTE: IF THE BULB NEEDS
Campaign 04V375000 — check if this car was fixed
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
GM IS RECALLING 207,542 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES HAVE HIGHER FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET TEMPERATURES, CREAT
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINEÂS FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINEÂS PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, ALONG
Campaign 08V118000 — check if this car was fixed
DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOL
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.
Campaign 08E063000 — check if this car was fixed
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEM
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT D
Campaign 09E005000 — check if this car was fixed
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPP
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINEÂS FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINEÂS PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE
Campaign 09V116000 — check if this car was fixed
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engineÂs front valve cover and gasket.
Campaign 15V701000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
1999 Buick Regal — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for engine issues (49 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for electrical system issues (27 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (19 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 99V170000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 99V356000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 04V375000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 08V118000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
- Verify recall 08E063000 (steering) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E005000 (steering) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09V116000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
- Verify recall 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST YEARS
FAQ
Is the 1999 Buick Regal reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1999 Buick Regal is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Buick Regal?
The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 20% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1999 Buick Regal have?
8 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.