RecallMyCar

1978 Buick Regal Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 1978 Buick Regal, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
1
owner complaint to NHTSA

6 safety recalls for the 1978 Buick Regal

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Wheel cylinders (service brakes)

    NHTSA 85V048000 Reported 1,810,000 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Excessive enlargement of the wheel cylinder pilot hole in the rear brake backing plate could allow the wheel cylinder to rotate and cause loss of brake fluid. Consequence of defect: a loss of brake fluid leads to loss of rear brake action, creating the potential for an accident. Front brakes would remain operational.

    Remedy: Add a part to prevent wheel cylinder from rotating.

  2. Axle shaft (power train)

    NHTSA 84V149000 Reported 3,100,000 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Rear axle assembly may have axles that were improperly manufactured. This condition may result in separation of the axle shaft and wheel assembly from the vehicle.

    Remedy: The dealer will inspect the rear axle to determine whether it was manufactured at the buffalo plant. If so, they will make axle measurements and if necessary replace or modify affected axle components without charge.

  3. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 81V025000 Reported 5,821,160 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The bolts that attach the lower rear control arm to the frame may fracture. The rear control arm supports and positions the rear axle. Fracture of the bolts would allow the control arm to drop free.

    Remedy: Both rear control arm attachment bolts will be replaced without charge.

  4. Wheel bearing (suspension)

    NHTSA 79V175000 Reported 1,896,222 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Under certain driving conditions, these vehicles can experience temperatures in the front wheel outer bearing area which can affect the wheel bearing grease. This can result in inadequate lubrication of the bearing. This condition may be further aggravated by improper adjustment of the front wheel spindle nut.

    Remedy: The dealer will install new front wheel outer bearings packed with grease and the spindle will be coated with lubricant. New grease retainer caps will also be installed to maintain grease in outer bearing. This will be…

  5. Fan (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 78V139000 Reported 333,619 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The hub portion of the fan blade assembly could crack due to high stress levels generated during engine operating conditions. Eventually, the blade could break apart at the hub and blade pieces could be propelled into the engine. If the hood is open while the engine is running, the fragments would be free to fly from the vehicle.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the fan blade assembly without charge to owner.

  6. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 78V018000 Reported 100 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims", in that the tire placard does not contain legible tire size information.

    Remedy: Dealer will provide proper labels for the owner to install, or for dealer installation, if preferred.

1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1978 Buick Regal have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Brakes failed, causing accident.(ohio state police report)”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 19, 1996 · Service brakes, hydraulic

Compare Buick Regal model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Buick Regal model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1973 Buick Regal10
1974 Buick Regal20
1975 Buick Regal20
1976 Buick Regal20
1977 Buick Regal30
1978 Buick Regal61
1979 Buick Regal43
1980 Buick Regal50
1981 Buick Regal30
1982 Buick Regal21
1983 Buick Regal14
1984 Buick Regal46
1985 Buick Regal89
1986 Buick Regal412
1987 Buick Regal225
1988 Buick Regal10123
1989 Buick Regal7106
1990 Buick Regal877
1991 Buick Regal6200
1992 Buick Regal2144
1993 Buick Regal285
1994 Buick Regal3110
1995 Buick Regal8173
1996 Buick Regal3204
1997 Buick Regal7136
1998 Buick Regal6302
1999 Buick Regal6246
2000 Buick Regal8184
2001 Buick Regal6187
2002 Buick Regal3117
2003 Buick Regal3101
2004 Buick Regal266
2005 Buick Regal04
2008 Buick Regal01
2009 Buick Regal01
2010 Buick Regal01
2011 Buick Regal4280
2012 Buick Regal792
2013 Buick Regal691
2014 Buick Regal238
2015 Buick Regal033
2016 Buick Regal141
2017 Buick Regal020
2018 Buick Regal319
2019 Buick Regal319
2020 Buick Regal22

Checking a specific 1978 Buick Regal

How do I know if my 1978 Buick Regal has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 1978 Buick Regal; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Buick dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 78V018000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Buick models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.