RecallMyCar

1988 Buick Regal Recalls, Complaints & Specs

10 safety recalls list the 1988 Buick Regal, and owners have filed 123 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

10
safety recalls
123
owner complaints to NHTSA
10 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
21
MPG combined (EPA)

10 safety recalls for the 1988 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. Structure

    NHTSA 00V189000 Reported 713,435 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front and rear frame/cradle bolts and retainers.

  2. Structure

    NHTSA 97V058000 Reported 676,535 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles and MINI vans originally sold or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, illinois, indiana, maine, massachusetts, michigan, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont and wisconsin. The rear cradle bolts pull through the retainers due to…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear cradle bolts and retainers.

  3. Wheels

    NHTSA 95V115000 Reported 22,361 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

  4. Wheels

    NHTSA 94V041000 Reported 198,163 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

  5. Seat belts

    NHTSA 90V054000 Reported 673,000 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

  6. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 88V109000 Reported 8,328 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

  7. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 88V065000 Reported 12,457 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The secondary hood latch may not properly engage.

    Remedy: Replace secondary latch with a new latch.

  8. Suspension: lower ball joint

    NHTSA 88V066000 Reported 3,221 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

  9. Column shift assembly (power train)

    NHTSA 88V045000 Reported 17,745 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

  10. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 88V040000 Reported 9,661 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

123 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1988 Buick Regal have filed 123 complaints with NHTSA; 10 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 7 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 109,163 miles. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 50 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Tl*the contact owns a 1988 buick regal. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle struck a guardrail and was destroyed. The contact sustained neck injuries and a police report was filed. She thou”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 22, 2009 · Service brakes, hydraulic

“Tl*the contact owns a 1988 buick regal. The vehicle was taken to be inspected and the contact was informed that the rear frame was rotted. She was further informed not to drive the vehicle. The curren”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 5, 2008 · Structure

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1988 Buick Regal. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined21 mpg
City / Highway18 / 26
FuelRegular
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine6 cyl, 2.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

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 1988 Buick Regal

How do I know if my 1988 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. 10 campaigns currently list the 1988 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 00V189000).

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.