RecallMyCar

1996 Buick Regal Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1996 Buick Regal, and owners have filed 204 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
204
owner complaints to NHTSA
14 / 16
complaints citing a crash / fire
21
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 1996 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. Rack and pinion (steering)

    NHTSA 03V527000 Reported 750,283 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Certain passenger vehicles have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These retainers could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began on february 5, 2004. Owners should contact…

  2. Fuel injection system (fuel system)

    NHTSA 96V116000 Reported 275,811 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    A backfire during engine starting can cause breakage of the upper intake manifold.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module programming. Until the campaign repair is made, the vehicle hood should be shut whenever starting the vehicle to reduce the chance of personal injury.

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

    NHTSA 96V069000 Reported 43,213 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The left front brake line can contact the transaxle mounting bracket or attachment bolt.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle for proper brake line clearance and reposition those brake lines found to have less than minimal clearance. Additionally, those brake lines found to have an indentation caused by the…

204 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Buick Regal have filed 204 complaints with NHTSA; 14 describe a crash and 16 describe a fire. Reports cite 21 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 91,477 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 32 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“On july 17, 2019 at 8:40am, i got into my car in my driveway. I turned the key in the ignition and the AIRBAG exploded. (the car was not started.) the AIRBAG sounded like a shotgun being fired and a p”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 2, 2019 · Air bags

“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 buick regal. The contact stated that the brake and ABS warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent facility for diagnostic testing and failure c”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 18, 2018 · Service brakes

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Buick Regal. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined21 mpg
City / Highway17–18 / 26–27
FuelRegular
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine6 cyl, 3.1/3.8 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 1996 Buick Regal

How do I know if my 1996 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 1996 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 03V527000).

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.