Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the brakes, electrical, and acceleration and cruise control. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2018Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2018 Buick Regal: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2018's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2018 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2018 Buick Regal. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | AWD, FWD | 24–26 mpg |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD | 22 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Buick Regal, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The brake pedal turns hard and needs heavy pressure to stop the car, or braking fades suddenly until the pedal is pushed nearly to the floor. Reports call it intermittent and worse when reversing, with one dated to about 28,000 miles. Two of the 5 complaints involve crashes, one with an injury, where the car would not slow down or lurched forward when the brake was released. Some owners say a recall part was unavailable. Another says the firm pedal and brake control module trouble codes came back after a dead battery.
The check engine light stays on or flickers on and off, and one owner cannot pass an emissions retest because of it. Several reports describe the auto stop-start system shutting the engine off at red lights, then restarting with a long delay or an engine and transmission jolt when the brake is released. Owners see that delay as a rear-end collision risk. A separate complaint describes a stuck "Shift to Park" message at around 50,000 miles. Because of it, the car will not turn off and the battery drains.
The car surges forward or hesitates when the driver doesn't expect it. In the crash-related report, the car accelerated into a pole in a drive-thru while the brake pedal was pressed, at very low mileage. It appears to be the same incident that was also filed under service brakes. The other complaint describes sluggish acceleration when pulling away from a highway stop, which makes merging into traffic risky. Neither report mentions a dealer diagnosis or repair.
Excerpts from complaints Regal owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
My car was part of recall number 22V465, which was supposed to fix a problem with the electronic brake assist system. The recall repair was done in 2023, but after my battery recently died, the same problem has come back — my brakes are very firm, and I have to press hard to stop. The car is showing trouble codes C028F:04, C1586:04, and V0420:71, all related to the electronic brake control module.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2025
Was driving home from work and my brakes suddenly stopped working, if I press all the way down on the brakes they somewhat work. Checked brake fluid and brake lines and everything seems fine. Could this be from vacuum power brake assist fail?
Filed with NHTSA, October 2024
Increased stopping distance during certain brake vacuum loss events. My check engine light goes on and off periodically. When I’m at a red light my whole car shuts off and goes into a neutral mode then once I press the brake it starts back up.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2023
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2018 has the most owner complaints of the 3 Regal years we cover, about 1.9 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2018 is the eighth model year of the Regal's fifth generation (2011–2020).
It includes the 2014 update.
What changed for 2014
Recall repairs are free at any Buick dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Buick Regal vehicles. In the event of a vacuum-power brake assist failure, a software error in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may result in a loss of power brake assist. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135, "Light vehicle brake systems.".
Risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the EBCM software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters advising owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 19, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Buick's customer service at 1-800-521-7300.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Buick Regal vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the rear seat belts may have been improperly routed around the bolster bracket on the rear outboard seats, which can cause inadequate restraint of the passengers.
Risk: If the seat belt fails to adequately restrain the passengers in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear outboard seat belts, correcting the routing of the seat belts as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 14, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 18117.
Cars shoppers compare with the Buick Regal, with their own 2018 checklists.
2018 owner complaints, side by side
