Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year, against this model's usual year.
2012AVOIDSerious complaints 3.4× usual, mostly engine and suspension Extended coverage
54 serious complaints of 92, the most about engine (21) and suspension (11); 3.4× this model's usual share of all serious complaints about 2012 vehicles. 7 recalls. NHTSA investigation RQ13003: generator control module fires.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2012 buick regal. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that every two weeks he would check the engine oil level. The contact stated that there was no visible leaks found.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Feb 2021
“The contact owns a 2012 Buick Regal. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the suspension, Jul 2021
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage On some 2008 model year (MY) Saturn Outlook; 2008-2009 MY Buick Allure, Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac G8, Pontiac Montana SV6, Pontiac Torrent, and Saturn VUE; 2008-2010 MY Hummer H3 and Pontiac G6; 2008-2011 MY Cadillac CTS, Cadillac SRX, and Chevrolet Impala; 2008, 2011-2012 MY… (GCUS-9-939, Sep 2015)
- Extended coverage Certain vehicles equipped with a 2.4l engine (laf, lea or luk) that have experienced high oil consumption may also experience a frozen and/or plugged pcv (positive crankcase ventilation) system during cold weather operation. 14882 - special coverage. (14882, Mar 2015)
- Repair program Customer Satisfaction Program - Oil Life Monitor Update. (12312, Feb 2013)
- Repair program 12312 - Customer Satisfaction Program. (G-158141, Feb 2013)
- Repair program This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module. (PIT5236F, Aug 2015)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
92 owner complaints · 7 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 22–28 mpg · NHTSA: 5 of 5 stars · 2012 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. NHTSA doesn't publish sales, so only big differences count. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo; 2.4L 4-cyl · Drive: FWD
2012 Regal trims
| Base | Convenience | GS | Leather | Premium 1 | Premium 2 | Premium 3 |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Buick reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Buick aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 22–26 mpg | Not rated | 2 | 2 | Electrical system (1) | Yes |
| 2019 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 22–26 mpg | Not rated | 3 | 19 | Electrical system (7) | Yes |
| 2018 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 22–26 mpg | Not rated | 3 | 19 | Service brakes (7) | Yes |
| 2017 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl | AWD, FWD | 22–24 mpg | 5 of 5 | 0 | 20 | Service brakes, hydraulic (7) | Yes |
| 2016 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl manual available | AWD, FWD | 22–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 1 | 41 | Steering (10) | Yes |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl manual available | AWD, FWD | 22–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 0 | 33 | Engine (9) | No |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl manual available | AWD, FWD | 22–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 2 | 38 | Engine (9) | No |
| 2013 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl manual available | FWD | 22–29 mpg | 5 of 5 | 6 | 91 | Exterior lighting (37) | No |
| 2012 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl manual available | FWD | 22–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 7 | 92 | Exterior lighting (33) | No |
| 2011 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl manual available | FWD | 21–24 mpg | Not rated | 4 | 280 | Engine (108) | No |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Which years have…
Apple lists CarPlay for: Regal 2016–2022 (Apple).
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Buick Regal 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 | Buick Regal 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 3 | 19 |
| 2018 | Buick Regal 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 3 | 19 |
| 2017 | Buick Regal 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 0 | 20 |
| 2017 | Buick Regal 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 0 | 20 |
| 2016 | Buick Regal 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 1 | 41 |
| 2016 | Buick Regal 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 1 | 41 |
| 2016 | Buick Regal eAssist 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 1 | 40 |
| 2015 | Buick Regal 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 0 | 33 |
| 2015 | Buick Regal 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 0 | 33 |
| 2015 | Buick Regal eAssist 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 0 | 33 |
| 2014 | Buick Regal 4 DR AWD | 5 | No | No | 2 | 38 |
| 2014 | Buick Regal 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 2 | 38 |
| 2014 | Buick Regal eAssist 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 2 | 36 |
| 2013 | Buick Regal 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 6 | 91 |
| 2013 | Buick Regal eAssist 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 4 | 88 |
| 2012 | Buick Regal 4 DR AWD | 5 | No | No | 7 | 92 |
| 2012 | Buick Regal 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 7 | 92 |
| 2012 | Buick Regal eAssist 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 5 | 90 |
| 2011 | Buick Regal 4 DR AWD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 280 |
| 2011 | Buick Regal 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 280 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Regal | Auto (S9), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 26 |
| 2020 | Regal AWD | Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.6 L |
22–24 |
| 2019 | Regal | Auto (S9), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 26 |
| 2019 | Regal AWD | Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.6 L |
22–24 |
| 2018 | Regal | Auto (S9), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 26 |
| 2018 | Regal AWD | Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.6 L |
22–24 |
| 2017 | Regal | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L |
23–24 |
| 2017 | Regal AWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 22 |
| 2016 | Regal | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L |
23–24 |
| 2016 | Regal AWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 22 |
| 2016 | Regal eAssist | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 28 |
| 2015 | Regal | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L |
23–24 |
| 2015 | Regal AWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 22 |
| 2015 | Regal eAssist | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 28 |
| 2014 | Regal | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L |
23–24 |
| 2014 | Regal AWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 22 |
| 2014 | Regal eAssist | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 28 |
| 2013 | Regal | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI; FFV Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SIDI; FFV Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SIDI Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI; FFV; Sport Transmission Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI; FFV Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI |
22–24 |
| 2013 | Regal eAssist | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 29 |
| 2012 | Regal | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI; FFV Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SIDI; FFV Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SIDI Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI; FFV Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI; FFV; Sport Transmission Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI |
22–24 |
| 2012 | Regal eAssist | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 28 |
| 2011 | Regal | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
21–24 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.