Model year record

1985 Buick Regal

8 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 10 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 88V014000

Exterior lighting: headlights: switch

Component
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
179,390
Reported to NHTSA
1988-01-08
Owners notified
1988-02-11

Defect description

UNDER EXTENDED HEADLAMP USAGE, CIRCUITRY IN THE HEADLAMP SWITCH PANEL MIGHT EXPERIENCE INCREASED RESISTANCE AND EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP.

Safety risk

HEADLIGHTS WOULD CYCLE ON AND OFF. SUDDEN LOSS OFHEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTIMER DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD RESULTIN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH MODIFIED SWITCH.

Recall campaignNHTSA 87V124000

Structure

Component
Structure
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
261,171
Reported to NHTSA
1987-08-10
Owners notified
1987-08-27

Defect description

SMALL CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE BODY PILLAR AROUND THE DOOR STRIKER BOLT HOLE.

Safety risk

CRACKS WOULD INCREASE LEADING TO DIFFICULTY IN CLOSINGTHE DOOR AND MIGHT ALLOW DOOR TO COME OPEN DURING A CRASH, INCREASINGLIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL INNER AND OUTER REINFORCEMENT PLATE ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BODY PILLARS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 86V030000

Vehicle speed control: springs

Component
Vehicle speed control: springs
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
135,623
Reported to NHTSA
1986-02-21
Owners notified
1986-03-07

Defect description

THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING ASSEMBLY MAY FAIL PREVENTING THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE CLOSED (IDLE) POSITION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT DECREASE AND LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING.

Recall campaignNHTSA 85V114000

Equipment: other: labels

Component
Equipment: other: labels
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
6,735
Reported to NHTSA
1985-09-19
Owners notified
1985-09-26

Defect description

THE CERTIFICATION LABEL LOCATED ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR DID NOT INCLUDE A REQUIRED FEDERAL CERTIFICATION STATEMENT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 567.

Manufacturer remedy

LABELS CONTAINING CORRECT INFORMATION ARE BEING MAILED AND SHOULD BE INSTALLED ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR.

Recall campaignNHTSA 85V049000

Structure: body: bumpers

Component
Structure: body: bumpers
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
196,939
Reported to NHTSA
1985-04-29

Defect description

THE REAR BUMPER MAY FRACTURE DURING A REAR END COLLISION, PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK, AND CAUSE A FUEL LEAK. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A FUEL LEAK CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE WHICH COULD RESULT IN BURN INJURIES TO PERSONS IN OR NEAR THE CAR.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE THE REAR BUMPER BRACKETS AND THE "L" SHAPED REINFORCEMENT WITH A "U" SHAPED FULL REINFORCEMENT.

Recall campaignNHTSA 85V047000

Visibility: windshield

Component
Visibility: windshield
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
20
Reported to NHTSA
1985-04-26
Owners notified
1985-05-15

Defect description

A LOSS OF BONDING ADHESION BETWEEN THE PAINT AND THE WINDSHIELD OPENING AREA COULD ALLOW THE WINDSHIELD TO SEPARATE DURING A 30 MILE PER HOUR FRONTAL BARRIER TEST REQUIRED BY FMVSS 212, WINDSHIELD RETENTION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: WINDSHIELD SEPARATION DURING AN ACCIDENT COULD RESULT IN AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT BEING EJECTED FROM THE CAR AND SEVERLY INJURED.

Manufacturer remedy

REMOVE AND REINSTALL WINDSHIELD IF A LACK OF PAINT BONDING IS EVIDENT.

Recall campaignNHTSA 84V154000

Seat belts: front: retractor

Component
Seat belts: front: retractor
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
19
Reported to NHTSA
1984-11-27
Owners notified
1984-11-27

Defect description

THE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WHICH MAY NOT PERFORM ADEQUATELY DURING A COLLISION.

Manufacturer remedy

THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FREE OF CHARGE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 84V124000

Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly

Component
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
10,359
Reported to NHTSA
1984-10-10
Owners notified
1984-10-01

Defect description

THE TIE RODS ARE PART OF THE STEERING LINKAGE AND TRANSMIT TURNING MOVEMENTS TO THE WHEELS. THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE TIE RODS TO THEIR ADJUSTERS MAY NOT BE TIGHT ENOUGH. THIS COULD ALLOW THE TIE ROD TO LOOSEN AND DETACH ITSELF FROM THE ADJUSTER.

Manufacturer remedy

THE TIE ROD END BOLTS WILL BE TIGHTENED WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components3
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline2
Vehicle speed control2
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers1
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings1
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1

The 1984 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 1986 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.