Model year record

2012 Buick Regal

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 142 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V113000

Suspension: rear

Component
Suspension: rear
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
17,050
Reported to NHTSA
2026-02-26
Owners notified
2026-04-03

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012–2013 Buick Regal Turbo and GS trim-level vehicles that were sold or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear suspension toe links may have received improper corrosion protection, which can result in rear toe link fracture.

Safety risk

Rear toe link fracture can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 3, 2026. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N252537580. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall numbers 20V764, 21V633, and 21V00F.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V00F000

Suspension: rear

Component
Suspension: rear
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
4,271
Reported to NHTSA
2021-12-22
Owners notified
2022-01-27

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.

Safety risk

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.

Recall campaignNHTSA 20V764000

Suspension: rear

Component
Suspension: rear
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
220,006
Reported to NHTSA
2020-12-21
Owners notified
2021-08-19

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.

Safety risk

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on January 27, 2021, and April 15, 2021. A third notification was mailed on August 19, 201. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202308930.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V447000

Seats: front assembly: power adjust

Component
Seats: front assembly: power adjust
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
414,333
Reported to NHTSA
2014-07-23
Owners notified
2014-12-26

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

Safety risk

If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

Recall campaignNHTSA 13V173000

Electrical system

Component
Electrical system
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
42,904
Reported to NHTSA
2013-05-06
Owners notified
2013-06-11

Defect description

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Regal, and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco vehicles equipped with eAssist. These vehicles may have a condition in which the Generator Control Module (GCM) may not function properly. This could cause a gradual loss of battery charge and the illumination of the malfunction indicator light.

Safety risk

If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and possibly a fire in the trunk.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners and dealers will test the GCM and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13136.

Recall campaignNHTSA 12V484000

Exterior lighting: turn signal

Component
Exterior lighting: turn signal
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
120,426
Reported to NHTSA
2012-10-04
Owners notified
2014-09-08

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with two turn signal bulbs in each front turn signal. If one of the two front turn signal bulbs burn out in either front turn signal lamp, there is no indication to the driver. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Safety risk

If the driver is not aware that a turn signal is not functioning properly, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle. If half of a front turn signal is not illuminating, other driver's may not be aware that the affected vehicle is turning, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12212.

Recall campaignNHTSA 12V093000

Exterior lighting

Component
Exterior lighting
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS LLC
Vehicles affected
3,633
Reported to NHTSA
2012-03-07
Owners notified
2012-03-29

Defect description

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 BUICK REGAL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2011, THROUGH FEBRUARY 22, 2012 FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108 “LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.” DUE TO A SOFTWARE ERROR, THE PARKING LAMPS DO NOT ACTIVATE WHEN EITHER THE PARKING LAMPS OR HEADLAMPS ARE TURNED ON.

Safety risk

INADEQUATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GM AT 1-800-521-7300.

Owner complaints

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

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Exterior lighting3366,000 mi
Engine2173,000 mi
Electrical system1560,000 mi
Suspension1243,000 mi
Service brakes835,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)734,149 mi
Power train712,000 mi
Vehicle speed control612,000 mi
Seats588,450 mi
Unknown or other539,000 mi
Structure: body320,000 mi
Child seat2
Exterior lighting: headlights234,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system2164 mi
Wheels2
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel1160,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery183,000 mi
Electrical system: body control module/BCM116,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers134,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.158,000 mi
Equipment: other: labels1220 mi
Interior lighting158,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: head restraint18,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic1
Steering110,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields1165 mi
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire1

The 2011 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 2013 model has roughly the same number of 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.