Owners have filed 14 complaints
about the 1986 Buick Regal with NHTSA between 1995 and 2002.
The largest single group is the acceleration & cruise control.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1986 Buick Regal
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Acceleration & Cruise Control
428.6%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Brakes
321.4%
Body & Structure
214.3%
Engine & Cooling
214.3%
0 crashes, 2 fires
Wheels
17.1%
Tires
17.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain
17.1%
0 crashes, 1 fires
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 2Mar 2002
NHTSA investigations into the 1986 Buick Regal
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE94048Opened 21 Jun 1994Closed 30 Dec 1994ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SUB-FRAME ABSORBER FAILURE
PE90014Opened 31 Oct 1989Closed 28 Feb 1990EQUIPMENT
PE89104Opened 17 Mar 1989Closed 12 May 1989STEERING
JAMMED STEERING MECHANISM
SUMMARY: THE OIL FILL TUBE MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING IT TO FALL ANDPOSSIBLY BECOME LODGED NEAR THE STEERING GEAR.THIS MAY CAUSE THESTEERING MECHANISM TO BECOME JAMMED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL.===
C89001Opened 6 Mar 1989Closed 16 Jan 1990VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
THROTTLE NON-RETURN
Recalls on the 1986 Buick Regal
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 198909278,600 units in Canada
Engine
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL (BRACKET) MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INTERMITTENT INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING. THIS CONDITION COULD ALSO CAUSE THE SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY TO WEAR THROUGH THE BALL AND CATCH ON OTHER COMPONENTS POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A STUCK THROTTLE. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: A BUSHING KIT WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
Recall 1986077127 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
Certain vehicles equipped with hatchroof option may not comply with CMVSS 210 - Seatbelt Assembly Anchorages. Drivers side shoulder belt anchor plate may be located upside down which can result in the anchor bolt pulling loose in an accident.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
EL Paso, TXFire
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE DRIVING. PREVIOUS REPAIRS WERE DONE, INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION. SPEED ABOUT 35 MPH, PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT, LEFT CAR PARKED. FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT SHOW UP.
NHTSA complaint #827621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Paso, TXFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE DRIVING. PREVIOUS REPAIRS WERE DONE, INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION. SPEED ABOUT 35 MPH, PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT, LEFT CAR PARKED. FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT SHOW UP.
NHTSA complaint #827621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Paso, TXFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE REPLACED TWICE, ONCE RESULTING IN ENGINE CATCHING ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #514592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Birmingham, ALCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE PULLING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY HIS VEHICLE JUST TOOK OFF, CAUSING HIM TO HIT TWO TREES.
NHTSA complaint #801543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Williamville, NYCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR WAS RUN IN PARK PUT CAR IN REVERSE IT ACCELERATED AND HIT FOUR CARS. TT
NHTSA complaint #958203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Highway Mill, NY
STRUCTURE
FRONT CRADLE BOLT PULLED THROUGH RETAINER DUE TO CORROSION. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY TWO MASTER TECHNICIANS AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GET FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #8005473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ridgefield, WA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
I TRIED TO CONTACT THE GUY IN THE WSJOURNAL ABOUT ENGINES ACCELERATING, TO NO AVAIL. HAVE HIM SEND ME AN EMAIL AND I WILL ENLIGHTEN HIM AS TO CAUSE ON THE FIRST ONE. HAVENT FIGURED OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS RUN AMOK CAR,YET. BUT WILL SEND DETAILS IN EMAIL!
NHTSA complaint #725181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vallejo, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY HARD AND SOMETIMES THE PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #844427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Deltona, FL
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE RIM AND CAME OFF WHILE IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #837086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Paso, TXFire
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE DRIVING. PREVIOUS REPAIRS WERE DONE, INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION. SPEED ABOUT 35 MPH, PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT, LEFT CAR PARKED. FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT SHOW UP.
NHTSA complaint #827621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Paso, TXFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE DRIVING. PREVIOUS REPAIRS WERE DONE, INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION. SPEED ABOUT 35 MPH, PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT, LEFT CAR PARKED. FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT SHOW UP.
NHTSA complaint #827621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wapakoneta, OH
WHEELS
THREE WHEELS HAVE HAD FAILURE IN THEIR STRUCTURE/CRACKS ON THE SPOKES.
NHTSA complaint #536052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Paso, TXFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE REPLACED TWICE, ONCE RESULTING IN ENGINE CATCHING ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #514592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mesa, AZ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE JUST TOOK OFF WIDE OPEN WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE MY WIFE HAD TO STAND UP ON THE BRAKES AND REACH DOWN TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF.
NHTSA complaint #807412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Birmingham, ALCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE PULLING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY HIS VEHICLE JUST TOOK OFF, CAUSING HIM TO HIT TWO TREES.
NHTSA complaint #801543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Novi, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
HAVING PROBLEM WITH DISC BRAKES CALIPER PINS AND ROTORS FROZE AND RUSTED. TT
NHTSA complaint #968971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Novi, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
HAVING PROBLEM WITH DISC BRAKES CALIPER PINS AND ROTORS FROZE AND RUSTED. TT
NHTSA complaint #968971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Danville, NH
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CORROSION LEAD TO WASHER FAILURE RESULTING IN SUBFRAME ABSORBER FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAIL. TT
NHTSA complaint #961302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Williamville, NYCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR WAS RUN IN PARK PUT CAR IN REVERSE IT ACCELERATED AND HIT FOUR CARS. TT
NHTSA complaint #958203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.