Buick Regal ReliabilityAll Years Ranked (1980–2019)
Side-by-side AutoScores, risk levels, and owner-cost projections for every Buick Regal we've analyzed. Identify the best years to buy, the ones to avoid, and the problems that follow the Regal across generations.
Average AutoScore
79/100
Best Year
2006 Buick Regal
Score 89
Weakest Year
1980 Buick Regal
Score 65
Every Buick Regal Ranked
Sorted by AutoScore. Each link opens the full year-specific report.
A supremely comfortable and mechanically robust sedan with a proven powertrain, offering strong reliability despite minor electrical and rust vulnerabilities.
Top risks: Intake Manifold Gasket · Electrical System · Rust & Corrosion
A remarkably durable and comfortable sedan for its age, provided its common issues have been addressed or are factored into the purchase.
Top risks: Intake Manifold Gaskets · ABS Module Failure · Power Steering System Leaks
A supremely comfortable and generally dependable choice, offering excellent value if key preventative maintenance items are addressed.
Top risks: Engine Gaskets · Transmission Solenoids · Electrical System
A comfortable, affordable, and mechanically sound sedan, ideal for buyers prioritizing reliability and value over modern features.
Top risks: Engine: Intake Manifold Gaskets · Power Steering System · HVAC System
A reliable, comfortable, and often overlooked gem that delivers European engineering at an accessible price.
Top risks: Infotainment/Electrical · Engine Oil Leaks (2.0T) · A/C Compressor/System
A comfortable, reliable cruiser, provided its common transmission and electrical weaknesses have been addressed or are not yet present.
Top risks: Transmission (4T65-E) · Electrical System · Suspension & Steering
An American classic with a workhorse engine, offering reliable transportation provided you manage its few age-related weaknesses.
Top risks: Intake Manifold Gaskets · 4T60-E Transmission Wear · Electrical System & Accessories
A comfortable, durable cruiser that shines brightly after its well-known Achilles' heel is addressed.
Top risks: Engine: Lower Intake Manifold Gaskets (LIM) · Electrical System: Power Accessories & Sensors · Transmission: Pressure Control Solenoid (PCS)
A testament to simple, durable engineering, the 1995 Regal offers comfortable, reliable motoring if its common age-related issues are addressed.
Top risks: Lower Intake Manifold Gaskets · 4T60-E Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
A comfortable, powerful cruiser with a legendary engine, but budget for some specific age-related electrical and transmission upkeep.
Top risks: Transmission (4T65E) · Electrical System · Engine Gaskets
A comfortable and stylish sedan offering a premium feel, but demanding careful pre-purchase scrutiny and diligent maintenance, especially for turbocharged variants.
Top risks: 2.0T Ecotec Engine · Electrical System & Infotainment · Suspension Components
A refined, overlooked gem that delivers comfort and performance, but demands diligence with its turbocharged engine.
Top risks: Engine (2.0L Turbo) · Electrical/Infotainment · Suspension Components
A durable and classic cruiser, provided you find a rust-free example and address age-related wear.
Top risks: Body & Frame Corrosion · Electrical System · Suspension & Steering
A comfortable, low-tech classic that can deliver long-term value if you invest in a rust-free, well-maintained example.
Top risks: Electrical System · Body & Chassis Rust · Automatic Transmission (4T60)
A comfortable, affordable cruiser with a strong heart, if you're prepared to address its well-known aging weaknesses.
Top risks: Intake Manifold Gaskets · Electrical System · 4T65E-E Transmission
A comfortable, budget-friendly sedan with a bulletproof engine, but prone to electrical and cooling system frustrations.
Top risks: Cooling System / Engine Gaskets · Electrical / Body Control Module (BCM) · Transmission (4T65-E)
A comfortable, value-packed sedan with a robust engine, but prone to specific, well-known issues that demand proactive attention.
Top risks: Engine Gaskets/Manifolds · Transmission (4T65-E) · Electrical (BCM/Sensors)
A well-engineered and comfortable sedan that delivers consistent reliability with only minor tech-related frustrations.
Top risks: Infotainment System · PCV Valve / Oil Consumption (2.0L Turbo) · Suspension Components
A charming, maintainable classic that demands attention to rust and system age for true longevity.
Top risks: Body & Frame Rust · Fuel System (Carburetor) · Electrical & Vacuum Systems
A charming, robust cruiser for those ready to embrace its vintage quirks and maintain its simplicity.
Top risks: Body & Frame Rust · Electrical System · Suspension & Steering Components
A straightforward classic that's easy to own if you proactively address its age-related degradation and infamous rust.
Top risks: Body/Frame Rust · Electrical System · Fuel System (Carbureted)
A comfortable, budget-friendly cruiser that requires diligent maintenance to overcome its vintage weaknesses.
Top risks: Transmission (4T60-E) · Electrical System · Rust and Corrosion
A comfortable, affordable classic that demands careful pre-purchase inspection and a budget for age-related repairs.
Top risks: Electrical System · Transmission (4T60-E) · Rust and Corrosion
A comfortable, budget-friendly cruiser with a robust heart, but its age demands vigilance for transmission and electrical issues.
Top risks: Transmission (4T60-E) · Electrical System · Rust and Corrosion
A comfortable, budget-friendly classic, reliable when maintained, but the transmission and rust demand scrutiny.
Top risks: Automatic Transmission (4T60-E) · Body & Frame Rust · Power Steering System
A comfortable cruiser with a great engine, but significant age-related and design-flaw risks demand a thorough pre-purchase inspection and diligent maintenance.
Top risks: Upper/Lower Intake Manifold Gaskets · 4T65-E Automatic Transmission · Front Suspension & Steering Components
A comfortable, powerful cruiser that demands proactive maintenance to mitigate well-known Achilles' heels.
Top risks: Engine Intake Manifold Gaskets · Transmission Solenoids · Electrical System (BCM/ABS Module)
A comfortable, budget-friendly sedan that requires diligent maintenance to ward off predictable age-related issues.
Top risks: Electrical System · Transmission (4T65-E) · Suspension & Steering
A European-flavored sedan that offers comfort and style, but requires a diligent eye on maintenance and known engine/electrical quirks.
Top risks: Engine Carbon Buildup · Electrical System Malfunctions · Cooling System Leaks/Failures
A stylish sedan offering a European driving feel, but specific engine and electrical concerns necessitate careful pre-purchase inspection and proactive maintenance.
Top risks: Engine (2.4L Ecotec) · Electrical System · Suspension & Steering
A comfortable and stylish sedan, but the 2.0L turbo engine demands careful pre-purchase scrutiny to ensure long-term value.
Top risks: 2.0L Turbo Engine (LTG) · Electrical/Infotainment (IntelliLink) · Suspension Components
A stylish sedan with a premium feel, but be prepared to address its specific mechanical vulnerabilities to ensure long-term satisfaction.
Top risks: Engine (2.4L LEA and 2.0L Turbo LTG) · Electrical / Infotainment (IntelliLink) · HVAC System
A comfortable, feature-rich sedan that demands careful inspection to ensure its mechanical integrity.
Top risks: Engine (2.4L & 2.0T) · Transmission (6-speed Automatic) · Electrical / Infotainment
A stylish sedan with a European flair, but specific engine and electrical issues demand careful consideration and maintenance.
Top risks: Engine (2.0L Turbo) · Engine (2.4L Ecotec) · Electrical System
A charming classic that offers accessible V8 power and simple maintenance, provided you confront its inevitable age-related wear head-on.
Top risks: Body & Frame Corrosion · Electrical System · Fuel Delivery (Carburetor)
A classic, comfortable cruiser that's generally solid if well-maintained, but age demands meticulous attention and a project-oriented mindset.
Top risks: Rust & Structural Integrity · Electrical System · Fuel System (Carburetor)
A comfortable cruiser from a bygone era, but prepare for consistent attention to age and well-known mechanical weaknesses.
Top risks: Engine (2.8L/3.1L V6) · Transmission (4T60 Automatic) · Electrical System
A stylish sedan with a comfortable ride, but significant engine risks demand careful consideration and proactive maintenance.
Top risks: Engine (2.4L Ecotec) · Engine (2.0L Turbo Ecotec) · Electrical Systems
A charming classic that demands consistent attention to rust, fuel, and electrical systems.
Top risks: Rust and Body Corrosion · Fuel System (Carburetor & Vacuum Lines) · Electrical System Integrity
A charming classic that offers accessible V8 power and comfortable cruising, but rust and early electronics pose significant long-term challenges.
Top risks: Body & Frame Rust · Computer Command Control (CCC) System · Automatic Transmission (THM200-4R)
Problems That Follow the Regal Across Generations
Issues that appear in the top-3 risks across multiple model years — the cost of ownership you can actually predict.
Electrical System
Appears in 19 model years · 48% of generations
Body & Frame Rust
Appears in 4 model years · 10% of generations
Suspension & Steering
Appears in 4 model years · 10% of generations
Transmission (4T65-E)
Appears in 4 model years · 10% of generations
Suspension Components
Appears in 4 model years · 10% of generations
Transmission (4T60-E)
Appears in 3 model years · 8% of generations
Rust and Corrosion
Appears in 3 model years · 8% of generations
Intake Manifold Gaskets
Appears in 3 model years · 8% of generations
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