Total Complaints
28 filings
BUICK REGAL · model year
28 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987BUICKREGAL carries 28 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1987 REGAL is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 4 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:power assist (3) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (3). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1987 REGAL. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
Total Complaints
28 filings
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
BRAKES AT TIMES TAKE EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO STOP CAR. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND WILL THEN WORK NORMAL AGAIN. THIS IS A TURBO REGAL EQUIPPED WITH A POWER MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM UNIQUE TO THESE CARS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO HAVE A BRAKE SYSTEM THAT CAN FAIL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *TR
Mileage: 125,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE BRAKES BECAME EXTREMELY RESISTANT AND DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT HAD THE MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Mileage: 60,000
HI, THERE WAS NO INCIDENT, BUT I DID CALLED GM ABOUT THE FOLLOWING AND THEIR RESPONSES, THERE WAS NO "U.S. POWERMASTER RECALL" ON MY VEHICLE. CAN YOU PLEASE RESEARCH THIS LINK (HTTP://WWW.GNTTYPE.ORG/TECHAREA/BRAKES/USRECALL.HTML) AND SEE IF MY VIN # I ADDED IS INCLUDED IN THE POWERMASTER RECALL? THANK YOU *TR
HUB CAPS DISLODGE FROM WHEELS. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT RESPOND TO MY CORRESPONDENCE FOR ASSISTANCE. I HAVE PHOTOS AND CORRESPONDENCE. *NM
Mileage: 50,000
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE QUARTER PANEL. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. HE DID NOT FILE A POLICE REPORT. AFTERWARDS, HE NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED ALTHOUGH THE BRAKE DISENGAGED THE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - *NM
Mileage: 86,000
NOTIFIED 2 RECALLS, SHORE BUICK WHO CHANGED THE PARTS. NEVER NOTIFIED OF 3RD RECALL (MASTER CYLINDER) GM WILL NOT REPAIR DUE TO THE 8 YEAR WINDOW TO RESPOND. I CAN NOT DRIVE CAR IN THIS CONDITION HAZARDOUS TO MYSELF AND ALL OTHER DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS. SCC *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*759895
Mileage: 29,800
VEHICLE RECALL UNDER UNITED STATES POWERMASTER RECALL CAMPAIGNE: POWER MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM/FAULTY PRESSURE SWITCH 86-C-15 GENERAL MOTORS RECALL BUICK CLAIM INFORMATION 1987 REGAL TURBO COUPE HP400001 HP 465289. WE HAVE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS BUICK DIVISION GAIL REINKE PHONE 866-834-3547 SHE IS ON NOTICE OF THE PROBLEM THE RECALL AND MY SAFETY CONCERNS. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN MY OPINION AT ANY SPEED. BOTH BUICK AND GENERAL MOTORS ARE AWARE OF THE RECALL, HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND HAVE DENIED UP TO THIS POINT REPAIRING THE RECALL DEFECT. DT
DUE TO BRAKE PROBLEMS IT IS HARD TO STOP FOR VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THEIR IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE BRAKES, BECAUSE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLYED THEY WILL LOCK UP. THIS WILL HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY. THEIR IS A RECALL BUT THE DEALSHIP IS SAYING HIS VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL DUE VIN#. NLM
BRAKES ARE HARD TO PUSH. HA STO STAND ON THE PEDAL TO GET IT TO STOP. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH, AND WHEN HE WENT TO APPLY BRAKES THEY DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. IT HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
IN CHECKING YOUR DATA BASE THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 100 FAILURES, BUT NO RECORD OF AN INVESTIGATION. THE POWER MASTER SYSTEM WAS USED ONLY ON LIMITED MODELS SO THE INCIDENCE OF FAILURE IS VERY HIGH. THIS IS A FAILURE THAT LEAVES THE DRIVER WITH LITTLE OR NO BREAKING ABILITY. I AM DISAPOINTED THAT NHTSA HAS REFUSED TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS.
IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, PEDAL DOES NOT MOVE AND MORE STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED. THIS HAPPENS ON ANY TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE AT ANY SPEED. A /MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND/OR WILL HESITATE ON THE FREEWAY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO MECHANIC, ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS UNCORRECTED. *AK *ML
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND/OR WILL HESITATE ON THE FREEWAY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO MECHANIC, ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS UNCORRECTED. *AK *ML
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELT BUCKLE. SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC.
A FUSE BLOWS UNEXPECTEDLY, WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE HAS NO BREAKING POWER.
FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER/LAP BELT LOCKS UP, TRAPPING OCCUPANT INSIDE VEHICLE, RELEASE BUTTON JAMS; DEALER LUBRICATED BUCKLE, REPLACED WITH REAR BELT, STILL HAS PROBLEM. *AK
POWER BRAKES REPLACED.
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1987 BUICK REGAL; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.