BUICK REGAL · model year

1990 BUICK REGAL

107 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990BUICKREGAL carries 107 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 1 fire, 11 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 REGAL is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper with 11 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc (10) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:drum (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1990 REGAL. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

107
Complaints
7
Crashes
1
Fires
11
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

107 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS5
STRUCTURE4
SUSPENSION3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS2

Recent Complaints

20170926ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CONTROLLED BY SIGNAL LEVER DO NOT WORK EXCEPT BY HOLDING LEVER IN CERTAIN POSITIONS: I.E. BRAKE LIGHTS, SIGNAL LEVER L UP, TURN SIGNALS SWITCH LEVER UP, HIGH BEAMS NO GO ETC. ALL THE TIME.

Mileage: 104,000

20071115CrashLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

1990 BUICK REGAL HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. *KB ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, UPON INSPECTION OF THE HOOD LATCH AND BRACKET, THE OFFICER DISCOVERED PART OF THE BRACKET AT THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE BAY WAS MISSING. THE BOLT WAS MISSING AS WELL. THE CRASH WAS DUE TO THE HOOD LATCH AND BRACKET COMING APART, WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO OPEN AND SLAM AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).

20040707STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS BROKE AND THE CRADLE SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING LINKAGE COUPLERS TO SEPARATE AND FALL OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CRADLE BOLTS RUSTED. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF CORROSIVE RESTRAINT PARTS WERE USED WHEN THE REAR CRADLE BOLT RECALL 97V058000 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, PER THE DEALERSHIP.*AK A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE FRONT AND REAR CRADLE BOLTS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO FIND OUT WHEN OR IF THE BOLTS WERE EVER REPLACED. THE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO OUTSTANDING RECALL ON THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT TELL THE CONSUMER WHEN THE RECALL WERE DONE. *NM

Mileage: 147,076

20040209WHEELS:RIM

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL VIBRATED. DRIVER PULLED OVER, PULLED OFF LUGS, AND NOTICED THE RIM WAS CRACKED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. RECALL 94V041000 WAS ISSUED ON THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

20030414STRUCTURE

AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE CRADLE BOLTS WAS COMPLETED, THE STEERING FAILED. RECALL #00 V 189 000. *JB AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE CRADLE BOLTS WAS COMPLETED, THE STEERING FAILED. RECALL #00 V 189 000. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON BRAKES-CONSUMER'S BRAKES FAILED AFTER THE CLASS ACTION SUIT.*MR

20021210STRUCTURE

CONSUMERS SON WAS IN OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY ALL STEERING WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE FRAME HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CHASSIS AND HAD DROPPED, DISENGAGING THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE CAUSE WAS THE CRADLE BOLTS HAD PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION. BUICK SENT CONSUMER A RECALL NOTICE SHORTLY AFTER REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM. BUICK TOLD CONSUMER TO SEND THE REPAIR BILL TO THEM FOR REIMBURSEMENT. CONSUMER HAS NOT HEARD FROM THEM SINCE. *JG

20020709SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT 20 MPH BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ,AND VEHICLE CONTINUE ON BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI

20010829SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WOULD LOCK UP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. HAD BRAKES REPLACED TWICE DUE TO PADS WEARING EXCESSIVELY. MECHANIC INDICATED CAUSE OF PROBLEM WAS MASTER CYLINDER.*AK

20010829SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WOULD LOCK UP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. HAD BRAKES REPLACED TWICE DUE TO PADS WEARING EXCESSIVELY. MECHANIC INDICATED CAUSE OF PROBLEM WAS MASTER CYLINDER.*AK

20010828CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

REAR CALIPERS CONSITANTLY FAILING. *AK

20010427SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

20010305STRUCTURE

WHILE MAKING A TURN HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM LEFT SIDE OF CAR. TOOK TO DEALER, AND PUT ON FRONT CRADLE BOLTS AND WASHER, BUT NEVER DID REAR. CONSUMER FELT LIKE REAR HAS GONE BAD, AND THEY MAY LOOSE STEERING.*AK

20010206STRUCTURE

VEHICLES STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF IT WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL 00V-189 BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT VERY COOPERATIVE. NLM

20010202POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20010202EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20001227CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON EXPRESSWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN U-TURN IN MIDDLE OF STREET, AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM SIDE OF CAR. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

20001017WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND THE PART WAS ON ORDER.*AK

20000807SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

REAR BRAKES FAILED. YH

20000801SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE WAS SOUNDING LIKE SOMETHING WAS RATTLING AND IT WAS JERKING. ALSO, CONSUMER SAW A LOT OF SMOKE, THEN VEHICLE CUT OFF.*AK

20000801ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE WAS SOUNDING LIKE SOMETHING WAS RATTLING AND IT WAS JERKING. ALSO, CONSUMER SAW A LOT OF SMOKE, THEN VEHICLE CUT OFF.*AK

Compare 1990BUICKREGAL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 BUICK REGAL have?
The 1990 BUICK REGAL has 107 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 1 fires, 11 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 BUICK REGAL?
The most-complained component for the 1990 BUICK REGAL is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM.
Is the 1990 BUICK REGAL safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.