Total Complaints
204 filings
BUICK REGAL · model year
1992 BUICK REGAL
204 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992BUICKREGAL carries 204 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 6 fires, 12 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 1992 REGAL is seat belts:front:retractor with 17 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (15) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc (12). 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 1992 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.
204
Complaints
12
Crashes
6
Fires
12
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
12 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 17 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 15 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 12 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 11 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 9 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 8 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 7 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 4 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 3 |
Recent Complaints
20160711ENGINE
FUEL LEAK FROM THE ENGINE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL SUPPLY LINE HAD A PIN HOLE SPRAYING FUEL ONTO THE TOP OF THE ENGINE.
Mileage: 147,000
20110426ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1992 BUICK REGAL, EVERYTIME I OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, IT BURNS THE FUSE FOR THE COURTESY LIGHTS, RADIO, CASSETTE PLAYER, ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS. I AM AFRAID IT MIGHT BURN THE CAR. *TR
Mileage: 102,000
20090307VISIBILITY
MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WON'T ROLL DOWN. *TR
20061004CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT
TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON FRONT SEAT BELT OF BUICK REGAL 92 DUE TO FACTS ONE -MINE BROKE DURING ACCIDENT FACT TWO -THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT DIDN'T LOCK LIKE SUPPOSE TO. *NM
20060727POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO REBUILT BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THERE IS A RECALL #91V214000 PERTAINING TO POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT THAT THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS CONTINUOUS FAILURE IN THE DESIGN OF THE WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM. TWO MECHANICS CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE PROBLEM IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE BRAKE FAILURE AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
20060727SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO REBUILT BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THERE IS A RECALL #91V214000 PERTAINING TO POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT THAT THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS CONTINUOUS FAILURE IN THE DESIGN OF THE WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM. TWO MECHANICS CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE PROBLEM IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE BRAKE FAILURE AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
20040604STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON A HOIST FOR A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT THE SUB FRAME FELL DOWN. THE SUB FRAME WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY AT THE FACTORY. DEALER HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM, AND CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Mileage: 46,000
20040120POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
UPON ACCELERATION TRANSMISSION FAILS TO REENGAGE IN FIRST GEAR WHEN VEHICLE DOES NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.*AK
Mileage: 117,000
20031224POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION DIP-STICK IS TOO LONG AND CAUSES A FALSE READING OF FLUID LEVEL! HENCE, WHEN FLUID IS 1 QT.(+/-) LOW DIP-STICK SHOWS FULL, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE IN GEAR. MANY OWNERS HAVE TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR REPAIR WHEN ALL IS NEEDED IS ADDITIONAL FLUID. THIS CAUSES UNNESSARY COSTS (EXPENSIVE, ETC.) WHICH MOST SHOPS WILL CHARGE FOR AS HIGH PRICED REPAIR &/OR INSTALLATION OF RE-BUILT TRANSMISSION WORST OF ALL, THE STALLED VEHICLE CAN RESULT IN INJURY &/OR DEATH !!! *AK
Mileage: 79,000
20030724SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. *AK
20030623VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER PUT THE POWER WINDOWS UP. THE CHILD, AGE 5, IN THE BACK SEAT STUCK HIS HEAD OUT OF THE WINDOW WHILE THE WINDOWS WERE GOING UP AND BECAME STUCK. THE DRIVER GOT THE CHILD OUT OF THE WINDOW AND RESUSCITATED THE CHILD. *AK THE WINDOW WOULD NOT RETRACT OPEN UPON MEETING RESISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED ON TO REMOVE THE CHILD. *SCC *JB
Mileage: 138,000
20030407ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. *NLM
20021009SEAT BELTS
CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTS BACK TO THE SPOOL AFTER IT WAS PULLED OUT TO LOCK IN PLACE. THE SEAT BELT NO LONGER HAS RESISTENT TO SECURE THE OCCUPANT. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE. PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION. MR
20020912SUSPENSION
WHEN VEHICLE STARTS UP THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE.*AK
20020813SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SHOULDER HARNESS PORTION OF DIVER'S SEAT BELT BECAME LOOSE ENOUGH TO DECREASE RESTRICTION AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY LOOSENED TO RENDER IT VVIRTUALLY USELESS FOR PROTECTION. *MJ
20020725POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATES WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP POSITION HEARD A NOISE SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE.*JB
20020716POWER TRAIN
ODOMETER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. DOES NOT HAVE THE CORRECT READING.IT HAS READ 109,200 FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE UNTIL NOW.*AK
20020514SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT AND SHOULDER BELT HAS COME UNWOUND, MAKING RESTRAINT IMPOSSIBLE AND HAS INSUFFICIENT PROTECTION. *YH
20020514SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS.*JB
20020426SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS.*JB
Compare 1992BUICKREGAL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1992 BUICK REGAL have?▼
The 1992 BUICK REGAL has 204 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 6 fires, 12 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 BUICK REGAL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1992 BUICK REGAL is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR with 17 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC.
Is the 1992 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.