2016 Buick Regal: Problems & Reliability
CAUTION2016 Buick Regal: CAUTION — 41 owner complaints, 1.5× the Regal median year by raw count; top issue: steering (10 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2016 is 1.36, where 1.00 is a typical Regal year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60. 54% of its complaints are severe — a crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2009–2020 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
41
NHTSA complaints
1.5×
vs. median Regal year
1,210
Service bulletins
1
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2016 Buick Regal problems
Steering leads a spread-out record, named in 24% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2016 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 10 | 24% |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 15% |
| Speed control / throttle | 5 | 12% |
| Engine | 5 | 12% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2016 Buick Regal recalls
1 recall campaign on federal record for the 2016 (reported Feb 24, 2016).
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 16V108000 | Feb 24, 2016 | Steering › Electric power assist system |
2016 Buick Regal service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 1,210 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2016 — close to the 1,131 of the median Regal year from 2009 to 2020. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (273), engine & cooling (127), engine (107). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2016 vs. the year before and after
From the 2015 to the 2016, owner complaints rose 24% (33 → 41) — a step backward. The 2017 that followed fell by more than half (41 → 20), so the 2017 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Regal | SOLID | 33 | 1,524 | 0 | — |
| 2016 (this page) | CAUTION | 41 | 1,210 | 1 | — |
| 2017 Regal | SOLID | 20 | 1,051 | 0 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Buick Regal years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2016 Buick Regal
Steering (10 complaints on the 2016): check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering at parking speed, and clunks over bumps.
Exterior lighting (6 complaints on the 2016): check low and high beams, brake lights and turn signals, and look for condensation inside the housings.
Electrical system (6 complaints on the 2016): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Speed control / throttle (5 complaints on the 2016): check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
Engine (5 complaints on the 2016): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Recalls: confirm the campaign above was completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2016 Buick Regal — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
- Verified buyer-paid target price for your exact make, model & trim
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Found a 2016 Buick Regal for sale? See what the seller isn't telling you.
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FAQ
Is the 2016 Buick Regal reliable?
2016 Buick Regal: CAUTION — 41 owner complaints, 1.5× the Regal median year by raw count; top issue: steering (10 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2016 is 1.36, where 1.00 is a typical Regal year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60.
What are the most common 2016 Buick Regal problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2016 Buick Regal are steering (10, 24%), exterior lighting (6, 15%), electrical system (6, 15%). The manufacturer has 1,210 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2016 Buick Regal have?
1 recall campaign on federal record for the 2016 Buick Regal, most recently 16V108000 (Feb 24, 2016, steering). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2016 Buick Regal before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2016 Buick Regal come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.