2017 Buick Regal: Problems & Reliability
SOLID2017 Buick Regal: SOLID — 20 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~9 years on the road; top issue: service brakes (12 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2017 is 0.82, where 1.00 is a typical Regal year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25). Severity drives it: 70% of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury or involve a safety-critical system (engine, powertrain, steering, brakes or fuel).
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
20
NHTSA complaints
0.82
Verdict score (1.00 = typical Regal year)
1,051
Service bulletins
0
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2017 Buick Regal problems
Service brakes dominates the record — 60% of complaints name it.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2017 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 12 | 60% |
| Hydraulic | 7 | 35% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 20% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 15% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 2 | 10% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2017 Buick Regal recalls
No recall campaigns are on federal record for the 2017 Buick Regal.
2017 Buick Regal service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 1,051 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2017 — close to the 1,131 of the median Regal year from 2009 to 2020. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (226), engine & cooling (119), engine (105). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2017 vs. the year before and after
From the 2016 to the 2017, owner complaints fell by more than half (41 → 20) — an improvement. The 2018 that followed held roughly level (20 → 19).
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Regal | CAUTION | 41 | 1,210 | 1 | — |
| 2017 (this page) | SOLID | 20 | 1,051 | 0 | — |
| 2018 Regal | SOLID | 19 | 897 | 3 | — |
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 2017 Buick Regal
Service brakes (12 complaints on the 2017): check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, look at rotor and pad wear, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
Electrical system (3 complaints on the 2017): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Powertrain / transmission (2 complaints on the 2017): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Exterior lighting (2 complaints on the 2017): check low and high beams, brake lights and turn signals, and look for condensation inside the housings.
Know what to pay for the right 2017 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 2017 Buick Regal for sale? See what the seller isn't telling you.
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FAQ
Is the 2017 Buick Regal reliable?
2017 Buick Regal: SOLID — 20 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~9 years on the road; top issue: service brakes (12 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2017 is 0.82, where 1.00 is a typical Regal year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25).
What are the most common 2017 Buick Regal problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2017 Buick Regal are service brakes (12, 60%), hydraulic (7, 35%), unknown or other (4, 20%). The manufacturer has 1,051 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2017 Buick Regal have?
No recall campaigns are on federal record for the 2017 Buick Regal. Recall status is VIN-specific, so still check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2017 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 2017 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.