2018 Buick Regal: Problems & Reliability
SOLID2018 Buick Regal: SOLID — 19 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~8 years on the road; top issue: service brakes (8 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2018 is 1.09, 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: 79% 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
19
NHTSA complaints
1.09
Verdict score (1.00 = typical Regal year)
897
Service bulletins
3
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2018 Buick Regal problems
Service brakes is the clear leader, named in 42% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2018 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 8 | 42% |
| Engine | 5 | 26% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 21% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 16% |
| Air bags | 2 | 11% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2018 Buick Regal recalls
3 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2018, reported between Apr 12, 2018 and Jun 30, 2022.
2018 Buick Regal service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 897 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2018 — close to the 1,131 of the median Regal year from 2009 to 2020. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (174), engine & cooling (126), engine (106). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2018 vs. the year before and after
From the 2017 to the 2018, owner complaints held roughly level (20 → 19). The 2019 that followed held roughly level (19 → 20).
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Regal | SOLID | 20 | 1,051 | 0 | — |
| 2018 (this page) | SOLID | 19 | 897 | 3 | — |
| 2019 Regal | SOLID | 20 | 670 | 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 2018 Buick Regal
Service brakes (8 complaints on the 2018): check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, look at rotor and pad wear, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
Engine (5 complaints on the 2018): 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.
Electrical system (3 complaints on the 2018): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Air bags (2 complaints on the 2018): confirm the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that every air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
Powertrain / transmission (2 complaints on the 2018): 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.
Recalls: confirm all 3 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2018 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
- DealDrive AI negotiator reads any dealer quote and writes your counteroffer
- Comparable real deals near you, from verified transactions
Found a 2018 Buick Regal for sale? See what the seller isn't telling you.
The CarWhere Used Car Report checks salvage records, salvage-auction listings, stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail, and full market history for one VIN — $16.99, one time.
FAQ
Is the 2018 Buick Regal reliable?
2018 Buick Regal: SOLID — 19 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~8 years on the road; top issue: service brakes (8 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2018 is 1.09, 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 2018 Buick Regal problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2018 Buick Regal are service brakes (8, 42%), engine (5, 26%), unknown or other (4, 21%). The manufacturer has 897 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2018 Buick Regal have?
3 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2018 Buick Regal, most recently 22V465000 (Jun 30, 2022, service brakes, hydraulic); 18V576000 (Aug 30, 2018, service brakes, hydraulic); 18V230000 (Apr 12, 2018, seat belts). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2018 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 2018 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.