1988 Buick Regal vs 1989 Buick Regal
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1988 Buick Regal | 1989 Buick Regal |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 123 | 106 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1 | 4 |
| Investigations | 8 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 8 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 20–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Buick Regal | Buick Regal |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 67 | 51 |
| Structure | 17 | 15 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 11 |
| Electrical System | 5 | 14 |
| Power Train | 10 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 35 | 20 |
| Brake problems | 5 | 0 |
| Stalling | 0 | 6 |
1988 Buick Regal
1989 Buick Regal
Compare all Buick Regal vs Buick Regal years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.