Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 1987 Buick Regal, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 16 | 59% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 15% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 4% |
| Wheels | 1 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 4% |
| Suspension | 1 | 4% |
| Steering | 1 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
BRAKES AT TIMES TAKE EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO STOP CAR. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND WILL THEN WORK NORMAL AGAIN. THIS IS A TURBO REGAL EQUIPPED WITH A POWER MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM UNIQUE TO THESE CARS.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE BRAKES BECAME EXTREMELY RESISTANT AND DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
HI, THERE WAS NO INCIDENT, BUT I DID CALLED GM ABOUT THE FOLLOWING AND THEIR RESPONSES, THERE WAS NO "U.S. POWERMASTER RECALL" ON MY VEHICLE. CAN YOU PLEASE RESEARCH THIS LINK (HTTP://WWW.GNTTYPE.ORG/TECHAREA/BRAKES/USRE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
HUB CAPS DISLODGE FROM WHEELS. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT RESPOND TO MY CORRESPONDENCE FOR ASSISTANCE. I HAVE PHOTOS AND CORRESPONDENCE. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Wheels
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE QUARTER
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
VEHICLE RECALL UNDER UNITED STATES POWERMASTER RECALL CAMPAIGNE: POWER MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM/FAULTY PRESSURE SWITCH 86-C-15 GENERAL MOTORS RECALL BUICK CLAIM INFORMATION 1987 REGAL TURBO COUPE HP400001 HP 465289. WE HAVE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
CONSUMER STATES THAT THEIR IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE BRAKES, BECAUSE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLYED THEY WILL LOCK UP. THIS WILL HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY. THEIR IS A RECALL BUT THE DEALSHIP IS SAYING HIS VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE REC
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NOTIFIED 2 RECALLS, SHORE BUICK WHO CHANGED THE PARTS. NEVER NOTIFIED OF 3RD RECALL (MASTER CYLINDER) GM WILL NOT REPAIR DUE TO THE 8 YEAR WINDOW TO RESPOND. I CAN NOT DRIVE CAR IN THIS CONDITION HAZARDOUS TO MYSELF
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1987 Buick Regal. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
Risk: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
MANUAL VALVE LINK IN THE TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED.
Risk: THE VALVE LINK COULD SEPARATE RESULTING IN A GEARSELECTION DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE DRIVER SELECTS. ALSO, CAR COULD BE STARTEDWITH TRANSMISSION IN GEAR ALLOWING VEHICLE TO MOVE IN AN UNANTICIPATEDDIRE
Fix: REPLACE THE MANUAL VALVE DETENT LEVER LINK.
| Reliability raw | 88 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 70 | good |
| Performance | 64 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 16 of them (59%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 88/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1987 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 75/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.