Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 192 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Buick Regal, and it carries 8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 50 | 26% |
| Service brakes | 33 | 17% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 13 | 7% |
| Visibility | 12 | 6% |
| Power train | 11 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 9 | 5% |
| Steering | 9 | 5% |
| Structure | 6 | 3% |
| Seats | 6 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
1) CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE IN MOTION 2) CAR REFUSES TO START / DOES NOT RECOGNIZE KEY & SIGNALS "ANTI-THEFT" I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. TRAFFIC SLOWED AHEAD FOR A RED LIGHT. APPROACHING THE STOPPED CARS AH
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK ON A VERY BUSY STREET (HIGHWAY) THE CAR DIED. SINCE THEN I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO DO IT AGAIN. SOME DAYS IT DIES 5 OR 6 TIMES. I'M A SENIOR RELIANT ON SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME AND ANY
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED HAPHAZARDLY. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT BURNED THE CONTACT'S FACE AND HANDS AS HE WAS TRYING TO STO
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE SMELL OF FUEL ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
THE CAR LOST POWER ON FREEWAY, TOWED, REPAIRED=ALTERNATOR AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND PLENUM REPLACED ($812.80). TWO DAYS LATER, THE CAR LOST POWER ON FREEWAY, TOWED, REPAIRED=BURNT WIRE AND RELAY LEADING TO FUEL PUMP
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I OWN A 1995 BUICK REGAL. THE ENGINE IS HYDROLOCKED I'VE BEEN TOLD. THE INTAKE WAS LEAKING COOLANT FOR A WHILE AT THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD. I'VE DONE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I'VE READ SOMEW
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
1) NO SPECIFIC EVENT - NOTICED DURING BRAKE INSPECTION 2) ALIGNMENT AND STEERING - REAR TRAILING ARMS RUSTED THROUGH - CAR, UNSAFE TO DRIVE PER SHOP, WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT IF DRIVEN OFF THE PREMISES. 3
NHTSA complaint: Steering
SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON DASH. DID NOT GO OUT. WAS TOLD IF I DIDN'T GET IT REPAIRED THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO START IT WITH THE KEYS I PRESENTLY POSSESSED. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 1995 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CORROSION OF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR'S INTERNAL WIRING, WHICH CAN OCCUR OVER TIME, COULD CAUSE THE INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG. THIS DEPLOYMENT COULD OCCUR DURING VEHICLE START-UP, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OR IDLING, OR WHILE IN OPERATI
Risk: IF THE CONSUMER IS TOO CLOSE TO AN INFLATING AIR BAG, SERIOUS INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INFLATORS ON THESE AIR BAGS.
THE FOUR (4) STEERING COLUMN SUPPORT BRACKET ATTACHING BOLTS WERE UNDER TORQUED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Risk: INADEQUATE TORQUE CAN CAUSE THESE BOLTS TO VIBRATE, LOOSEN, OR FALL OUT RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL RETORQUE THE STEERING COLUMN SUPPORT BRACKET ATTACHING BOLTS TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.
SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE.
Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN A SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE RE
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE OLD DESIGNED WASHER/WIPER SWITCHES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
THE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT FRONT PARK/TURN SIGNAL BULB WHICH DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT CANDLE POWER. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: OPERATORS COULD FAIL TO NOTICE AND HEED THE WARNING LABELS. REDUCES CANDLE POWER ON THE PARK/TURN LIGHTS DECREASES THE LIKLIHOOD OF VEHICLE OPERATOR'S INTENT BEING SEE
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INCORRECT BULB WITH THE CORRECT BULB.
| Reliability raw | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 70 | good |
| Performance | 59 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 192 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 50 of them (26%). There are 8 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) 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 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 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 71/100. 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.