There are 9 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2012 Buick Regalin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Engine used oil with no smoke or leaks. Had to change oil every 2300 miles. Motor went bad do to no oil even after oil change.
No warning and approximately 80,000 miles -the timing needs replaced. Mechanics state this is common with this model and they recommend a new engine replace the original engine. This car has under 100,000 miles on it. The cost of the repair is out of my means. The car is paid off, however, I cannot afford the repair. Is there anything that can be done?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY TWO WEEKS HE WOULD CHECK THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO VISIBLE LEAKS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE OIL WAS TOPPED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. COCHRAN BUICK GMC OF ROBINSON (5200 CAMPBELLS RUN RD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15205, (877) 338-4077) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. *BF
FOR THE PAST YEAR MY VEHICLE IS CONSUMING A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL. I HAVE TO ADD 2.5 QUARTS AFTER 1500 MILES OR SO. GENERAL MAINTENANCE IS ALWAYS DONE. IT WILL STALL AT STOP LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS. WE HAVE CHANGED THE CAM SHIFT SENSORS AND SOLENOIDS DUE TO THE CODES THROWN. MY VEHICLE IS STILL USING 4 QUARTS BEFORE 3,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN AT A STOP LIGHT ON HIGHWAY 34 AND MY CAR JUST STOPPED WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE. I WAS IN PEORIA AT A STOP LIGHT GOING UP HILL AND MY CAR STALLED 4 TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO START. ALL MY GAUGES JUST DROP. MY OIL LIFE DOES NOT READ PROPERLY IT ALWAYS SAYS I'M OVER 50%. I CHECK MY OIL REGULARLY JUST TO TRY AND PREVENT ANY OTHER ISSUES COMING ARISE.
AT ROUTINE OIL CHANGE APPOINTMENT (71000 MILES) PLUS MY CONCERN TO CHECK OUT A NOISE DURING COLD STARTUPS, BUICK DEALERSHIP TECH NOTED NO OIL ON DIPSTICK. THEY RECOMMENDED OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, DISCUSSED POSSIBLE NEED TO REPLACE PISTONS @ $3200 AND TOLD ME TO RETURN IN 1000 MILES TO REASSESS. ON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS LIT (NO WARNINGS/LIGHTS/ DRIVING PERFORMANCE ISSUES PRIOR TO LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP THAT DAY), I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND AND THEY RE-RAN DIAGNOSTIC SCREEN, REPORTED TO ME THAT IT REPORTED NOTHING DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE RUN EARLIER THAT DAY, TOLD ME AGAIN TO RETURN IN 1000 MILES. APPROX 100 MILES LATER, MY ENGINE SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE, LEAVING ME STRANDED AT A STOPLIGHT INTERSECTION. I FEEL LUCKY THAT THIS HAPPENED IN A SAFE TOWN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, AND WHILE I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT. THEY AGAIN FOUND NO OIL ON DIPSTICK, AND MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE ,MY DEALER GAVE ME OPTIONS FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE WITH A NEW ($6300, 3 YEAR WARRANTY), OR REBUILT ($5000, NO WARRANTY) ENGINE. I HAVE DONE OIL CHANGES ALWAYS AS RECOMMENDED BY ONBOARD MONITORING SYSTEM. SEEMS THAT MAYBE THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL OR CONSUMER ALERT ISSUED ON THIS LONGSTANDING ISSUE FOR THESE GM CARS, NOT JUST A CLANDESTINE BULLETIN THAT ONLY NOTIFIED DEALERS OF THIS PROBLEM FOR VEHICLES WITH LONG OIL CHANGE INTERVAL RECOMMENDATIONS. VERY DISAPPOINTED 55 YEAR OLD LADY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND "REDUCE SPEED" WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND THAT SPEED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE SENSOR RODS WERE FAULTY. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED WITH CASE NUMBER: 8-4544663121 BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 121,000.
TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND RUINED THE ENGINE
CAR BURNS 1 QT. OIL/ 1000 MILES EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION REQUIRES PISTONS AND RINGS TO BE REPLACED --- MANY GM 2.4 LITER ENGINES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS FIRST HAPPENED UNDER WARRANTY BUT WE DID NOT REALIZE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNTIL THE 5 YEARS WAS JUST PASSED. HOWEVER IT WAS STILL UNDER 60,000 MILES WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR AN "OIL CONSUMPTION TEST".
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE TECHNICIANS WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WEEKS LATER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DAMAGED SPARK PLUG. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ESCALATED HER CASE STATING THAT THEY WOULD REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH THE CONTACT. IN THE INTERIM, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A RUMBLING NOISE WHEN SHE MADE TURNS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,135 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,200.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026