Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Buick Regal owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On July 17, 2019 at 8:40 am, I got into my car in my driveway. I turned the key in the ignition and the airbag exploded. (the car was not started.) the airbag sounded like a shotgun being fired and a powder like substance immediately filled the car. The airbag itself hit me in the abdominal area. I found the door handle, opened the door, and rolled out of the car onto the ground. At this time, I yelled for my son. My son picked me up off the ground and called an ambulance due to me being in a severe amount of pain and in shock. I was taken to the hospital via ambulance and observed for the remainder of the day. I had several follow-up appointments that continue to this day. Insurance came to look at car, filled out paperwork, and said they were going to total the vehicle. The car has not been moved since this incident.
While driving at 55 MPH vehicle swerved to miss a deer and consumer lost control of vehicle. Vehicle broke through a guard rail and down an embankment. Then, it flipped twice before coming to a rest. Both front seat belts broke, and front air bags failed to deploy. Consumer sustained facial bruising/abrasions, and a broken nose.
On January 21, 2006 at 7:10 am, while I was driving on U.S. 1, a busy street during rush-hour traffic, my driver side air bag deployed. There was no crash involved nor did my car come into any contact with any object. I didn't even apply the brakes. There was absolutely no reason for the air bag to deploy. When the air bag deployed, it hit me in the face and burned my hand. For about five to seven seconds I did not know what had happened. It was like I heard an explosion and then whoosh, the whole bag was in my face. I was cruising in the middle lane of light traffic, and fortunately, was able to stop, then pull over out of traffic to find out what happened. I then called my local Buick dealer and complained to service writer "paul." he told me to get my car to him at my cost next Tuesday, and he wanted to charge me for diagnostic. …
The air bag deployed without impact while driving at 35 MPH. The dealer notified. Prior to the incident, the air bag light had come on. The consumer had gone to two separate service dealers who suggested that it was okay to drive the vehicle until the repairs could be made. The consumer was told that the module coil and wire needed to be replaced along with the entire air bag assembly. The air bag deployed while the consumer was driving and caused the consumer to lose control of the vehicle.
Tl contact owns a 1996 Buick Regal. The contact was driving approximately 30 MPH, wen the front driver side air bag deployed inadvertently without impact to the vehicle. The contact sustained abrasions to the left forearm. The vehicle was driven with caution to his residence. The contact was in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was 182,000. Updated 10/20/10 updated 10/26/10
While driving 55 MPH, the driver slammed on the brakes after seeing a deer on the road. The vehicle had gone off the road and rolled over into a ditch. Both of the front seat belts failed and the front air bags did not deploy. The passenger's nose was broken and an artery was punctured in this right eye.
Tl contact owns a 1996 Buick Regal. After inserting the key into the ignition, the driver's side frontal air bag spontaneously deployed without an impact or crash. He is in the process of notifying the dealer to determine the cause of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 157,000.
When the driver put the key in the ignition, the air bag deployed. The driver sustained minor facial burns and bruises and was taken to the hospital emergency room. A Buick engineer determined there was a defect in the air bag, but could not determine what caused air bag deployment.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Buick Regal. The contact stated that as the vehicle was started, the air bags deployed erroneously. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was 55,035.
When turning steering wheel, in any direction,there's a "rubbing" noise from within steering column. Mechanic diagnosed the clockspring was rubbing against some internal wires and if the wires short the air bag May deploy without warning. Ph
NHTSA investigations
Inadvertent air bag deployment
There is no summary currently available
Inappropriate air bag deployment
The failure rate (1.25/100K) on this issue is low.a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of the agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constiture a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.odi will continue to closely monitor this issue.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the…
Airbag complaints in other Regal years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1996 Buick Regal?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Buick Regal, 10% of the model year's 204 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Buick Regal airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1996 Buick Regal, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Buick Regal airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 98,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 13 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.