Most common 1998 Buick Regal problems
Share of the 302 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Regal complaints by model year
Best Regal years: 2020, 2017, 2018. Years to avoid: 2011, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1999. Compare all years →
1998 Buick Regal recalls (6)
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and gasket.
Engine and engine cooling
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 Buick regal, my 1998-2003 Chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 Oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine's plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge.
Engine and engine cooling
GM is recalling 207,542 my 1997-2003 Buick regal and Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l supercharged v-6 engine. These vehicles have higher front rocker cover gasket temperatures, creating the potential for earlier degradation of the front rocker cover gasket and eventual oil seepage.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine's plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, along with the 1-3-5 spark…
Steering › Rack and pinion
Certain passenger vehicles have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These retainers could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began on February 5, 2004.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not conform to the requirements of FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the vertical head lamp adjusting device May not be calibrated properly.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with an owner's manual insert containing instructions for optically aiming the headlamps.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The owner manuals do not contain the requirement information pertaining to the vehicle headlamp aiming device. This does not comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Remedy: Owners will be mailed an owner manual's insert which contains the appropriate information.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 6 possible defects involving the 1998 Buick Regal:
Power rack and pinion steering failure
GM conducted a safety recall (NHTSA # 02V286) to address a steering defect pertaining to a lower pinion bearing (lpb) within the rack and pinion steering gear (r&p). The recall covered 1,159,156 model year 1997-1998 Pontiac grand prix vehicles built between March 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997, 1996-1998 Pontiac trans sport, Chevrolet lumina apv, Chevrolet venture, Oldsmobile silhouette minivans, and Chevrolet…
Windshield wiper
Incidents of wiper failure (owner reports and warranty) are very high, and many of the reports indicate that the failures are still occurring in 1999.
Engine compartment fires
Windshield wiper
By letter dated December 12, 1999, GM notified NHTSA of its plans to conduct a safety related defect campaign to remedy 155,149 of the subject vehicles.the vehicle population for the campaign includes the 1997 Buick regal/century and Pontiac gran prix models built during the period from the start of production through May 1, 1997.GM determined that the wipers installed prior to this date could stop working, usually…
Power rack and pinion steering failure
GM's letter to NHTSA dated December 11, 2003, expands its original recall (NHTSA 02V286) to include certain w-body vehicles: 96-97 olds cutlass supreme; 98 olds intrigue; 97-98 olds cutlass; 97-98 Chevy lumina, monte carlo and malibu; 96 Pontiac grand prix; and 96-98 Buick regal.the number of vehicles recalled is 750,283.GM determined that failure of the rack and pinion is related to damage of the lower pinion…
Engine compartment fires
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with GM?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a…
What 1998 Buick Regal owners say
Engine & cooling all 83 →
On my way home from purchasing the vehicle, the car began to lose power and i noticed black smoke though the rear view mirror. Another driver signaled me down, so I pulled over and realized my car was on fire. The fire was in the engine compartment from what appeared to be the exhaust manifold. Since i was in a residential area, i grabbed a water hose and began to diffuse the fire. The fire department arrived and forced my hood open to reassure the fire was out. Luckily i was able to make it out safe. But i strongly believe my life and the lives of other drivers were definitely in danger
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Buick Regal. While driving 15 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle. The contact sustained neck injuries that required medical attention. The front passenger also sustained chest injuries that required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. Prior to the crash, the contact's vehicle was leaking oil. After the crash, the lights on the instrument panel failed to illuminate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
Steering all 76 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Buick Regal. While driving 10 MPH and making a left turn, a loud noise emitted when turning the steering wheel and the vehicle started to shake. The vehicle was not diagnosed and repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 03V527000 (steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,013.
I was driving on ac expressway when my steering failed. I could turn right but was blocked from turning left. After some time I could force the car to go left, but it forced the gear bearing to slip and now the steering wheel is 180 degrees upside down at straight ahead position. I have not had the car repaired yet. It is still inoperable. This Regal was made in Canada in April of 1998, more than six months after the Buick Regal recall for this same problem. I am asking for an investigation from odi so that if all 1998 and 1999 regals have this potential problem, that their owners be notified that steering May fail while driving. Only the 1998 Regal owners who had cars built from 1/1/97 to 10/15/97 have been notified so far. And with my vehicle being manufactured six months after the recall, it wasn't just built with an errant 'old' part, as g.m. …
Electrical system all 51 →
On my way home from purchasing the vehicle, the car began to lose power and i noticed black smoke though the rear view mirror. Another driver signaled me down, so I pulled over and realized my car was on fire. The fire was in the engine compartment from what appeared to be the exhaust manifold. Since i was in a residential area, i grabbed a water hose and began to diffuse the fire. The fire department arrived and forced my hood open to reassure the fire was out. Luckily i was able to make it out safe. But i strongly believe my life and the lives of other drivers were definitely in danger
The contact owns a 1998 Buick Regal. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 317,000.
1998 Buick Regal engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 21 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl turbo supercharged | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Buick Regal a good car?
Based on 302 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Regal rates avoid: 2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Regal at the same age. It is one of the Regal years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Buick Regal?
The engine & cooling — 83 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the steering (76) and electrical system (51).
How many recalls does the 1998 Buick Regal have?
There are 6 recalls for the 1998 Buick Regal, the most recent from October 26, 2015 (manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Regal?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2017 and 2018. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011, 1998, 1996, 1995 and 1999. See the full Buick Regal years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Buick Regal problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 92,000 miles; 14% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.