Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Buick Regal owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
ISSUE: BRAKE PEDAL WILL STIFFEN AND SLOW THE CAR DOWN. THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE, AS IF THE CALIPERS ARE STUCK. ONCE PARKED, WHEELS ARE HOT AND OMITS A BURNING SMELL. NARRATIVE: After the car is sitting in the sun, while driving in slow traffic the car is running rough, steering wheel starts shaking back and forth, the brakes start making noise when you stop. When accelerated there is grinding noise and dash light comes on. I pulled to the side of the road and turned off the car for five minutes, I start the car and it runs as normal. This was happening for a few weeks. I had the brakes replaced on 05/19/21 (I paid $737.66 for the brake job). I drove the car for a couple of weeks and brakes seized. I had to have the car towed back to shop (costing me $135.63) and the shop quoted brake pedal replacement. …
The two systems that failed are the airbag release on the front passenger side and the stabilitrak system. Both systems show error lights on the dash. The front seat passenger does not have airbag protection. The stabilitrak system error light appears intermittently and when the traction system goes off the car brakes almost stop the car while driving. We go to Royal Buick in Tucson, Arizona. We worked with Germaine Kendrick. I've attached the dealer service invoice dated April 14, 2023. The invoice summarized the problem and stated that 1) a new seatbelt assesmbly is needed and 2) the service technician states that they can not replicate or repair the traction problems. Today is June 11, 2023. We are still waiting for the seatbelt assembly to "arrive". There is no solution for the traction system. We have phoned and texted 4 times. …
In July of 2018, the brake pedal started to stick in the "on" position. The car was not driveable once the brakes stuck. It seemed to be associated with very hot weather. I replaced the entire brake pedal assembly with a factory brake pedal assembly. Now, in January of 2022, the replacement assembly is starting to bind. This appears to be a defective part. There are many postings on the internet about this problem. It is a safety defect because it involves the vehicle's brakes and the car is not driveable when the pedal sticks.
The vehicle exhibited what appeared to be sticking brakes after driving in extreme heat and humidity in Southwest Florida. I have taken the vehicle to Family Auto Service Cenber, 4570 Samuel St., Sarasota, FL 34233, Phone: [phone]. I was advised by Ray, the owner, that the brake pedal assembly was in danger of becoming unttached thereby making braking impossible and an obvious safety hazard. He stated that it was covered in TSB 5692D. Total loss of the abilibty to stop the car is possible with this defect.
2011 Buick Regal 2.0 CXL. The brake pedal is sticking, causing the rotors to heat up and wear out. There are numerous complaints from others online detailing the dangerous situations this has caused. And numerous complaints about getting the brake system replaced and the same problem still existing. There should have been a recall. Unknown to me, until I received the new title in my name, this particular car was branded a "Lemon" in 2014.
Vehicle has 69,579 miles. While turning onto side street off of main road, engine shut off causing loss of power steering and brakes. Vehicle was able to be restarted after a minute and driven home. Vehicle was taken to lester glenn Buick dealership for this problem . The dealership was "unable to duplicate the problem" and there were no codes showing a problem. I was told that the issue was that the vehicle was 100 miles overdue for and oil change and was a little low on oil. When I questioned this I was told it is a "safety feature" to protect the engine from damage because of low oil. I asked if it was a "safety feature" than why was my son able to restart the vehicle within a minute. Still have not received an answer. …
Vehicle had recall 12212"a" performed in oct of 2014 at delarship, this results in sometimes if not every time of a mis-calibrated brake position sensor. The mis-calibration results in my vehicle requiring the brake pedal to be depressed almost to the floor before the park position disengagement sensor is activated. It is at this point when the brake lights are activated. This extra pedal travel results in me being able to come to a rapid stop from 85 miles an hour on the freeway without any rear brake lights activating. The brake lights are not intermittent, they activate every time the pedal is pressed far enough, while driving this is only at the point when ABS would be activated under emergency braking. Buick/GMC is aware this is the case and issued recall 12212"b" on oct 11, 2016 which reads: "this bulliten has been revised to include a note before step 4 of the service procedure. …
I have been having a problem with the brakes sticking on my 2011 Buick Regal for a couple of years now. The problem occurs when the weather is hot, in the middle 80's and above and my car has been sitting closed up in the parking lot at work all day. I can recreate the problem by leaving it out of the garage in the sun for several hours. This is extremely dangerous and is getting worse. At first it caused a drag on the brakes and the pedal would not return fully to its proper position. I have to use my left foot to pull the pedal back up. Now the pedal refuses to come back up at all when I take my foot off of it after starting the car and the brake warning light on the dash has come on a couple of times. I am extremely uncomfortable driving it like this. I have to pull the pedal back up every time I use the brakes on the way home. …
Vehicle was being driven off of main highway into a shopping center parking lot when the engine shut off causing the vehicle to lose power steering and brakes. Vehicle would not restart and needed to be towed to lester glenn Buick that night. The next day after sitting in the dealership parking lot, the vehicle was able to start and the dealership stated they were"unable to duplicate the problem" and found nothing wrong with the vehicle. I presently own two(2) 2011 Buick Regal and both have experienced this same problem with loss of steering and braking. I have contacted g m numerous times and have received no calls back from their "senior " adviser. Have also read about similar complaints on the internet with these vehicles. Hopefully g m will address this serious safety issue before someone gets seriously hurt
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Buick Regal. While decelerating from 60 MPH, the brake pedal failed to engage properly. The contact continued to depress the brake pedal with force, but was unable to have the brake pedal released from the floorboard. The vehicle continued to move and the contact had to reach down and release the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake system needed to be replaced. The brake pads were repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed by a dealer. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 127,000.
Brake complaints in other Regal years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2011 Buick Regal?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the brakes of the 2011 Buick Regal, 12% of the model year's 280 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2011 Buick Regal brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2011 Buick Regal, though it has 4 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 2011 Buick Regal brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 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.