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2018 Buick Regal Eassist
Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.
19 owner complaints · 3 recalls · data verified July 27, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Buy-rated alternatives from this era
Other 2016–2020 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict, worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2018 Buick Regal Eassist.
Why caution?
3 recall campaigns (3 safety-critical). Confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the seller's VIN.
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#397 of 570Among the 2018 models with a matured record, the 2018 Buick Regal Eassist ranks #397, scoring higher than 15% of them. See the 2018 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file for this model year, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2018 Buick Regal Eassist, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Brakes (8) · Engine (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Brakes
42%8 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“Was driving home from work and my brakes suddenly stopped working, if I press all the way down on the brakes they somewhat work. Checked brake fluid and brake lines an…”
Engine
26%5 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“This issue is related to the gear shifter on the vehicle. When stopping the car and putting it into park the dashboard shows the message "Shift to Park." this vehicle …”
Electrical system
16%3 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Increased stopping distance during certain brake vacuum loss events. My check engine light goes on and off periodically. When I’m at a red light my whole car shuts off…”
Airbags
11%2 complaints
“VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION: 'DRIVING THROUGH AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. 'FOLLOWED ROAD AROUND THE BUILDING. 'BLINDED BY SUNLIGHT. 'HIT STATIONARY POLE HEAD ' ON. WEATHER CONDITI…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Read all 19 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 5 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (3)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 22V465000
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Buick Regal vehicles. In the event of a vacuum-power brake assist failure, a software error in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may result in a loss of power brake assist. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135, "Light vehicle brake systems."
Risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the EBCM software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters advising owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 19, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Buick's customer service at 1-800-521-7300.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 18V576000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
Seat Belts · 18V230000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Buick Regal vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the rear seat belts may have been improperly routed around the bolster bracket on the rear outboard seats, which can cause inadequate restraint of the passengers.
Risk: If the seat belt fails to adequately restrain the passengers in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear outboard seat belts, correcting the routing of the seat belts as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 14, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 18117.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Buick before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Buick Regal Eassist. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report brakes problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any brakes symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2018 Buick REGAL EASSIST beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2018? See how every Regal Eassist model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2018 Buick Regal Eassist against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.