The 1979 Buick Regal has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 8,936,543 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the tires. Last updated July 5, 2026.
REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AXLES THAT WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE.
THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE BUFFALO PLANT. IF SO, THEY WILL MAKE AXLE MEASUREMENTS AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE OR MODIFY AFFECTED AXLE COMPONENTS WITHOUT CHARGE.
THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE LOWER REAR CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME MAY FRACTURE. THE REAR CONTROL ARM SUPPORTS AND POSITIONS THE REAR AXLE. FRACTURE OF THE BOLTS WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP FREE.
BOTH REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.
THE SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED BACKWARDS OR NOT AT ALL. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SPRING CLIP IS TO SECURE THE LOWER END OF THE SHIFT CABLE HOUSING TO THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE CLIP IS BACKWARD OR MISSING, THE CONSOLE SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR THE TRANSMISSION RANGE INDICATOR…
THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY CORRECT THE SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP INSTALLATION AT NO CHARGE.
ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT LUBRICANT ON THE ACTUATING PLUNGER. THIS CAN CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE STOPLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL, IF ACTIVATED, TO STAY ELECTRICALLY ENGAGED.
DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AT NO COST TO OWNER.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“While driving consumer heard a loud knocking noise coming from the rear. Consumer pulled over, and noticed that the tread separated from the sidewall on passenger's side tire. This caused damages to the under carriage/fender; and door. Consumer called road side assistance and vehicle was towed to…”
“While driving 50 mph a loud knocking noise was heard from the rear. Consumer pulled over, and noticed that the right passenger side tire tread separated from the wheel. Consumer called road side assistant to change the tire. Firestone fr480, size p215/70r14, dot w2hy1md519. *ak the tire blowout…”
“Whihle drivng the tread of the passenger side front tire separated fromthe tire. The tire dented the right fender and right front door. *mr *cb *nlm”
SUMMARY:GM IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN (85V-048)INVOLVING 2,136,826 VEHICLES. THE RECALL IS LIMITED TO VEHICLES BUILT ATCERTAIN ASSEMBLY PLANTS WHICH, ACCORDING TO GM, OVERTORQUED THE BRAKEPIPE NUT,THEREBY OVERSTRESSING THE WHEEL CYLINDER SUPPORT AREA OF THEBACKING PLATE.ANALYSIS:FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1979 Buick Regal as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.