There are 16 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2011 Buick Regalin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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.
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: (941) 925-4889. 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.
DURING PERIODS OF HIGH HEAT (AND ONLY HIGH HEAT) AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE SUN, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL STIFFEN AND SLOW THE CAR DOWN. THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE, AS IF THE CALIPERS ARE STUCK. ONCE PARKED, ALL FOUR WHEELS ARE HOT AND OMITS A BURNING SMELL. I HAVE REPLACED TWO TIRES, 2 FRONT CALIPERS, FRONT BRAKE PADS, ALL HOSES AND FRONT ROTORS TO NO AVAIL. BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE NOT THE ISSUE. ALL POSSIBLE ISSUES HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED WITHIN THE LAST 8 WEEKS. FRIDAY (05/14/21) THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN. I AM AT MY WITS END TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
BRAKE PEDAL STUCK PARTIALLY DEPRESSED AND BRAKES NOT FULLY RELEASING. STARTED IMMEDIATELY UPON VEHICLE IGNITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN ON A HOT DAY. CAR BECOMES UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS EITHER YOU ACCELERATE WITH BRAKES ENGAGED OR HAVE TO MANUALLY LIFT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE CORRECT POSITION TO RELEASE THE BRAKES AFTER EVERY INSTANCE OF USING THE BRAKE. SEEMS TO BE TRIGGERED BY HOT WEATHER AND, THEREFORE, HIGH CAR TEMPERATURE. SAME ISSUE OCCURRED IN 2018 BUT WAS NOT RECOGNIZED AT THE TIME AND COULD NOT BE RECREATED OR DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER SERVICE CENTER.
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.
AFTER MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR A FEW DAYS, AND ONCE STARTED BACK UP THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULDN'T RETRACT BACK, I WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE BRAKE PEDAL UP WITH MY FOOT.
A LOT OF PRESSURE IS NEEDED IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE BRAKE LIGHT ONLY ILLUMINATES WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP BUT NOT WHEN GRADUALLY ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. I HAVE HAD MY CAR AT A REPAIR SHOP AND DURING THE DISCUSSION I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO ADD MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE CARS BEHIND ME ARE NOT ALLOWED ENOUGH TIME TO STOP IN AN APPROPRIATE TIME. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THIS ISSUE ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT MORE PRESSURE IS NEEDED ON THE BRAKES FOR THE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THIS IS NOT GOOD AND MAKES ME FEAR FOR MY SAFETY.
THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT RETURN WHEN INTERIOR TEMPERATURES ARE VERY HIGH CAUSING BRAKES TO DRAG AND POTENTIALLY OVERHEAT AND PREMATURELY WEAR. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A WHILE.
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES BECOME SO HOT THAT THE ROTORS WILL GLOW RED. THIS WOULD NORMALLY BE A HUNG UP CALLIPER BUT IT SEEMS TO MOVE TO DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE CAR AND DIFFERENT WHEELS. UPON LETTING THE VEHICLE SIT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, THE ROTOR WILL COOL OFF. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN OR WHERE THE ROTORS WILL GET THAT HOT AND THE CARS DRIVING AND BRAKING ARE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.
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. THE BRAKES WILL RETURN TO 'NORMAL' AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES BY WHICH TIME I AM ALMOST HOME.
MY BRAKE PEDAL IS STICKING CAUSING MY CAR TO STALL AND MY CRUISE CONTROL NOT TO WORK, I HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL MY BREAK PEDAL BACK UP AFTER I USE MY BRAKES WHILE DRIVING. MY CAR IS ALSO JUST DYING WITH NO WARNING, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. MY LIGHTS, AND RADIO WILL STAY ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS, BUT MY AIR CONDITIONER AND ENGINE WILL CUT OFF. IT HAS HAPPENED OVER A HANDFUL OF TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS, IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT ANYWHERE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE PAD WAS COMPLETELY ERODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,300.
VEHICLE DROVE FINE NIGHT BEFORE, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE AWAY THE NEXT MORNING IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE DRAGGING, PARTIALLY ON, NOTED BRAKE PEDAL IN DEPRESSED POSITION. CHECKED PARKING BRAKE TO ENSURE IT WAS NOT ENGAGED, JACKED UP EACH TIRE ONE AT A TIME AND NOTED DRAG ON ALL THE WHEELS. LEFT THE VEHICLE AS IS FOR A COUPLE HOURS THEN IT WOULD NOT START, ACTED LIKE A DEAD BATTERY. CHARGED BATTERY AND HAD IT CHECKED UNDER LOAD AT O'RIELLY'S AUTO PARTS UNDER LOAD..BATTERY TESTED GOOD. REINSTALLED BATTERY AND CAR STARTED, NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES. BRAKE PEDAL HAD RETURNED TO UPRIGHT POSITION, TEST DROVE THE CAR AND IT DROVE AND BRAKED FINE. GOOD PEDAL, NO DRAG. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER ON JULY 2,2014 BRAKE PEDAL HAD DROPPED AGAIN ON IT'S OWN AND BRAKES WERE AGAIN DRAGGING. BATTERY AND ELECTRICS WERE NO ISSUE THIS TIME. LET CAR SIT FOR 4 DAYS WHILE OUT OF TOWN AND WHEN RETURNED BRAKES AND PEDAL OK. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO BUICK DEALER AND PROVIDED THEM WITH SERVICE BULLETIN 338152 AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER 10045319 WHICH APPEARS TO COVER THE EXACT SITUATION. I AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL CXL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS OVERHEATED AND GRABBED, CAUSING THE BRAKE NOT TO RELEASE AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,210 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,382.
THE BRAKES ON MY 2011 BUICK REGAL NEVER FELT RIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO DOWN ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, THEY TESTED IT AND SAID THAT WAS THE WAY THE BRAKES ARE ON ALL THE REGALS. THEN IN THE VERY HOT SUMMER OF 2012 THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED TO STICK TO FLOOR WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO USE MY FOOT TO GET UNDER THE PEDAL TO POP IT UP. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM, AND AT FIRST, THEY TOLD ME THEY NEVER HEARD OF ANY RECALL OR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER REGALS OR OTHER VEHICLES. I TOLD THEM THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND AFTER I STARTED TO ASK OTHERS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE DID HAVE OTHER REGALS WITH THAT PROBLEM AS WELL AS OTHER BUICK MODELS. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER AND ORDERED A NEW BRAKE ASSEMBLE. FOLLOWING THE REPAIR TWO WEEKS LATER I NOTICED ON THE RECEIPT "PIC#5692A ADDRESSING CONCERN, REPLACED BRAKE PEDAL AND RETAINERS PER PIC#5692A." THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026