The Buick Regal is iconic. Not only is it a Buick, but it’s also one of the best known models of the Buick. But there is one black sheep in these iconic vehicles — the 2011 Buick Regal. Read on to find out more.

The Buick Regal is a legacy model

The Buick Regal is a mid-sized automobile that is upscale and was originally introduced in 1973. Originally, the Buick Regal was positioned to be a personal luxury car and offered in sedan and coupe forms until 1997. However, at this time, the Buick Regal became a sedan-only model because the personal luxury coupe market was steadily declining. It is noted that in some model years from 1973 to 2004, the Buick Regal shared powertrains and bodies with the Buick Century. Despite this, the Buick Regal was still positioned to be a more upscale vehicle.

In 2004, the Buick Regal was discontinued within the North American market. It was succeeded by the Buick LaCrosse. However, in 2008, a new Buick Regal was introduced in the Chinese market. This model represented a version of the Opel Insignia. In 2011, this same model was introduced in the North American market and positioned as a mid-sized vehicle.

In the 2011 version, the eAssist system was offered for the Buick Regal. In fact, the 2012 Regal is the second vehicle to offer this system after the 2012 Buick LaCrosse. While the eAssist system is standard for the 2012 Buick LaCrosse, it is optional in the Regal.

In 2018, a new model was introduced as a liftback sedan and “TourX” station wagon. After the 2020 model year, the Regal will be discontinued in the North American market.

The 2011 Buick Regal had serious engine issues

So, you’re driving down the road, minding your own business and suddenly, there’s no power. There’s … nothing. That’s the problem with the 2011 Buick Regal. The engine has been reported to suddenly shut off while driving. Out of 23 complaints made on the Car Complaints site, only three were resolved by one of these options: checking the transmission module, repairing a loose wire to the fuseblock, or replacing the valve train. This means that for 20 of these cases, there was no reasoning behind the failure.

Avoid the 2011 model year, but other Buick Regals are fine

For 2012 and beyond, the Buick Regal isn’t a bad car. The 2011 Buick Regal should be avoided since you don’t know how long the engine will be running. That could be disastrous while speeding down the freeway — especially if it won’t restart, which is what happened to one customer who received a camshaft position sensor error. Most complaints with the engine issue were after 56,000 miles or more.

There are a lot of great cars out there that can meet a variety of needs. However, having the engine suddenly stopping (and not knowing if you’ll be able to restart the car) is a pretty significant problem. As a result, the 2011 Buick Regal may not be a model that should be considered, especially since no one seems to know why it’s happening or how to fix it (in most cases).

On the other hand, the Buick Regal is a well-known car and Buick is beloved by many buyers. Luckily, no one has gotten hurt due to the engine shutting off while driving, but, to be safe, it might be best to avoid the 2011 model. But don’t discount Buick entirely — one bad model year doesn’t mean they’re all bad.