Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 Regal.
The 1983 Buick Regal is documented with an oil capacity of four quarts and offers viscosities of 20W‑20, 10W‑30 or 10W‑40. It generated only four owner complaints, the most frequent concerning seat belts, and was subject to a single recall. Although complaint data starts in 1990, the model’s later history shows a peak of 325 complaints in 1998 and a low of one complaint in 2008, situating the 1983 year at the lower end of the reliability spectrum for the Regal nameplate.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 196.1 in |
| Overall width | 71.3 in |
| Overall height | 56.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in |
| Curb weight | 3219 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Regal of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | T-Type Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 8.00 sec | 16.00 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1981 | Indy Pace Car T-Top Cabriolet 4.1L V6 | 7.50 sec | 16.00 sec | 125 hp | RWD |
| 1985 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 7.50 sec | 15.70 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1986 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 4.90 sec | 13.90 sec | 235 hp | RWD |
| 1986 | T-Type Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 5.85 sec | 14.30 sec | 235 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 5.40 sec | 14.20 sec | 245 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 6.00 sec | 14.70 sec | 245 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 6.10 sec | 14.70 sec | 245 hp | RWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4 qt of 20W-20 / 10W-30 / 10W-40 engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil | 80W-90 · GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 3.5 qt |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | ABOVE 40 degrees F |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4 qt |
| Engine Oil | ABOVE 40 degrees F |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4 qt |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The federal record begins in 1990, so there is no direct complaint or recall data for the 1983 Buick Regal itself. In the decade that follows, complaints per year peak in 1998 (325) and 2000 (199) and then fall steadily, dropping to single digits by 2005. Recall counts are relatively low throughout, never exceeding ten in any year, with a brief spike to ten in 2000. The trend shows a gradual improvement in vehicle reliability over the 1990s and early 2000s, with the lowest complaints and recalls in the mid‑2000s. Because the 1983 model is not represented in this dataset, we cannot directly compare its reliability to the surrounding years, but the overall downward trend suggests that earlier models may have experienced higher defect rates. **Takeaway:** Without specific data for 1983, it is difficult to assess its reliability, so a used 1983 Regal should be inspected thoroughly and considered only if the buyer is comfortable with the potential for higher long‑term maintenance costs.
All 4 complaints on record, top 4 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
THE MASTER CYLINDER REAR BRAKE PIPE, WHICH CARRIES BRAKE FLUID TO THE REAR BRAKES, MAY DEVELOP A LEAK DUE TO EXTENDED CHAFING ON THE AIR CLEANER RESONATOR BRACKET. Remedy: IF UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER FINDS THAT THERE IS INADEQUATE CLEARANCE, THE PIPE WILL BE REFORMED TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY THREE QUARTER INCH SPACE. ONLY THOSE PIPES SHOWING SIGNS…
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 20 degrees F: 20W-20, 10W-30, 10W-40, 20W-40 OR 20W-50, ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40, BELOW 20 degrees F: 5W-20 OR 5W-30, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.