BuickRegal2016Overview/buick/regal/2016/base/

2016 Buick Regal

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Regal.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2016 Buick Regal is presented as a passenger car in the brand’s lineup. With 41 owner complaints logged for the model year and steering noted as the top concern, it also carries a single recall. Placed within the model’s complaint history from 1990 to 2020, the 2016 figure sits well below the 1998 peak of 325 complaints but above the 2008 low of just one, indicating a moderate reliability standing for that year.

Model year201820172016201520142013201220112004

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 25206377. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP245/40R19OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter25206377 alt 12580255
Engine air filter20972655 alt 55560894
Spark plug12681659 alt 12681658
Battery88866309 alt 88866291
Front wiper blades84574892 alt 84574893
Serpentine belt12627134 alt 12634319
Thermostat12622410 alt 12630780
Cabin air filter13503677

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.6 in
Overall width73.2 in
Overall height58.3 in
Wheelbase107.9 in
Curb weight3642 lb
Track (front / rear)62.6 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Performance & power Independent road tests

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.

5.4–9.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.40 sec — 2018 GS Fastback Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2014Turbo Premium II Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-46.10 sec14.80 sec259 hpFWD
2014GS Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-46.20 sec14.70 sec259 hpAWD
2014GS Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-46.20 sec14.60 sec259 hpAWD
2014Turbo Premium II Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-46.40 sec14.70 sec259 hpAWD
2014Turbo Premium II Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-46.60 sec15.00 sec259 hpAWD
2018GS Fastback Sedan 3.6L V65.40 sec13.90 sec310 hpAWD
2018Sportback Essence Fastback Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-45.60 sec14.20 sec250 hpFWD
2018GS Fastback Sedan 3.6L V65.80 sec14.30 sec310 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine Synthetic · SAE 75W in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidDEXRON(R)-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.5-6.5
Brake FluidDOT 3
Brake Fluid Capacity0.981
Clutch FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSynthetic · SAE 75W
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.5 qt
Engine CoolantDex-Cool

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs89 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs89 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.3
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts10.3
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.3
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Transfer Case Fill Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.037 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque15 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.030 - .035 in
Spark Plug Torque15 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.30 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.70 oz
RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.50 lbs
Oil GroupPAG

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)43-58 psi at idle psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-94
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)43-58 psi at idle psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-94
Engine Compression100 psi
Engine Compression100 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 20; Rear: 20 /
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 111; Rear: 74 /; Front: 111 Tighten; Rear: 74 Plus
ABS Sensor Torque7 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 specification
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.00024
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
130
Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 45 degrees, Step 3: 185.0111 ft. lbs
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 45 degrees, Step 3: 185.0111 ft. lbs
Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 45 degrees, Step 3: 185.0111 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 10018 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 10018 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
139.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 2539 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
139.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 2539 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7015 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Life Monitor (inspect)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 97,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 150,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Buick Regal records 41 federal complaints and 1 recall, marking a slight increase in reported issues compared to the 33 complaints and 0 recalls seen in the 2015 model year. Despite this minor uptick, the data remains well below the generation's early peak of 279 complaints in 2011, while Technical Service Bulletins continue a steady decline from 1,884 in 2013 to 1,211 in 2016. Steering represents the primary concern for this specific model year with 9

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1211
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
41
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 41 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering9
Exterior Lighting4
Unknown Or Other3
Visibility/Wiper3
Electrical System2
Structure2
Vehicle Speed Control,Wheels,Engine1
Tires1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V108000Steering:Electric Power Assist SystemReported 24/02/2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Buick Regal Vehicles manufactured August 30, 2015, to February 12, 2016. The affected vehicles have a power-steering assist system that may fail. Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric belt drive rack and pinion steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2016. Owners may…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1211 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP61132026-05-18Unknown Or OtherThis document provides the technician with a diagnostic tip if the vehicle stalls and set…
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U2026-01-08Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Regal. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 Regal have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.